Harmful Pollutants That Can Float And Damage Our Waterways

Water pollution is a pressing issue that poses a threat to the health of humans and aquatic ecosystems. A variety of pollutants can float on water, including solid waste, such as plastic, garbage, and debris, as well as oil spills and chemical contaminants. These pollutants can have devastating impacts on the environment, endangering aquatic life and disrupting ecosystems. Additionally, human activities, such as industrial discharge and improper waste disposal, contribute significantly to water pollution. As a result, contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, fertilizers, and bacteria find their way into water sources, compromising water quality and safety. With the world's growing dependence on freshwater resources, addressing water pollution and its sources is of utmost importance.

Oil spills

The primary sources of oil spills are releases of crude oil from tankers, offshore platforms, drilling rigs, and wells. These spills can have severe environmental, economic, and social consequences. One of the most well-known examples is the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, which impacted beach tourism and fishing along the Gulf Coast.

In addition to accidental spills, there are other significant sources of oil pollution. For instance, runoff from asphalt and storm drains can carry a substantial amount of oil into water sources. Pavement runoff in a city of five million people can discharge oil equivalent to a large oil tanker spill. Furthermore, transportation and transfers of oil increase the risk of spills, with up to 15 transfers between ocean tankers, pipelines, trains, and tanker trucks.

While natural seeps from the seafloor contribute to a significant portion of oil releases, they are considered less problematic as ecosystems have adapted to these regular occurrences. Nevertheless, oil spills, whether from natural or human-induced causes, can have detrimental effects on the environment, wildlife, and human communities.

Plastic waste

The presence of plastic waste in water has severe environmental, ecological, and economic consequences. It poses a threat to marine life, leading to the entanglement, suffocation, and starvation of animals. Additionally, plastic waste can break down into smaller pieces, known as microplastics, which are then ingested by marine organisms, leading to the accumulation of toxins in their bodies. This contamination can extend up the food chain, ultimately reaching humans through fishing and livestock farming, causing potential health risks.

The impact of plastic water pollution is not limited to the ecological sphere but also has economic implications. Deteriorating water quality can stall economic growth and exacerbate poverty in affected regions. For instance, the biological oxygen demand, an indicator of organic pollution in water, directly influences the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of associated water basins. As pollution increases, the GDP of these regions tends to decrease significantly.

To address the issue of plastic waste in water, various solutions are being employed. These include the use of debris booms, net booms, seaweed booms, and floating trash skimmers like the Seabin, which can capture and contain plastic pollution. Additionally, storm drain filters can prevent plastics from entering storm drain catch basins in the first place. However, despite these efforts, plastic pollution remains a pressing issue, with over 86,000 million kilos of plastic reaching the ocean since its first production in 1950.

It is important to note that plastic waste in water is a global issue that requires collective efforts to mitigate. Reducing the use of single-use plastics, properly managing waste, and promoting recycling can all play a crucial role in minimizing plastic pollution in water bodies. By understanding the sources and impacts of plastic waste, we can work towards protecting our precious water resources and the ecosystems they support.

Sewage and waste

Wastewater, or sewage, refers to the byproduct of various water uses, such as showering, dishwashing, laundry, and flushing toilets in households. Industries and commercial enterprises also contribute to wastewater through processes, product cleaning, and rinsing of parts. This water, once used, enters the wastewater stream and flows to wastewater treatment plants.

The treatment of wastewater is essential to remove pollutants that can negatively affect the environment and public health. Pollutants in wastewater can cause oxygen depletion in water bodies, leading to fish kills and foul odors. They can also contaminate the food chain, with toxins accumulating in fish and other organisms consumed by humans.

In the past, communities discharged their wastewater into streams and rivers with little to no treatment, leading to a deterioration in water quality. Today, wastewater treatment plants use physical, biological, and chemical processes to treat sewage. Preliminary treatment involves removing large objects, while primary treatment targets smaller items that float or settle, such as grease. Secondary and tertiary treatments further reduce nutrients, suspended solids, and biological oxygen demand.

Despite these treatment processes, water companies have been criticized for routinely releasing sewage illegally, especially during heavy rainfall when treatment plant capacities are exceeded. This has led to public anger and concerns about the quality of waterways. To address these issues, water industry bodies have proposed infrastructure upgrades and increased spending on modernizing sewer systems. However, these changes may result in significant increases in customer bills.

Heavy metals

One of the most common ways people are exposed to heavy metals is through contaminated soil, crops, and drinking water. People living near industrial operations, agriculture, or mining are at risk of their tap or well water containing unhealthy levels of heavy metals.

Some examples of heavy metals that can be found in water include lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, copper, chromium, selenium, and antimony.

Microplastics

A newly published study showed that floating microplastics account for about 1% of the plastic waste entering the ocean from land in a single year. This estimate is up to 37 times higher than previous estimates. That is equivalent to the mass of more than 1,300 blue whales.

Microfibres are also a type of microplastic. They include small fibres that enter the water from washing clothing made of synthetic materials, like polyester and nylon.

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