Which Country Is The Most Water Polluting?

Water pollution is a pressing issue that affects countries worldwide, with a variety of natural and man-made factors contributing to the degradation of water quality. While some nations, like Denmark, Iceland, and Singapore, are known for their superior water quality, others consistently rank among the most polluted. According to various sources and reports, countries like India, with its polluted Ganges River, and nations in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and North Africa, face significant water pollution challenges. These regions experience high water stress, with a substantial proportion of their renewable water supply being utilized for irrigation, livestock, and industrial activities, leaving billions without access to clean drinking water.

India's Ganges River pollution

India is the world's most polluted country, and its most important river, the Ganges, has become a big waste dump. The Ganges is classified as having "excessive pollution", with coliform bacteria levels that are too high to be considered safe for agricultural, drinking, or bathing use.

The river supplies water to approximately 40% of India's population across 11 states, serving an estimated 500 million people—more than any other river in the world. It is also sacred in Hinduism, with over 70 million Hindus bathing in the river to cleanse themselves of their past sins during festive seasons. As such, materials such as food, waste, and leaves are often left in the river, contributing to its pollution. The leather industry in Kanpur, which employs around 50,000 people in more than 400 tanneries, also uses chemicals such as toxic chromium compounds, which have contaminated the river.

The main issue is population growth, with water being extracted from the river for food, irrigation, and general human needs. This has caused the river to lose its ability to clean itself and maintain its ecological or environmental flow. The river's pollution is also exacerbated by the diversion of water for irrigation use, with up to 90% of the water being diverted for agriculture during the dry season.

The Indian government has invested in several initiatives to clean the river, including the Namami Gange project, which has been recognized by the United Nations for its successes in reducing pollution and reviving landscapes along the waterway and its tributaries. The government has also launched the National Mission to Clean Ganga and the Clean India campaign, promoting personal hygiene and installing over 80 million toilets to combat open defecation.

Poor farming practices

One major issue is the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and livestock manure, which can contaminate local streams, rivers, and groundwater. Increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorus from these sources can stimulate algal blooms, leading to hypoxic (low oxygen) conditions that are harmful to aquatic life. Additionally, the use of veterinary medicines, such as antibiotics, vaccines, and growth promoters, can enter ecosystems and drinking water sources, impacting both the environment and human health.

Soil erosion, nutrient loss, and the runoff of pesticides and other contaminants from agricultural land are also leading causes of water quality impairment. In recent years, chemical waste from farming activities has been identified as a significant pollutant in several rivers worldwide, including the River Plate in South America and the Danube in Europe.

To mitigate these issues, farmers can adopt more sustainable practices, such as switching to water-efficient crops, using sprinkler or drip irrigation to minimize water loss, and implementing buffer strips of vegetation along the margins of farms and rivers to reduce pollutant levels in waterways. Integrated farming systems, where waste from one enterprise becomes input for another, can also help optimize resource use and reduce pollution.

While some countries are making improvements, such as Eritrea through the collaborative efforts of the government, nongovernmental organizations, and private companies, other regions, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, are projected to experience significant increases in water demand by 2050, which will further stress water resources. It is crucial to address poor farming practices and their impact on water pollution to ensure a water-secure future for all.

Water stress in the Middle East and North Africa

The amplifying effects of climate change are expected to worsen the situation, increasing the gap between water supply and demand. Climate change results in reduced rainfall for agriculture and the deterioration of freshwater quality due to saltwater incursion. The region's growing urban centres, rising populations, and water-intensive industries like irrigated agriculture, livestock, energy production, and manufacturing further strain water resources.

The consequences of water scarcity in the MENA region extend beyond water availability, impacting socioeconomic and political stability. UNICEF reports that nearly 90% of children in the region live in areas of high or extremely high water stress, with serious health, nutritional, and developmental implications. Water scarcity also exacerbates conflicts, with attacks on water infrastructure and competition over water resources.

To address water scarcity, MENA countries must prioritize sustainable water management and innovation. This includes treating and reusing wastewater, adopting water-prudent energy sources, and implementing efficient agricultural practices. Desalination has provided some relief, but it comes with environmental and economic challenges, including transboundary water disputes.

Overall, the Middle East and North Africa face significant water stress, and urgent action is needed to secure a water-resilient future for the region's populations.

Water infrastructure in developing countries

Developing countries are particularly vulnerable to water shortages, flooding, and poor water quality. The lack of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (collectively referred to as WASH) disproportionately affects women and girls, who often bear the burden of collecting water and are exposed to safety and security risks during their long journeys to water sources. Additionally, the time spent on these chores prevents them from pursuing education, economic opportunities, and community involvement.

To address these challenges, countries like Canada are supporting sustainable water resources management and governance in developing countries through initiatives such as WaterAid Canada. For example, Canada has provided funding for a project in Burkina Faso, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Pakistan to improve menstrual health and hygiene through the construction of gender-sensitive WASH facilities in schools and health centres.

The World Bank has also recognised the importance of investing in water and sanitation infrastructure projects in emerging markets. They have focused on attracting private capital to the WASH sector through various mechanisms such as blending, leveraging, or guaranty facilities. However, it is important to note that simply emphasising deals may not be enough. Improving the sector's attractiveness to investors and accountability to the public is crucial, along with enhancing the technical and financial efficiency of WASH service providers.

Furthermore, studies have shown a strong link between water infrastructure and development outcomes, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Investment in water infrastructure, along with credit provision to the private sector, can drive economic growth. However, investing beyond a certain threshold relative to water infrastructure investment can lead to adverse macroeconomic effects. Therefore, it is essential to strike a balance and prioritise water-prudent energy sources, wastewater treatment, and efficient water measures to build a water-secure future.

Water pollution in South America

Latin America is home to about 30% of the world's fresh water sources, yet the region is facing a water crisis. The crisis has irreversible health effects, especially on children's lives. Less than 40% of the region's water is treated for human consumption and use, and polluted water sources are released into lakes, rivers, and oceans, contaminating them with human and animal waste. This contaminated water is then transferred through water systems into many homes.

Large bodies of water in South America, such as the Medellin River in Colombia, Guanabara Bay in Brazil, and the Riachuelo River in Argentina, are subject to wide-scale industrial and human pollution. Industrial and chemical waste from farming activities, as well as sewage waste, are dumped into these water bodies, making the water unsafe for consumption due to toxic exposure and other severe health risks.

The River Plate, the second-biggest watercourse in South America, is constantly polluted by industrial waste and chemical runoff from farming activities. The increasing river traffic also contributes to the growing contamination of this river.

Water pollution in Latin America has severe consequences, especially for children's health. Data shows that approximately two million people, mostly children under the age of five, die annually from water-related diseases. Poor water sanitation and unsafe drinking water cause diarrheal diseases, which account for a significant proportion of child deaths in the region. The Pan American Health Organization estimates that nearly 100,000 children in Latin America and the Caribbean under the age of five die each year from water pollution and other environmental hazards.

To secure water for the present and future, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean must prioritize water security in their development policies. Treating and reusing wastewater, improving water infrastructure, and adopting more sustainable water use practices are essential steps to address the water pollution crisis in South America.

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