Deadly Water Pollution: The Most Dangerous Forms

Water pollution is a critical global issue, with far-reaching consequences for human health and the environment. Unsafe water kills more people annually than war and other forms of violence combined. Contaminated drinking water is a significant concern, with an estimated 1.7 billion people worldwide relying on sources tainted by faeces, leading to diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and polio. Industrial, urban, and agricultural waste, as well as untreated sewage, are major contributors to water pollution, with heavy metals, chemicals, and pathogens causing serious illnesses and even death. Groundwater, a vital yet invisible resource, is also at risk, with pollutants like pesticides and fertilizers seeping into aquifers and rendering them unusable for decades or even millennia. The impact of water pollution extends beyond human health, threatening wildlife, plants, and entire ecosystems. With pollution incidents on the rise, the challenge of safeguarding our water sources is more pressing than ever.

Human health: Polluted water can be deadly, causing illnesses and diseases such as Legionnaires’ disease, diarrhoea, cholera, and cancer

Groundwater contamination: Contaminants from pesticides, fertilizers, and waste can render groundwater unsafe for human use, impacting those who rely on it for drinking water

Groundwater contamination is a critical issue, impacting the lives of those who rely on it for drinking water. Groundwater becomes contaminated when pollutants, such as pesticides, fertilizers, and waste, make their way into aquifers, rendering the water unsafe for human consumption. This is a significant problem, especially in agricultural areas, where about 95% of the population depends on groundwater for their drinking water needs.

Pesticides, designed to kill pests like insects, weeds, and fungi, can contaminate groundwater through various pathways. One common route is runoff, where rainfall or irrigation water carries pesticides over the ground and into water bodies. This risk is heightened by high rainfall levels and improper pesticide application, such as over-application. Pesticides can also reach groundwater through leaching, where they move with infiltrating water through the soil to the water table. The solubility, stability, and persistence of pesticides influence their ability to reach and impact groundwater.

Fertilizers, often containing nitrates, can also contaminate groundwater. These chemicals can enter water supplies through septic systems or fertilizer application on fields. Like pesticides, fertilizers can be carried by runoff and leaching, impacting both shallow and deep groundwater.

Waste from landfills and septic systems can also render groundwater unsafe. This includes chemical waste and pollutants like lead, which can leach into groundwater from corroded pipes and plumbing fixtures. Other contaminants, such as arsenic and fluoride, can occur naturally in groundwater, posing health risks to those who consume it.

Once groundwater becomes contaminated, it is challenging and costly to remediate. The slow movement of groundwater means that contamination can persist for decades, rendering aquifers unusable and spreading pollution to streams, lakes, and oceans. This highlights the importance of preventive measures, such as proper pesticide and fertilizer handling, to protect groundwater sources.

To ensure safe drinking water, individuals can take precautions such as installing water filtration systems or testing their water for contaminants. However, addressing the root causes of groundwater contamination requires collective efforts, including improved wastewater management and adherence to water quality guidelines.

Transboundary pollution: Contaminated water from one country can spill into the waters of another, affecting international waters and ecosystems

Transboundary pollution is a critical issue that affects international waters and ecosystems. It occurs when contaminated water from one country spills into the waters of another, impacting the environment beyond its original borders. This type of pollution knows no boundaries and can spread across hundreds or even thousands of kilometres, affecting multiple nations.

There are two types of sources for transboundary water contamination: point sources and non-point sources. Point sources refer to specific discharges, such as industrial effluents or oil spills from tankers, which typically affect areas near the discharge site. On the other hand, non-point sources originate from various distinct sources and enter the water through different pathways, such as urban waste or agricultural surplus, impacting locations far from the original contamination site.

Transboundary pollution poses significant challenges, including the disproportionate impact on low-emission nations. Pollutants from developed countries can spread to remote areas, such as the Arctic, through mechanisms like wind transportation and the movement of Arctic seabirds. These birds, while seeking food, come into contact with polluted ocean waters and become carriers of contaminants, spreading them inland.

The management of transboundary waters requires close cooperation among countries. For example, the Western Dvina river catchment is shared among five countries, necessitating collaboration for successful river basin management and ecological preservation. Additionally, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Water Convention provides a legal framework for worldwide transboundary water cooperation. However, as of 2024, at least 20 countries lack any arrangements for sharing transboundary waters, underscoring the urgent need for improved monitoring, information sharing, and cooperation among governments.

To address transboundary water pollution, economic integration across borders is vital. Sectors such as agriculture, industry, energy, and water supply and sanitation must work together on a supranational level. By efficiently managing and developing shared waters and adjacent floodplains, countries can boost food and energy production, reduce poverty, and control rural-urban migration.

Industrial waste: Factories and industrial sites dump toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and waste into rivers and oceans, causing environmental and health issues

Industrial waste is a significant contributor to water pollution, with factories and industrial sites dumping toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and waste into rivers, lakes, and oceans. This has severe environmental and health impacts, and the pollution is not contained within the borders of a single country, affecting multiple nations.

The production of industrial goods generates wastewater contaminated with toxic substances. These substances include heavy metals such as zinc, nickel, copper, cadmium, lead, and selenium, which are used in manufacturing cars, mining, and exhaust air systems. Hazardous wastes, which are highly flammable and corrosive, also come from construction, demolition, manufacturing, trade, and waste treatment processes. Petroleum products, used as fuel or lubricating oil, are another source of pollution, as well as the plastic manufacturing process.

The improper disposal of industrial waste has dire consequences for aquatic life and humans. The hazardous substances from industry are difficult to biodegrade and accumulate in water sediments, harming fish, crustaceans, and other creatures. These toxins enter the food chain, leading to large fish like tuna accumulating toxins such as mercury. Additionally, industrial pollution causes eutrophication, where harmful algal blooms produce neurotoxins that affect various marine life, from whales to sea turtles.

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has faced criticism for failing to update and enforce regulations to limit pollution from dirty industries. The Clean Water Act mandates the EPA to set limits on industrial pollution in waterways, but the agency has been accused of neglecting its duty, allowing corporations to continue polluting under outdated standards. This has resulted in approximately half of the assessed waterways failing national water quality standards.

The impact of industrial water pollution is felt globally, with emerging countries like China, India, Africa, and South America experiencing rapid industrial growth without adequate environmental policies and enforcement. The illegal discharge of wastewater from industries into rivers and lakes is commonplace in these regions, contributing to the worsening state of water pollution worldwide.