Water Pollution Watchdogs: Reporting On Aquatic Health

Water pollution is a pressing global issue that affects one in three people and jeopardizes health and economic growth. It is caused by human activities such as industrial waste, sewage, and agricultural runoff, which contaminate water sources with chemicals, waste, plastic, and other pollutants. These activities generate toxic substances that dissolve in water, changing its composition and making it unusable for drinking or essential purposes like agriculture. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) recognize water pollution as a significant concern, with the former defining polluted water as water that has become toxic and unusable. The Clean Water Act mandates that states monitor water pollution and report it to the EPA, while organizations like the CDC and USGS collect and provide access to data on water quality and potential health risks. These efforts are crucial in addressing the challenges posed by water pollution and ensuring safe and sustainable access to this vital resource.

Oil spills and leaks

Oil spills can result from the release of crude oil from tankers, offshore platforms, drilling rigs, and wells. They may also involve spills of refined petroleum products, such as gasoline and diesel fuel, as well as their by-products. Oil spills can harm sea creatures, ruin beaches, and make seafood unsafe to eat. Oil penetrates the structure of the plumage of birds and the fur of mammals, reducing its insulating ability and making them more vulnerable to temperature changes and much less buoyant in the water. Oil spills can also have severe economic and social consequences, including the potential closure of beaches, parks, and fisheries, as well as fire hazards.

The cleanup and recovery process after an oil spill is complex and challenging. It depends on various factors, including the type of oil spilled, the temperature of the water, and the types of shorelines and beaches involved. Cleanup activities can never remove 100% of the spilled oil, and scientists must be cautious to avoid causing further harm. For example, after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, it was found that the use of high-pressure, hot-water hoses to clean up beaches caused more damage than the oil alone.

Oil pollution comes from various sources, including oil spills from large tankers, individual tanks within ships, and land-based sources such as factories, farms, and cities. According to the United States National Research Council (NRC), approximately 1.3 million tonnes of oil are released into the sea each year. It is worth noting that a significant portion of oil pollution comes from non-point sources, such as industrial and domestic runoff, which are difficult to measure accurately.

To address oil spills and leaks, it is crucial to properly dispose of oil, paint, and hazardous chemicals. Public policies, such as the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, have been implemented to hold responsible parties accountable for the cleanup and restoration process.

Sewage and waste

Wastewater is any water that has been used and is no longer fit for consumption or other purposes. It includes water from our sinks, showers, and toilets (sewage) and water from commercial, industrial, and agricultural activities. More than 80% of the world's wastewater is discharged back into the environment without proper treatment, according to the United Nations. This untreated wastewater contains harmful substances such as pathogens, phosphorus, nitrogen, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals.

Sewage, a component of wastewater, is a primary source of disease-causing microorganisms and organic waste. When released into water bodies, sewage can promote the growth of algae, leading to eutrophication. Eutrophication is a process where excessive nutrients, typically from sewage or agricultural runoff, cause an overgrowth of algae. This algae consumes oxygen, creating "dead zones" where aquatic life cannot survive due to a lack of oxygen. Additionally, sewage can contain microplastics, which can enter the food chain and accumulate in humans who consume seafood.

The impact of sewage and wastewater on ecosystems and human health is significant. In Roatan, Honduras, for example, the successful rehabilitation of a wastewater treatment facility led to a reduction in pollution, benefiting local communities and coral reefs. Conversely, in Puakō, Hawaii, untreated sewage seeps into groundwater and flows into the ocean, endangering coral reefs and human health. Similarly, more than 3.5 million Americans suffer health issues such as skin rashes, respiratory infections, and hepatitis due to sewage-laden coastal waters.

To address the challenges posed by sewage and wastewater, innovative solutions are being explored. Experts emphasize the need for a mindset shift, encouraging society to view sewage and wastewater as resources rather than solely as pollutants. While technology plays a crucial role, a comprehensive suite of solutions is required, demanding a sweeping change in perspective.

Microplastics

Water pollution is a pressing issue that jeopardizes human health and safety. Unsafe water is responsible for more deaths annually than war and all other forms of violence combined, with an estimated 1 million people dying each year from diarrhoea caused by unsafe drinking water, sanitation, and poor hand hygiene. Water pollution arises from various sources, including industrial, agricultural, and domestic activities, all of which contribute to the contamination of water sources.

The presence of microplastics in marine wildlife is well-documented, and the impact of biomagnification means that these particles can become concentrated in humans who consume seafood. This has led to efforts by organizations like the NOAA Marine Debris Program to research and address the issue. Standardized field methods for collecting sediment, sand, and surface-water microplastic samples are being developed and tested to facilitate global comparisons of microplastic pollution and inform strategies to mitigate this environmental challenge.

The United States banned the use of microbeads in 2015 with the Microbead-Free Waters Act, recognizing the potential harm these particles pose to aquatic ecosystems. Despite this ban, microplastics remain a pervasive problem, with plastic continuing to find its way into our oceans and water sources. The agricultural sector, as the biggest consumer of global freshwater resources, plays a significant role in this regard, as fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste contribute to the contamination of rivers, streams, wetlands, lakes, estuaries, and groundwater.

Addressing the issue of microplastics in water pollution requires a multifaceted approach. While bans on microbeads in personal care products are a step in the right direction, more comprehensive measures are needed to reduce plastic pollution as a whole. This includes improving water supply and sanitation infrastructure, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and advocating for responsible consumer choices to reduce the overall plastic footprint.

Chemical dumping

Water pollution is a severe issue that jeopardizes human health and safety. Chemical dumping is a significant contributor to water pollution, with toxic chemicals being released into waterways and causing contamination and degradation. In 2020, it was reported that nearly 200 million pounds of toxic chemicals were dumped into US waterways, with polluters in just 10 states being responsible for more than half of the contaminants released. This toxic discharge included cancer-linked chemicals and flowed into one-third of local watersheds across the country.

Industrial sites, construction sites, and factories are major sources of chemical dumping. The use and production of toxic chemicals in these sites can lead to water pollution when rainwater washes the chemicals into the soil or directly into nearby water bodies. This type of industrial water pollution has severe impacts on both aquatic life and human health. For example, thermal pollution occurs when harmful chemicals are deposited at the bottom of a water body, leading to reduced oxygen levels and large-scale algae loss.

Additionally, the agricultural sector is a significant contributor to water pollution. Fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste from farms can wash nutrients and pathogens, including bacteria and viruses, into waterways. Nutrient pollution, caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus, is the top threat to water quality worldwide and often leads to toxic algal blooms.

To address chemical dumping and water pollution, there have been suggestions to restrict the use of toxic chemicals in product manufacturing and to locate chemical storage facilities away from waterways. Strengthening pollution controls and implementing pollution control equipment and measures are also crucial steps in mitigating the impacts of chemical dumping on water sources.

Water quality standards

WQS regulation requires states, territories, and authorized tribes to specify goals and expectations for each water body's usage. Designated uses can include protection and propagation of aquatic life, such as fish, shellfish, and wildlife, as well as agricultural, industrial, and navigational purposes. To protect these designated uses, states, territories, and authorized tribes adopt water quality criteria, which can be numeric or narrative. Numeric criteria specify the maximum pollutant concentration levels permitted in a water body, while narrative criteria describe the desired conditions, such as being "free from" certain negative conditions.

The importance of water quality standards cannot be overstated, as they play a crucial role in safeguarding human health and aquatic life. Unsafe water is a leading cause of death, killing more people annually than war and all other forms of violence combined. Water pollution, caused by various human activities, poses a significant threat to the quality of our water sources. These activities include the release of toxic chemicals, trash, sewage, oil spills, and microorganisms into water bodies, leading to contamination and ecosystem disruption.

Agricultural practices, in particular, contribute significantly to water pollution. Fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste from farms wash nutrients and pathogens, including bacteria and viruses, into our waterways. This nutrient pollution, caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus, is the primary threat to water quality worldwide and often results in harmful algal blooms. Additionally, the natural presence of chemicals, such as arsenic and fluoride in groundwater, can also have significant health impacts.

To address these challenges, organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) play a vital role. WHO produces international norms on water quality and human health, providing guidelines used as the basis for regulation and standard-setting worldwide. These guidelines support the attainment of the lowest possible burden of water and sanitation-related diseases through primary prevention.

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