Contaminated Water: A Poisonous Drink

Water is an essential resource for all living beings, and access to safe and clean drinking water is a basic human right. However, water pollution, caused by both human and natural factors, poses a significant threat to this right. Polluted water contains various contaminants, including chemicals, waste, plastic, heavy metals, and disease-causing microbes, which can lead to several short- and long-term health effects such as gastrointestinal illnesses, nervous system damage, reproductive issues, and chronic diseases like cancer. The impact of polluted water is far-reaching, with billions of people worldwide lacking access to clean drinking water, especially in rural and low-income communities. This lack of access to safe drinking water has severe implications for human health, with waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis being common, and approximately 829,000 people dying each year from diarrhea caused by unsafe drinking water.

Contaminants in water

Contaminated drinking water can have severe health implications. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 2 billion people worldwide have no choice but to drink water contaminated by faeces, exposing them to diseases such as cholera, hepatitis A, dysentery, typhoid, and polio. The UN estimates that diarrhoeal diseases linked to a lack of hygiene kill about 1,000 children a day globally.

Water pollution is caused by both human and natural factors. Human activities that directly affect water quality include urbanisation, population growth, industrial production, climate change, and religious activities. For example, the felling of forests can generate organic residues, which become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria. Chemical dumping from industrial sectors is one of the main causes of water eutrophication. The transportation and storage of oil and its derivatives are also subject to leakages that pollute water resources. In addition, agricultural activities contaminate water with nitrates, phosphorus, pesticides, soil sediments, salts, and pathogens.

Natural sources of water contamination also exist. For example, groundwater can become contaminated as it travels through rock and soil, picking up naturally occurring arsenic, heavy metals, or radionuclides. Mercury, which filters from the Earth's crust, is another example of a natural contaminant.

The effects of some drinking water contaminants are not yet fully understood. However, exposure to high doses of chemicals can lead to skin discolouration or more severe problems, such as nervous system or organ damage, and developmental or reproductive issues. Long-term exposure to lower doses of contaminants can also lead to chronic conditions such as cancer.

Waterborne pathogens, in the form of disease-causing bacteria and viruses from human and animal waste, are a major cause of illness from contaminated drinking water. Even in wealthy nations, accidental or illegal releases from sewage treatment facilities, as well as runoff from farms and urban areas, contribute harmful pathogens to waterways.

Short- and long-term health effects

Consuming polluted water can have a range of adverse health effects, both immediate and long-term. The specific consequences depend on the type of contaminant and the concentration in the water, as well as individual susceptibility. Here are some of the key short- and long-term health impacts associated with drinking polluted water:

Short-Term Health Effects

The presence of disease-causing microbes, bacteria, and viruses in contaminated water can lead to waterborne illnesses. These include gastrointestinal issues such as stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and kidney failure. Infectious diseases such as cholera, hepatitis, typhoid fever, dysentery, and giardia are also common consequences of drinking contaminated water. In addition, exposure to high doses of chemicals found in polluted water can cause skin discolouration and other dermatological issues.

Long-Term Health Effects

Long-term consumption of contaminated water can lead to severe health issues, including nervous system damage, organ damage, and reproductive and developmental problems. Certain contaminants, such as heavy metals and pesticides, can accumulate in the body over time, leading to chronic illnesses like cancer. Even low doses of contaminants over prolonged periods can have detrimental long-term effects.

The impact of polluted water on human health is far-reaching. While some consequences are immediate and visible, such as waterborne illnesses, others are subtle and emerge over time. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize access to clean and safe drinking water to mitigate the adverse health effects associated with contaminated water sources.

Waterborne pathogens

Fecal matter is a significant source of waterborne pathogens, with common sources including sewers, septic systems, and animal wastes. Inadequate wastewater treatment and ageing city sewer systems can allow faecal matter to contaminate water sources, leading to the presence of harmful bacteria such as E. coli and other coliform bacteria. These bacteria can cause various illnesses, including diarrhoea, vomiting, cramps, nausea, and even death in vulnerable individuals.

Agricultural activities contribute to water pollution by releasing nitrates, phosphorus, pesticides, soil sediments, salts, and pathogens into water sources. Every time it rains, these contaminants wash into waterways, leading to nutrient pollution and harmful algal blooms. This type of pollution can render water toxic to humans and wildlife, causing health issues such as diarrhoeal diseases and even cancer.

Industrial activities also play a role in water pollution, with untreated or partially treated wastewater used for irrigation in some developing countries. This can lead to food pollution, pesticide residues, and heavy metal contamination, all of which pose risks to human health. Additionally, water pollution from industry has been linked to skin diseases and skin cancer in some studies.

To address the issue of waterborne pathogens, organisations like the WHO and UNICEF collaborate on initiatives such as WASH FIT, which aims to improve water safety and sanitation in healthcare facilities. Regular testing of public water systems for coliform bacteria and E. coli is also crucial to ensure the detection and prevention of harmful pathogens in drinking water.

Water pollution sources

Water pollution is a severe issue that jeopardizes human health, the environment, and the economy. It is caused by various factors, and understanding these sources is crucial for addressing and mitigating the problem.

One significant source of water pollution is agricultural activities. The agricultural sector is the largest consumer of freshwater, with farming and livestock production using about 70% of the world's surface water supplies. However, it is also a leading contributor to water degradation. Fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste from farms wash into waterways during rainfall, leading to nutrient pollution. This excess nitrogen and phosphorus in water can cause harmful algal blooms, posing risks to both human health and wildlife.

Industrial activities also play a substantial role in water pollution. Factories, power plants, and other manufacturing facilities release toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and waste into water bodies, either directly or through airborne pollutants that eventually find their way into the land and water. This includes radioactive waste from nuclear energy facilities, which, if not properly disposed of, can release highly toxic uranium into the environment.

Sewage and wastewater treatment plants are another essential source of water pollution. While these facilities are designed to treat wastewater and reduce pollutants, they can also become overwhelmed or aged, releasing untreated wastewater containing pathogens, phosphorus, nitrogen, and other contaminants into waterways.

Additionally, pollution from everyday human activities contributes significantly to water contamination. Oil and gasoline leaks from vehicles, as well as improper disposal of chemicals and waste, can lead to water pollution. Accidental or illegal releases from sewage treatment facilities and runoff from farms and urban areas further exacerbate the problem.

Lastly, natural sources can also render groundwater unsuitable for drinking. As groundwater travels through rock and soil, it can pick up naturally occurring contaminants such as arsenic, heavy metals, or radionuclides, making it unsafe for human consumption.

Addressing water pollution requires a comprehensive understanding of these sources and the implementation of effective measures to reduce and prevent contamination, thereby protecting human health and the environment.

Water quality improvement

Drinking water contaminated with pollutants and pathogens can lead to various health issues, including gastrointestinal illnesses, nervous system damage, reproductive issues, and chronic diseases such as cancer. It can also cause waterborne diseases like cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. Therefore, improving water quality is essential to safeguard public health and the environment.

One approach to improving water quality is through riparian buffers, which aim to mitigate the negative impacts of intensive agricultural activities near streams and rivers. This involves establishing a sufficiently wide and mixed vegetation strip on both sides of a stream to retain nutrients, fine sediments, and toxic substances, such as pesticides, that might otherwise enter the water bodies. Additionally, the vegetation provides shade and organic material, supporting the habitat and food sources for aquatic life, thereby promoting biological diversity.

Another strategy is to focus on instream habitat improvements, buffer strips, and weir removals. Wetlands, for instance, can significantly contribute to water quality improvement by reducing suspended sediments, retaining pollutants and nutrients, and decreasing sedimentation rates downstream. Furthermore, volunteer activities, such as monitoring programs, can help track the condition of local water bodies and foster a better understanding of water resources, thereby facilitating improved water quality management.

It is important to recognize that water pollution transcends geographical boundaries, and contamination in one area can affect another region or country. Therefore, collaborative efforts and the implementation of strategies by communities, organizations, and governments are essential to improving and maintaining water quality on a global scale.

Frequently asked questions