Roughly 70% of the Earth’s surface is water. It’s a precious resource, and everyone depends on it for survival. Without water, almost all organisms will die. Unfortunately, several water sources are contaminated. People suffer as a result of the contamination. They don’t have access to clean drinking water while others are forced to drink whatever is available to survive. They end up getting sick of waterborne diseases. The good thing is that the use of the Big Berkey water filter could solve this issue. These are the possible reasons for water contamination that you need to be aware of. For more information on the Big Berkey water filter, check out the USA Berkey website today!
Industrial waste
Several industries have poor management of resources. It includes the disposal of waste. Most companies involved in manufacturing and other industries end up throwing their trash in open waters. The worst part is that the trash may contain poisonous chemicals such as mercury and lead. They easily contaminated water sources and deprive people of clean drinking water. Toxic chemicals may change the color of the water or may contain harmful organisms that could lead to severe illness.
Sewage
Each household produces sewage and wastewater. It usually gets treated before released in the open waters. Unfortunately, proper treatment rarely happens. As such, the moment it gets released, the water still contains hazardous chemicals and harmful microorganisms. Some of them could be fatal.
Mining
Mining involves the crushing of each to extract coal and other minerals from the ground. When extracted in raw form, they may contain harmful chemicals. They could mix with water and lead to serious health issues. Mining also leads to the emission of large amounts of metal waste that could further ruin clean water sources. Water contamination is only one of the several harmful effects of mining. The worst part is that most governments still permit mining operations for financial reasons. It’s such a huge money-making industry that’s too hard to resist.
Dumping of waste in the seas
Waste segregation and disposal remain an issue. The trash usually ends in landfills that are already at capacity. The lack of segregation allows non-biodegradable waste to keep piling up. Since landfills are already full, some people and manufacturers decide to dump waste in the open waters. It leads to contamination and even death of marine animals.
Oil spill
Vessels containing large amounts of oil require proper handling. An oil spill could be detrimental to marine lives and water sources. It also takes years for the affected areas to recover. Unfortunately, despite cautious, an oil spill happened several times in the past. There’s also no guarantee that it won’t happen again. Oil is a huge contaminant and shouldn’t be present in the open waters at all costs.
Fertilizers and pesticides
These chemicals play a huge role in agriculture. Without them, crops wouldn’t grow. The problem is when they mix up with water sources. They could contaminate water sources and they won’t be potable anymore. Another problem is when the chemicals evaporate and mix with the clouds. When it rains, the chemicals could easily spread across different locations.
Urban development
There’s nothing wrong with urban development. It’s part of a country’s growth. The problem is when it’s not carefully done. Instead of developing certain areas, the process makes things worse. Water contamination is one of the side effects of urban development. It also includes deforestation since some forests have to be destroyed to construct buildings. Unfortunately, societal progress has unintended consequences, and water contamination is one of them.
Leakage from landfills
The presence of landfills alone is already a huge problem. Most of them are already saturated. Since people don’t segregate trash, landfills are at their maximum capacity. If that’s not yet something to be bothered about, you can add to it the possibility of leakage. Contaminated water may leak from the landfill and it could pollute groundwater. It could seep into water systems and contaminate our drinking water. It’s even worse for those who live near landfills. They might not even notice the changes in their water source.
It’s frustrating, but it’s not over
Experiencing water pollution can be frustrating. You’re lucky if you have access to clean drinking water. However, if you’re like millions of people from developing nations, you might not have the same luck. They still suffer from a lack of access to drinking water. Children die of starvation and dehydration. Those who survive end up being malnourished and have severe illnesses.
The good thing is that actions are already taken to address these issues. More efforts are done to protect groundwater and other prices of drinking water. Governments are also under immense pressure to prioritize the needs of the people over other economic and personal benefits. Water is a basic need, and nothing could be more important than that.
Water filters are also available which makes dirty water clean and potable. They might come at a price, but they’re worth the cost. If there are no actions taken to build and manage water infrastructure, at least these filters could help. There have also been a lot of advances in this technology to make it more effective in filtering water. They were also designed to be cheaper and easier to access.
It’s our responsibility
We can’t keep complaining about unequal access to water which should be a basic human right. The problem is that we are also guilty of polluting water sources and making them difficult to access. If we change our ways, we can help others have access to clean drinking water.
For instance, instead of supporting the use of a landfill, you have to start a zero-waste system at home. You can create a compost pit where you can throw biodegradable waste materials. You can also identify items that are still recyclable and identify ways to reuse them. You may also sell these things to recycling centers and make money. If everyone takes steps to prevent pollution, more people will have access to clean drinking water.