Gone from a relaxing picnic near the shoreline and thought about disposing food wastes out into the open water? Think twice. A small vicious act like this may eventually lead to water pollution and it causes more harm than you think. Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies like lakes, rivers, and oceans with hazardous substances. This form of pollution poses massive danger for mankind, animals, and the world at large. A report from World Health Organisation states that 3.1% of all deaths worldwide are caused by various factors including unsafe or inadequate water.
Wastewater significantly affects the figures that we have on world’s water pollution. On a daily average, two million tons of sewage, industrial, and agricultural wastes are thrown into the world’s water, which parallels to the weight of the human population of 6.8 billion people. Information from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reveals that 70% of industrial waste is dumped into the water that pollutes usable water supplies.
Waterborne diseases mostly cause the deaths of children five years and below, and many people die from unsafe water each year. In some areas of the world, more than 50% of native freshwater species are at threat of extinction because of water pollution.
More studies have been released to highlight the danger that our world water is presently in. As concerned individuals, let’s take some initiatives to preserve and conserve the water that we have. Here are few tips:
● It takes over 260 litres of water to fill a bathtub. Use showers instead of taking baths
● Fix and stop water leaks
● Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth
● Limit the time you take in the shower
● Use a broom instead of a hose when cleaning your driveway
● Recycle water used for washing clothes to flush the toilet
● Use the same drinking glass for the entire day
Sources:
http://pacinst.org/app/uploads/2013/02/water_quality_facts_and_stats3.pdf
