Water is an extremely valuable resource, but not inexhaustible. Although water accounts for more than 97% of the earth’s surface, the amount of water that can be used for domestic use and production is very little, only about 3%.
But at present, this water source is being seriously polluted due to many reasons, the main cause of which is due to production activities and human consciousness, wastewater from the production and daily activities of people discharged without Waste treatment directly into the environment leads to serious water pollution.
The scarcity of fresh water has been causing very serious consequences to the environment, ecosystems, living species, including humans, and potential war risks. Due to serious consequences such as: Therefore, we need to come up with solutions, calling on everyone to join hands to protect this precious resource, which is also to protect us and future generations. In this article, we will explore 8 effects of water pollution and how to deal with them!
Contents
What is water pollution?
Water pollution is caused by the process of water arising from human activities and production processes, which are discharged without treatment and discharged directly into the environment, which changes in the direction of worsening physical and chemical properties, and biology of water, with the appearance of foreign substances in liquid and solid form, making the water source toxic to humans and creatures. Reduce local biodiversity.
In terms of speed of spread and scale of impact, wastewater pollution is more of a concern than soil pollution. Water pollution occurs when surface water flows through domestic waste, industrial wastewater, and surface pollutants, and then seeps into groundwater.
Causes of water pollution caused by wastewater
Water pollution is caused by mulching occurring mainly in freshwater areas and coastal areas, closed seas. Due to the excess amount of mineral salts and organic matter content, organisms in the water cannot assimilate. As a result, the oxygen content in the water decreases suddenly, the toxic gases increase, and the turbidity of the water increases, causing the degradation of water bodies.
Wastewater pollution from industrial activities: Industrial wastewater: is wastewater from industrial production facilities, handicrafts, and transportation. Unlike domestic wastewater or urban wastewater, industrial wastewater does not have the same basic composition but depends on the specific industry. For example, wastewater from food processing factories often contains large amounts of organic substances; Wastewater from tanneries, in addition to organic substances, contains heavy metals, sulfides, etc.
Besides, wastewater pollution is also caused by activities: medical activities, agricultural and fishery production activities.
Harmful effects of water pollution
As mentioned above, untreated wastewater that is discharged directly into the environment will cause serious consequences as follows:
1. Impact on clean water and marine creatures
Surface water: Due to many different causes, causing an imbalance between the amount of waste discharged into the water environment (domestic waste, organic matter, …) and the organisms that consume this waste (microorganisms). plants, algae, etc.), making organic substances, suspended solids, etc. not decomposed, still remaining in the water in large volumes, leading to the water gradually losing its original purity as a substance. water resources have been severely reduced.
Water organisms: Water pollution directly affects water organisms, especially rivers, as water is most affected by pollution. Many aquatic species by absorbing toxic substances in the water, over a long period of time, cause changes in the body of many aquatic species, in some cases causing mutations.
2. Soil and soil organisms
Soil: Polluted water carries many inorganic and organic substances that seep into the soil causing serious soil pollution.
Soil organisms: When pollutants from water seep into the soil, it affects not only the soil but also the organisms living in the soil.
3. Atmosphere
Water pollution not only affects people, soil, and water but also affects the air. Toxic organic and inorganic compounds in wastewater through the water cycle, follow water vapor into the air, causing the density of dust in the air to increase. Not only that, but these vapors are also a breeding ground for microorganisms and other harmful industrial dirty gases.
4. Serious impact on human health
When the water in the living area is polluted, it will definitely make people suffer from many serious diseases. This can be seen as the most noticeable consequence.
In contaminated water, there are many bacteria and viruses such as E.coli, hepatitis B, and Shigella bacteria, they enter the human body through bathing, eating, and washing. wax daily. In addition, the water source is also contaminated with lead, arsenic, and toxic substances from factories and industrial zones, which put people at risk of cancer, polio, and miscarriage.
5. Impact on groundwater
Polluted water contains toxic substances, which gradually accumulate over time, seep into underground aquifers and cause changes in the properties of the water. When this water source is used by humans, it will cause serious consequences.
6. Effects on aquatic microorganisms
The most noticeable effect of water pollution is the mass death of aquatic organisms. Because water is considered the habitat of aquatic species. So just like humans, when the environment is polluted, they will not be able to grow or die.
7. Effects on plants
The consequences of water pollution to plants mainly come from discharges from factories. Or because people use too many chemical drugs, fertilizers, and pesticides in the process of agricultural production. This leads to the situation of planting dead or not growing trees, directly causing economic damage to farmers.
8. Impact on the economy
Consequences of water pollution cause losses to the economy. Because it costs more to fix and treat contaminated water.
How to address water pollution issues
1. Properly dispose of household waste
First, you need to prepare garbage containers with tight-fitting lids large enough to hold the waste generated during the day. In addition, it is necessary to have measures to properly dispose of domestic waste. Hygienic to avoid contaminating water sources.
2. Proper wastewater treatment
For wastewater, it is necessary to build a wastewater treatment system to treat it and then discharge it into the environment. Avoid discharge of untreated water to the outside causing water pollution. Especially wastewater from industrial and medical zones. It is necessary to go through a scientific treatment process, in accordance with regulations before being discharged into the environment.
3. Save water
To avoid the situation where clean water sources are increasingly depleted, we must join hands to save water. Reduce waste in the simplest and most practical ways such as reuse water for many different purposes, checking and maintaining water pipes, and preventing leaks, and water loss.
4. Building green agriculture
Farmers should build green agriculture by managing agricultural nutrients. This will limit the number of excess nutrients seeping into the soil and groundwater. Impacts from herbicides and pesticides can be managed using integrated pest management techniques.
5. Raise environmental awareness
This is the most important measure to protect water sources from the risk of pollution. It is only necessary for each of us to raise our own awareness and responsibility in protecting clean water sources. Then the water source will always be guaranteed safe.
Only with small actions such as throwing garbage in the right place, do not discharge toxic substances directly into the environment, use the right amount of chemical drugs according to the instructions.
Final thought
Human health: when surface water and groundwater are polluted, people are greatly affected. People living in areas with polluted water are very susceptible to cancers, genetic mutations, bacterial infections, lung diseases, etc.
Thus, the consequences of wastewater pollution are extremely great, so everyone joins hands to protect the environment to protect the health of you and their loved ones.
Top News hopes this article can help you understand more of the importance of maintaining clean water and our duty is to prevent water pollution.
Maybe you are interested: