Water pollution compounds the problems the world has with water shortages and scarce water supplies. There is so little potable water available worldwide, .007% according to most resources, that by polluting any of it, we are greatly reducing what we have available for living. If everyone reduces their contribution to water pollution, we'd have clean water to maintain a healthy environment and way of life.
Water pollution is a big problem all over the world. The statistics are staggering, concerning the degree of pollution in our lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans. This observation should propel us to make changes in what we do to help decrease water pollution. The changes might include those in our lifestyle and attitudes or opinions.
Change is what's needed help make the water sources around the world healthier for humans and for the environment. If changes are not made now, then in the future, water supplies around will not be fit for human consumption or use. Making changes will first take gaining some knowledge about water pollution.
Water pollution is a big problem around the world. Here are a few statistics to demonstrate the extent of the problem.
- Asian rivers are the most polluted in the world.
- Forty-six percent of the lakes in the United States are too polluted for fishing, swimming, and for fish to live.
- Bangladesh has the most polluted groundwater in the world.
- Eighty percent of the water pollution in the world comes from land-based activities that we participate in.
These are just a few of the facts that can be found. The facts just underscore the importance of learning more about water pollution so that we can help make the water sources across the world safer for us and for the environment. What can we do about water pollution?
We first must learn more about the causes of water pollution before we can take steps to help decrease the amount of pollution in the water. Some of the more common causes of water pollution include:
- Chemicals released into the water as waste by industries
- Runoff from pesticide or herbicide usage
- Runoff that contains petroleum substances
- Surface rnoff that contains detergents or fertilizers
- Bacteria from untreated or poorly treated sewage or livestock that runs into the water
- Food processing waste
All of these pollutants are directly caused by human activity. This human activity has led many countries across the world to enact regulations to try to cut down on the amount of contaminants that are released into the water. In the United States, the Clean Water Act and the Environmental Protection Agency have helped to decrease some of the pollution in the country. Other countries are trying to regulate the pollution causes by enacting laws with severe punishment or fines and offering incentives to industries and manufacturers who take measures to decrease their affect on the water in their area.
These regulations, reforms, and laws are ways that the governments are trying to help make the water supplies better across the world. Unfortunately, though, it will still take some work effort from the people in the countries to make a significant impact upon the water pollution.
Water is essential to human life. Without it, we would die and so would life on the planet. Clean water is imperative for a healthy life too. That is why it is so important to learn more about water pollution around the world so we can help to make the water sources healthier for plant and animal life, the environment, and for ourselves. Knowledge is essential to decreasing the level of water pollution around the world, but action must accompany that knowledge. The action is up to us.
