Drinking from the tap is a common practice in most households. Some opt to add another layer of security by installing a water filter.
TorHoerman Law highlights how the effects of water contamination can last decades. The water supply in America is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). But have you ever thought about how your water gets contaminated? More importantly, have you considered the effects of said contamination? Let’s take a look.
Common Ways Water Gets Contaminated
There are two broad categories of ways water can be contaminated, known as point source contamination, and nonpoint source contamination.
Point Source Contamination
According to the EPA, point source contamination takes place from a singular point of origin. For example, a pipe opening into a river. These sources are easy to pinpoint. Generally, industrial buildings, manufacturing plants, and factories are recognized as point source contaminations. When a manufacturing process requires water as part of the operation,it results in point source water contamination.
Due to its propensity to harm the environment, point source water contamination is highly regulated by the EPA. Organizations have to file for permissions and meet regulatory requirements.
Non-Point Source Contamination
Non-point source contamination is a little trickier to tackle. When compared to point source contamination, it is harder to track down the source of contamination.
Non-point source contamination is attributed to a wider area, and the source is harder to identify. Here are some common examples.
Agricultural Works
Agricultural operations like farming often employ pesticides and fertilizers. Some insist on using sustainable, toxic-free fertilizers. Additional innovations like coffee being used as a fertilizer for plants are also coming up every so often. However, many fertilizers and pesticides are riddled with toxic chemicals. These chemicals infuse themselves into the water, and make it into larger water bodies, causing them to become contaminated.
Urban Areas
Our city streets can be full of contaminants like animal feces, oils, and other chemicals from vehicles, and construction site materials.. When it rains, these contaminants make their way into various waterways.
The Effects Of Water Pollution
Effects On Your Health
It is estimated that water not safe for consumption results in over 1 billion people falling sick every year. Those from lower socio-economic backgrounds face the majority of the burden. Due to the introduction of highly harmful materials like arsenic and nitrates making their way into our water supply, our health is put at risk.
In one of the biggest water contamination calamities in the U.S., over a million residents of Camp Lejeune could have potentially been exposed to lethal chemicals present in their water supply. This caused several types of cancers (from breast cancer and kidney cancer to cervical and esophageal cancer).
Though the incident took place between 1953 and 1987, a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit is still in the works. This highlights just how lethal and long-lasting the effects of water contamination can be.
Effects On The Environment
It is often recommended that you do not go out during the first few showers of the monsoon due to acid rain. This is caused by common airborne pollutants mixing in with the water.
Water pollution can also cause eutrophication, which is the excessive growth of plant life and algae in a water body. This causes a dearth of oxygen and ‘dead zones’ devoid of aquatic (or any) life. The excessive algae could also generate neurotoxins that are harmful to the environment.
What’s perhaps more harmful to the environment, however, is pollution caused by industrial operations. Oil spills and chemical leakages often contaminate water bodies and are highly lethal when it comes to wildlife. They can also be harmful to humans, if we consume foods that are high in toxins. Eating tuna with high amounts of mercury, for example.
It is not possible for individuals to directly regulate the activities of companies. However, littering habits and improper garbage processing can also result in the waste making its way into water bodies. This also poses a threat to aquatic life. Discarded utensils, plastics, and other items could potentially suffocate aquatic wildlife, like sea turtles.
Conclusion
Over 80% of sewage worldwide is reintroduced into the environment untreated. This causes massive amounts of water pollution of lakes, seas, and other water bodies, and poses a lethal threat to their inhabitants. Though humans have developed systems for water processing, we are equally at risk if we do not stay vigilant.
In a personal regard, you can make sure that your water supplier is providing you with the mandatory annual water quality reports. This way you can ensure that the water you are getting is not contaminated. We can also develop better practices like not littering, to reduce the amount of water pollution that takes place.
. But have you ever thought about how your water gets contaminated? More importantly, have you considered the effects of said contamination? Let’s take a look.){kind=link}