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Water Pollution: Sources, Risks and Prevention

Water pollution can be defined as a collection of negative, human-generated effects on lakes, rivers, ocean, and groundwater supplies.

Water pollution comes in different varieties, including:

• chemical pollution
• groundwater pollution
• microbiological water pollution
• nutrient pollution
• oxygen depletion
• suspended or particulate matter pollution
• surface water pollution.

You might hear a lot about water pollution, and you may even think that it is no longer a problem. But consider this: The International Water Management Institute contends that most countries in the Middle East and North Africa are subject to absolute water scarcity, meaning a physical shortage of water resources. That's pretty amazing when you consider that water covers 70 percent of the planet's surface.

This prospect casts the problem of water pollution in a dire light, particularly with billions of pounds of waste being dumped into the oceans annually and trillions of gallons of wastewater entering water systems every year despite legal efforts to curb it. The scale of this problem is global, and implementing ways to prevent water pollution is of critical importance.

Sources of Water Pollution
The causes of water pollution are numerous. In general, the sources can be grouped in the following categories:

• agricultural runoff filled with pesticides and fertilizers
• atmospheric deposition (i.e., acid rain)
• eutrophication of the environment leading to hazardous nutrient levels
• global warming
• industrial waste
• marine dumping
• oil spills
• poorly or untreated sewage and wastewater
• radioactive waste
• slash-and-burn farming
• surface runoff, particularly from storms, that contains petroleum, detergents or impervious materials (e.g., silt)
• underground storage leaks.

Health Hazards Of Water Pollution
It is estimated that more than a billion people lack safe drinking water, while some five million people die annually from waterborne diseases. Water pollution is a danger to the health of humans, animals and plants, and while its impact is not necessarily immediate, the long-term effects can be fatal. The developing world is particularly at risk, especially children in developing countries.

Acid rain, heavy metals and other waste from industrial processes and sewage-borne pathogens can lead to the following health problems:

• birth defects
• cancer
• cholera
• developmental retardation
• immune system suppression
• typhoid fever.

When water pollution harms fish, shellfish and plants, the consequent disruptions in the ecosystem have implications for those higher up the food chain as well.

Global Water Pollution Problems
Worldwide, poor governance, resource mismanagement and population pressures have not only exacerbated water scarcity issues but also increased water pollution. With water resources already limited in many countries, the likelihood of international conflict over water is increasing.

Water scarcity and pollution are, like many other issues, linked to economics. At the international level, efforts to grapple with these issues are bedeviled by divisions between developed and developing countries. In order to curb water pollution and water scarcity, international cooperation is a necessity.

Ways To Prevent Water Pollution
Clearly, preventing water pollution must occur at local, national, regional and international levels. In order to achieve this goal, people must be educated and made aware of the problem.

Storm water pollution prevention programs are one way to prevent water pollution at the local level. In agriculture, pesticide contamination can be curbed through soil and water conservation, integrated pest management systems, efficient pesticide application and by using of less-leachable pesticides. Further, a multi-barrier approach involving the safeguarding of sources (e.g., lakes and rivers), water treatment and water distribution can secure drinking water.

Many of the ways to address water pollution are expensive and complicated by politics. However, there are a number of effective steps you can take as an individual to prevent water pollution, including:

• Avoid buying toxic products.
• Avoid landscaping with impervious materials (e.g., concrete).
• Conserve water.
• Cut your lawn less often and avoid over fertilizing.
• Dispose of hazardous household products appropriately.
• Maintain your septic systems.
• Recycle and properly dispose of trash.
• Use efficient irrigation techniques.
• Use natural fertilizers.

Conserving Water Around the House
Of the above practices, water conservation is of particular importance and is one of the easiest for people to consistently apply. Here are some ways to conserve water around the house:

• Avoid using water-softening systems.
• Check for hidden water leaks.
• Don't use the toilet as a wastebasket.
• Install low-flow toilets and showerheads.
• Insulate hot water pipes.
• Maintain toilets.
• Only run dishwashers when they are fully loaded.
• Plant only drought-resistant shrubs and plants. 
• Purchase flow-restricting faucet aerators.
• Purchase instant water heaters for kitchen sinks.
• Take shorter showers. 
• Thaw meat overnight rather than under running water.
• Use a broom rather than a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.
• Use air-to-air heat pumps or air conditioning systems.
• Use hot water recirculation devices.
• Water your lawn only during the cool parts of the day and avoid watering when it's windy.