Responsibility+of+providing+safe+drinking+water+for+all

SAFE DRINKING WATER

« Safe drinking water is important for many reasons. Firstly for the health of the people. As well as for other species. Safe water awareness should be in ever nation and taught at primary levels of school. « Education: insuring awareness of clean water is important. People need to be aware of way water is contaminated to try and avoid such events as well as young children. It is important to target the youth for they are the future of tomorrow and must help sustain the environment they live in so that later generations may have water provided for them. « It is also important to understand how important water is and not only civilians but nations should work together. Projects must be created in order to regenerate the water systems and come up with various way to uncontaminated water and clean it up. « A certain amount of money should go to funding water projects ensuring a certain amount of water that is at a healthy standard for people. « By ensuring water quality we are reducing disease that may spread to people and nations.

= « Learning about water pollution:=

A source pollutant: Something that pollutes. It can be a harmful chemical or other waste material discharged in to the water or atmosphere. Example: Easy discernable source of pollution, such as a factory

Non-point source pollutant: Pipes from cities and industries dumping untreated wastes into waterways, feedlots (animal are confined)

Effluent – Liquid waste that goes into rivers or sea. A discharge of pollutants into the environment, particularly or completely treated or in their natural state.

Non-point/Diffuse pollution: A source of pollution where wastes are not released at a specific indefinable point but from a number of places that are spread out which are difficult to identify.

II) Sources run off that carries sediments from erosion due to activities such as logging fire construction farming run off chemical fertilizers pesticides from agricultural lands, drainage acids, minerals, sediment and metals from abandoned mines. Precipitation of acid rain untraceable oil spills or dumping hazardous waste

III) Non point pollution is more of a concern because it is more difficult to concern than point source pollution. II. Major water pollutants: a) Disease causing agents: I) Any substance that is in water making it impure. Such as Bacteria, parasites, and viruses.

ii) Chlorine is used to disinfect water because it kills bacteria and microorganisms though it does not destroy many viruses

iii) The most effective way to eliminate all bacteria micro organisms and viruses is to boil water

Inorganic Chemicals: Inorganic chemicals (lead, mercury, copper arsenic and chromium

i) Heavy metals destroy many enzymes essential to life.

1) Mercury is found in many products such as dental fillings, furniture polishes, floor waxes, antibacterial and antimildew powders, medicines, fungicides for seeds florescent lights air conditioners and paints It is used in making plastics paper clothing and film. In the environment mercury is converted by bacteria into highly toxic methyl mercury. Methyl mercury is poisoning it can cause serious brain damage and nerve damage and it is absorbed by fish which we eat.

Synthetic organic compounds: 1) Detergents: Sources include cleaning in industry agriculture and home use

Many detergents contain plant nutrients nitrates and phosphates that increase the growth of water plants. When the plants and algae die, the bacteria that feed on their remains use up the oxygen in the water during their respiration. The oxygen may get so depleted that there is not enough for the other organisms that live there.

2) Oil Spills:

Oil can be spilled from any point along the way from the drilling of oil to its use in industry and the running of automobiles (including drilling equipment leaks, pipeline leaks, tanker spills, leaky cars)

Oil and all other petroleum products are poisoness to almost all organisms

3) Pesticides: Use in agriculture to kill insects that attack crops and used to kill mosquitoes and flies that attack people and other animals

Pesticides contaminate aquatic food chains, and get passed to organisms that feed on aquatic organisms. Due to bio magnification, these compounds become more concentrated as they travel through a food chain.

d) Fertilizers ii) Fertilizers get into out water as part of runoff from the land during rains and seepage into ground water.

1) Nitrate/Nitrites and phosphates are limiting factors for the growth of algae. As they accumulate in water, the algae bloom (huge population growth) As their many of their numbers die, bacteria decompose their bodies and at the same time use up the oxygen in the water, This means other organisms will lack the oxygen they need to survive

e) Sediments – soil, silt, and clay eroded from lands that are deposited in water from runoff. Fills in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs and reduces the habitat for organisms and their numbers decline

f) Oxygen demanding wastes Sewage manure food processing waste industrial waste from paper mills and oil refinery’s

As these materials are decomposed by bacteria the bacteria respire and deplete oxygen in the water. This in turn will reduce the oxygen for other organisms such as fish.

g) Radioactive materials i) Sources include erosion of radioactive rock, mining, and processing of radioactive materials; nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons testing become part of drinking water and are extremely toxic

ii) Radiation damages cells, leads to genetic defects, radiation burns, miscarriages, catorax, leukaemia, and other types of cancers

h) Thermal pollution i)Sources include water from condescending steam used to drive turbines, water from cooling systems for electricity, generating plants, many other industries which require water for cooling

ii) Reduces oxygen available in habitats for organisms Many organisms (plants and animals) do not adapt well to increased temperatures

V. Pollution of Ground Water a) Salt water and over drafting aquifers are sources of ground water. b) It may be cleaned. c) Recycle, don’t litter and avoid pollution.

S Stable Runoff: The portion of runoff from precipitation that is available throughout the year. S 80% of human health problems are from water. S Sustainable water use: Use without harm to hydrologic cycle or ecosystems that humans depend on. Available for future generations. S Maintaining Sustainable water use: Can be obtained by diverting water, dams, and removing salt from the sea.

Dams can be built for flood control and electricity though they are expensive to fund.


 * How water pollution can be prevented: Exchanging household chemicals or using them rarely. Using ammonia to clean. Don’t mix bleach with ammonia. Use mineral oil to polish and wax floors; don’t throw medicine into the sinks. Pick up pet waste and dispose it in the garbage’s vinegar to polish surface and metals and to remove stains. Don’t drive as much. Use pesticides sparingly. Replaced paved driveways with stones or bricks to allow precipitation to come out from the ground which helps decrease runoff.

Responsibility for safe drinking Water quality Water has always been and will always be a necessity to all life. Water is needed at great amounts and used daily. People must take responsibility in trying to keep water clean. Ensuring safe drinking water quality is a complication facing us all. Safe drinking water is important for many reasons. Firstly for the health of the people as well as for other species. Safe water awareness should be in ever nation and taught at primary levels of school. insuring awareness of clean water is important. People need to be aware of way water is contaminated to try and avoid such events as well as young children. It would be disaster if good water quality is not available for generations to come. Projects must be created in order to regenerate the water systems and come up with various way to uncontaminated water and clean it up. By ensuring water quality we are reducing disease that may spread to people and nations.

Recommends the addition of public programs which inform people about water quality and sustainable water use in the country: a) Agriculture b) Consumer household c) Manufacturing

