5 Interesting Facts About Water Pollution

Water or H₂O is one of the main sources of life, a compound making up an average 65% of our body and 71% of the earth’s surface. When speaking of water most people think about oceans, which constitute 97% of the bodies of water on the globe. Yet water on our planet can also be found in lakes, rivers, glaciers, ice, ponds and of course underground aquifers.

Unfortunately, when it comes to our environment, all of these bodies of water are in danger of becoming polluted if they are not already.

Alongside many myths concerning water pollution there are a few facts we should all know concerning contaminated water and the possible future shortage of clean water we are globally faced with. Here are the top five facts about water pollution:

1. We can’t drink saltwater

This fact might seem a bit silly to start off with, but one that is very important to understand. Most of the water we have on this planet comes from the ocean, which means saltwater. If we can’t drink saltwater that leaves us with much lower numbers to begin with. Remember that 97% figure at the top? Cross that out. That water is unfortunately irrelevant for human consumption.

2. Only 20% of contaminated water is caused by water based pollutants

Also known as point source pollution, this kind of contamination is caused when waste is discharged directly into the water. The most recent event of this kind would be the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Yet, as noted on top, only 20% of water pollution is caused by water based activities. In other words, even if you’re not a beach person, you still have a hand in turning our water grey.

3. 80% of contaminated water were cased by land based pollutants

Non point source pollution is when harmful chemicals and substances are carried to the water by environmental changes. Litter, human sewage, fertilizers and raw waste sooner or later all cause, unless treated, sediments that end up on the bottom of ponds, lakes and rivers.

To read more about this go to:

http://scipeeps.com/water-pollution-facts-in-numbers-and-stats/

4. Water pollution is a huge health hazard

Not all people are eco-inclined and that’s understandable, yet we are all health oriented. So if you don’t care about the coral reef, you’ll probably care about catching diarrhea caused by water pollution which is responsible for 1.5 million annual deaths worldwide.

Add to that figure another 13.5 million deaths a year caused by different water pollution triggered ailments in developing countries but not only, and you’ll come to realize that water pollution is a people problem rather than a fish problem.

To read more about this go to:

http://pollutionarticles.blogspot.com/2010/05/facts-about-water-pollution.html

5. We are facing a constant decline in freshwater resources

With our freshwater bases consisting only 3% of global water resources, every drop counts. Yet when 75% of the bays in the U.S. alone are degrading annually and over half of China’s seven major rivers are contaminated in numbers well over the safety regulations, the future is looking pretty grim.

To read more about this go to: http://water.ygoy.com/water-pollution-facts/

Acting now, isn’t a choice but a must. Starting from your own home by separating waste products, through the way you act on the beach, to the kind of diesel you use for your car. That’s exactly where the value of creating the blog and sharing the information about the blog is, finding out the truth and utilizing the knowledge we've learned to help resolve the problem or bring up more attention on the topics!

Reference:

Global Energy

http://global-nrg.biz/blog/?p=50

Finding out about water pollution 1.5

Water pollution facts
Intro: information about water pollution can be approached by a vivid aspect, below presents a collection of brief facts on water pollution in details and many of the causes are mainly surrounded by our real lives.

Water Pollution Fact #1: Water from rain, storm drains, and ditches flows directly to streams and bays with little or no treatment. Storm drains and ditches are DIFFERENT than sewers. They are NOT CONNECTED to a treatment plant.

Water Pollution Fact #2: We all live in a watershed. What you do on your property does affect streams, even if you don’t live on a stream. A watershed is an area of land which drains to the lowest point, usually a stream or bay.

Water Pollution Fact #3: Small amounts of contaminants from all over the land add up to cause pollution in our water. Yes, even the little things matter. You WILL make a difference, no matter how small, if you change the way you do some things.

• Follow the suggestions in this Fact Sheet to minimize your impact on our water.

Water Pollution Fact #4: Failing septic systems pollute. Untreated wastewater from failing septic systems can contaminate nearby streams, drinking water sources, and bays.

• Inspect your septic system every 3-5 years.
• Pump as needed.

Water Pollution Fact #5: Soap from washing your car at home pollutes. Soap and dirt from washing your car can flow through our storm drains and ditches and end up in our streams untreated.

• Wash your car at a commercial car wash, on the grass, or on a graveled area.

Water Pollution Fact #6: Soap from charity car washes can pollute if not handled properly.

• Many charity car washes use available alternatives to prevent dirty, soapy water from going down the storm drain. Commercial car wash water goes to the sewer and is treated. Hold your charity car wash at a commercial car wash with a charity car wash program.
• Contact Kitsap County’s Sound Car Wash Program at 360-337-5777 to reserve the FREE Bubble Buster.

Water Pollution Fact #7: Oil and antifreeze from leaking cars pollutes. When it rains, water runs over the ground and picks up oil, antifreeze, and other pollutants and carries them to our streams and bays.

• Put a drip tray under your car to catch car leaks.
• Fix car leaks.

Water Pollution Fact #8: Garden and lawn chemicals pollute. Common pesticides and fertilizers have been found in neighborhood streams in the Puget Sound Region.

• Pull weeds by hand.
• Avoid use of chemicals. If necessary, use sparingly and as directed.
• Call for information on alternatives to weed and bug killers.

Water Pollution Fact #9: Household cleaners and chemicals can pollute. Cleaners and chemicals used or disposed of outside can end up in our streams and bays. These same cleaners and chemicals can cause harm to septic systems and wastewater treatment plants.

• Contact The Open Line for alternatives to household cleaners and chemicals.

Water Pollution Fact #10: Pet waste pollutes our water. Pet waste contributed to the pollution that closed some shellfish beds in Kitsap County.

• Scoop, double bag, and throw pet waste in the garbage.

Water Pollution Fact #11: Waste from livestock pollutes our water. When it rains, water runs over fields and pastures and can carry harmful bacteria from livestock waste to streams and provides unwanted fertilizer in streams.

• Compost livestock waste.
• Fence livestock from stream access.
• Contact Kitsap Conservation District at 360-337-7171 for assistance and alternatives.

Water Pollution Fact #12: Driveways and walkways can be sources of water pollution. Oil, antifreeze, and other pollutants can collect on your driveway. If you hose down the driveway, the water carries all these pollutants to the streams.

• Sweep your driveway and walkways instead of hosing down.
• Use apple vinegar to kill moss on driveways and walkways.

Water Pollution Fact # 13: Lawn clippings and yard waste in ravines and ponds can become unwanted fertilizer for streams. Too much plant growth in streams can use up all the oxygen and kill fish and aquatic life.

• Compost your yard waste.
• Use a mulching mower.

Water Pollution Fact # 14: Too much soil in runoff can pollute. Soil from erosion carries pollutants and smothers salmon eggs in spawning gravel.

• Plant vegetation on or cover bare ground.
• Cover piles of soil.
• Fence livestock from stream access.

Water Pollution Fact # 15: Sewage from boating can pollute. Untreated sewage is a significant risk to human health and wildlife.

• While boating, treat and dispose of your sewage properly.
• Pump your waste holding tanks at pump-out facilities.
• Properly maintain marine sanitation device hoses to prevent clogging and unnecessary odors.

Water Pollution Fact # 16: Boat and engine maintenance can pollute. Toxic chemicals, oils, cleaners, and paint scrapings from boat maintenance can make their way into the water.

• Complete any maintenance involving paints, solvents, or sanding with the boat pulled out of and away from the water.
• Pick-up, don't rinse-off. Use drop cloths, drip pans and vacuums to collect and contain paint, fluids and scrapings associated with maintenance projects.
• Use less toxic or non-toxic cleaning alternatives.
• Use oil absorbent pillows or pads in your bilge to soak up oil.
• Use anti-fouling paints with caution and according to the manufacturer's directions.
• Contact the Washington Sea Grant Program at 360-337-7165 for information and classes on clean boating and boating maintenance.

Water Pollution Fact # 17: Oil and antifreeze pollute our water when disposed of improperly. Oil and antifreeze that are spilled during maintenance or are dumped on the ground can be carried by runoff to our streams and bays.

• Clean up small spills with rags. For larger spills, use absorbent kitty litter and sweep it up with a broom.
• Use drip pans when unclipping hoses, unscrewing filters, or removing other parts.
• Recycle used oil and antifreeze. Call The Open Line for recycling information and locations, or visit www.wa.gov/kitsapgov.com.

Water Pollution Fact # 18: Waste from household repairs can pollute our water. Contractors and service people must properly dispose of chemicals and water used during their work.

• Make sure contractors you hire dispose of chemicals properly.
• Request use of non-toxic products.

Water Pollution Fact # 19: Littering pollutes. Litter thrown on the ground can end up in our storm drains, ditches, and streams.

• Throw all litter in appropriate trash cans.
• Keep litter out of pick up truck beds and cover loads so items aren't blown off to the ground.
• Recycle and reuse items whenever possible.

Water Pollution Fact # 20: The things we do everyday contribute to over half the pollution in Puget Sound. Litter thrown on the ground can end up in our storm drains, ditches, and streams.

• Wash your car at a commercial car wash, on the grass, or a graveled area.
• Pull weeds manually or use chemicals sparingly and as directed.
• Scoop, double bag, and throw pet waste in the garbage.
• Inspect your septic system regularly and pump it as needed.
• Contact the Open Line for more facts and alternatives.

One solution for clean water.

Hello,

I was replying to Madeline's question and I thought I could share this with everyone.

Here is the link of the video, and I highly recommend you to watch this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXepkIWPhFQ

This is from a TED Talk, where a number of brilliant people present their ideas.
Michael Pritchard, he made a bottle that can purify 6,000L with one filter.
When the filter cannot be used any more, then the system is automatically shut down.

I found it quite fascinating, and he mentioned that it costs 1/2 cent a day to run. (when a family of 4 uses it for 3 years)

The only problem is the money; in order for this idea to spread throughout the whole world, more supports are needed.

How else, do you guys think we can solve the global problem with clean water?

Walkerton E. Coli Tragedy

Walkerton is a relatively small community. At the time of the event Stan Koebel was manager and Frank Koebel was water foreman. Neither had any formal training in their position, retaining their jobs through three decades of on-the-job experience. The water supply became contaminated with the highly dangerous strain of E. coli bacteria, from farm runoff into an adjacent well that was known for years to be vulnerable to contamination.

Starting May 15, 2000, many residents of the town of about 5,000 began to simultaneously experience blue diarrhea, gastrointestinal infections and other symptoms of E. coli infection. For days the Walkerton Public Utilities Commission insisted the water supply was "OK" despite being in possession of laboratory tests that had found evidence of contamination. On May 21, an escalation in the number of patients with similar symptoms finally spurred the region's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Murray McQuigge, to issue a boil water advisory, warning residents not to drink the water.

At least seven people died directly from drinking the E. coli contaminated water, who might have been saved if the Walkerton Public Utilities Commission had admitted to contaminated water sooner, and about 2,500 became ill.

The CBC news noted:

Premier Harris immediately blamed the former NDP government for loosening water standards. Within a week he had announced public inquiry that wound up laying part of the blame for the Walkerton disaster on cutbacks ordered by the Harris government.

During the time of the tragedy, both Stan and Frank Koebel denied any wrongdoing and firmly held that the water at Walkerton was safe to drink. However, as the tragedy grew in severity the two were eventually part of the criminal investigation into the tragedy, and, as a result, both would eventually plead guilty to a charge of common nuisance through a plea bargain. In their plea, they admitted to falsifying reports and Frank admitted to drinking on the job, though a beer fridge did exist at the facility.

They were both formally sentenced on December 21, 2004, with Stan receiving one year in jail and Frank Koebel nine months of house arrest. Reaction to their sentencing was mixed. 

Via: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkerton_Tragedy

Comments: 

After reading this article the first thing that came to my mind was how lucky I am that my family and I didn't get infected from the E. coli that was found only a couple hours north of where I live. I was also pretty shocked and upset to hear that 7 people had to die because of the negligence and mistake of the Stan and Frank. But after this tragedy, people started to realize the potential risk of livestock waste, seeping through the ground and getting collected in runoff water, that we drink! This article also relates to the theme of "butterfly effect", what just started as some cow manure, was then collected in some run off water that led to the community water well that is used to drink from, throughout this whole water cycle, the E. coli has been traveling through it undetected until the Walkerton tragedy where got 2500+ sick.

2011 E.Coli Crisis

While this news is not as new, 9 months ago was a fairly serious E.coli crisis in Germany that affected other parts of the world as well.  This crisis, which travelled through the water and food killed 45 people in Germany and affected 3500 others.  In addition to this other countries such as Sweeden, Canada, USA, England and Poland had cases at similar times as well.  This was one of the most recent E.coli crisis' and the first majorly known one in Southern Ontario since the Walkerton E.coli crisis back in the early 21st century.

Water Pollution - Canada

Article: http://environment.about.com/od/waterpollution/a/canadasewage.htm

The article posted above explains how Canada is dumping about 200 billion liters of raw sewage into natural waterways every single year. The sewage being dumped is apparently a mixture of water, human waste, microorganisms, toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and viruses such as hepatitis B, cholera and typhoid. Canada needs to get better infrastructure to have better waste water treatment. Coastal cities have been dumping sewage into open water, where it is out of sight and out of mind for many people, but this needs to stop. People  rely on their environment, well if we are the ones who destroy it we wont have an environment to rely on! Canadians need to take action and take better care of our world and water bodies.

Hexavalent Chromium

Hexavalent chromium: Chemical found in drinking water of 31 US cities

Hexavalent chromium is the pollutant at the heart of 'Erin Brockovich.' The movie recounts the legal battle waged by residents of Hinkley, Calif., who blamed exposure to the chemical for high rates of diseases.

By Chris Richard, Contributor / December 20, 2010

• 

A Pacific Gas & Electric pipeline operations station is seen in Hinkley, Calif., on Dec. 9. The chemical hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium 6, has been found in the drinking water of 31 US cities. Chromium 6 was at the heart of the lawsuit, led by Erin Brockovich, brought by Hinkley residents against PG&E.

Reed Saxon/AP

Enlarge

LOS ANGELES

A national survey has found that the drinking water in 31 US cities contains hexavalent chromium, an industrial chemical that was a key concern in the 2000 film "Erin Brockovich."

The findings were released Monday by theEnvironmental Working Group, which used laboratory tests. It found the highest concentrations of hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium 6, in the drinking water in Norman, Okla.; Honolulu; and Riverside, Calif.Levels ranged from 12.9 parts per billion in Norman to 0.03 ppb in Cincinnati and Boston.

For the 35 cities surveyed the average was .18 ppb. That's three times the “public health goal,” or ideal standard, under consideration by California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. [Editor's note: The original version of this paragraph overstated the average concentration and the degree to which it overshot the public health goal.]

IN PICTURES: Companies that have paid big for environmental disasters

Scientific and legal debate has raged over the risk posed by hexavalent chromium in drinking water since the 1990s, when the then-obscure legal file clerk Erin Brockovich unearthed evidence that the substance had leaked from a Pacific Gas & Electric natural-gas plant into the groundwater in Hinkley, Calif.

Residents sued, and in 1996 PG&E paid a $333 million settlement to about 600 people who blamed exposure to the chromium 6 for high rates of cancer and other diseases.

The Environmental Working Group picked its subject cities from those listing high levels of total chromium in their water. While the Environmental Protection Agency does not require testing for hexavalent chromium, it does require testing and has set a limit of 100 parts per billion for all variants of the metal, including the healthful chromium 3.

Rebecca Sutton, who oversaw the Environmental Working Group survey, acknowledges that there have been periodic alarms and lawsuits across the country over chromium 6 contamination.

“What this report indicates is that this problem may be more widespread, just at lower levels of concentration,” she says. “These are chronic exposures we're concerned with. A little bit every day can involve increased risk.”

Many researchers say hexavalent chromium is an inhalation carcinogen, but some have claimed that the risks are negligible when the substance is ingested. Still, in 2009, National Toxicology Program scientists reported that their research “clearly demonstrates” that the compound is a carcinogen in drinking water.

Sam Delson, a spokesman for California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, says his agency considers that finding conclusive. The agency is preparing a public health goal of .06 ppb that would be one factor in determining safe exposure levels.

In Norman, Okla, utilities director Ken Komiske says his agency has always monitored its water supplies closely to make sure it meets the federal standard for all chromium. Mr. Komiske says Norman does not test for chromium 6.

“This report is kind of new to us,” he says, adding that his offices fielded about two dozen calls from concerned Norman residents on Monday. “We've been in touch with the state and federal authorities, asking 'What are we supposed to do next?' ”

Ms. Sutton, of the Environmental Working Group, says her organization hopes the survey will prompt more widespread checks for hexavalent chromium contamination, and new federal regulation.

Via: http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2010/1220/Hexavalent-chromium-Chemical-found-in-drinking-water-of-31-US-cities

Comments: This article talks about how one company was able to affects hundreds of people's lives, by polluting them and the environment with hexavalent chromium. It was mention above how a women named Rebecca Sutton recognized this problem when it happened in 1996 in Hinkley, California, taking a stand against PG&E made people aware of how action must be taken against companies using Cr 6. Ms. Sutton helped other states change their restrictions and regulations against this, but the use of the Cr hasn't completely stopped yet, we still use in today in Canada for a number of things. With the added regulations and laws the safety of the public was taken into account when allowing industrial us of hexavalent chromium.