Water is one of the most precious commodities on earth, one that we must use every single day to sustain our bodies and one that we take for granted believing there’s an unending supply. While that may have been true in the early years of our planet, the exploding population and centuries of dumping pollutants in our water supplies are bound to take a toll. Scientists have been warning us for years that we can expect water shortages in our future, and yet we continue abusing our resources and shortening the supply even further. There’s only one way we can counteract the negative effects of previous behavior, and that means every one of us pitching in to prevent water pollution.
To find out what we need to do about the problem, we should first investigate the leading causes of water pollution. Some of them are:
* Starting with the most obvious, which is human littering, this is something we can all do our part in accomplishing. For decades people have been disposing of their trash by throwing it into lakes, rivers, and streams. Although some waste products will decompose rapidly, others take centuries to break up and go back into the environment. For example, foam rubber takes 50 years to decompose, styrofoam 80, aluminum 200, and plastic packaging materials a whopping 400 years. It may make you stop and think if you realize that the aluminum soda can you throw into a lake today won’t disappear until your great great great great great great great grandchild is alive.
* Industrial and agricultural waste products also pollute our waterways, and you may think there’s little you can do about it. However, if you are directly involved in any of these businesses, you need to realize what chemical leaks can do to water resources and take steps accordingly. As for the rest of us, we can petition city and state officials to take action when we see infractions as well as write letters to request more stringent regulations and guidelines. Although most of us can’t directly influence what happens, our collective voices will be heard.
* A third main cause of water pollution is caused by the substances that evaporate into the atmosphere which are then returned to earth with the rain. For this one, there really doesn’t seem to be a way to stop the problem. In your own home, however, you can install a filtering system that will remove any toxins which make it through your municipal water treatment facility.
Matthew Reilly, a marine biologist and environmental writer, combines his passion for research with a mission to educate the public on water conservation. With over a decade of field experience, Matthew brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the pressing issues of water pollution and ecosystem preservation.
