One of the biggest problems that humanity will face in the coming decades will be the shortage of drinking water due to climate change, which will increase the periods of droughts, as well as to the high pollution rate that many of the main sources of drinking water are suffering. Due to this situation, it becomes more urgent to implement solutions to water pollution, since it is one of the most important natural resources, since, in fact, most of human activities depend on it. If you want to know some of the most important measures to be carried out to protect the water, you continue reading green ecology and we tell you the Water pollution solutions.
Water pollution: causes
The first thing to keep in mind is that water pollution can come from many places and take various forms. In this way, water pollution can be divided into two large groups, physical pollution and chemical pollution:
- Physical pollution: When we talk about physical contamination we are referring mainly to the trash that can be seen with the naked eye, such as the plastics that are usually consumed.
- Chemical pollution: On the other hand, when talking about chemical pollution, we are referring to those pollutants who, being present in the water, cannot be seen with the naked eye, but that they entail that this water cannot be potable. In this sense, we are talking for example of chemical pesticides, or fecal bacteria, industry by -products or even plastic in its smallest size, the so -called nanoplastic.
Where water pollution comes from
Whether it is physical and chemical contamination, water pollution always proceed from human activity. In this sense, there is no considerable differentiation between chemical or physical pollution. In fact, if we think about the pollution produced by an average citizen, we can think about the garbage that produces daily, which would be physical contamination; or in the use of cosmetic or hygiene products, which would release pollutant chemical agents in the water, which would lead to chemical water pollution.
Likewise, beyond the contamination produced by the average citizen, large companies deserve a special mention. Because its volume of activity is much greater, the use of water that they do is also, and with it its level of pollution. In fact, the agriculture and industry They are two of the sectors that most contaminate water together with that of transport. In this way, because they are activities that we cannot do without, it is necessary to reformulate their activities and their way of working so that the impact they have on the environment as a whole and in the specific water resources are mostly reduced.
Water pollution solutions
As is evident, the only way to solve the problem of water pollution comes from two sides: do not contaminate it and clean the one that is already contaminated. In this way, the contamination that ends up destroying both aquifers and other type of water reserves can be avoided and minimized, so it is a battle that must be fought at the same time on all fronts. Some of the most important actions that can be carried out in this regard are the following:
Nutrient reduction and chemical pesticides
Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are two of the elements that most contaminate water when used in intensive agriculture. These chemicals end on earth and pass to aquifers, which entails the contamination of one of the most important water sources than we have. Instead, just make use of Natural nutrients and pesticideswhich allows the development of an organic and sustainable farming. Likewise, in the event that it cannot be fully opt for natural products, the best option will be to minimize the damage of these chemicals without at least the most harmful for water resources.
Reduction and treatment of wastewater
On the other hand, one of the main sources of water pollution comes from the wastewater being discharged into rivers and seas without treating correctly. This is one of the biggest problems that water pollution presents, since wastewater entails high physical contamination of water (a good example is the toilet wipes), as well as a very high chemical pollution derived from all chemical and biological products that drag these waters with them. The best way to reduce these wastewater is to make a Efficient use of waterreduce as much as possible the use of chemicals that can contaminate it and, most importantly, that public administrations implement the necessary infrastructure so that these waters are returned to the environment having been previously purified. These are some efficient strategies for environmental water collection.
Reduce deforestation
One of the most important elements when reducing water pollution is to avoid deforestation processes. This is because the forests are one of the main water storesboth at the atmosphere and subsoil level. By increasing forest masses, a greater presence of fresh water in these environments is achieved, which increase the water reserves of aquifers. In addition, the forests act as treatmentmers of many of the pollutants that we pour into the environment, so their presence helps counteract chemical pollution as a whole.
Reduction of water consumption in agriculture and industry
Agriculture and industry are two of the human activities that More water consume in its development. Both sectors are fundamental to human life. In this way, as you cannot do without them, what is needed is to implement actions that increase the efficiency of the use of their resources, including water. In this sense, a good option is the use of refined gray waters for agriculture. These waters are not worth human consumption by not being drinkable, but they are useful when watering crops. In the case of the industry, more efficient machinery, as well as processes that do not require the use of so much water allow to reduce the contamination of it, since the volume of contaminated water is lower. Likewise, it is also essential that industry wastewater is refined before being returned to the environment.
Sustainable Transport Implementation
Another of the sectors that most contaminates water is transport. A good example of this problem in the acid rain present in most cities, whose pollution is mostly from fossil fuel burning. Opting sustainable transport versions, we reduce pollution that is poured into the environment and that, inevitably, ends up contaminating water. In this sense, the Best option available is public transportsince it minimizes pollution being a transport that responds to many people at the same time.
Gase reduction
On the other hand, we must not forget the garbage that are produced daily both in the works and in homes. In this sense, opt for products with few wrappers, as well as carry out a correct classification and recycling Waste is one of the elements that can help reduce pollution.
Reduction of especially dangerous agents: oils and batteries
Although this aspect would enter into the reduction of garbage in general, it is two of the more harmful water pollutantsso they deserve a separate space. Oils contaminate water in many ways but, among them, by avoiding the correct oxygenation of rivers, it carries a damage to especially important biodiversity. The right thing to avoid it will be to store the used oil and take it to a clean point when the container is full. Likewise, batteries and batteries are manufactured with many heavy minerals that are especially water pollutants. In fact, heavy metals such as chromium and mercury, currently present in many of the fish that are usually consumed from these waste. Therefore, it is essential to take them to a clean point where they can be properly managed.
Reduce the use of plastics
Likewise, another of the water pollutants that deserve a special mention is plastic. Plastic is a material that degrades at a very slow speed and remains in the environment for hundreds of years, Finishing for moving to the trophic chain and polluting rivers and seas. We can find from large plastics to microplastics (very small but visible plastics) or nanoplastic (microscopic plastics that are not visible but that contaminate water). The best way to avoid this pollution is to dispense with single -use plastics and, when we use plastics, always recycle them.
More restrictive laws
Finally, we cannot ignore the importance that legislative bodies have in matters of contamination prevention of all kinds, including the one that affects water. In this sense, more restrictive laws that prohibit the use of polluting agents (pesticides such as glyphosate, use of toilet wipes, plastic covers, etc.), as well as laws that force the wastewater for the wastewater of each sector to be refined before being returned to the environment, they are fundamental when preventing water pollution.
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