Water Pollution in Our World

Facts about water pollution….Did you know?

About 20% of the world’s population lacks access to safe drinking water and about 50% lacks adequate sanitation.

The different types of pollutant sources found in our oceans

In many developing countries, rivers downstream of large cities are not much cleaner than open sewers!!!

In Latin America as a whole, only about 2 per cent of sewage receives any treatment.

Asian rivers are the most polluted in the world. They have three times as many bacteria from human waste as the global average and 20 times more lead than rivers in industrialized countries.

Water contamination in Hubeis water causes death in marine organisms

Thirty percent of Ireland’s rivers are polluted with sewage or fertilizer.

Irelands sewage system causes pollution in their rivers and streams.

The King River is Australia’s most polluted river, suffering from a severe acidic condition related to mining operations.100, 000 marine mammals, 1 million sea birds and other aquatic lives are killed due to plastic waste in water and coastal area.

The King River is Australias most polluted river

Bangladesh has some of the most polluted groundwater in the world. The contaminant is arsenic, which occurs naturally in the sediments. Around 85% of the total area of the country has contaminated groundwater.

Worldwide, polluted water is estimated to affect the health of about 1200 million people and to contribute to the death of about 15 million children under five every year (ICWE 1992). 

With over 70 % of the planet covered by oceans, people have long acted as if these very large bodies of water could serve as a limitless dumping ground for wastes.
 

Raw sewage, garbage, and oil spills have begun to overwhelm the diluting capabilities of the oceans, and most coastal waters are now polluted.

Water! From drinking a glass of cold water to power generation, water has so much utilitarian value and if we do not pay attention to these facts about water pollution, time is not far when our beautiful “blue planet” will become “dirty blue planet.”

Our Beautiful Blue Planet

For more information, visit the UN website for water statistics: http://www.unwater.org/statistics.html