Tag: water pollution

COVID-19 impact on water pollution

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COVID 19 has impact on water pollution. The EPA provides important information on corona-virus related to drinking water and wastewater. Researchers have not been able to detect COVID-19 in drinking water supplies. Based on current evidence, the risk of water supply is low. Americans can continue to use and drink water from their taps as usual.

COVID-19 impact on water pollution
Pic: Operation Mer Propre

The COVID-19 virus is an enveloped virus, with a fragile outer membrane. Generally, enveloped viruses are less stable in the environment and are more susceptible to oxidants, such as chlorine. While there is no evidence to date about survival of the COVID-19 virus in water or sewage, the virus is likely to become inactivated significantly faster than non-enveloped human enteric viruses with known waterborne transmission (such as adenoviruses, norovirus, rotavirus and hepatitis A).

For example, one study found that a surrogate human corona-virus survived only 2 days in dechlorinated tap water and in hospital wastewater at 20°C. Other studies concur, noting that the human corona-viruses transmissible gastroenteritis corona-virus and mouse hepatitis virus demonstrated a 99.9% die-off in from 2 days at 23°C to 2 weeks at 25°C. Heat, high or low pH, sunlight, and common disinfectants (such as chlorine) all facilitate die off. (Source: WHO)

During the lock-down, the water of different reservoirs is affected in various ways. During this time, large industries closed, and tourism and other activities declined. As a result, the amount of water polluting wastes has been reduced or completely stopped. Therefore improves water quality. But these improvements in environmental pollution are considered temporary. When industries are in full swing after the lock-down, and more mineral resources are extracted, waste will be emitted at the same rate as before the lock-down, resulting in water contaminants such as biochemical oxygen demand, turbidity, coliform levels etc. returning to previous levels.

On the other hand, during the COVID-19 period, the use of hand sanitizers and soaps increased significantly. These will contaminate the water. Similarly, the use of other COVID-19 resistant equipment such as masks, hand gloves, PPE, etc. has increased, which can contaminate water including water logging.

Water used after daily hand and mouth washing; there is a risk of COVID-19 infection in toilet water. Professor Dr. Shubhjit Biswas, a scientist in the Indian Department of Immunology, also said that the water used could infect COVID-19. The possibility of group infection in densely populated areas cannot be ruled out. Do not allow used water to put aside.

Through the clean-up program since last April, members of the French non-profit organization Operation Mer Propre have seen numerous masks floating in the sea and numerous rubber gloves lying in waterlogged conditions all over the coast. Not only that plastic masks, gloves and plastic bottles of hand sanitizers, along with plastic cups and aluminum containers, are piled up on the Mediterranean floor. But there are indications of a new type of pollution in the near future, as the demand for disposable plastics is increasing in the world affected by the current Covid-19. Gradually it will become ubiquitous. There are masks and dirty gloves wrapped in seaweed.

Niagara bottled water company has recalled its 14 bands bottled spring water

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Niagara Bottling, a family owned bottled Water Company in USA is a voluntary recall covering 14 brands of its water because of possible contaminant E. coli bacteria. The possible affected date is from June 10 to June 18 of this year. The affected bands are Niagara Spring Water, Acadia Spring Water, Acme Spring Water, Big Y Spring Water, Nature’s Place Spring Water, Pricerite Spring Water, Superchill Spring Water, Best Yet Spring Water, 7-11 Spring Water, Morning Fresh Spring Water, Shoprite Spring Water, Shaws Spring Water, Western Beef Blue Spring Water and Wegman’s Spring Water.

Throughout the 8 days, this effected bottled spring water was shipped to over 15 states including Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maine, Delaware, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and North Carolina.

These brands of bottled water are produced in two Pennsylvania manufacturing plants at Hamburg, Berks County and Upper Macungie, Lehigh County of the company. The company said that one of its spring bottled water sources was contaminated by traces amount of E. coli bacteria. Still, there are no reports of any illness linked to the above mentioned bottled Water. The voluntary removal effort is being implemented in collaboration with State and Federal Agencies. The Niagara bottled water company always tries to maintaining the maximum probable standards for product quality.

The Niagara bottled water company alerts this promptly due to the company’s good well and health concern of the people. The people who are lived of these 15 states and bottled water drinker, should to be check the manufacturing date of these 14 bands. If the product date between June 10 and June 18, 2015 and manufactured at Pennsylvania facilities than it must be avoid drinking. The bottled water that is produced outside of Pennsylvania or outside the June 10-18th, 2015 timeframe is completely safe to drink.

If anyone needs further information about this they can call at (888) 943-4894 to know more.

Water pollution in yamuna river

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Yamuna is the most polluted and important river in north India. It passes through Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, before join together with the Ganga at Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. About 60 million people depend on Yamuna waters. The peoples of Delhi and Agra’s are one of the most consumers of the Yamuna River. This river is the source of 70 per cent of Delhi’s water supplies. Downstream, at Agra point, this river becomes the main municipal drinking water source. In some point the River water is not fit for drinking, bathing or aquatic life; it is only fit for industrial cooling, irrigation, etc.

The level of water pollution in Yamuna is not same all through the year. During rainy season the water quality is better than others time. Starting rainy season the water quality is worsen due to washout different waste, chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides and fall into the river.

Municipal pollution
The whole lengths of the river are divided into five segments on the bases of hydrological and ecological conditions such as Himalayan Segment, Upper Segment, Delhi Segment, Eutriphicated Segment and Diluted Segment. The pollution of the river water of Yamuna begins from Tajewala in the upper segment and most polluted segment is Delhi segment. About 22 drains fall into the Yamuna River in the Delhi segment which are loaded with huge amount of biological and chemical wastage. Western Yamuna Canal (WYC) and the Eastern Yamuna Canal (EYC) are responsible for upper segment pollution. The Haiderpur water treatment plant which supplies part of delhi’s water is situated in the range of WYC. All household and industrial wastage and discharges from Yamuna Nagar are emit into this canal. There are many heavy industrial units such as 42 in Delhi, 22 in Haryana and 17 in Uttar Pradesh and a lot of small industrial units are situated in Yamuna River’s area; all wastage and discharges of these industries goes into the river.

Agricultural pollution
The Yamuna River is passing through a massive amount of agricultural areas; about 58% is agricultural area. The owner of these lands are used a huge amount of fertilizers and pesticides. These carcinogenic chemical polluted the river water which seriously affect on the aquatic environment as well as human being. The existing water treatment plant has no facilities to remove the traces amount of pesticide; even the laboratories are not able to detect them. When the people of Delhi and Agra consume this water as drinking purpose, they also consume indefinite amounts of toxic pesticide residues each time.

The Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in jumuna is 28mg/l, whereas the tolerable level is 3 mg/L. It also signifies the water pollution in Yamuna River. The presence of Cadmium, Nickel, Iron, Zinc and Chromium are cross the maximum level in some point in Yamuna River.

To prevent the water pollution in Yamuna River, it should not allow discharging the untreated sewage into the river and more sewerage treatment plants ought to be formed instantly. Farmers should using organic fertilizer, insecticides, pesticides; instead of chemical fertilizer, insecticides, pesticides.

Effects of water pollution

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Water may be polluted in different ways. It effects enormous on aquatic life, environment and human beings. Some effects of water pollution are described below:

Effects of oxygen demanding wastes
The bacterial degradation of waste in water requires oxygen. In this process the bacteria consume the dissolve oxygen in water. If there are huge amount of oxygen demanding wastes, then the oxygen concentration of water may drop so low that it is difficult to survive for the aquatic lives. On the other hand some anaerobic microorganisms begin to bloom. Since they generate harmful toxins as like ammonia and sulfides so it may harmful to people and animals.

Effects of plant nutrients
Plant nutrients as like nitrates, phosphates, potassium may be added to the water bodies through human activities and over nutrition may cause extreme growth of algae and other water plants. In this process a good number of aquatic lives decay; moreover as the plant and algae die, it may collect a good amount of organic matters and is filled with sediment. It lowers the oxygen level in the water. Furthermore, to biodegrade this sediment again lowers the oxygen level; such a phenomenon is known as eutrophication. It disturbs the ecological balance.

Effects of organic pollutants
Organic pollutants as like oil, plastics, petrochemicals and pesticides are harmful to humans and all plants and animals in the water. Plastic waste can soak up toxic chemicals from ocean pollution. If any marine birds or animals consume, it may reduce appetite or even starvation. Oil is lighter than water; it does not mix with water, as an alternative it form a thick layer on the surface. It works as a barrier for photosynthesis; hence it is harmful for aquatic life, fish and birds.

Effects of inorganic pollutants
Water soluble inorganic pollutants as like acids, salts and toxic metals make water unfit to drink and will cause the death of aquatic life. Toxic metals as like lead, mercury can cause health and environmental problems, including humans. Many non-metallic substance as like Sulphur is harmful for aquatic life.

Effects of radioactive compounds
Water soluble radioactive compounds are extremely dangerous for health. They can cause cancer, birth defects and genetic damage.

Effects of thermal pollution
Thermal pollution of the water bodies can decreases oxygen levels and may have a terrible effect on aquatic life.

Effects of microorganisms
If Disease-causing microorganisms (pathogenic microbes) are found in surface waters, it may cause human health problems including typhoid, diarrhea, hepatitis and may have negative impacts on aquatic life. Sewage often carries harmful viruses and bacteria into the water bodies and environment.

Effects of agricultural waste
Many agricultural farms often use large amounts of toxic substances as like herbicides and pesticides. These chemicals are particularly dangerous to aquatic life in water bodies.
Asbestos fibers are another serious pollutant; it can cause asbestosis, mesothelioma and cancer.
Effects of water pollution are the major problem for developing countries. They do not supply enough pure water. Moreover they are not concern about effects of water pollution.

Types and Sources of water pollution

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The major sources of water pollution are domestic wastes, industrial wastes, agricultural, and natural. The wastes are discharged into natural bodies and chemical pesticides and fertilizers, part of which are washed and go to the water bodies. They altered the water from the natural state in physical condition, chemical and microbiological composition.

The sources of water pollution are two types; point source and non-point source of water pollution. Point sources of water pollution happen when the polluting substance is discharging directly into the water channel for example a city storm drain or a pipe spewing toxic chemicals directly into a river. A non-point source (NPS) pollution does not originate from a single discrete source. It is the collective effect of little quantity of contaminants accumulate from a big region, for instance when fertilizer from a field is carried into a stream by surface runoff.

Industrial Waste
All most all industry directly or indirectly polluted the water. The major industries such as fertilizer industries, paper industries, tanneries, food processing, textiles, and paints industries directly discharge wastes into the water bodies. Industrial processes are the main sources of the water pollution. Some of them are following:

  • Many industry as like food industry and other light industries discharge non-toxic organic substances (BOD, COD).
  • Thermal pollution can be occurs both human and naturally. Different industries such as power plant, nuclear power plant, nuclear weapon plants release heat into nearby water bodies for cooling purposes. Many human activities such as greenhouse effect and many industrial processes as like burning of fossil fuel are responsible for global warming. It is another reason for thermal pollution.
  • Many industry releases oil, fats, grease etc into water bodies. Moreover dumping, Oil spills and shipping travel polluted the oceans.
  • Different petrochemical industries discharge different petroleum hydrocarbons as like gasoline, fuel, lubricants.
  • Different inorganic pollutants (as like mineral acids, Toxic metals, heavy metals, salts, acidic gas) are discharges from different industries such as automobile industry, steel manufacturing industry.
  • Different organic pollutants as like plastics, fibers, elastomers, paint, elastic, plasticizer, solvents, drug, personal hygiene and cosmetic
  • Many nuclear power plants, weapon plants, medicinal, industrial and research applications that use radioactive material are produced radioactive waste. Moreover mining and processing of U, Ra, Po and Th are other sources of marine nuclear waste.

Municipal Waste
The wastes from domestic households and some portion of industrial waste waters are included in municipal waste. These wastes are other significant sources of water pollution.

Sewage disposal is the main municipal waste. Frequently, it contains faeces, urine and laundry waste, flush chemical and pharmaceutical substances. It is the major problem in developing countries. Sewage often carries harmful viruses, bacteria and microorganisms.

Another municipal waste is suspended particles which is causing thick silt at the bottom. The sources of these silts are construction sites, logging, slash, burn practices or land clearing particles. Municipal waste can cause eutrophication.

Agricultural sources of water pollution
There are different fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, defoliants, and veterinary drugs are used in agricultural purposes and these are the sources of water pollution. These compound go indo to the water bodies and polluted the water.

Fertilizers containing nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) cause excessive growth of algae and other water plants in the water bodies which is responsible for eutrophication process. Moreover some radioactive containing fertilizers are used in many farms such as tobacco farm.

Natural sources of water pollution
About 0.35% of air is carbon dioxide, moreover many industry emit huge amount of acidifying gasses, such as sulfur dioxides, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. These gasses react with the rainwater and makes different acid as like sulfuric acid, carbonic acid. This acidic rain water accumulates different water bodies and changes the overall pH as well as polluted the water. It kills many vital plant lives, thereby affecting the whole food chain. Moreover when rainwater runway into water bodies, it picks up many toxic chemicals, dirt, garbage and disease-carrying organisms; this is unsafe for aquatic life.

Flood is another Natural source of water pollution. The flood water mixes with garbage, many disease-carrying organisms, chemicals, dirt and polluted the surface water.

Global warming is also responsible for water pollution. It increases the temperature of the water bodies and raises the sea levels.

Water Pollution in the River of Shela at sundarbans by oil spill

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A tanker named “OT Southern Star 7”, carrying 3.57 lakh liters of furnace oil, sank in the river of Shela on December 09, 2014, which is flowing through the Sundarbans and threatening its unique biodiversity due to water pollution. Sundarbans is the world largest mangrove forest. It is declared World Heritage Centre by UNESCO. It is situated both in Bangladesh and India. The water bodies along with mangrove simultaneously support an eco-system all together special with the effect that the Sundarbans could be effortlessly developed into the value regarding biodiversity.

Unfortunate, an empty cargo vessel hit the oil tanker on account of poor visibility as it was dense fog at the dawn. The oil spill was spread about 65 kilometres in the upstream and downstream of the river Shela and at least 20 canals linked to that of the river of Sundarbans. Different small plants, dolphins, crocodiles and other aquatic lives are adversely affected by this water pollution. Moreover, the world’s largest mangrove forest has also been adversely affected; a serious threat to its aquatic life and the flora and fauna.
water pollutioa at shela river
The oil spill occurred close to the aquatic protected area of Chadpai Wildlife Sanctuary (declared by the government of Bangladesh). This is the home of two threatened dolphin species: Ganges Dolphin and Irrawaddy Dolphin. Sundarbans is composed of three wildlife sanctuaries- East, south and West Wildlife Sanctuary.

Many experts, national and international (such as United Nations expert team) say that any commercial vessel movement, as like oil tankers, is harmful for wildlife in the forest. To make sure ecological balance in Sundarbans, the UNDP and Bangladesh government are agree to work together. In the economical view, the loss of the environment and ecological due to the oil spill in the river, ranging from $130 million to $640 million. The extent of the damage caused by this oil spillage would be assessed, after next five to ten years. It can be calculated by investigating how a large amount of phytoplankton and zooplankton remain in the water of the affected river and cannel region and compare it to other restricted regions of the Sundarbans.

Water pollution and the signs of it

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Water covers above 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. No life can survive without water. Hence, water is the most fundamental resource for living beings on the earth and for this reasons the other name of the water is life, but we polluted this water by many ways. Water Pollution may be defined in a number of ways. Water pollution occurs when many unwanted substances go into water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater. It can be physical, chemical, or biological change from the natural state. It alters the quality of water and has dangerous effects on any living things. The quality of water is of vital concern for mankind. This polluted water becomes unsuitable or less suitable for any safe or beneficial consumption and brings serious effects on human health (such as water-borne diseases), when they uses or drinks this water. In the same way water pollution affects on the living things in the water bodies (plants, organisms). Nearly all cases the effects of water pollution not only individual living species, but also whole ecosystems that exist in the waters.
water pollution
Water pollution is one of the major worldwide crises. Although the non-developing and developing countries are mostly affected, but developed countries also affected seriously. In one report on water quality in the USA shows that the water of many streams, lakes and other water bodies are recognized as polluted. Every year many unwanted death are taking place for water pollution related illness.

The signs of water pollution:

  • Bad taste of drinking water
  • Developing unwanted colorization in the water
  • Unpleasant odor from lakes, rivers and sea-beaches
  • Unchecked growth of aquatic weeds in water bodies
  • Decrease in number of fish in fresh water, lakes, rivers and ocean water
  • Oil and grease floating on water surfaces etc.

There are many interruption happens due to water pollution such as public water supply, recreation and aesthetics, fish, other aquatic life and wild life, agriculture, industry. Water pollution can be happens by naturally or by mankind.