How does water pollution cause water scarcity
Answers
Answer:
Water pollution is one of the main cause. There are many sources, for example pesticides and fertilizers that wash away from human waste or industrial waste and pollute the ground water. Some effects are immediate, when harmful bacteria from human waste contaminate water and others like toxic substances from industrial processes, may take a few years until they effect the environment. This process makes the water unusable.
Agriculture uses 70% of the world’s accessible freshwater, however approximately 60% of the used water is wasted. This is due to absorbent irrigation systems, inefficient application methods as well as a growing cultivation of crops. This insufficient use of water is drying out rivers, lakes and underground aquifers. Especially countries that produce large amounts of food—like India, China, Australia or the United States— are close to reaching their water resource limits or have already reached it. Nevertheless, water is essential for watering the crops to be able to provide food for the fast growing population.
Population growth is another main cause. The population growth already occurred and will continue at an unpredictable rate. As stated by the LPR 2014, around 200 river basins, home to 2.67 billion people, already experience water scarcity. That way, anxiety about water availability grows as freshwater use continues at unsustainable levels. Furthermore, this future population does not just need freshwater itself but also food and energy and these – as mentioned above – require water for the production.
drought-150This water scarcity will have negative impacts on the global public health, the number of people suffering hunger and the development of the population. Moreover, it will lead to a disappearing of wetlands, which are essential for animals, plants as well as the agriculture. Despite these impacts, ecosystems will be in danger because natural landscapes can dry out, change or be polluted. Additionally, economies can decline without enough water.
To sum up, the natural resource “water” – especially freshwater – is already scarce caused by water pollution, agriculture and population growth. Even though some countries are not effected yet, everyone should be alarmed and be thoughtful when using any kind of water. It is clear that urgent action is needed if we are to avoid a global water crisis.
Answer:
Some effects are immediate, when harmful bacteria from human waste contaminate water and others like toxic substances from industrial processes, may take a few years until they effect the environment. This process makes the water unusable.