From Guest Blogger Tanaji Gajare: Global Water Quality Issues

Water is known to constitute nearly 70% of the human body. It is also vital for the survival of other living organisms and various ecosystems. Besides water quantity problems such as drought and water shortages across different parts of the world, there have been global issues regarding water quality.

World Water Development report in United Nations (UN) water (2012) explained that an abundant supply of clean water is essential for the health and wellbeing of humans and the ecosystem; and their social and economic development. The report also added that there has been no evidence of improvement in water quality in a global scale.

UN defines water quality or the degree of contamination in water by its physical and chemical properties, which can be understood by comparing it with standard water quality parameters which can be analyzed by water quality testing.

As per Reuters’s report in Science Daily (2016), every one in10 people of the world’s population lack access to clean water. With the effects of global warming and climate change being more evident, water quality has become a worldwide problem and therefore, a global concern.

What are the common water quality problems?

The UN believes that eutrophication, demonstrated by elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorous, is a global water quality issue; and that human activities such as agriculture have influenced the global water quality. A report by Deutsche Wells in Science daily (2013) illustrated that Hungary has been facing arsenic contamination of water.

The report also explained that Arsenic primarily impacts pregnant women and children, causing premature death and Hungary lacks the finances needed to dill deeper into the ground to obtain cleaner ground water. Has arsenic began to impact the health of Hungarian people? Yes, the information by Deutsche Wells in Science Daily (2013) confirmed that harmful health effects of arsenic have started to show among children.

The report elaborated UN’s efforts to solve this problem and also the attempt by local governments to acquire clean water in collaboration with the Romanian government. None of these efforts are yet known to show any results. However, an Austro-German organization that works for Red Cross supplied water purifying filters to Hungary which can be merely placed in a water jug to remove arsenic.

How is the water quality in India?

The groundwater in India is contaminated by arsenic due to the geological composition and many villages lack access to clean water.

UNICEF’s statistical records of the water quality in India show that the richest consume highest quantity of water as compared to the poor, who struggle most for clean drinking water. UNICEF has planned water projects in India to improve the supply of clean water.

What can we do about this problem?

Individuals and families living in any city or village can use water purifiers which ensure removal of metals and provide clean drinking water. We can help groups and non-governmental organizations who assist in solving water problems either by means of supplying equipments or funding or volunteering or spreading awareness. Also making mandatory sewage treatment plant for residential and effluent treatment plant for industrial area so that strain on drinking water can be reduced by recycling wastewater for purposes like floor washing, Planting etc.

This article was written by staff of Perfect Pollucon Services. They are environmental consultants in India offering environmental monitoring and consultancy services.