People, Pollution, and Water Shortages
Many people take advantage of our water sources, thinking that water is an abundant resource. That may have been true at time in history but not anymore. People continue to pollute the various available water sources, causing clean drinking water to become a limited resource. Groundwater (which makes up 30-40% of our water supply) is not safe, because many pollutants can leak into underground aquifers.This can cause harmful bacteria from human waste to contaminate water and make it unfit to drink or swim in. In other instances toxic substances from industrial processes takes many years to build up in the environment and food chain before their effects are fully recognized (Bio-accumulation). Southern California is at a higher risk of consuming polluted water because all of the runoff that comes down from Northern California.
The Health Risks Associated with Polluted Water
Many people know that polluted water is not safe to drink yet it is consumed on a regular basis throughout the world. Exposure to polluted water can cause many diseases and infections. The most common water-borne illnesses are Typhoid, Cholera, Intestinal worms and Diarrhea. Many of these diseases causes skin irritation, malnutrition, and/or cancers among organs such as the kidney and lungs. The disease can vary depending on the type of bacteria the polluted water contains. These bacterial infections can be very harmful to an individuals health and can eventually become fatal.
To find out more about the harmful pollutants that enter our water,click the links below.