50 WAYS TO SAVE YOUR RIVER!

Did you know that only 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh-water? And of that 3%, 2/3rds is frozen in
glaciers and polar ice caps. That means only 1% of the Earth’s freshwater supply is accessible for use!
This is why it is so important to conserve the limited amount of water that we do have.

The average American uses 80-100 gallons of water every day, in California we use between 85 and
251 depending on were you live! Nationwide we use twice the global average and in some parts of
California we use four times as much. If everybody does a little bit here and there, we will be able to
cut down on consumption and preserve this valuable resource and save our rivers. Here is a list of
50+ ways…TO SAVE YOUR RIVER!

GENERAL IDEAS

1. Instead of using the air conditioning when it gets hot, turn on the fan. It will only take about an
hour to cool down your house, saving you money and water.

2. Buy recycled paper products as opposed to “virgin” paper products. Recycled paper requires far
less water than brand new paper production.

3. Insulating your pipes will not only save you money in energy costs, you won’t waste water when
you’re waiting for it to heat up.

4. If you accidentally drop an ice cube, don’t throw it down the sink, use it to water a house plant.

5. Collect the water that you run while waiting for the water to reach your desired temperature and
use it to water plants. This same idea applies for shower and bath water too!

6. And if you have left over ice from a to-go cup, instead of dumping it down the sink, also use it to
water a plant.

7. Buy a reusable water bottle and use it. The production of 1 imported bottle of water uses 6.74
kilograms of water. This is the equivalent of 15 pounds of water, which is close to 2 gallons! Imagine if
you drink a bottle every day (way below the recommended amount) that would be 365 days x 2
gallons per bottle= 730 gallons of water a year wasted just in
production. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/pablo_calculate.php

8. Fix your leaky faucets. One small drip leaks about 20 gallons a
day. http://www.eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm

9. Only run your dishwasher and laundry machine when you have full loads, this will save up to
1,000 gallons a month. http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php

10. If you have a pool, keep a cover on it when not in use. This will prevent evaporation and keep
your pool cleaner. Covering your pool can save up to 250 gallons a week plus the cost that chemicals
would have been to clean it more
frequently. http://www.sandiego.gov/water/conservation/tips.shtml

11. An easy one is to clear off your driveway and sidewalks by using a broom, instead of the hose.

12. Use cat litter or sand instead of salt on icy walkways. Not only does salt pollute water, but it also
kills plants. www.epa.gov
IN THE KITCHEN AND THE FOOD YOU EAT

13. Don’t defrost your frozen food by running water, try to plan ahead and put it in the fridge over
night or defrost in the microwave, this will save 150-250
gallons. http://www.monolake.org/about/waterconservation

14. Your diet also has a lot to do with water use:

– One pound of beef, enough to feed a family of four requires 1,799 gallons of water.
– One hamburger needs 660 gallons to produce it.
– One pound of chicken involves 468 gallons of water in production.
– One gallon of coffee calls for 880 gallons of water. If every person in the world drank one cup of
coffee every morning that would be 32 trillion gallons of water lost a year!
– One pound of chocolate uses 3,170 gallons in production. One Hershey bar is .1 pounds, so the
production of only 10 Hershey’s bars uses 3,170 gallons.
Moral of the story: Watch what you eat because even the most surprising items require lots of water.
To find out about the impact of other foods and various other necessities on water visit the National
Geographic, Environment, Fresh Water section of their
website. http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/embedded-water/

15. Instead of letting the water run while you try to scrape off the dried-on food from your pots and
pans, just soak them. This will not only save water, but time and energy
too. http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php

16. If you wash your dishes by hand don’t let the water continuously run. Turn it on and off when
you need to rinse the dish off. www.epa.gov

17. A good idea, if you wash your dishes by hand, is to use an in-sink dish rack and rinse all the
dishes off at once. www.epa.gov

18. Keep a pitcher of cold water in the fridge. That way when you want to make your favorite cold
beverage the water is already at hand, you won’t have to wait for it to cool down and waste water in
the process. http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php

THE BATHROOM

19. Take a shower instead of a bath. Baths use up to 70 gallons of water while showers can use as
little as 10-25. If you do take a bath, make sure to plug the drain first and then adjust the
temperature from there. You can always fill it up with hotter water to compensate for the cold at
first.

20. Replace your current showerhead with a low-flow model. The low-flows use 2.3 gallons of water
per minute versus the old shower heads which use 6. This saves about 35 gallons of water in a 10
minute shower, and if you take one every day or every other day that’s a savings of 6,388-12,775
gallons a year. The cost of a low-flow showerhead ranges from $40-$90. A range of 6,388 gallons
to12,775 gallons a year is a lot for your water bill to take, $40-$90 is well worth the relatively
inexpensive
cost. http://www.lowes.com/cd_Install+Low+Flow+Shower+Heads+and+Aerators_134043203_

21. The same thing goes for using a low flow toilet. Instead of using 6 gallons of water per flush, the
low flow toilets will use 1.6 gallons. http://simplesapien.com/40-ways-to-conserve-water/

22. Don’t flush random trash down the toilet, just toss it in the trash
can. http://simplesapien.com/40-ways-to-conserve-water/

23. Shortening your shower by just 1 to 2 minutes could end up saving you close to 150 gallons a
month. http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php

24. Turning off the water while you shave and only filling your sink with a few inches of water to rinse
with will save up to 300 gallons a month. http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-
conserve/index.php

25. Make sure to turn off the tap while you are brushing your teeth in the morning and at night. This
will save up to 8 gallons of water, which is more than 200 a
month! http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/kids/tap-off.html

26. Install a water displacement device in the back of your toilet so less water is used. Put a plastic
bottle or jug back there. When placing it make sure that it does not prevent any of the parts from
working.

LAWN AND GARDEN

27. Water your lawn during the early morning or late at night when the temperature is cooler to
avoid losing water to evaporation. http://www.eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.html

28. Your lawn only needs watering every 5-7 days in the summer and 10-14 in the winter. Plus a
heavy rain eliminates the need to water for 2 weeks. Every day and every other day is just excessive
and is drowning your lawn. They also sell devices that shut off your sprinkler system after rain;
buying one of those will help you save money on your water bill, and conserve
water! http://www.americanwater.com/49ways.php

29. Consider using the nutrient rich fish tank water to water your lawn when you change it, as
opposed to just pouring it down the drain. http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-
conserve/index.php

30. Plant native vegetation in your yard, they are better adapted to the climate you live in, therefore
requiring less maintenance on your part and less
water. http://www.groundwater.org/kc/easywaystoconserve.html

31. Spread organic mulch around your plants, this will help them hold in
water. http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php

32. Aerate your lawn at least once a year to help it absorb water better, as opposed to losing it
because of run-off. http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php

33. Raise your lawnmower blade to 3”. This allows the grass’ roots to grow deeper, while also shading
the root system and helping the soil hold in moisture
better. http://www.americanwater.com/49ways.php

34. Find out about the grey-water regulations in your city. By using grey-water (which is the water
from your showers, baths, sinks, laundry…) to water your lawn, you will drastically cut down on water
consumption and the cost of water. If you end up doing this make sure you use soaps and detergents
that are intended for this type of use.
35. Make sure that you pull those weeds, they’re competing with your lawn/ garden for
water. http://simplesapien.com/40-ways-to-conserve-water/

36. The next time your sprinklers are running go outside and take a look at where they are hitting. If
they are hitting the street, sidewalk, or any area that is not your lawn adjust them. There’s no need
to water the cement. http://simplesapien.com/40-ways-to-conserve-water/

37. Plant your garden in the fall when it is cooler outside and there is more rainfall.

38. Group plants that have the same water needs together. This way you can avoid over-watering
some, and under-watering others. http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php

39. Only water when you need to, more plants die from over-watering than from a lack of
water. http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php

40. Water in several short sessions as opposed to one long one. This will better allow your lawn to
absorb the water and prevent runoff.

WORKING WITH YOUR CAR

41. Clean your car using a pail of soapy water. Only using the hose to rinse will save 150
gallons. http://www.eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm

42. Better yet, have your car washed at a car wash where they recycle the water, not only are you
saving that water but you are saving the nearby river from dirty runoff. If this is not an option, water
your car on the grass, you will get the benefits of: watering your lawn, saving water and saving
money, all at once. http://www.americanwater.com/49ways.php

FURRY FRIENDS

43. Wash your pets on the lawn, excess water will be absorbed by the
plants. http://simplesapien.com/40-ways-to-conserve-water/

44. When you give your pet fresh water don’t just dump the old water down the drain, use it to
water a tree, shrub, or house plant. http://manojpkvga.blogspot.com/2011/05/100-ways-to-
conserve-water.html

IN THE WILD

45. If you live in California, visit the web site: http://www.keepcabeautiful.org to find a creek or river
clean up you can participate in!

46. Next time you go camping, hiking or any other outdoor activity, make sure you pack out what you
pack in. Don’t leave any waste behind.

47. When you camp out, avoid washing any dishes or going to the bathroom near the river.

BE THE VOICE FOR YOUR RIVER

48. Teach your kids to be water conscious. Instilling conservation habits from a young age will help
them become sustainable adults.

49. Just because you aren’t covering the water bill, like at a hotel or friends house, still conserve
water. It’s not just about the money; we need to use water wisely.
TO MARK World Rivers Day tomorrow, StarMetro gives attention to our waterways to remind us of
their importance as well as the many threats confronting them. It is easy to forget how important the
rivers are to us as we get caught up with our everyday life. With the help of the Global Environment
Centre (GEC) and Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), we compiled a list of how you can help
in conserving our rivers. It does not take much to contribute positively to our rivers.

1. Get to know your river basin

The river basin is the land surrounding a river and all water over the said area feeds into that river.
Activities at the upstream affect downstream neighbours regardless of municipal boundaries and
jurisdictions. Environmental authorities and activists hope that people will change their habits and
stop pollution once they understand that any liquid poured on the ground or into the drains will go
into the river downstream. In an interview conducted a few years ago, GEC found that less than 30%
of people in Kuala Lumpur knew that the drain in front of their house led to the river. Basically, if we
pour curry into our kitchen sink and the sink connects to the drain, it goes to the river.

2. Organise “My Drains Day” to keep our drains free from rubbish

Our drains are only meant to channel rainwater to rivers and reduce flood risk. Polluting and clogging
our drains with rubbish will not only pollute our main source of drinking water but will create a
potential breeding ground for pests. Activities such as drain clean-ups, drain stenciling and pollution
mapping can be organised to educate our community on the importance of having clean drains and
instil care for our drains. For details, visit www.riverranger.my

3. Adopting zero-waste lifestyle

Despite the existence of environmental laws to protect our rivers, garbage and other forms of waste
are found in our waterways. According to DID, an estimated 50 to 60 tonnes of waste end up in the
river system daily in Klang Valley alone.

By adopting a zero-waste lifestyle that consists of “Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Compost and
Close the Loop (4R2C)”, we can limit our trash output and save tonnes of solid waste from ending up
in landfills and rivers. For more information, visit www.gec.org.my

4. Support river-related activities in community

Apply for a grant or make donation to the National River Care Fund – Small Grant Programme, which
is an initiative established by GEC to support local communities, community-based organisations and
non-governmental organisations to pursue their own river conservation initiatives. There are also
other activities such as the W.A.T.E.R Project, which is a collaborative effort between GAB Foundation
and GEC.

5. Be a community river scientist

Organise a trip out to your local river to assess its health via physical, chemical and biological
monitoring. Upload your results to www.riverranger.my website. The information will be of great use
to environmental conservation NGOs like GEC to protect rivers in Malaysia.
6. Upcycle used cooking oil and trap grease

Turning your used cooking oil into soap or candles or even biodiesel will help to reduce water
pollution as well as enhance the river aquatic biodiversity. Direct discharge of sullage water
especially fat, oil and grease from houses and restaurants into the drain leads to blockage in the
collection pipes and sewer lines, causing overflows on streets and properties. Overflows will
contaminate ponds, streams and rivers. Installing a grease trap helps to remove fats and oils before
the liquid enters the municipal waste system. Regular cleaning will ensure your grease trap works at
the optimum level. Contact your local authority to find how you can contact waste oil collectors.

7. Be your river’s guardian

Be alert about the changes around your river. Monitor and report problems or illegal activities
happening at your river. Report incidents of illegal dumping and any other pollution to Public
Complaints Bureau (PCB), OneJPS Facebook, OneJPS Twitter, 1MOCC, pro@water.gov.my and 15888
mysms (MyGOV Mobile).

8. Save water

Ninety percent of our water supply comes from rivers. Using water more efficiently will mean more is
left in the rivers. Malaysians use 47 litres more than the United Nations’ recommended water usage
of 165 litres per day. Adopting water-saving practices in your daily lifestyle will have a positive impact
on our raw water availability in the long run. See graphic.

9. Adopt your local river

Neighbourhoods can adopt a river via their residents association or under an environment
committee to protect and care for the health of our watersheds and the living organisms in them.
The adoption can also be part of corporate sustainability responsibility programmes organised
together with the local communities with the support of local government agencies.

10. Support the River of Life (RoL) initiatives

The River of Life (RoL) aims to transform Sungai Kelang into a vibrant and liveable waterfront with
high economic value. The Federal Government has allocated RM4bil to clean up Sungai Klang and its
tributaries under the 10-year RoL project, which began in 2013. Those interested to support RoL can
do so by participating in the River of Life Public Outreach Programme (RoLPoP) initiated by DID.
River Conservation Tips

Humanity was successful thanks to rivers like the Tigris and Euphrates, so treating them the same
way we would treat a respected elder should be expected even without considering how important
they still are today for many of the same purposes. These simple ideas are a great way to help keep
our rivers alive through water conservation and a bit of environmental friendliness.

Use Biodegradable Cleaning Products

Pick your soaps for biodegradability whenever possible. All of the cleaning products will run through
your plumbing when they wash down the drain, and that's why you can expect a fifty-story tall
mutated lizard sometime soon. Research the product before you make the switch since many of
them have at best a tenuous right to claim the title.

Plant a Tree

The root systems of plants cling to the surrounding soil and create stability. reducing the amount of
dirt that runs into rivers and gums up the works. Trees have some of the widest and deepest roots of
all flora, and they help with greenhouse gas emissions to boot. Just make sure to plant a species that
can handle your biome.

Sweep Patios and Sidewalks Rather than Using the Hose

Because of water's amazing solvent properties, we use it for cleaning tasks all around the house.
When scrubbing something clean, such as dishes or your teeth, rely more on physical action than a
constant stream of water to break up your dinner.

Volunteer for a Stream Clean-up or Wetland Restoration Event

If you're struggling to come up with ways to help but have an excess of time and energy, just do a
quick search online for conservation groups in your local area. Most of them would be more than
happy to have an extra pair of hands, even if just for one day a year.

Limit Pesticide Use

Chemical sprays are typically water soluble. When you use these death-dealing substances on your
garden or lawn, the runoff can seep into the ground and spoil aquifers or nearby rivers. The water
treatment plants may stop these substances from doing harm to people, but the rivers and their
inhabitants aren't so lucky.

Educate through Exposure (and Have Some Fun!)

Go on a walk by a local river or nature preserve with an unwilling friend in tow. Although
agoraphobia seems rampant these days, a little time in nature makes it harder for people to ignore
its existence when you start discussing the rate of lost landscapes thanks to the environmental
damage these days. People protect things they care about.

Fix Leaky Faucets

Out of necessity for the survival of our noisy children, we have the capability to tune out aggravating
and persistent sounds. Don't let your instincts rule your mind, and pay attention to the sounds
coming out of your plumbing. A leaky faucet can contribute several gallons a month to the amount of
water your household wastes.
Use Social Media to Spread the Word

Put that horde of followers you've carefully cultivated through witty one-liners and topical humor to
use on behalf of the planet. All you have to do is link to helpful or informative articles (like this one!)
with a few words and appropriate formatting. If you're on Facebook, all you have to do is paste the
link and submit the post, and the site generates a handy picture and synopsis of the link. What could
be easier?
What Is Water Pollution?

Water pollution occurs when harmful substances—often chemicals or microorganisms—contaminate

a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water, degrading water quality and rendering it
toxic to humans or the environment.

What Are the Causes of Water Pollution?

Water is uniquely vulnerable to pollution. Known as a “universal solvent,” water is able to dissolve
more substances than any other liquid on earth. It’s the reason we have Kool-Aid and brilliant blue
waterfalls. It’s also why water is so easily polluted. Toxic substances from farms, towns, and factories
readily dissolve into and mix with it, causing water pollution.

Categories of Water Pollution

Groundwater

When rain falls and seeps deep into the earth, filling the cracks, crevices, and porous spaces of an
aquifer (basically an underground storehouse of water), it becomes groundwater—one of our least
visible but most important natural resources. Nearly 40 percent of Americans rely on groundwater,
pumped to the earth’s surface, for drinking water. For some folks in rural areas, it’s their only
freshwater source. Groundwater gets polluted when contaminants—from pesticides and fertilizers to
waste leached from landfills and septic systems—make their way into an aquifer, rendering it unsafe
for human use. Ridding groundwater of contaminants can be difficult to impossible, as well as costly.
Once polluted, an aquifer may be unusable for decades, or even thousands of years. Groundwater
can also spread contamination far from the original polluting source as it seeps into streams, lakes,
and oceans.

Surface water

Covering about 70 percent of the earth, surface water is what fills our oceans, lakes, rivers, and all
those other blue bits on the world map. Surface water from freshwater sources (that is, from sources
other than the ocean) accounts for more than 60 percentof the water delivered to American homes.
But a significant pool of that water is in peril. According to the most recent surveys on national water
quality from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nearly half of our rivers and
streams and more than one-third of our lakes are polluted and unfit for swimming, fishing, and
drinking. Nutrient pollution, which includes nitrates and phosphates, is the leading type of
contamination in these freshwater sources. While plants and animals need these nutrients to grow,
they have become a major pollutant due to farm waste and fertilizer runoff. Municipal and industrial
waste discharges contribute their fair share of toxins as well. There’s also all the random junk that
industry and individuals dump directly into waterways.

Don't let the Trump administration pollute our drinking water

TAKE ACTION

Ocean water

Eighty percent of ocean pollution (also called marine pollution) originates on land—whether along
the coast or far inland. Contaminants such as chemicals, nutrients, and heavy metals are carried from
farms, factories, and cities by streams and rivers into our bays and estuaries; from there they travel
out to sea. Meanwhile, marine debris—particularly plastic—is blown in by the wind or washed in via
storm drains and sewers. Our seas are also sometimes spoiled by oil spills and leaks—big and small—
and are consistently soaking up carbon pollution from the air. The ocean absorbs as much as a
quarter of man-made carbon emissions.

Point source

When contamination originates from a single source, it’s called point source pollution. Examples
include wastewater (also called effluent) discharged legally or illegally by a manufacturer, oil refinery,
or wastewater treatment facility, as well as contamination from leaking septic systems, chemical and
oil spills, and illegal dumping. The EPA regulates point source pollution by establishing limits on what
can be discharged by a facility directly into a body of water. While point source pollution originates
from a specific place, it can affect miles of waterways and ocean.

Plastics

If you've ever taken part in a community beach clean, you'll know that plastic is far and away the
most common substance that washes up with the waves. There are three reasons for this: plastic is
one of the most common materials, used for making virtually every kind of manufactured object
from clothing to automobile parts; plastic is light and floats easily so it can travel enormous distances
across the oceans; most plastics are not biodegradable (they do not break down naturally in the
environment), which means that things like plastic bottle tops can survive in the marine environment
for a long time. (A plastic bottle can survive an estimated 450 years in the ocean and plastic fishing
line can last up to 600 years.)

While plastics are not toxic in quite the same way as poisonous chemicals, they nevertheless present
a major hazard to seabirds, fish, and other marine creatures. For example, plastic fishing lines and
other debris can strangle or choke fish. (This is sometimes called ghost fishing.) About half of all the
world's seabird species are known to have eaten plastic residues. In one study of 450 shearwaters in
the North Pacific, over 80 percent of the birds were found to contain plastic residues in their
stomachs. In the early 1990s, marine scientist Tim Benton collected debris from a 2km (1.5 mile)
length of beach in the remote Pitcairn islands in the South Pacific. His study recorded approximately
a thousand pieces of garbage including 268 pieces of plastic, 71 plastic bottles, and two dolls
heads. [14]

Nonpoint source

Nonpoint source pollution is contamination derived from diffuse sources. These may include
agricultural or stormwater runoff or debris blown into waterways from land. Nonpoint source
pollution is the leading cause of water pollution in U.S. waters, but it’s difficult to regulate, since
there’s no single, identifiable culprit.

Transboundary

It goes without saying that water pollution can’t be contained by a line on a map. Transboundary
pollution is the result of contaminated water from one country spilling into the waters of another.
Contamination can result from a disaster—like an oil spill—or the slow, downriver creep of industrial,
agricultural, or municipal discharge.

The Most Common Types of Water Contamination

Agricultural

Toxic green algae in Copco Reservoir, northern California

Not only is the agricultural sector the biggest consumer of global freshwater resources, with farming
and livestock production using about 70 percent of the earth’s surface water supplies, but it’s also a
serious water polluter. Around the world, agriculture is the leading cause of water degradation. In
the United States, agricultural pollution is the top source of contamination in rivers and streams, the
second-biggest source in wetlands, and the third main source in lakes. It’s also a major contributor of
contamination to estuaries and groundwater. Every time it rains, fertilizers, pesticides, and animal
waste from farms and livestock operations wash nutrients and pathogens—such bacteria and viruses
—into our waterways. Nutrient pollution, caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus in water or air,
is the number-one threat to water quality worldwide and can cause algal blooms, a toxic soup of
blue-green algae that can be harmful to people and wildlife.

Chemical waste

Detergents are relatively mild substances. At the opposite end of the spectrum are highly toxic
chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). They were once widely used to
manufacture electronic circuit boards, but their harmful effects have now been recognized and their
use is highly restricted in many countries. Nevertheless, an estimated half million tons of PCBs were
discharged into the environment during the 20th century. [9] In a classic example of transboundary
pollution, traces of PCBs have even been found in birds and fish in the Arctic. They were carried there
through the oceans, thousands of miles from where they originally entered the environment.
Although PCBs are widely banned, their effects will be felt for many decades because they last a long
time in the environment without breaking down.

Another kind of toxic pollution comes from heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, and mercury. Lead
was once commonly used in gasoline (petrol), though its use is now restricted in some countries.
Mercury and cadmium are still used in batteries (though some brands now use other metals instead).
Until recently, a highly toxic chemical called tributyltin (TBT) was used in paints to protect boats from
the ravaging effects of the oceans. Ironically, however, TBT was gradually recognized as a pollutant:
boats painted with it were doing as much damage to the oceans as the oceans were doing to the
boats.

The best known example of heavy metal pollution in the oceans took place in 1938 when a Japanese
factory discharged a significant amount of mercury metal into Minamata Bay, contaminating the fish
stocks there. It took a decade for the problem to come to light. By that time, many local people had
eaten the fish and around 2000 were poisoned. Hundreds of people were left dead or disabled. [10]

Sewage and wastewater

Used water is wastewater. It comes from our sinks, showers, and toilets (think sewage) and from
commercial, industrial, and agricultural activities (think metals, solvents, and toxic sludge). The term
also includes stormwater runoff, which occurs when rainfall carries road salts, oil, grease, chemicals,
and debris from impermeable surfaces into our waterways
More than 80 percent of the world’s wastewater flows back into the environment without being
treated or reused, according to the United Nations; in some least-developed countries, the figure
tops 95 percent. In the United States, wastewater treatment facilities process about 34 billion gallons
of wastewater per day. These facilities reduce the amount of pollutants such as pathogens,
phosphorus, and nitrogen in sewage, as well as heavy metals and toxic chemicals in industrial waste,
before discharging the treated waters back into waterways. That’s when all goes well. But according
to EPA estimates, our nation’s aging and easily overwhelmed sewage treatment systems also release
more than 850 billion gallons of untreated wastewater each year.

Oil pollution

Big spills may dominate headlines, but consumers account for the vast majority of oil pollution in our
seas, including oil and gasoline that drips from millions of cars and trucks every day. Moreover, nearly
half of the estimated 1 million tons of oil that makes its way into marine environments each year
comes not from tanker spills but from land-based sources such as factories, farms, and cities. At sea,
tanker spills account for about 10 percent of the oil in waters around the world, while regular
operations of the shipping industry—through both legal and illegal discharges—contribute about
one-third. Oil is also naturally released from under the ocean floor through fractures known as seeps.

Radioactive substances

Radioactive waste is any pollution that emits radiation beyond what is naturally released by the
environment. It’s generated by uranium mining, nuclear power plants, and the production and
testing of military weapons, as well as by universities and hospitals that use radioactive materials for
research and medicine. Radioactive waste can persist in the environment for thousands of years,
making disposal a major challenge. Consider the decommissioned Hanford nuclear weapons
production site in Washington, where the cleanup of 56 million gallons of radioactive waste is
expected to cost more than $100 billion and last through 2060. Accidentally released or improperly
disposed of contaminants threaten groundwater, surface water, and marine resources.

Nutrients

During crop-spraying, some chemicals will drain into the soil. Eventually, they seep into rivers and
other watercourses.

Suitably treated and used in moderate quantities, sewage can be a fertilizer: it returns important
nutrients to the environment, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which plants and animals need for
growth. The trouble is, sewage is often released in much greater quantities than the natural
environment can cope with. Chemical fertilizers used by farmers also add nutrients to the soil, which
drain into rivers and seas and add to the fertilizing effect of the sewage. Together, sewage and
fertilizers can cause a massive increase in the growth of algae or plankton that overwhelms huge
areas of oceans, lakes, or rivers. This is known as a harmful algal bloom (also known as an HAB or red
tide, because it can turn the water red). It is harmful because it removes oxygen from the water that
kills other forms of life, leading to what is known as a dead zone. The Gulf of Mexico has one of the
world's most spectacular dead zones. Each summer, according to studies by the NOAA, it grows to an
area of around 5500–6000 square miles (14,000–15,500 square kilometers), which is about the same
size as the state of Connecticut.
What Are the Effects of Water Pollution?

On human health

To put it bluntly: Water pollution kills. In fact, it caused 1.8 million deaths in 2015, according to a
study published in The Lancet. Contaminated water can also make you ill. Every year, unsafe water
sickens about 1 billion people. And low-income communities are disproportionately at risk because
their homes are often closest to the most polluting industries.

Waterborne pathogens, in the form of disease-causing bacteria and viruses from human and animal
waste, are a major cause of illness from contaminated drinking water. Diseases spread by unsafe
water include cholera, giardia, and typhoid. Even in wealthy nations, accidental or illegal releases
from sewage treatment facilities, as well as runoff from farms and urban areas, contribute harmful
pathogens to waterways. Thousands of people across the United States are sickened every year
by Legionnaires’ disease (a severe form of pneumonia contracted from water sources like cooling
towers and piped water), with cases cropping up from California’s Disneylandto Manhattan’s Upper
East Side.

A woman using bottled water to wash her three-week-old son at their home in Flint, Michigan

Meanwhile, the plight of residents in Flint, Michigan—where cost-cutting measures and aging water
infrastructure created the recent lead contamination crisis—offers a stark look at how dangerous
chemical and other industrial pollutants in our water can be. The problem goes far beyond Flint and
involves much more than lead, as a wide range of chemical pollutants—from heavy metals such as
arsenic and mercury to pesticides and nitrate fertilizers—are getting into our water supplies. Once
they’re ingested, these toxins can cause a host of health issues, from cancer to hormone disruption
to altered brain function. Children and pregnant women are particularly at risk.

Even swimming can pose a risk. Every year, 3.5 million Americans contract health issues such as skin
rashes, pinkeye, respiratory infections, and hepatitis from sewage-laden coastal waters, according to
EPA estimates.

On the environment

In order to thrive, healthy ecosystems rely on a complex web of animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi—
all of which interact, directly or indirectly, with each other. Harm to any of these organisms can
create a chain effect, imperiling entire aquatic environments.

When water pollution causes an algal bloom in a lake or marine environment, the proliferation of
newly introduced nutrients stimulates plant and algae growth, which in turn reduces oxygen levels in
the water. This dearth of oxygen, known as eutrophication, suffocates plants and animals and can
create “dead zones,” where waters are essentially devoid of life. In certain cases, these harmful algal
blooms can also produce neurotoxins that affect wildlife, from whales to sea turtles.

Chemicals and heavy metals from industrial and municipal wastewater contaminate waterways as
well. These contaminants are toxic to aquatic life—most often reducing an organism’s life span and
ability to reproduce—and make their way up the food chain as predator eats prey. That’s how tuna
and other big fish accumulate high quantities of toxins, such as mercury.

Marine ecosystems are also threatened by marine debris, which can strangle, suffocate, and starve
animals. Much of this solid debris, such as plastic bags and soda cans, gets swept into sewers and
storm drains and eventually out to sea, turning our oceans into trash soup and sometimes
consolidating to form floating garbage patches. Discarded fishing gear and other types of debris are
responsible for harming more than 200 different species of marine life.

Meanwhile, ocean acidification is making it tougher for shellfish and coral to survive. Though they
absorb about a quarter of the carbon pollution created each year by burning fossil fuels, oceans are
becoming more acidic. This process makes it harder for shellfish and other species to build shells
and may impact the nervous systems of sharks, clownfish, and other marine life.

What Can You Do to Prevent Water Pollution?

With your actions

It’s easy to tsk-tsk the oil company with a leaking tanker, but we’re all accountable to some degree
for today’s water pollution problem. Fortunately, there are some simple ways you can prevent water
contamination or at least limit your contribution to it:

Reduce your plastic consumption and reuse or recycle plastic when you can.

Properly dispose of chemical cleaners, oils, and non-biodegradable items to keep them from ending
up down the drain.

Maintain your car so it doesn’t leak oil, antifreeze, or coolant.

If you have a yard, consider landscaping that reduces runoff and avoid applying pesticides and
herbicides.

If you have a pup, be sure to pick up its poop.

With your voice

One of the most effective ways to stand up for our waters is to speak out in support of the Clean
Water Rule, which clarifies the Clean Water Act’s scope and protects the drinking water of one in
three Americans.

Tell the federal government, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and your local elected officials that
you support the Clean Water Rule. Also, learn how you and those around you can get involved in the
policymaking process. Our public waterways serve every American. We should all have a say in how
they’re protected.

Laws

One of the biggest problems with water pollution is its transboundary nature. Many rivers cross
countries, while seas span whole continents. Pollution discharged by factories in one country with
poor environmental standards can cause problems in neighboring nations, even when they have
tougher laws and higher standards. Environmental laws can make it tougher for people to pollute,
but to be really effective they have to operate across national and international borders. This is why
we have international laws governing the oceans, such as the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the
Sea (signed by over 120 nations), the 1972 London (Dumping) Convention, the 1978 MARPOL
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, and the 1998 OSPAR Convention
for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic. The European Union has
water-protection laws (known as directives) that apply to all of its member states. They include the
1976 Bathing Water Directive (updated 2006), which seeks to ensure the quality of the waters that
people use for recreation. Most countries also have their own water pollution laws. In the United
States, for example, there is the 1972 Clean Water Act and the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act.

Economics

Most environmental experts agree that the best way to tackle pollution is through something called
the polluter pays principle. This means that whoever causes pollution should have to pay to clean it
up, one way or another. Polluter pays can operate in all kinds of ways. It could mean that tanker
owners should have to take out insurance that covers the cost of oil spill cleanups, for example. It
could also mean that shoppers should have to pay for their plastic grocery bags, as is now common in
Ireland, to encourage recycling and minimize waste. Or it could mean that factories that use rivers
must have their water inlet pipes downstream of their effluent outflow pipes, so if they cause
pollution they themselves are the first people to suffer. Ultimately, the polluter pays principle is
designed to deter people from polluting by making it less expensive for them to behave in an
environmentally responsible way.

Our clean future

Life is ultimately about choices—and so is pollution. We can live with sewage-strewn beaches, dead
rivers, and fish that are too poisonous to eat. Or we can work together to keep the environment
clean so the plants, animals, and people who depend on it remain healthy. We can take individual
action to help reduce water pollution, for example, by using environmentally friendly detergents, not
pouring oil down drains, reducing pesticides, and so on. We can take community action too, by
helping out on beach cleans or litter picks to keep our rivers and seas that little bit cleaner. And we
can take action as countries and continents to pass laws that will make pollution harder and the
world less polluted. Working together, we can make pollution less of a problem—and the world a
better place.