Water Pollution What is Water Pollution?

Water pollution is change in chemical, physical or biological quality of water which is harmful for living things that drinks or uses or lives in it causing diseases in humans or deaths of organisms living in it; basically caused by human activities directly or indirectly. Lakes, rivers, oceans and underground water can be polluted by industrial wastes, leaking sewer lines or disposal of untreated wastes.1 Water pollution means anything to add water which makes water dirty and unsafe not only for drinking and other human uses such as swimming, irrigation, and industrial use but it also makes water harmful for other creatures on the Earth such as marines, animals and plants.2 There are two kinds of sources, point and nonpoint sources which causes pollution. When pollutants are discharged at specific locations and places by specific dischargers, then it is point source whereas nonpoint sources cannot be traced to a single site of discharge causing difficulty to be control nonpoint pollution.3 Point sources: factories, sewage lines, underground mines, oil wells and tankers. Examples of nonpoint sources are: acid deposition from the air, pollutants that are spread through rivers and pollutants added to groundwater.3 Dirty water is not only Pakistans biggest problem but the world's biggest health risk, and also threatens both quality of life and public health. When water from rain and melting snow flows from roofs and through roads, it takes up toxic chemicals, dirt and disease-carrying organisms along the way. Many of our water resources also lack basic protections, making them vulnerable to pollution from factory farms, industrial plants. 4

Causes of Water Pollution Industrial wastes (heavy metals, radioactive elements etc.) Agricultural effluents (nitrates, pest killers etc.) Domestic effluents (chemicals, detergents etc.) Air pollutants Heat from Nuclear power stations Floods Deforestation Deforestation is one of the major causes of floods which results in water pollution, loss of life, destruction of houses and buildings. Floods also effects public health and

environment specially results in water pollution due to mixing of toxic and hazardous materials from containers into streams, passing of water through waste materials and septic system. The floods in Pakistan began in July 2010, following heavy monsoon rains, affected most of the River Indus. At a point, approximately one-fifth of Pakistan's total land area was underwater. According to data by Pakistani government the floods directly affected about 20 million people in one way or another. Floods have made both the surface and groundwater polluted and unfit for drinking, washing and other potable usage. 5 Floods destroy plain ecosystem and environmental issues which are all related to water pollution as some are causes whereas some are the results: 6 *clearance of trees *Increased air and water pollution *Loss of plants and wildlife *Reduced water quality Water Pollutants 7 The sources of water pollution add water pollutants to water. Water pollutants are: 1. Bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasitic worms that enter sewage systems and untreated waste are the disease causing pollutants. 2. Oxygen-demanding wastes deplete oxygen in the water causing organisms in the water, such as fish, to die. 3. Nutrients like water-soluble nitrates and phosphates cause excessive growth of algae and other water plants, which deplete the water's oxygen supply. 4. Water-soluble inorganic pollutants, such as acids, salts and toxic metals contaminate water and make it unfit to drink, as well as, it may cause the death of aquatic life. 5. Oil, pesticides and plastics are those organic compounds which are harmful to humans and all plants and animals in the water. 6. The suspended sediment causes depletion in the water's light absorption and the particles spread dangerous compounds such as pesticides through the water. 7. Water-soluble radioactive compounds can cause cancer, birth defects and genetic damage. 8. Chemicals like control weeds, insects and pests killers used by farmers often mix in water causing harm. *Poor drainage *Increased litter and waste *Loss of aquatic habitats

Polluted Water Causes Diseases 8 *Intestinal worms *Goiter *Cholera *Cancer *Typhoid fever *Polio *Tuberculosis *Scabies *Acute Respiratory Infection *Dysentery *Malaria *Gastroenteritis *Hepatitis A & E

Effects of Water Pollution 9 Water bodies pollution i.e. River Ravi, Lahore Branch Canal etc. Loss of aquatic life Damaging of crops and adding harmful effect in crops Increase rate of water borne diseases Disruption of food chain Destruction of ecosystem

Some Existing Facts 10 Pakistan ranks at number 80 among 122 nations regarding drinking water quality.

According to Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, 357 samples from 23 major cities, 8 rivers, 6 dams, 4 lakes, 2 canals and 1 reservoir were contaminated. 11

No attention was paid to pollution and environmental issues in Pakistan until 1990s which caused a great increase in pollution development strategies.12 The Central governments perspective plan (1988-2003) and the previous five year plans were unable to mention sustainable.12

Some facts accessed on 19-12-2013, mentioned at pakistantoday.com are: 13 Drinking of polluted water attributes to 40 percent of deaths. 250,000 child deaths are estimated to occur each in Pakistan per year due to water-borne diseases. Approximately 84 percent of rural population as well as 62 percent of urban population of Pakistan do not treat their water, resulting in diseases. According to UNICEFs conducted study, in Pakistan 20-40 percent patients in hospital beds are ill due to water-borne diseases. It has been estimated by United Nations that up to 3.5 million children are highly at risk from water-borne diseases in Pakistan as a result of the destructive flood of 2010 in Pakistan. Pakistan is bearing financial loss of Rs.112 billion per year as water, sanitation and hygiene-related diseases cost more than Rs. 300 million per day to treat which are all inter-related. The survey identified four major water quality problems: bacteriological contamination (68 percent); arsenic (24 percent); nitrate (13 percent) and fluoride (5 percent). Presently, only 8 percent of urban sewerage water and 1 percent of industrial waste water is treated before disposal.

Map showing Water Polluted Areas (Annexure: 1) Precautions 14 The department of fish hunting has ordered the factories maintain the quality of water in the rivers and to preserve aquatic life. The experts have found that the Baam, Sol and Singari kind of fishes have become rare in the pond Beraj. Department of Environment has given information that, there are almost 1700 factories which are throwing polluted and toxic material as well as harmful chemicals in the rivers. Under the act 1997 and under the canal act, there are the orders to cancel the license of the guilty factories to preserve water and aquatic life. Remedies 15, 16

Water bodies should be treated before disposal. Adequate collection, recycling and disposal should be done. Application of Clean Technology at the industrial units. Segregation of sewage lines to avoid mixing with drinking water supply. Filter plants should be established for clean drinking water.

Application of 3R formulas i.e. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Industrial, farm or other waste and sewage should not be thrown into rivers. Water should be boiled before drinking. Oil spills into bodies be prevented. Dead bodies should not be thrown in water bodies. People should be given awareness through programs or campaigns. Detergents with low phosphates should be used. Recycling units should work more efficiently. More trees should be planted. To prevent the collection of plastic bags in the water, cloth bags should be carried. Household wastes like pet wastes or petrol, paint and batteries should be thrown in trash or sewer to prevent these from seeping to water sources. Turn off engines at signals to diminish releasing of toxic chemicals in the air which leads to water pollution at the end. Use environmental friendly household products like soap-based cleaning material, washing powder etc as much as possible. Usage of natural fertilizers and pesticides can help in reducing pollutants. Schemes of water supply should be introduced at Tehsil level. New treatment technologies should be searched and implemented. Leakages in water pipelines should be checked and replaced. Investigators should be encouraged for bottled drinking water industries establishment but they should be checked time to time. Regular water monitoring programs should be organized at national level to identify problem areas, causes of pollutions and a framework of plans. Low cost water treatment technologies at household levels should be introduced for pure drinking. New water supply scheme should not be approved unless detailed investigations of water quality, quantity, sources of contamination and steps to overcome the contamination have been carried out.

How to conserve water for good health 17 The provision of good quality water in Pakistan is a challenge due to many factors affecting the quality of water e.g., pollution, lack of efficient water supply system and awareness of localities etc.

Pour water to plants or garden instead of drain. Fix dripping valves, one drop per second wastes hundreds of gallons of water per year. Use less water to take bath. Turn off the water while you lather up. While brushing teeth or washing face, turn off the tap.

Use water as less as possible to wash dishes. Turn the tap off while sponging to save water. Dont water your lawn unnecessarily. Grass needs water once a week in the summer.

Steps Taken by Government To ensure provision of basic amenities of life to people, the provincial government has completed seven drinking water schemes in various villages of Wari subdivision in Upper Dir. The schemes have been completed in Wari Payeen, Wari Bala, Rambial, Gogyal, Kakat, Kotkai Sultan Khel and Berarai villages. 18 The Prison Department will install 50 water filtration plants with capacity from 705 to 2,000 liters per hour in jails all over Punjab. 19 In 2012 in Koz Sam Dabara, Daryoba and in Zamare Kholo, water supply scheme has been completed with installation of submersible water pump, transformer and construction of a pump house.20 1% of the domestic and industrial wastewater receives treatment.21 According to the Pakistan Water Situational Analysis, in Islamabad there are three wastewater treatment plants, out of which only one is functional.21 (Annexure: 2) Karachi has two trickling filters, where effluents generally receive screening and sedimentation.21 Lahore has some screening and grit removal systems, but they are hardly in working state.21 In Faisalabad, there is a wastewater treatment plant, in which wastewater receives primary treatment.21 In rural areas, wastewater treatment is nonexistent, leading to pollution of surface and groundwater.21 Corollary It can be predicted after viewing the facts, the increasing rate of population as well as water pollution and approximately no remedies done and steps taken to prevent and stop the water pollution in Pakistan; that in the upcoming years, water pollution will increase and cause wreckage and loss, if Pakistani Government as well as the dwellers of the country dont take precautions and work together for better environment and pure drinking.

Annexure: 1

Map Showing Water Polluted Areas of Pakistan.

Annexure: 2

Water Filtration Plant