Hyderabad: Water is the life-support of every living being in nature. Water plays a special role in environmental protection. The various cell networks and organs of the human body need at least eight to ten glasses of water every day to function at full capacity.
The water we drink should be clean. The World Health Organization (WHO) says clean drinking water is a fundamental right of everyone. Protected freshwater is like a solid foundation for a healthy body system. UNICEF says waterborne diseases are plaguing our country financially.
The average rainfall recorded across the country is 1170 mm. There are also natural water resources. Due to inefficient and deficient water conservation, its lion’s share is being wasted into the ocean. Excessive water pollution, population growth, and increased atmospheric temperatures are leading to severe water shortages in our country.
According to the Union Ministry of Water Resources, only 65 per cent of the country had access to safe drinking water through pipes and hand pumps by 2016-17. Yet thousands of villages are far from even ordinary water supply.
According to the 'World Water Aid' report released in 2016, the availability of protected fresh water in our country is limited. The Central Government estimates that the current water requirement of our country is 110 crore cubic litres per annum.
By 2025 it will be 120 crore cubic litres and by 2050 it will be 144 crore cubic litres. The Asian Development Bank has stated that by 2030, water scarcity in our country will be over fifty per cent.
Contaminated with lead!
It has become a great privilege to have access to clean drinking water in our country today. Experts say the quality of drinking water available to us is not satisfactory. Due to the lack of precision in the process of measuring the purity of water in our country, many people are unknowingly using contaminated water.
Organizations such as ICMR and NIN are concerned that water in many areas could be contaminated with bacteria, viruses, fungi, and heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, nickel and copper. Chemical emissions from factories and household waste also contaminate groundwater.
The use of pesticides and chemicals is rampant in agriculture and fish farming. Doctors say that toxins in food, drinking water and milk can cause diseases and physical problems. Water contaminated with organo-chloride has been attributed to have long-term effects on the human nervous system, liver, kidneys, and muscles. The impact of these polluted waters on people is even greater during heavy rains and floods.
Pollution of plastic waste
Taking advantage of water contamination, sales of drinking water in plastic bottles are booming. Although it can meet drinking water needs to some extent, it is causing pollution of plastic waste.
Nearly eighty per cent of plastic bottles contaminate soil and water sources, releasing hazardous chemicals. Plastic takes almost a thousand years to completely melt. Humans, livestock and flora are severely affected to that extent. At present, billions of tons of plastic waste are piled up worldwide in a single year.
Governments and local bodies must focus at least from now on conserving water resources and preventing water pollution. Care should be taken to provide clean drinking water to the public by testing water samples from time to time. The use of prohibited pesticides should be strictly controlled.
Awareness should be created to farmers on the ill effects of the use of chemicals and they should be encouraged towards organic farming. Public awareness campaigns should be intensified.to stop the widespread use of plastics.
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