The Growing need for pure water and how it affects sustainable development and communities

The Growing need for pure water and how it affects sustainable development and communities.

 

For a healthy community and sustainable development the availability of clean water and good facilities of sanitation are very important. But it is unfortunately in the present age of modern technologies and in the world which is having a race in achieving the target of arms collection forgotten the basic needs of their citizens. It is a regret that the consequences of drinking unclean water and the demand for clean water is forcing us to take immediate action. This article is written to highlight the effects of dirty water on communities on a large scale and the bad sanitation conditions that is a risk of the health of billions. It also shows the rising demands for clean water. And you will be able to learn the ways of purifying water I.e. purification and how climate change is affecting water supplies. We will discuss it through some important questions related to this serious issue.

Q1. What are the effects of drinking unclean water and poor sanitation on communities?

Using unclean water and living in an area where sanitation facilities are unavailable:

1.Health Issues:

Unclean water is a home for harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites. The use of such unclean water can cause water born diseases like, cholera, typhoid, dysentery and hepatitis A.  According to WHO ( WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION) millions of people die annually from these diseases especially the children are vulnerable by these diseases easily.

2. Malnutrition:

Poor water quality and bad sanitation system increase malnutrition especially in children. The low immunity in people, dehydration and loss of essential nutrients are caused by drinking unclean water which contains diarrheal diseases.

 

3. Economic burden :

Healthy people are a treasure for a society, they with hard work can do much for the progress of society. If the health of the people is not good they will not be able to perform their duties. Water born diseases become the cause of poor health and affect community productivity which leads to a loss in income and increased healthcare costs. This economic burden places stress on families and the healthcare infrastructure.

4.Impact on education:

The areas where bad sanitation is found the children especially girls are compelled to leave their studies due to the diseases which are caused by unclean water. Thus a part of population is deprived from the basic right of education which hamper educational development.

Q2. Why Is the demand for clean water rising day by day?

There are many reasons of increasing the demand for clean water nowadays.

1.Population explosion:

Once the population of earth was less and the resources were abandoned but today it is totally opposite the population has grown and the resources have shorten. The demand of freshwater for drinking has increased. The need of water for irrigation and industrial purpose has also increased.

2.Urbanization:

The people are migrating to the cities very fastly and the need of clean water and better sanitation in cities is also increasing. To provide clean water and better sanitary condition to a community is a big challenge to face today but it’s very important to deal it.

3. Agricultural and industrial needs:

A big portion of water is necessary for agriculture. The consumption of water in agriculture worldwide has become a challenge. On the other hand a large quantity of water is needed in industries for the production process it also increases the demand Of water in that sector.

4. Change in the lifestyle:

With the of time the people have developed their economic condition and improved their life styles. With these new living standards the water consumption ways have changed that are leading to an increase of the use it for household purposes such as hygiene, gardening and recreational activities. Now as the need has increased much so it’s very important to provide purify water and better sanitation on a large scale.

5. Climate change:

The available freshwater resources have been disrupted by the climate change especially in 20s. There are many factors such as droughts, errati, rainfall and melting glaciers that impact the water supply. Some times there is no rains for months in some places this is another factor increasing the demand for clean water and safe water sources.

Q3. How can dirty water be purified? What is the procedure to purify dirty water?

The process of making unclean or contaminated water purify for human to use is called purification. This is very important to purify the water before using it. There are several methods to purify water , they are ;

1. Boiling:

TO kill the harmful pathogens in water boiling is one of the most simplest, cast free and effective ways. If you boil water at 100 centigrade for at least 5 to 6 minutes most of the bacteria, viruses and parasites can be destroyed and this water becomes safe to drink.

 2. Filtration:

Filtration is the most trusted and modern way to purify the water for making it use able for humans. In this method harmful materials, suspended particles, sediments and some microorganisms are removed by passing water through materials like activated carbon, sand or ceramic filters. The modern filtration systems such as reverse osmosis is very advanced approach that can eliminate even smaller harmful bacteria and viruses as well as heavy materials and chemical pollutants.

 3. Chlorination:

For killing the bacteria and viruses we can add chlorine or liquid bleach in water. But there is chance that chlorine may not kill or remove some chemical pollutants and parasites therefore this method is used alongside other purification methods.

4. Distillation:

Heating water to produce steam that after heating condensed back into liquid form and leave the contaminants behind is called distillation. This method is very useful to remove all the impurities even the heavy metals and salts but this method requires energy and special equipments.

5. Solar disinfection (SODIS):

This is an affordable method. In this method water is placed in clear plastic bottles and put under the sun for several hours. Ultraviolet rays from the sun and heat both help to kill pathogens. The water purified by this method is useable for communities without using advanced and extensive purification systems.

 

6. Ultraviolet (UV) treatment:

Harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites which cause many fatal diseases can be killed using ultraviolet rays of sun. Though this method needs a reliable power source but it is very effective and quick.

Q4. What are the adverse effects of unclean water and poor sanitation on communities and regions?

Unclean water and poor sanitation is a serious challenge for both the local and international communities.

Some of the adverse effects include:

1. Spread of diseases:

It is not too much to say that almost all the diseases breakout using unclean water. Unclean water makes us ill especially the children and elderly people.

2. Water scarcity:

Water scarcity is caused by two main factors, poor management system of water and pollution. This affects agriculture, industry and daily life. This is harmful for water resources especially in the areas where availability of freshwater is limited.

 3. Environmental degradation:

Now it is common practice to dispose sewage water and industrial waste into useable water which leads to environmental pollution and it badly affect the aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity.

4. Economic decline:

If the community is forced to drink unclean water and live in a bad sanitation conditions the availability of man power will not meet the needs. It will create healthcare issues which costs a noticeable decrease in productivity. If the members of a community get ill and can not perform their duties it hampers economic growth and increase poverty in the affected areas.

Q5. What is the role of water in sustainable development and environmental conservation?

The role of water is very important in achieving sustainable development and the conservation of environment. The availability of clean water for commons is their fundamental right. It helps to reduce poverty it is essential for economic growth and for the health and well-being of society. Here's how water contributes to sustainability:

1. Agricultural productivity:

Most of the population of the world mainly depends on agriculture. If there is a better management system for sustainable water it will ensure food security and reduce the environmental impact on farming. A better and managed irrigation system helps in conserving water resources and promote sustainable agricultural development.

2. Industrial efficiency:

Industries which use water efficient technologies and the recycle methods can minimize the waste of water and contribute to the sustainable use of water resources.

3. Ecosystem protection:

Preserving the freshwater ecosystem like the rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands is vital for maintaining biodiversity and natural water cycles which are essential for environmental conservation.

Q6. How Is the access to clean water and sanitation affected by climate change?

The quality and the availability of freshwater are affected by climate change.  Some effects are as follows:

1. Modified rainfall patterns:

Climate change has become a cause of unexpected rainfall in many areas of the world. It often results in frequent droughts and floods. This affects the conservation of ground water the flow of rivers and reduces the availability of freshwater.

2. Melting glaciers:

There are many parts of the world where the main source of freshwater is glaciers. Now as the global temperature has risen and because of this the melting of glaciers is extensive which causes a serious threat to long-term water supplies.

3. Increasing sea levels:

Freshwater resources due to rising sea levels in coastal areas are becoming more salinized. This rise in sea level pollutes the agricultural lands and drinking water.

4. The extreme weather events:

Hurricanes and storms, which can harm water infrastructure and make it hard the access to clean water and sanitation services are becoming more frequent due to climate change.

Q7 . Explore the ways of purifying unclean water to make it useable.

It is the basic right of any population to have an access to clean water and to live in a batter sanitary condition. It will be possible only when we will be able to purify the contaminated water to clean water and make it possible to plan better sanitation services. Some methods to purify water are:

1.Chemical coagulation and flocculation:

By using these techniques unclean water can be treated using chemicals addition such as aluminum sulphate. Larger particles called flocs are created when the chemicals bind with suspended particles and are easily removed by filtration or sedimentation.

 

2. Desalination:

To make the water clean for drinking and useful for irrigation in the coastal areas desalination technique is used. This technique clean the water by removing salts and other pollutants from this saltwater.

3. Biological purification:

This is a unique and an organic method used plants and microorganisms to remove pollutants from water.  This is an echo friendly method of water treatment. If you clean water through this method it will sometimes become alkaline water best for many diseases to cure.

Conclusion:

Water is the basic element for life. It must be clean sothat many diseases can be avoided. Community health is important for sustainability of environment, for economic growth and community health but all these depend on having access to purify water and sanitation facilities around where you live. Now when the technology has become more advanced there are many factories and mills as compare to past so it is very important to implement effective water purification techniques and sustainable management strategies to fulfill the demand of pure water to use and the better sanitation services. The population has grown the towns have turned into cities and the climate has changed therefore to cope with all these challenges proper systems are important. Only by applying good approaches we can create communities that are healthier and more resilient and guarantee a sustainable future for everybody by tackling the problems of dirty water and inadequate sanitation.