The Effects of Pollution
on Clean Drinking Water: Causes & Solutions
Objectives:
ÒThe single biggest threat to our
planet is the destruction of habitat and along the way loss of precious
wildlife. We need to reach a balance where people, habitat, and wildlife can
co-exist Ð if we donÕt everyone loses É one day.Ó ÑSteve Irwin |
The Issue at Hand: There are a lot of
problems that are caused by pollution in bodies of water, that directly affect
us. The common misconception is that it doesnÕt apply to us since we have
access to clean drinking water, that is wrong. There are many harmful toxins
in our tap water that can be detrimental to us. UN/Regina Merkova (Click
the picture above for more information on the issue of safe drinking water) ÒMore than 5 million
people die each year from diseases caused by unsafe drinking water, lack
of sanitation, and insufficient water for hygiene. In fact, over 2 million
deaths occur each year from
water-related diarrhea alone. At any given time, almost half of the people in
developing countries suffer from water-related diseasesÓ (Johannesburg Summit
2002). |
Solutions: Actions Matter: 1. Use recyclable
plastic. 2. Use reusable items;
bags, bottles, and etc. 3. Do not dispose
toxic chemicals like oils and chemical cleaners down the drain. 4. Donate to charities
and organizations that help communities in need to receive fresh drinking
water. Use your voice: 1. There are many organizations
you can contact if you have any concerns or questions. 2. Most importantly it
is crucial to understand the severity of the situation and use your voice to
create changes in legislation to save the environment for the future generations. If you are looking to
donate here are some helpful links: UNICEF-
unicef is rated the top charity to donate to. Charity
Water- They are the partners with local organizations around the globe. The
Water Project- specific to Africa, they help communities have access to
clean water. |
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The information on this page represents that of Gurleen Grewal
and not that of California State University, Sacramento. |
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