Water is an essential element that keeps life going. As the world’s most important resource, water supports communities around the globe and helps us thrive. However, despite its importance, many people in the United States do not have access to clean drinking water. These people often rely on contaminated sources such as groundwater wells and rivers for their daily supply of H2O. Unfortunately, these sources frequently contain harmful bacteria and viruses that can cause sickness or even death if consumed by humans.
What Is Water Contamination?
It is the presence of harmful chemicals or microorganisms in drinking water. The Camp Lejuene Water contamination can be naturally occurring, man-made, accidental, or intentional. Some of the familiar sources are:
- Industrial effluents and runoff
- Materials washed into drains and waterways by stormwater runoffs
- Sewage treatment facilities
- Discharge from septic tanks
Water contamination may also occur due to faulty construction materials used to build a treatment facility or pipes that transport water. Sometimes, people deliberately add substances to their drinking water to make it appear cleaner than it is, e.g., bleach.
A Leading Public Health Crisis
Contaminated water is a severe public health issue. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called contaminated water, especially in low-income countries, the leading cause of infant mortality. This water also can cause illnesses and diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever.
Contaminated water is a leading public health crisis; according to the WHO, 1 in 3 people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water. Moreover, in many low-income countries, where access to clean drinking water can be limited at best or nonexistent at worst, contaminated water is one of the leading causes of infant deaths. This problem has been exacerbated by climate change and pollution from human activities such as mining operations or deforestation.
Contaminants in Drinking Water in the US
Water in the United States is contaminated with various chemicals, bacteria, and viruses that can make you sick. These contaminants can get into the water from many different sources. The most common source of contamination is from underground sources such as old septic systems and animal waste. Contaminated stormwater runoff from streets, parking lots, and construction sites may also pollute the groundwater supply. These can be contaminated with oil or gasoline spills, pesticides, fertilizers, human waste, or other pollutants like heavy metals like lead.
There are many different types of contaminants found in drinking water across the country:
- Arsenic: Found naturally in soil but used by industry for wood preservatives and herbicides on cotton fields, contamination levels above ten parts per billion.
- Barium: Used to make glass products, often found at levels higher than 50 milligrams per liter.
- Cadmium: Used in batteries and pigments, commonly found at levels higher than 5 milligrams per liter.
Groundwater Contamination
Groundwater contamination is the most common form of water contamination. It occurs when industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and chemical spills seep into groundwater. One such example of one of the factors affecting is the case of chemical spills or waste leakage in Camp Lejeune, which contaminated the water.
The contamination posed a lot of threats to the health of residents in the area. These include cancerous diseases and other harmful issues caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including degreasers, dry cleaning solvents, and around 70 hazardous chemicals. The symptoms of Camp Lejeune water contamination include weight loss, throat pain, and swallowing difficulty. These symptoms mostly resulted in esophageal and liver cancer in the area. Thus, they need immediate medical attention if one of the symptoms is found in the patient.
Groundwater can also be contaminated naturally by heavy metals and minerals that leach into soils or underground rock formations. Water contamination can seriously harm humans, animals, and plants. If you suspect that might contaminate your drinking water supply, contact your health department immediately. They can then conduct tests on the water source in question.
Health Effects
Groundwater pollution is a leading public health crisis in the United States. About 77 million Americans were drinking from systems that do not meet government standards and violated federal protections, according to a report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
The problem has become so widespread that it’s more than just an environmental issue. It’s also a matter of human health. Studies have shown that exposure to specific contaminants can cause cancer and other serious diseases, such as endocrine disruption and human reproductive issues. They might happen with those who consume them over long periods via contaminated water sources like wells or municipal supplies from private wells.
Also, If you are drinking water contaminated with arsenic or lead, there is a chance that it could be causing you health problems. Arsenic, in particular, can cause cancer of the bladder, skin, and lungs. The EPA says that long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic may increase the risk of getting cancer. It also has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and low birth weights in babies born to women exposed during pregnancy.
Lead exposure has been linked to learning disabilities in children and anemia with low red blood cell count in adults. It may also increase your risk for hypertension, high blood pressure, and kidney damage if exposed over a long period or at high levels, like industrial workers.
Solutions
There are many ways to filter water. One way is to use a water filtration system that you can install in your home. It will remove the drinking water’s sediments, chlorine, chemicals, heavy metals, and other impurities. Another option is bottled water, which means paying for something you can get for free. You can also get a countertop or under-sink system that filters the incoming tap water using carbon or ceramic filters, effectively removing contaminants from your drinking supply.
Another method of purifying the contaminated water is through distillers, where you boil it until it turns into steam and then collect it from pipes leading out from your house. So not to allow any bacteria to get into your body while drinking pure, clean drinking.
Lastly, more advanced methods like reverse osmosis systems have mechanical components such as membranes that work on separating unwanted substances. These could be the likes of salt ions and heavy metals plus. Of course, they remove any organic compounds such as pesticides too. The good thing about these devices is that they’re easy to install at home without needing professional help. Thus saving money on installation costs while still getting quality results every time.
Water Sanitation Process
In the United States, the water sanitation process is fundamental. Ensuring that water is clean, safe, and healthy has many steps. It starts with collecting water from different sources. Many sources are available such as rivers, lakes, wells, etc. But before ordering it, one must ensure that they have some knowledge about the source to determine if it is safe for consumption or not.
After collecting the source, one should consider treating it using different methods such as boiling or filtration, etc., depending on what contaminants are present in the origin of the water. After treatment, these methods will eliminate almost all contaminants from your collected source. These can then become ready for consumption by anyone without any side effects.
Be Aware of Water Contamination and Its Effects
It is beneficial to be informed about contamination and how it affects our health. For example, we can protect ourselves from contaminated water by filtering it before drinking, washing vegetables and fruits thoroughly, and boiling water for 5 minutes before use. Also, use bottled water for drinking or cooking when traveling in areas with no cleanliness regulations. Educating others about the issue is the key, so they can be aware and contribute towards improving their health.
