Water Resource Plan: Water Pollution, Research Paper Example

Fresh water pollution is the degradation of the quality of water. The degradation may involve interference of the chemical and physical properties of water through introduction of alien substances in the water bodies. The pollution of fresh water sources is generally brought about by human activities.  These include discharging raw sewerage in to water bodies, fertilizers that contain nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates. As Kumar (2004) asserts, high levels of nutrients are not good in aquatic environment since they can stimulate rapid growth of excessive aquatic plants and algae. This further leads to clogging of water ways and consumes all the dissolved oxygen in the water during decomposition. Also, the plants and their decomposing material minimize the entry of light in the water by limiting the depth of penetration thus negatively impacting on aquatic life.

Fresh water pollution further results from silt and suspended particles like soil which are washed from farms and other bare grounds as well as eroded river banks and when there is rain.  Fresh water bodies also undergo eutrophication naturally. This process steadily fills up water bodies with organic matter thus reducing the quality of the water.  Pollution in organic form results from grass clippings, leaves, runoff from pastures and other cattle feedlots and various kinds of sewage.

Industrial effluents are yet other pollutants that greatly affect the quality of water. Kumar (2004) observes that industrial effluents contain various chemicals, compounds and metals such as lead and mercury that are very dangerous to aquatic life. Metals such as lead and mercury may accumulate in the bodies of aquatic animals such as fish and end up affecting humans who consume the fish.  Another major pollutant contained in the industrial effluents is heat. Heat leads to increase of temperatures in aquatic environment leading to death of aquatic organisms. Radioactive materials from nuclear stations, scientific and medical research activities also pollute water.  The radio active material can lead to ionization and diseases such as cancer to the people who consume such water.

Management and Sustainable Plan to Mitigate the Problem

Opposing View Points

Other Issues From Water Pollution

Pollution of fresh water resources is an issue of international al magnitude.  Yet, this pollution is a contributory factor to other environmental issues such as eutrophication and destruction of wild life. Europhication is an aging process which gradually fills water bodies with organic decaying matter. The process starts as a result of the presence of numerous nutrients in the water encouraging dense growth of plant. The plants latter die and decompose using up most of the dissolved oxygen in the water and reducing the ability of light to penetrate the water thus undermining aquatic life.

Due to eutrophication and the other effects of fresh water pollution the aquatic life is endangered. The consumption of the dissolved oxygen by decaying organic matter denies the aquatic animals enough oxygen making some of them to perish. Also decreased penetration of light reduces the performance of aquatic plants (Mason, 2001).

Challenges, Limitations, and Implications My Plan

The plan to protect and manage the water resources will however face several challenges and limitations. This include in adequate funds to fund the plans activities, difficulties in mobilizing the public towards a common cause, and resistance from industrialists who are the main culprits.

Effects of the Plan on the Community

The plan will enhance the corporation of the community members in tackling issues that face them such as the pollution of fresh water resources. As such, many people feel that there is need to conserve their shared resources however, their desire to do something had been hindered by luck of adequate numbers to posh for respect of their ideas band believes. Also, the plan will help prevent ailments that are water bourn by ensuring that the water used by human consumption.

The community will also benefit from improved benefit from improved health condition. Water born diseases such as typhoid and cholera can be managed by ensuring that sources of water are clean. Further more, ensuring that there is no water made to contaminate due to pollution reduces proliferation grounds for pathogens and diseases spreading vectors (Mason, 2001).

References

Kumar, A. (2004). Water pollution. New Delhi: A.P.H. Publishers.

Mason, C. F. (2001). Biology of freshwater pollution. Harlow: Prentice Hall