Did you know? The total water-covered area on Earth is 1.4 billion km, about 70% of Earth. We have polluted quite a large chunk of the water, and the alarming situation is that it is growing day by day. We have listed down ten interesting water pollution facts to shed light on. This article will walk you through how much water is polluted in the world and various pollution facts that usually go unnoticed.
Scientists, researchers, and other professionals warned us about polluting the water, but taking action against it is something we need to work on collectively so that our future generations will thank us for it.
Industrial Waste Disposal into Water
- Have you wondered where industries dispose of their toxic waste? In useable water supply
- Approximately 300-400MT of polluted waste is disposed of in the water every year. (Very crucial water waste facts)
The statement talks about what percent of water is polluted and how much usable water supply is affected. Industrial waste consists of two types of garbage: contaminated and non-contaminated. The contaminated polluted waters are highly toxic and may seriously damage aquatic life. In contrast, non-contaminated waters are visible and remain in the water as long as they can (non-biodegradable ability).
Sewage Water Waste
- Did you know? 80% of sewage in developing countries is disposed of in lakes and rivers.
- Approximately two million tons of sewage is thrown into freshwater, annually 14 billion pounds of garbage containing plastic is dumped into the ocean affecting aquatic life.
- 80% of the water pollution is caused due to domestic sewage. (water pollution facts that may last for life).
Groundwater Pollution
The world water quality facts and statistics: According to estimates from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), approximately 23,000 to 75,000 sewers overflow every year.
Sewage water is the water disposed of from our sinks and toilets, basically a human waste. It is one of the most significant water contamination facts we face worldwide. About 2 million of sewage dumped into the usable water is one of the critical water waste facts we come across, and poor sewage management system is an add on to the number.
- Groundwater is polluted by Nitrate, which is the most common toxic chemical in the world. (Very alarming water pollutions facts )
- About 6 billion pounds of garbage like plastic and glass ends up in oceans every year.. (World water quality facts and statistics about water pollution)
The nitrate facts about pollution got us thinking about the water we use at home for cooking and drinking? Groundwater is one of the most common water pollutions we face every year or more over every second. The water we use for everyday activities is fresh, and groundwater pollutions is something that can affect humans directly.
Groundwater contamination occurs when manufactured products such as gasoline, oil, road salts and chemicals get into the groundwater and cause it to become unsafe and for human use. There are nerve-racking facts about pollution that make us think about the situation we are heading towards.
Disease Caused by Wastewater
- Diseases like cholera and typhus abrupt from contaminated water are common forms of death in developing countries that is polluting the water for many years.
- Approximately 15 million children under five die because of contaminated water diseases like cholera—very concerning water contamination facts.
- According to WHO, 2.5 billion people living in slums don’t have access to fresh water, and around 250 million people die from diseases caused by contaminated water.
The statements above show how much water is polluted in the world and its consequences on human health. Diseases may add to what percent of water is polluted, and on average, 250 million people approximately lack access to freshwater. Hence, contaminated water is one of the leading causes of death.