The Benefits of Surface Water Bodies

Water is among the precious natural resources which exist on earth, and it is particularly crucial for the survival of animals and plants. Water is one of the essential resources on the planet. Water quality is equally vital to the available quantity. Thus, while consuming water, it is quality measurements are crucial and management must be done systematically. The quality of water is directly linked to the chemical, radiological, physical, and biological properties of water. Besides, the quality of water entirely depends on the geological environment, recovery, use according to to need, and human activities such as agriculture, mining, domestic, commercial, and industrial activities.

Today, unfortunately, most subsurface and surface water bodies are facing environmental stress, which is caused by increased pollution, urbanization and the use of agrochemicals. Thus, there is a high threat of water contamination by surface runoff and percolation. Human health is under threat from most of agricultural development activities, especially those relating to the use of fertilizers and unhygienic conditions. Water contamination affects both water quantity and quality. One issue of major concern regarding water is the diminishing quantities of water in some parts of the world. In an article published in The Independent on September 21, 2019, titled “Iraq’s disappearing Eden: Water shortages could force four million people to flee their homes ,” the author discusses the looming water shortage in Iraq. According to the article, experts warn that the destruction of agricultural lands might trigger Iraq's next security crisis as a result of a chronic water shortage ( Trew, 2019) . The author reports how residents of the northern part of the country narrate how the waters from the overflowing rivers have now disappeared, wondering where they were directed to. The residents assert that if the situation remains as it is, they do not know whether they will go, and they will likely starve to death. The author adds that the Unesco-protected ancient site, believed to be the inspiration for the Garden of Eden, has a protracted and troubled history of flooding, draining, and drought.

According to the article, the United Nations Environment Program claims that Iraq is presently losing about 250 square kilometers of agricultural land per year – mainly in the South. Also, desertification is rising. Various factors are attributed to the rural water crisis, although it is primarily because of the dwindling levels of the Euphrates and Tigris, along with climate change and transnational dams further upstream ( Trew, 2019) . The vanishing arable lands will consequently trigger a displacement crisis, which is expected to be worse than what the country has already experienced after the war against the Islamic state which has lasted for three years.

So, experts warn that this will subsequently put massive pressure on urban areas, lead to the worsening of the already volatile security condition, and likely spark new conflict. The Iraqi environmental ministry executives stated that if nothing changes and no strong measures are taken to solve the rural water crisis, millions of people will be displaced, approximately 4 million people in the next eight years ( Trew, 2019) . Climate change is also sparking the water crisis, with Iraq experiencing high temperatures, which make the little available water highly saline. Another article that discusses the effects of water quality, especially contaminated water, was published in the U.S. News on September 19, 2019. The report, “Study: Chemical Limits in Drinking Water Still Pose Cancer Risk,” talks about a recent study that established that chemicals in drinking water, the ones which meet legal standards, may lead to over 100,000 cancer cases. According to the survey, which was conducted on chemicals in US drinking water, arsenic, even in trivial amounts, contributes to large numbers of cancer incidences ( Smith-Schoenwalder, 2019) . The chemicals contained within legal limits in tap water are estimated to result in over 100,000 cancer cases in the United States, the new study estimates. The research investigated around 50,000 water systems within the US. It analyzed the existence of 22 chemicals that cause cancer and which are controlled by states and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), yet still present in different levels in drinking water. The researchers established that most cancer cases originated from water systems that are fully conforming to standards for drinking water, put in place by the EPA or states ( Smith-Schoenwalder, 2019) . Of the 22 chemicals inspected, the main issue is arsenic, which leads to many cancer cases even in small concentrations, as stated by the study. Thus, the research indicates that stricter drinking water standards are necessary, said one of the researchers. A similar article that news24 published talks about the issue of water shortage on October 8, 2019. The report, “Johannesburg residents urged to save water as Vaal Dame level drops to just above 50%,” cautions the residents of Johannesburg to save water as a result of the declining water level of the leading supplier of water for the City of Johannesburg. The article reports that, based on a Tweet by the City of Joburg, the residents were warned that Vaal Dam had water levels of 53.1% at that time and that the were no water transfers to be done to the Vaal dam system until 30 th November, as a result of maintenance. Consequently, the residents were advised not to water their gardens between 6 am and 6 pm, to shorten their shower times, to take shallow baths, and to reuse water ( Grobler, 2019) . The water consumption levels were expected to increase due to the incoming summer season, and thus various government stakeholders were deliberating on how best they could salvage the situation, particularly the agricultural sector, which relies on water. Essentially, as the old saying goes, “water is life.” Water is one of the essential substances on earth. All animals and plants must have water for survival. If the planet had no water, there would be no life. Most importantly, the drinking water and water used for other purposes like cooking, bathing, washing, recreation, and watering plants and animals must be clean, meaning that it should be free from chemicals and contamination. Besides, since water is necessary for the survival of human beings, other animals, and plants, it should be readily available and in adequate amounts. The quality and quantity of water are two critical aspects of water. The three articles discussed above have primarily talked about water quality and quantity. So, water, and especially drinking water, must be clean and free from pollutants such as cancer-causing chemicals. It is thus the responsibility of the government and other relevant agencies like the EPA to ensure that the drinking water supplied to each household is clean and safe for drinking. Also, the government and other pertinent stakeholders must enact more stringent water standards to safeguard water from having chemicals that cause cases to not only people but also other diseases and infections. Further, various measures could be taken to fight the water crisis and water shortages in different parts of the world. One of the steps in improving the water infrastructure used for building, pumping, transporting, diverting, storing, treating, and delivering safe drinking water and the tools and equipment used to construct water structures. These water structures include dams, groundwater wells, intakes, storage tanks, drinking water facilities, pipes, and aqueducts. Also, infrastructure includes natural infrastructure such as conserving water, and restoring and sustainable management of water. Moreover, governments and other relevant organizations should come up with water conservation and drought mitigation plans and actions, contamination and pollution control measures, water catchment and rainwater harvesting techniques, and research the best technologies for making water clean and safe for consumption.

References  

Grobler, R. (2019, October 8). Johannesburg residents urged to save water as Vaal Dam level drops to just above 50%. Retrieved from https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/johannesburg-residents-urged-to-save-water-as-vaal-dam-level-drops-to-just-above-50-20191008 

Smith-Schoenwalder, C. (2019, September 19). Study: Chemical Limits in Drinking Water Still Pose Cancer Risk. Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2019-09-19/study-chemical-limits-in-drinking-water-still-pose-cancer-risk 

Trew, B. (2019, September 21). Iraq water shortages could force four million people to flee their homes. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iraq-water-shortage-unesco-garden-of-eden-bible-four-million-people-homes-latest-a8574781.html