Many of us appreciate the beauty of water - the shimmer of water running down a creek, the iridescent glimmer of the ocean. The muddying of these waters, however, is more than just a pun. It is a reality.
Bodies of water are susceptible to pollutants, waste and other hazards being disposed of nearby but some of the most destructive elements aren’t necessarily as obvious as others.
The following are just some ways in which our sources of water can be negatively impacted.
Washing Your Jeans
Your favourite pair of denim may be an unusual contributor of water pollution.
In a recent study published by the University of Toronto, indigo-coloured denim microfibres were found in various Canadian bodies of water. The samples were detected and found in areas across the Great Lakes, in addition to the Arctic Archipelago.
What may be a little disconcerting about the study’s findings is that the materials are a direct source of pollution. The microfibres are able to travel long distances after being shed in the washing machine, and end up making their way to bodies of water near Lake Ontario, for example.
The actual effect of accumulated denim-based microfibres has yet to be discovered. Researchers, however, are concerned about both the quantity of discharged microfibres, as well as their capacity to traverse Canadian water systems.
In order to reduce the residual effect, researchers advise that jeans should be washed less often. This helps to both preserve the state of the clothing, as well as mitigate the pollutive implications of microfibre release into the watershed.
Global Pandemic Response
The COVID-19 pandemic has halted a plethora of developments across the world. However, with the onset of worldwide lockdowns, comes the unexpected consequence of water scarcity.
Speculation is rife, regarding the sustainability of international agriculture sectors. Disruptions impacting crop growth which are water-reliant, may result in the loss of water resources used in production.
Produce, such as fruits and vegetables, are dependent on irrigation, in relation to their respective supply chain. When these markets are shut down, however temporary, much of the normally utilized water goes to waste.
This may, in turn, affect the issue of groundwater depletion, which involves a rapid reduction in freshwater resources used in food production. Groundwater resources, which are considered to be non-renewable, replenish at a very sluggish rate.
Overusing these sources of water, in order to meet the demands of our new norm in the age of COVID-19, can have irrevocable consequences, not to mention the increase in water pollution from the single-use plastic PPE caused by the pandemic.
Wildfires
Along with the large-scale destruction resulting from wildfires, the repercussions extend well beyond physical damage. It should come as no surprise that water resources are negatively impacted as a result too.
The California wildfires, which have been ongoing for the last half a decade, have a harmful ancillary effect on drinking water. Environmental engineers and researchers have discovered various, carcinogenic pollutants residing in nearby pipes. Some of these pipes, whether inside adjacent households or buried underground, were found to be contaminated beyond treatment.
Aging infrastructure that is in close proximity to the wildfires, as a result, needs to be adequately repurposed. This may be the only way forward if drinking water systems are to remain usable for nearby communities.