Water conservation
posted by Neo
Our ancient religious texts and epics give a good insight into the water storage and conservation systems that prevailed in those days.
Over the years rising populations, growing industrialization, and expanding agriculture have pushed up the demand for water. Efforts have been made to collect water by building dams and reservoirs and digging wells; some countries have also tried to recycle and desalinate (remove salts) water. Water conservation has become the need of the day. The idea of ground water recharging by harvesting rainwater is gaining importance in many cities.
In the forests, water seeps gently into the ground as vegetation breaks the fall. This groundwater in turn feeds wells, lakes, and rivers. Protecting forests means protecting water 'catchments'. In ancient India, people believed that forests were the 'mothers' of rivers and worshipped the sources of these water bodies.
Some ancient Indian methods of water conservation
The Indus Valley Civilization, that flourished along the banks of the river Indus and other parts of western and northern India about 5,000 years ago, had one of the most sophisticated urban water supply and sewage systems in the world. The fact that the people were well acquainted with hygiene can be seen from the covered drains running beneath the streets of the ruins at both Mohenjodaro and Harappa. Another very good example is the well-planned city of Dholavira, on Khadir Bet, a low plateau in the Rann in Gujarat. One of the oldest water harvesting systems is found about 130 km from Pune along Naneghat in the Western Ghats. A large number of tanks were cut in the rocks to provide drinking water to tradesmen who used to travel along this ancient trade route. Each fort in the area had its own water harvesting and storage system in the form of rock-cut cisterns, ponds, tanks and wells that are still in use today. A large number of forts like Raigad had tanks that supplied water.
In ancient times, houses in parts of western Rajasthan were built so that each had a rooftop water harvesting system. Rainwater from these rooftops was directed into underground tanks. This system can be seen even today in all the forts, palaces and houses of the region.
Underground baked earthen pipes and tunnels to maintain the flow of water and to transport it to distant places, are still functional at Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh, Golkunda and Bijapur in Karnataka, and Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
Rainwater harvesting
In urban areas, the construction of houses, footpaths and roads has left little exposed earth for water to soak in. In parts of the rural areas of India, floodwater quickly flows to the rivers, which then dry up soon after the rains stop. If this water can be held back, it can seep into the ground and recharge the groundwater supply.
This has become a very popular method of conserving water especially in the urban areas. Rainwater harvesting essentially means collecting rainwater on the roofs of building and storing it underground for later use. Not only does this recharging arrest groundwater depletion, it also raises the declining water table and can help augment water supply. Rainwater harvesting and artificial recharging are becoming very important issues. It is essential to stop the decline in groundwater levels, arrest sea-water ingress, i.e. prevent sea-water from moving landward, and conserve surface water run-off during the rainy season.
Town planners and civic authority in many cities in India are introducing bylaws making rainwater harvesting compulsory in all new structures. No water or sewage connection would be given if a new building did not have provisions for rainwater harvesting. Such rules should also be implemented in all the other cities to ensure a rise in the groundwater level.
Realizing the importance of recharging groundwater, the CGWB (Central Ground Water Board) is taking steps to encourage it through rainwater harvesting in the capital and elsewhere. A number of government buildings have been asked to go in for water harvesting in Delhi and other cities of India.
All you need for a water harvesting system is rain, and a place to collect it! Typically, rain is collected on rooftops and other surfaces, and the water is carried down to where it can be used immediately or stored. You can direct water run-off from this surface to plants, trees or lawns or even to the aquifer.
Some of the benefits of rainwater harvesting are as follows
Increases water availability
Checks the declining water table
Is environmentally friendly
Improves the quality of groundwater through the dilution of fluoride, nitrate, and salinity
Prevents soil erosion and flooding especially in urban areas
Rainwater harvesting: a success story
Once Cherrapunji was famous because it received the largest volume of rainfall in the world It still does but ironically, experiences acute water shortages. This is mainly the result of extensive deforestation and because proper methods of conserving rainwater are not used. There has been extensive soil erosion and often, despite the heavy rainfall and its location in the green hills of Meghalaya, one can see stretches of hillside devoid of trees and greenery. People have to walk long distances to collect water.
In the area surrounding the River Ruparel in Rajasthan, the story is different - this is an example of proper water conservation. The site does not receive even half the rainfall received by Cherrapunji, but proper management and conservation have meant that more water is available than in Cherrapunji.
The water level in the river began declining due to extensive deforestation and agricultural activities along the banks and, by the 1980s, a drought-like situation began to spread. Under the guidance of some NGOs (non-government organizations), the women living in the area were encouraged to take the initiative in building johads (round ponds) and dams to hold back rainwater. Gradually, water began coming back as proper methods of conserving and harvesting rainwater were followed. The revival of the river has transformed the ecology of the place and the lives of the people living along its banks. Their relationship with their natural environment has been strengthened. It has proved that humankind is not the master of the environment, but a part of it. If human beings put in an effort, the damage caused by us can be undone.
Agriculture
Conservation of water in the agricultural sector is essential since water is necessary for the growth of plants and crops. A depleting water table and a rise in salinity due to overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has made matters serious. Various methods of water harvesting and recharging have been and are being applied all over the world to tackle the problem. In areas where rainfall is low and water is scarce, the local people have used simple techniques that are suited to their region and reduce the demand for water.
In India's arid and semi-arid areas, the 'tank' system is traditionally the backbone of agricultural production. Tanks are constructed either by bunding or by excavating the ground and collecting rainwater.
Rajasthan, located in the Great Indian Desert, receives hardly any rainfall, but people have adapted to the harsh conditions by collecting whatever rain falls. Large bunds to create reservoirs known as khadin, dams called johads, tanks, and other methods were applied to check water flow and accumulate run-off. At the end of the monsoon season, water from these structures was used to cultivate crops. Similar systems were developed in other parts of the country. These are known by various local names ¾ jal talais in Uttar Pradesh, the haveli system in Madhya Pradesh, ahar in Bihar, and so on.
Reducing water demand
Simple techniques can be used to reduce the demand for water. The underlying principle is that only part of the rainfall or irrigation water is taken up by plants, the rest percolates into the deep groundwater, or is lost by evaporation from the surface. Therefore, by improving the efficiency of water use, and by reducing its loss due to evaporation, we can reduce water demand.
There are numerous methods to reduce such losses and to improve soil moisture. Some of them are listed below.
Mulching, i.e., the application of organic or inorganic material such as plant debris, compost, etc., slows down the surface run-off, improves the soil moisture, reduces evaporation losses and improves soil fertility.
Soil covered by crops, slows down run-off and minimizes evaporation losses. Hence, fields should not be left bare for long periods of time.
Ploughing helps to move the soil around. As a consequence it retains more water thereby reducing evaporation.
Shelter belts of trees and bushes along the edge of agricultural fields slow down the wind speed and reduce evaporation and erosion.
Planting of trees, grass, and bushes breaks the force of rain and helps rainwater penetrate the soil.
Fog and dew contain substantial amounts of water that can be used directly by adapted plant species. Artificial surfaces such as netting-surfaced traps or polyethylene sheets can be exposed to fog and dew. The resulting water can be used for crops.
Contour farming is adopted in hilly areas and in lowland areas for paddy fields. Farmers recognize the efficiency of contour-based systems for conserving soil and water.
Salt-resistant varieties of crops have also been developed recently. Because these grow in saline areas, overall agricultural productivity is increased without making additional demands on freshwater sources. Thus, this is a good water conservation strategy.
Transfer of water from surplus areas to deficit areas by inter-linking water systems through canals, etc.
Desalination technologies such as distillation, electro-dialysis and reverse osmosis are available.
Use of efficient watering systems such as drip irrigation and sprinklers will reduce the water consumption by plants.
Water conservation
The most important step in the direction of finding solutions to issues of water and environmental conservation is to change people's attitudes and habits¾this includes each one of us. Conserve water because it is the right thing to do. We can follow some of the simple things that have been listed below and contribute to water conservation.
Try to do one thing each day that will result in saving water. Don't worry if the savings are minimal¾every drop counts! You can make a difference.
Remember to use only the amount you actually need.
Form a group of water-conscious people and encourage your friends and neighbours to be part of this group. Promote water conservation in community newsletters and on bulletin boards. Encourage your friends, neighbours and co-workers to also contribute.
Encourage your family to keep looking for new ways to conserve water in and around your home.
Make sure that your home is leak-free. Many homes have leaking pipes that go unnoticed.
Do not leave the tap running while you are brushing your teeth or soaping your face.
See that there are no leaks in the toilet tank. You can check this by adding colour to the tank. If there is a leak, colour will appear in the toilet bowl within 30 minutes. (Flush as soon as the test is done, since food colouring may stain the tank.)
Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Put a brick or any other device that occupies space to cut down on the amount of water needed for each flush.
When washing the car, use water from a bucket and not a hosepipe.
Do not throw away water that has been used for washing vegetables, rice or dals¾use it to water plants or to clean the floors, etc
You can store water in a variety of ways. A simple method is to place a drum on a raised platform directly under the rainwater collection source. You can also collect water in a bucket during the rainy season.
For more information on Water harvesting link to
www.dot.co.pima.az.us/flood/wh/
www.ci.tucson.az.us/water/tsnwtr/conserve/outdoor/harvest.htm
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Water pollution
posted by Neo
When toxic substances enter lakes, streams, rivers, oceans, and other water bodies, they get dissolved or lie suspended in water or get deposited on the bed. This results in the pollution of water whereby the quality of the water deteriorates, affecting aquatic ecosystems. Pollutants can also seep down and affect the groundwater deposits.
Water pollution has many sources. The most polluting of them are the city sewage and industrial waste discharged into the rivers. The facilities to treat waste water are not adequate in any city in India. Presently, only about 10% of the waste water generated is treated; the rest is discharged as it is into our water bodies. Due to this, pollutants enter groundwater, rivers, and other water bodies. Such water, which ultimately ends up in our households, is often highly contaminated and carries disease-causing microbes. Agricultural run-off, or the water from the fields that drains into rivers, is another major water pollutant as it contains fertilizers and pesticides.
Domestic sewage refers to waste water that is discarded from households. Also referred to as sanitary sewage, such water contains a wide variety of dissolved and suspended impurities.
Biochemical oxygen demand, or BOD
The amount of organic material that can rot in the sewage is measured by the biochemical oxygen demand. BOD is the amount of oxygen required by micro-organisms to decompose the organic substances in sewage. Therefore, the more organic material there is in the sewage, the higher the BOD. It is among the most important parameters for the design and operation of sewage treatment plants. BOD levels of industrial sewage may be many times that of domestic sewage. Dissolved oxygen is an important factor that determines the quality of water in lakes and rivers. The higher the concentration of dissolved oxygen, the better the water quality. When sewage enters a lake or stream, micro-organisms begin to decompose the organic materials. Oxygen is consumed as micro-organisms use it in their metabolism. This can quickly deplete the available oxygen in the water. When the dissolved oxygen levels drop too low, many aquatic species perish. In fact, if the oxygen level drops to zero, the water will become septic. When organic compounds decompose without oxygen, it gives rise to the undesirable odours usually associated with septic or putrid conditions.
It amounts to a very small fraction of the sewage by weight. But it is large by volume and contains impurities such as organic materials and plant nutrients that tend to rot. The main organic materials are food and vegetable waste, plant nutrient come from chemical soaps, washing powders, etc. Domestic sewage is also very likely to contain disease-causing microbes. Thus, disposal of domestic waste water is a significant technical problem. Sewage generated from the urban areas in India has multiplied manifold since 1947.
Today, many people dump their garbage into streams, lakes, rivers, and seas, thus making water bodies the final resting place of cans, bottles, plastics, and other household products. The various substances that we use for keeping our houses clean add to water pollution as they contain harmful chemicals. In the past, people mostly used soaps made from animal and vegetable fat for all types of washing. But most of today’s cleaning products are synthetic detergents and come from the petrochemical industry. Most detergents and washing powders contain phosphates, which are used to soften the water among other things. These and other chemicals contained in washing powders affect the health of all forms of life in the water.
Agricultural Run off
Eutrophication
When fresh water is artificially supplemented with nutrients, it results in an abnormal increase in the growth of water plants. This is known as eutrophication. The discharge of waste from industries, agriculture, and urban communities into water bodies generally stretches the biological capacities of aquatic systems. Chemical run-off from fields also adds nutrients to water. Excess nutrients cause the water body to become choked with organic substances and organisms. When organic matter exceeds the capacity of the micro-organisms in water that break down and recycle the organic matter, it encourages rapid growth, or blooms, of algae. When they die, the remains of the algae add to the organic wastes already in the water; eventually, the water becomes deficient in oxygen. Anaerobic organisms (those that do not require oxygen to live) then attack the organic wastes, releasing gases such as methane and hydrogen sulphide, which are harmful to the oxygen-requiring (aerobic) forms of life. The result is a foul-smelling, waste-filled body of water. This has already occurred in such places as Lake Erie and the Baltic Sea, and is a growing problem in freshwater lakes all over India. Eutrophication can produce problems such as bad tastes and odours as well as green scum algae. Also the growth of rooted plants increases, which decreases the amount of oxygen in the deepest waters of the lake. It also leads to the death of all forms of life in the water bodies.
The use of land for agriculture and the practices followed in cultivation greatly affect the quality of groundwater. Intensive cultivation of crops causes chemicals from fertilizers (e.g. nitrate) and pesticides to seep into the groundwater, a process commonly known as leaching. Routine applications of fertilizers and pesticides for agriculture and indiscriminate disposal of industrial and domestic wastes are increasingly being recognized as significant sources of water pollution.
The high nitrate content in groundwater is mainly from irrigation run-off from agricultural fields where chemical fertilizers have been used indiscriminately.
Industrial effluents
Waste water from manufacturing or chemical processes in industries contributes to water pollution. Industrial waste water usually contains specific and readily identifiable chemical compounds. During the last fifty years, the number of industries in India has grown rapidly. But water pollution is concentrated within a few subsectors, mainly in the form of toxic wastes and organic pollutants. Out of this a large portion can be traced to the processing of industrial chemicals and to the food products industry. In fact, a number of large- and medium-sized industries in the region covered by the Ganga Action Plan do not have adequate effluent treatment facilities. Most of these defaulting industries are sugar mills, distilleries, leather processing industries, and thermal power stations. Most major industries have treatment facilities for industrial effluents. But this is not the case with small-scale industries, which cannot afford enormous investments in pollution control equipment as their profit margin is very slender.
Effects of water pollution
The effects of water pollution are not only devastating to people but also to animals, fish, and birds. Polluted water is unsuitable for drinking, recreation, agriculture, and industry. It diminishes the aesthetic quality of lakes and rivers. More seriously, contaminated water destroys aquatic life and reduces its reproductive ability. Eventually, it is a hazard to human health. Nobody can escape the effects of water pollution.
The individual and the community can help minimize water pollution. By simple housekeeping and management practices the amount of waste generated can be minimized.
posted by Neo
When toxic substances enter lakes, streams, rivers, oceans, and other water bodies, they get dissolved or lie suspended in water or get deposited on the bed. This results in the pollution of water whereby the quality of the water deteriorates, affecting aquatic ecosystems. Pollutants can also seep down and affect the groundwater deposits.
Water pollution has many sources. The most polluting of them are the city sewage and industrial waste discharged into the rivers. The facilities to treat waste water are not adequate in any city in India. Presently, only about 10% of the waste water generated is treated; the rest is discharged as it is into our water bodies. Due to this, pollutants enter groundwater, rivers, and other water bodies. Such water, which ultimately ends up in our households, is often highly contaminated and carries disease-causing microbes. Agricultural run-off, or the water from the fields that drains into rivers, is another major water pollutant as it contains fertilizers and pesticides.
Domestic sewage refers to waste water that is discarded from households. Also referred to as sanitary sewage, such water contains a wide variety of dissolved and suspended impurities.
Biochemical oxygen demand, or BOD
The amount of organic material that can rot in the sewage is measured by the biochemical oxygen demand. BOD is the amount of oxygen required by micro-organisms to decompose the organic substances in sewage. Therefore, the more organic material there is in the sewage, the higher the BOD. It is among the most important parameters for the design and operation of sewage treatment plants. BOD levels of industrial sewage may be many times that of domestic sewage. Dissolved oxygen is an important factor that determines the quality of water in lakes and rivers. The higher the concentration of dissolved oxygen, the better the water quality. When sewage enters a lake or stream, micro-organisms begin to decompose the organic materials. Oxygen is consumed as micro-organisms use it in their metabolism. This can quickly deplete the available oxygen in the water. When the dissolved oxygen levels drop too low, many aquatic species perish. In fact, if the oxygen level drops to zero, the water will become septic. When organic compounds decompose without oxygen, it gives rise to the undesirable odours usually associated with septic or putrid conditions.
It amounts to a very small fraction of the sewage by weight. But it is large by volume and contains impurities such as organic materials and plant nutrients that tend to rot. The main organic materials are food and vegetable waste, plant nutrient come from chemical soaps, washing powders, etc. Domestic sewage is also very likely to contain disease-causing microbes. Thus, disposal of domestic waste water is a significant technical problem. Sewage generated from the urban areas in India has multiplied manifold since 1947.
Today, many people dump their garbage into streams, lakes, rivers, and seas, thus making water bodies the final resting place of cans, bottles, plastics, and other household products. The various substances that we use for keeping our houses clean add to water pollution as they contain harmful chemicals. In the past, people mostly used soaps made from animal and vegetable fat for all types of washing. But most of today’s cleaning products are synthetic detergents and come from the petrochemical industry. Most detergents and washing powders contain phosphates, which are used to soften the water among other things. These and other chemicals contained in washing powders affect the health of all forms of life in the water.
Agricultural Run off
Eutrophication
When fresh water is artificially supplemented with nutrients, it results in an abnormal increase in the growth of water plants. This is known as eutrophication. The discharge of waste from industries, agriculture, and urban communities into water bodies generally stretches the biological capacities of aquatic systems. Chemical run-off from fields also adds nutrients to water. Excess nutrients cause the water body to become choked with organic substances and organisms. When organic matter exceeds the capacity of the micro-organisms in water that break down and recycle the organic matter, it encourages rapid growth, or blooms, of algae. When they die, the remains of the algae add to the organic wastes already in the water; eventually, the water becomes deficient in oxygen. Anaerobic organisms (those that do not require oxygen to live) then attack the organic wastes, releasing gases such as methane and hydrogen sulphide, which are harmful to the oxygen-requiring (aerobic) forms of life. The result is a foul-smelling, waste-filled body of water. This has already occurred in such places as Lake Erie and the Baltic Sea, and is a growing problem in freshwater lakes all over India. Eutrophication can produce problems such as bad tastes and odours as well as green scum algae. Also the growth of rooted plants increases, which decreases the amount of oxygen in the deepest waters of the lake. It also leads to the death of all forms of life in the water bodies.
The use of land for agriculture and the practices followed in cultivation greatly affect the quality of groundwater. Intensive cultivation of crops causes chemicals from fertilizers (e.g. nitrate) and pesticides to seep into the groundwater, a process commonly known as leaching. Routine applications of fertilizers and pesticides for agriculture and indiscriminate disposal of industrial and domestic wastes are increasingly being recognized as significant sources of water pollution.
The high nitrate content in groundwater is mainly from irrigation run-off from agricultural fields where chemical fertilizers have been used indiscriminately.
Industrial effluents
Waste water from manufacturing or chemical processes in industries contributes to water pollution. Industrial waste water usually contains specific and readily identifiable chemical compounds. During the last fifty years, the number of industries in India has grown rapidly. But water pollution is concentrated within a few subsectors, mainly in the form of toxic wastes and organic pollutants. Out of this a large portion can be traced to the processing of industrial chemicals and to the food products industry. In fact, a number of large- and medium-sized industries in the region covered by the Ganga Action Plan do not have adequate effluent treatment facilities. Most of these defaulting industries are sugar mills, distilleries, leather processing industries, and thermal power stations. Most major industries have treatment facilities for industrial effluents. But this is not the case with small-scale industries, which cannot afford enormous investments in pollution control equipment as their profit margin is very slender.
Effects of water pollution
The effects of water pollution are not only devastating to people but also to animals, fish, and birds. Polluted water is unsuitable for drinking, recreation, agriculture, and industry. It diminishes the aesthetic quality of lakes and rivers. More seriously, contaminated water destroys aquatic life and reduces its reproductive ability. Eventually, it is a hazard to human health. Nobody can escape the effects of water pollution.
The individual and the community can help minimize water pollution. By simple housekeeping and management practices the amount of waste generated can be minimized.
Water- depletion and pollution
When Neil Armstrong saw the Earth from the Moon, it appeared blue! This is because water covers more than two-thirds of the Earth's surface. But fresh water represents less than 0.5% of the total water on Earth. The rest is either in the form of seawater or locked up in icecaps or the soil, which is why one often hears of water scarcity in many areas.
Water is continuously moving around the earth and constantly changing its form. It evaporates from land and water bodies and is also produced by all forms of life on Earth. This water vapour moves through the atmosphere, condenses to form clouds and precipitates as rain and snow. In time, the water returns to where it came from, and the process begins all over again. Although water is constantly moving, its total quantity on Earth's surface is constant.
Forms of water
Water is found in three different forms - liquid, solid or gas, depending on the temperature but it constantly changes from one form to another. Changes in temperature will determine which of these forms predominates in a particular area.
Liquid
Water is usually encountered in the liquid state, because this is its natural state when temperatures are between 0° C and 100° C. 'Fresh' or drinking water is found as groundwater in underground aquifers, and on the surface in ponds, lakes, and rivers. Seas and oceans account for 97% of all water on Earth; but their waters contain dissolved salts and are therefore unfit to drink. In regions of young volcanic activity, hot water emerges from the earth in hot springs (examples are Garampani in Assam and Badrinath in Uttaranchal). How does this phenomenon occur? Surface water percolates downward through the rocks below the Earth's surface to high-temperature regions surrounding a magma reservoir, either active, or recently solidified but still hot. There the water is heated, becomes less dense, and rises back to the surface through fissures and cracks.
Solid
Ice is the frozen form of water. It occurs when temperatures are below 0°C (32°F). For a given mass, ice occupies 9% more volume than water, which is why when water enters cracks in rocks and freezes it causes the rocks to crack and split. Being less dense than water, ice floats. This property of ice is vital to aquatic life in cold regions. As the temperature drops, ice forms a protective, insulating layer on the surfaces of streams, pools and other water bodies, allowing water to remain liquid in the layers beneath and life to survive. Glaciers, icebergs, and ice caps are all frozen water.
Gas
Water is found in the atmosphere in its gaseous form, water vapour. Steam is nothing but vapourized water. In certain hot water springs called geysers, jets of steam and hot water rise one hundred feet or more from the ground. Geysers are found in Iceland, the North Island of New Zealand and in USA's Yellowstone National Park.
Worldwide, the consumption of water is doubling every 20 years - more than twice the rate of increase in population.
A large amount of water is wasted in agriculture, industry, and urban areas. It has been estimated that with available technologies and better operational practices, agricultural water demand could be cut by about 50%, and that in urban areas by about 33% without affecting the quality or economics of life. But most governments do not have adequate laws or regulations to protect their water systems.
Due to the increase in population there has been a rise in the demand for food, space for housing, consumer products, etc., which has in turn resulted in increased industrialization, urbanization, and demands in agriculture thereby leading to both river and groundwater contamination.
The 'small and big' of water
The Pacific ocean is the biggest ocean covering approximately 32.6% of the Earth's surface
The Arctic ocean is the smallest ocean
Some interesting facts about water
75% of the earth's surface is covered with water
More than 97% of the earth's water is in its oceans
About 2% of the available drinking water is frozen leaving only 1% for drinking
The world's average rainfall is about 850 mm
Water regulates the Earth's temperature. It also regulates the temperature of the human body, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, cushions joints, protects organs and tissues, and removes waste
60% - 75% of the adult human body is water - 82% of blood is water; 70% of the brain and 90% of the lungs are made up of water
Blood in animals and sap in plants is composed mainly of water
To cook 1 cup of rice you need 2 cups of water but to wash the pan in which it has been cooked you need 4-5 litres of water
A dripping tap can waste up to 6 litres of water in a day
More than half the creatures on the Earth are found under water
Life on earth probably originated in water
In the summer our bodies require about 2 litres of water daily. Here is the water content of some foods (approximate) - 95% in tomato, 91% in spinach, 91% in milk, 85% in apples and 80% in potatoes
10% of the earth's surface is covered with ice
There are more than one billion people particularly in North Africa and Western and South Asia, who lack access to a steady supply of clean water.
Access to water and sanitation, so crucial to human well-being and development, has now become a priority for the international community. To underscore the need for immediate action, the United Nations has designated 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater.
The importance given to water in ancient India is reflected in several hymns of the Vedas and epics and narratives from other valuable works such as the Arthasastra of Kautilya.
International Year of Freshwater 2003
"No single measure would do more to reduce disease and save lives in the developing world than bringing safe water and adequate sanitation to all."
- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
Millennium Report
2003 is the International Year of Freshwater
"Water is probably the only natural resource to touch all aspects of human civilization - from agricultural and industrial development to the cultural and religious values embedded in society."
- Koichiro Matsuura, Director General, UNESCO
When Neil Armstrong saw the Earth from the Moon, it appeared blue! This is because water covers more than two-thirds of the Earth's surface. But fresh water represents less than 0.5% of the total water on Earth. The rest is either in the form of seawater or locked up in icecaps or the soil, which is why one often hears of water scarcity in many areas.
Water is continuously moving around the earth and constantly changing its form. It evaporates from land and water bodies and is also produced by all forms of life on Earth. This water vapour moves through the atmosphere, condenses to form clouds and precipitates as rain and snow. In time, the water returns to where it came from, and the process begins all over again. Although water is constantly moving, its total quantity on Earth's surface is constant.
Forms of water
Water is found in three different forms - liquid, solid or gas, depending on the temperature but it constantly changes from one form to another. Changes in temperature will determine which of these forms predominates in a particular area.
Liquid
Water is usually encountered in the liquid state, because this is its natural state when temperatures are between 0° C and 100° C. 'Fresh' or drinking water is found as groundwater in underground aquifers, and on the surface in ponds, lakes, and rivers. Seas and oceans account for 97% of all water on Earth; but their waters contain dissolved salts and are therefore unfit to drink. In regions of young volcanic activity, hot water emerges from the earth in hot springs (examples are Garampani in Assam and Badrinath in Uttaranchal). How does this phenomenon occur? Surface water percolates downward through the rocks below the Earth's surface to high-temperature regions surrounding a magma reservoir, either active, or recently solidified but still hot. There the water is heated, becomes less dense, and rises back to the surface through fissures and cracks.
Solid
Ice is the frozen form of water. It occurs when temperatures are below 0°C (32°F). For a given mass, ice occupies 9% more volume than water, which is why when water enters cracks in rocks and freezes it causes the rocks to crack and split. Being less dense than water, ice floats. This property of ice is vital to aquatic life in cold regions. As the temperature drops, ice forms a protective, insulating layer on the surfaces of streams, pools and other water bodies, allowing water to remain liquid in the layers beneath and life to survive. Glaciers, icebergs, and ice caps are all frozen water.
Gas
Water is found in the atmosphere in its gaseous form, water vapour. Steam is nothing but vapourized water. In certain hot water springs called geysers, jets of steam and hot water rise one hundred feet or more from the ground. Geysers are found in Iceland, the North Island of New Zealand and in USA's Yellowstone National Park.
Worldwide, the consumption of water is doubling every 20 years - more than twice the rate of increase in population.
A large amount of water is wasted in agriculture, industry, and urban areas. It has been estimated that with available technologies and better operational practices, agricultural water demand could be cut by about 50%, and that in urban areas by about 33% without affecting the quality or economics of life. But most governments do not have adequate laws or regulations to protect their water systems.
Due to the increase in population there has been a rise in the demand for food, space for housing, consumer products, etc., which has in turn resulted in increased industrialization, urbanization, and demands in agriculture thereby leading to both river and groundwater contamination.
The 'small and big' of water
The Pacific ocean is the biggest ocean covering approximately 32.6% of the Earth's surface
The Arctic ocean is the smallest ocean
Some interesting facts about water
75% of the earth's surface is covered with water
More than 97% of the earth's water is in its oceans
About 2% of the available drinking water is frozen leaving only 1% for drinking
The world's average rainfall is about 850 mm
Water regulates the Earth's temperature. It also regulates the temperature of the human body, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, cushions joints, protects organs and tissues, and removes waste
60% - 75% of the adult human body is water - 82% of blood is water; 70% of the brain and 90% of the lungs are made up of water
Blood in animals and sap in plants is composed mainly of water
To cook 1 cup of rice you need 2 cups of water but to wash the pan in which it has been cooked you need 4-5 litres of water
A dripping tap can waste up to 6 litres of water in a day
More than half the creatures on the Earth are found under water
Life on earth probably originated in water
In the summer our bodies require about 2 litres of water daily. Here is the water content of some foods (approximate) - 95% in tomato, 91% in spinach, 91% in milk, 85% in apples and 80% in potatoes
10% of the earth's surface is covered with ice
There are more than one billion people particularly in North Africa and Western and South Asia, who lack access to a steady supply of clean water.
Access to water and sanitation, so crucial to human well-being and development, has now become a priority for the international community. To underscore the need for immediate action, the United Nations has designated 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater.
The importance given to water in ancient India is reflected in several hymns of the Vedas and epics and narratives from other valuable works such as the Arthasastra of Kautilya.
International Year of Freshwater 2003
"No single measure would do more to reduce disease and save lives in the developing world than bringing safe water and adequate sanitation to all."
- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
Millennium Report
2003 is the International Year of Freshwater
"Water is probably the only natural resource to touch all aspects of human civilization - from agricultural and industrial development to the cultural and religious values embedded in society."
- Koichiro Matsuura, Director General, UNESCO
Friday, July 27, 2007
Water Pollution
History of the water pollution from Indiana...(Goh CC)
Water pollution is "any physical or chemical change in surface water or groundwater that can harm living organisms or make water unfit for certain uses" (Miller G17).
There are two main sources of water pollution, categorized as point sources and nonpoint sources. Point source pollution comes from specific locations, such as through a pipe or a ditch. Producers of point sources include factories, sewage treatment plants, and oil tankers. Nonpoint source pollution, on the other hand, cannot be traced to a specific location. Nonpoint sources are more dangerous because they are difficult to contain and research. Examples of nonpoint sources include acid deposition and chemical runoff into the surface water.
Pollution of surface and ground water is of particular concern in Indiana. The state is dependent on surface and ground water as a source of drinking water. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management assessed over 99% of Indiana's rivers and streams for their ability to support fish, shellfish, and other aquatic life, and it was found that only 64% of those waterways were able to completely support all aquatic life.
Lake Michigan, a popular recreation spot
In addition, only 59% of 8,660 miles of streams surveyed were found to be safe for recreation such as swimming and boating. In over 3,500 stream miles, the amount of E. coli bacteria signified unsafe recreation levels.
The history of water pollution is difficult to trace; before the Clean Water Act of 1972, companies indiscriminately dumped dangerous waste into bodies of water with reckless abandon. The CWA brought attention to the problems of water pollution and its effects in the environment. The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1977 and the Water Quality Act of 1987 strengthened the Clean Water Act and forced the state of Indiana to clean up its act and discover ways to make its water safer. Companies were required to crack down on their own waste disposal and find safer ways to dispose of dangerous and harmful chemicals.
However, many problems still remain that are difficult to contain. Water runoff from heavy rains, a type of nonpoint pollution, can cause sewers to overflow and dump into lakes and rivers. This same water runoff can carry chemicals from streets to drinking water sources, polluting our already-threatened water supply. Animal waste from factory farms is also a problem; in 1996, the Center for Disease Control established a link between high nitrate levels in Indiana drinking water wells located close to feedlots and pregnancy miscarriages ("Facts about Pollution from Livestock Farms").
Indiana has come a long way in solving many of the problems of water pollution. The state has implemented new laws and taken new steps to improve its water quality, but clean water is still not completely in its grasp.
Water pollution is "any physical or chemical change in surface water or groundwater that can harm living organisms or make water unfit for certain uses" (Miller G17).
There are two main sources of water pollution, categorized as point sources and nonpoint sources. Point source pollution comes from specific locations, such as through a pipe or a ditch. Producers of point sources include factories, sewage treatment plants, and oil tankers. Nonpoint source pollution, on the other hand, cannot be traced to a specific location. Nonpoint sources are more dangerous because they are difficult to contain and research. Examples of nonpoint sources include acid deposition and chemical runoff into the surface water.
Pollution of surface and ground water is of particular concern in Indiana. The state is dependent on surface and ground water as a source of drinking water. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management assessed over 99% of Indiana's rivers and streams for their ability to support fish, shellfish, and other aquatic life, and it was found that only 64% of those waterways were able to completely support all aquatic life.
Lake Michigan, a popular recreation spot
In addition, only 59% of 8,660 miles of streams surveyed were found to be safe for recreation such as swimming and boating. In over 3,500 stream miles, the amount of E. coli bacteria signified unsafe recreation levels.
The history of water pollution is difficult to trace; before the Clean Water Act of 1972, companies indiscriminately dumped dangerous waste into bodies of water with reckless abandon. The CWA brought attention to the problems of water pollution and its effects in the environment. The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1977 and the Water Quality Act of 1987 strengthened the Clean Water Act and forced the state of Indiana to clean up its act and discover ways to make its water safer. Companies were required to crack down on their own waste disposal and find safer ways to dispose of dangerous and harmful chemicals.
However, many problems still remain that are difficult to contain. Water runoff from heavy rains, a type of nonpoint pollution, can cause sewers to overflow and dump into lakes and rivers. This same water runoff can carry chemicals from streets to drinking water sources, polluting our already-threatened water supply. Animal waste from factory farms is also a problem; in 1996, the Center for Disease Control established a link between high nitrate levels in Indiana drinking water wells located close to feedlots and pregnancy miscarriages ("Facts about Pollution from Livestock Farms").
Indiana has come a long way in solving many of the problems of water pollution. The state has implemented new laws and taken new steps to improve its water quality, but clean water is still not completely in its grasp.
Pencemaran Air
Current Issue: Malaysia... (Loh HL)
Jumat, 27 Julai 2007
Sumber Pencemaran Air
Banyak penyebab pencemaran air tetapi secara umum dapat dikategorikan sebagai sumber kontaminan langsung dan tidak langsung. Sumber langsung meliputi efluen yang keluar dari industri, TPA (tempat Pembuangan Akhir Sampah), dan sebagainya. Sumber tidak langsung yaitu kontaminan yang memasuki badan air dari tanah, air tanah, atau atmosfer berupa hujan. Tanah dan air tanah mengandung mengandung sisa dari aktivitas pertanian seperti pupuk dan pestisida. Kontaminan dari atmosfer juga berasal dari aktivitas manusia yaitu pencemaran udara yang menghasilkan hujan asam.
Pencemar
Pencemar air dapat diklasifikasikan sebagai organik, anorganik, radioaktif, dan asam/basa. Saat ini hampir 10 juta zat kimia telah dikenal manusia, dan hampir 100.000 zat kimia telah digunakan secara komersial. Kebanyakan sisa zat kimia tersebut dibuang ke badan air atau air tanah. Pestisida, deterjen, PCBs, dan PCPs (polychlorinated phenols), adalah salah satu contohnya. Pestisida dgunakan di pertanian, kehutanan dan rumah tangga. PCB, walaupun telah jarang digunakan di alat-alat baru, masih terdapat di alat-alat elektronik lama sebagai insulator, PCP dapat ditemukan sebagai pengawet kayu, dan deterjen digunakan secara luas sebagai zat pembersih di rumah tangga.
Dampak Pencemaran Air
Pencemaran air berdampak luas, misalnya dapat meracuni sumber air minum, meracuni makanan hewan, ketidakseimbangan ekosistem sungai dan danau, pengrusakan hutan akibat hujan asam, dan sebagainya.
Di badan air, sungai dan danau, nitrogen dan fosfat (dari kegiatan pertanian) telah menyebabkan pertumbuhan tanaman air yang di luar kendali (eutrofikasi berlebihan). Ledakan pertumbuhan ini menyebabkan oksigen, yang seharusnya digunakan bersama oleh seluruh hewan/tumbuhan air, menjadi berkurang. Ketika tanaman air tersebut mati, dekomposisi mereka menyedot lebih banyak oksigen. Sebagai akibatnya, ikan akan mati, dan aktivitas bakteri menurun.
Langkah Penyelesaian
Dalam keseharian kita, kita dapat mengurangi pencemaran air, dengan cara mengurangi jumlah sampah yang kita produksi setiap hari (minimize), mendaur ulang (recycle), mendaur pakai (reuse).
Kita pun perlu memperhatikan bahan kimia yang kita buang dari rumah kita. Karena saat ini kita telah menjadi "masyarakat kimia", yang menggunakan ratusan jenis zat kimia dalam keseharian kita, seperti mencuci, memasak, membersihkan rumah, memupuk tanaman, dan sebagainya.
Menjadi konsumen yang bertanggung jawab merupakan tindakan yang bijaksana. Sebagai contoh, kritis terhadap barang yang dikonsumsi, apakah nantinya akan menjadi sumber pencemar yang persisten, eksplosif, korosif dan beracun, atau degradable (dapat didegradasi) alam ? Apakah barang yang kita konsumsi nantinya dapat meracuni manusia, hewan, dan tumbuhan, aman bagi mahluk hidup dan lingkungan ?
Teknologi dapat kita gunakan untuk mengatasi pencemaran air. Instalasi pengolahan air bersih, instalasi pengolahan air limbah, yang dioperasikan dan dipelihara baik, mampu menghilangkan substansi beracun dari air yang tercemar. Walaupun demikian, langkah pencegahan tentunya lebih efektif dan bijaksana.
Jumat, 27 Julai 2007
Sumber Pencemaran Air
Banyak penyebab pencemaran air tetapi secara umum dapat dikategorikan sebagai sumber kontaminan langsung dan tidak langsung. Sumber langsung meliputi efluen yang keluar dari industri, TPA (tempat Pembuangan Akhir Sampah), dan sebagainya. Sumber tidak langsung yaitu kontaminan yang memasuki badan air dari tanah, air tanah, atau atmosfer berupa hujan. Tanah dan air tanah mengandung mengandung sisa dari aktivitas pertanian seperti pupuk dan pestisida. Kontaminan dari atmosfer juga berasal dari aktivitas manusia yaitu pencemaran udara yang menghasilkan hujan asam.
Pencemar
Pencemar air dapat diklasifikasikan sebagai organik, anorganik, radioaktif, dan asam/basa. Saat ini hampir 10 juta zat kimia telah dikenal manusia, dan hampir 100.000 zat kimia telah digunakan secara komersial. Kebanyakan sisa zat kimia tersebut dibuang ke badan air atau air tanah. Pestisida, deterjen, PCBs, dan PCPs (polychlorinated phenols), adalah salah satu contohnya. Pestisida dgunakan di pertanian, kehutanan dan rumah tangga. PCB, walaupun telah jarang digunakan di alat-alat baru, masih terdapat di alat-alat elektronik lama sebagai insulator, PCP dapat ditemukan sebagai pengawet kayu, dan deterjen digunakan secara luas sebagai zat pembersih di rumah tangga.
Dampak Pencemaran Air
Pencemaran air berdampak luas, misalnya dapat meracuni sumber air minum, meracuni makanan hewan, ketidakseimbangan ekosistem sungai dan danau, pengrusakan hutan akibat hujan asam, dan sebagainya.
Di badan air, sungai dan danau, nitrogen dan fosfat (dari kegiatan pertanian) telah menyebabkan pertumbuhan tanaman air yang di luar kendali (eutrofikasi berlebihan). Ledakan pertumbuhan ini menyebabkan oksigen, yang seharusnya digunakan bersama oleh seluruh hewan/tumbuhan air, menjadi berkurang. Ketika tanaman air tersebut mati, dekomposisi mereka menyedot lebih banyak oksigen. Sebagai akibatnya, ikan akan mati, dan aktivitas bakteri menurun.
Langkah Penyelesaian
Dalam keseharian kita, kita dapat mengurangi pencemaran air, dengan cara mengurangi jumlah sampah yang kita produksi setiap hari (minimize), mendaur ulang (recycle), mendaur pakai (reuse).
Kita pun perlu memperhatikan bahan kimia yang kita buang dari rumah kita. Karena saat ini kita telah menjadi "masyarakat kimia", yang menggunakan ratusan jenis zat kimia dalam keseharian kita, seperti mencuci, memasak, membersihkan rumah, memupuk tanaman, dan sebagainya.
Menjadi konsumen yang bertanggung jawab merupakan tindakan yang bijaksana. Sebagai contoh, kritis terhadap barang yang dikonsumsi, apakah nantinya akan menjadi sumber pencemar yang persisten, eksplosif, korosif dan beracun, atau degradable (dapat didegradasi) alam ? Apakah barang yang kita konsumsi nantinya dapat meracuni manusia, hewan, dan tumbuhan, aman bagi mahluk hidup dan lingkungan ?
Teknologi dapat kita gunakan untuk mengatasi pencemaran air. Instalasi pengolahan air bersih, instalasi pengolahan air limbah, yang dioperasikan dan dipelihara baik, mampu menghilangkan substansi beracun dari air yang tercemar. Walaupun demikian, langkah pencegahan tentunya lebih efektif dan bijaksana.
IS OUR WATER CLEAN ENOUGH?
CURRENT ISSUE IN THE WORLD... (Wee BW)
THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS’ POSITION: “It’s definitely not clean enough. We think industrial CEOs should replace their bottled water with water taken directly from their effluent streams. But we suspect that ‘Dioxin Tea with a Twist of Lemon’ will not become a favorite.”
THE POLLUTERS’ POSITION: “Yes, it’s clean enough. There are no longer any rivers that are actually on fire, and Deep Purple proved that a little ‘Smoke on the Water’ can be a good thing.”
THE WATER’S POSITION: “You’d think I would be very upset about all the toxic industrial waste, the endocrine disrupting chemicals, the pesticide and fertilizer runoff from lawns and farms, the untreated sewage, and all the rest of the pollution that finds its way into me. But, hey, I’m inanimate. So if you bio-reactive water-drinkers don’t care about all that contamination, why should I?”
THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS’ POSITION: “It’s definitely not clean enough. We think industrial CEOs should replace their bottled water with water taken directly from their effluent streams. But we suspect that ‘Dioxin Tea with a Twist of Lemon’ will not become a favorite.”
THE POLLUTERS’ POSITION: “Yes, it’s clean enough. There are no longer any rivers that are actually on fire, and Deep Purple proved that a little ‘Smoke on the Water’ can be a good thing.”
THE WATER’S POSITION: “You’d think I would be very upset about all the toxic industrial waste, the endocrine disrupting chemicals, the pesticide and fertilizer runoff from lawns and farms, the untreated sewage, and all the rest of the pollution that finds its way into me. But, hey, I’m inanimate. So if you bio-reactive water-drinkers don’t care about all that contamination, why should I?”
SO HOW ABOUT YOU,
DO YOU THINK OUR WATER IS CLEAN TO DRINK?
Monday, July 23, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER
The safety of our drinking water is often taken for granted in America. In recent years, however, environmentalists and the media have drawn attention to the dangers of ground water pollution and the health risks of lead, chlorine, pesticides, organic chemicals, and various microorganisms that have been found to contaminate our public water supplies. Outbreaks of waterborne diseases are a common occurrence and have involved entire city populations, sometimes leading to serious complications and even fatalities. The potential carcinogenic effects of long-term exposure to certain organic chemicals in our water supplies are under government scrutiny.
Sources of Water Pollution
from Is Our Water Safe to Drink?
Above is the opening paragraph from a new book, Is Our Water Safe To Drink? A Guide to Drinking Water Hazards and Health Risks,* by NOHA Professional Advisory Board Member J. Gordon Millichap, MD. He has given us an excellent summary of the health risks in our drinking water from pollutants such as microorganisms, toxic minerals, pesticides, radon, and radioactive waste. In every case, Dr. Millichap gives the sources of contamination, the symptoms and treatment, and ways to avoid or minimize our exposure. He explains systems and degrees of water treatment along with their advantages and limitations.
searched by susanne chi
Quality of water
Stormwater Quality
searched by susanne chi
The health of a stream depends on the quality of the water that flows through it. To care for the stream, we must also care for all the land that drains to it—its watershed.
Everything in the watershed affects the water in the stream. Hazardous chemicals, automotive products, pesticides, fertilizers, pet wastes, excessive soil erosion and air pollution all contribute to water pollution. 
These pollutants don't have to be dumped directly into the water to cause a problem. They are washed from streets, lawns, roofs and even out of the air by rainfall—eventually ending up in wetlands, streams and lakes.
The storm drain or gutter in the street outside your home carries water into a network of storm drains that lead directly to the Cache la Poudre River. Storm drains are separate from the sewer system-which handles wastewater from your sinks, tubs and toilets-and does not go to a treatment plant but into our streams, rivers and lakes.
Resulting impacts of water pollution can range from the obvious, such as oil floating on the water to losses of wildlife due to habitat destruction that often goes unnoticed.
Everyone has a part in protecting our watershed and preventing water pollution. While the contribution of one home to water pollution may be small, the combined effect of an entire neighborhood or city can be substantial. Here are some suggestions:
- Use chemical fertilizers and pesticides sparingly. When applied excessively, they can be washed into a nearby storm drain by your sprinklers or rain-damaging aquatic life. Even lawn clippings contain these pollutants. Leave them on the lawn as natural fertilizer or compost them.
- Keep automobiles in good condition and drive as little as possible. This helps keep oil and air pollution out of water sources. Wash cars (pdf) at commercial car washes that drain to the treatment plants instead of your driveway that drains to the creeks.
- Dispose of hazardous household wastes such as paints, solvents, used oil and cleaning products properly. Residential hazardous waste is accepted from Larimer County residents at no charge from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and the second and third Saturdays of the month. Business or commercial hazardous wastes are accepted at low cost through the Business Hazardous Waste Assistance Program by appointment only.
The choice is ours—do we want a watershed that keeps our steams, rivers and lakes healthy or a watershed that struggles to survive?
searched by susanne chi
Friday, July 20, 2007
Negara bakal hadapi krisis air
Oleh SM Mohamed Idris
BARU-baru ini Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran (JPS) mendedahkan bahawa sejumlah 60 tan sampah dibuang ke dalam Sungai Klang setiap hari. Ini merupakan masalah pencemaran terbaru membabitkan sumber air negara kita. Pada tahun 1997, hanya 20.7 peratus sungai di Semenanjung dianggap bersih. Setiap hari 19,000 tan sisa beracun dibuang di tapak pelupusan sampah dan tidak kurang 70 peratus daripadanya terletak berhampiran sungai. Harus diingat, hampir kesemua sumber bekalan air minuman kita datangnya dari sungai.
Di Selangor sahaja, 23 daripada 27 sumber bekalan air minuman penduduk dicemari sisa buangan industri, najis binatang, logam berat dan bahan kumbahan. Mac lalu terdapat laporan mengenai Sungai Selangor yang membekalkan air kepada kebanyakan kawasan di Lembah Klang mengalami keadaan hampir mati akibat pencemaran campuran bahan kimia, kumbahan dan buangan dari ladang. Bagaimanapun perkara ini mungkin tidak diketahui oleh orang ramai.
Keadaan yang teruk ini pastinya terdedah kepada umum apabila air yang berbau najis mengalir keluar dari paip kegunaan rumah penduduk Lembah Klang pada Februari lalu.
Hingga ke hari ini pihak berkuasa tidak memberikan sebarang penjelasan mengenai air yang berbau busuk itu. Sebaliknya dalam tempoh tiga hari pertama krisis itu, lima kenyataan yang bercanggah dikeluarkan oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan, kerajaan negeri dan syarikat air yang berkenaan, Syabas, menyebabkan orang ramai bertambah keliru dengan keadaan itu. Air yang berbau busuk akibat pencemaran ammonia dalam air sungai (yang menjadi sumber bekalan air penduduk), dikatakan berpunca daripada sisa najis babi dari ladang ternakan, kilang kelapa sawit, kilang pengoksidaan dan bocoran dari tapak pelupusan sampah.
Berikutan keadaan bekalan air mengeluarkan bau busuk itu, pihak berkuasa telah mengumumkan bahawa satu Jawatankuasa Kabinet berhubung masalah alam sekitar akan dibentuk. Timbalan Perdana Menteri yang mengetuai jawatankuasa yang baru dibentuk ini berkata, pendekatan yang bersepadu akan dijalankan untuk menangani masalah alam sekitar. Beliau menambah, satu tanda aras akan digunakan untuk memastikan penyelenggara bekalan air dan tapak pelupusan sampah mematuhi piawaian yang ditetapkan.
Ini merupakan ulasan yang sedih mengenai corak pengurusan sumber air di negara ini.
Selama bertahun-tahun, beberapa orang pakar (termasuk Ketua Pengarah JPS) telah menggesa ke arah strategi pengurusan lembangan sungai yang bersepadu dan cekap demi melindungi sumber bekalan air bersih kita, hidupan dalam air, habitat semula jadi dan kawasan tadahan air tanah tinggi yang dibersihkan.
Ia perlu mengambil kira semua aspek perkembangan sosioekonomi dan pemuliharaan alam sekitar. Ini termasuklah perlindungan dan peningkatan keadaan sungai, tasik, paya, pesisir pantai, sumber air bawah tanah, empangan dan laut. Ia memerlukan pelan jangka panjang yang tersusun dan mapan, pendekatan bersepadu dan penyelarasan yang berkesan bagi semua dasar, plan tindakan dan perundangan bagi memastikan kejayaan matlamat ini.
BARU-baru ini Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran (JPS) mendedahkan bahawa sejumlah 60 tan sampah dibuang ke dalam Sungai Klang setiap hari. Ini merupakan masalah pencemaran terbaru membabitkan sumber air negara kita. Pada tahun 1997, hanya 20.7 peratus sungai di Semenanjung dianggap bersih. Setiap hari 19,000 tan sisa beracun dibuang di tapak pelupusan sampah dan tidak kurang 70 peratus daripadanya terletak berhampiran sungai. Harus diingat, hampir kesemua sumber bekalan air minuman kita datangnya dari sungai.
Di Selangor sahaja, 23 daripada 27 sumber bekalan air minuman penduduk dicemari sisa buangan industri, najis binatang, logam berat dan bahan kumbahan. Mac lalu terdapat laporan mengenai Sungai Selangor yang membekalkan air kepada kebanyakan kawasan di Lembah Klang mengalami keadaan hampir mati akibat pencemaran campuran bahan kimia, kumbahan dan buangan dari ladang. Bagaimanapun perkara ini mungkin tidak diketahui oleh orang ramai.
Keadaan yang teruk ini pastinya terdedah kepada umum apabila air yang berbau najis mengalir keluar dari paip kegunaan rumah penduduk Lembah Klang pada Februari lalu.
Hingga ke hari ini pihak berkuasa tidak memberikan sebarang penjelasan mengenai air yang berbau busuk itu. Sebaliknya dalam tempoh tiga hari pertama krisis itu, lima kenyataan yang bercanggah dikeluarkan oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan, kerajaan negeri dan syarikat air yang berkenaan, Syabas, menyebabkan orang ramai bertambah keliru dengan keadaan itu. Air yang berbau busuk akibat pencemaran ammonia dalam air sungai (yang menjadi sumber bekalan air penduduk), dikatakan berpunca daripada sisa najis babi dari ladang ternakan, kilang kelapa sawit, kilang pengoksidaan dan bocoran dari tapak pelupusan sampah.
Berikutan keadaan bekalan air mengeluarkan bau busuk itu, pihak berkuasa telah mengumumkan bahawa satu Jawatankuasa Kabinet berhubung masalah alam sekitar akan dibentuk. Timbalan Perdana Menteri yang mengetuai jawatankuasa yang baru dibentuk ini berkata, pendekatan yang bersepadu akan dijalankan untuk menangani masalah alam sekitar. Beliau menambah, satu tanda aras akan digunakan untuk memastikan penyelenggara bekalan air dan tapak pelupusan sampah mematuhi piawaian yang ditetapkan.
Ini merupakan ulasan yang sedih mengenai corak pengurusan sumber air di negara ini.
Selama bertahun-tahun, beberapa orang pakar (termasuk Ketua Pengarah JPS) telah menggesa ke arah strategi pengurusan lembangan sungai yang bersepadu dan cekap demi melindungi sumber bekalan air bersih kita, hidupan dalam air, habitat semula jadi dan kawasan tadahan air tanah tinggi yang dibersihkan.
Ia perlu mengambil kira semua aspek perkembangan sosioekonomi dan pemuliharaan alam sekitar. Ini termasuklah perlindungan dan peningkatan keadaan sungai, tasik, paya, pesisir pantai, sumber air bawah tanah, empangan dan laut. Ia memerlukan pelan jangka panjang yang tersusun dan mapan, pendekatan bersepadu dan penyelarasan yang berkesan bagi semua dasar, plan tindakan dan perundangan bagi memastikan kejayaan matlamat ini.
Strategi
Bagaimanapun daripada apa yang dapat dilihat, kini terdapat strategi pengurusan yang cenderung membawa krisis di mana keputusan dibuat secara ad hoc dan didorong oleh tindakan yang kurang wajar ketika mengendalikan masalah air.
Ini digambarkan dalam perkara yang berikut:
* Tidak ada satu dasar yang menyeluruh mengenai pembangunan dan pengurusan sumber air di Malaysia. Bahagian yang terpisah-pisah ditemui, antaranya, dalam pelbagai Pelan Induk dan Dasar Pertanian Kebangsaan.
* Malaysia mempunyai lebih daripada 30 undang-undang berhubung air di peringkat negeri dan Persekutuan. Pembangunan dan pengurusan sumber air termasuk pentadbiran, perkara yang sepatutnya diuruskan oleh kerajaan negeri dan persekutuan, diuruskan oleh sekurang-kurangnya 13 buah agensi.
* Definisi lembangan sungai tidak diperuntukkan di bawah mana-mana undang-undang. Tidak ada agensi tertentu yang diamanahkan supaya menyelenggara seluruh soal pengurusan dan perancangan air dengan baik di negara ini, begitu juga dengan aplikasi pendekatan pengurusan lembangan sungai yang bersepadu.
* Akta Kualiti Alam Sekitar, undang-undang persekutuan berhubung pencemaran air di kawasan pedalaman dan Akta Kerajaan Tempatan memberi kuasa kepada pihak berkuasa tempatan untuk memberi perhatian kepada pencemaran sungai.
* Enakmen Air merupakan undang-undang negeri yang mempunyai peruntukan mengenai soal sungai, membolehkan wujudnya satu sistem bagi kegunaan dan pemuliharaan sungai. Akta Air di sesetengah negeri dipinda untuk turut memasukkan kawalan pencemaran air.
* Akta Bangunan, Saliran dan Jalan, iaitu undang-undang persekutuan, melarang sebarang sisa dibuang ke dalam sungai, terusan, anak sungai atau parit tanpa kebenaran pihak berkuasa tempatan.
* Undang-undang penggunaan tanah berhubung pengurusan sumber air termasuk Kanun Tanah Negara; Akta Pemuliharaan Tanah; Enakmen Hutan dan Akta Taman Negara; dan Akta Perancangan Bandar dan Negeri.
Pembahagian undang-undang dan tanggungjawab ini memburukkan lagi ancaman kepada ekosistem sungai serta kualiti dan kuantiti air. Keadaan akan bertambah buruk berikutan ketiadaan dasar dan pelan induk untuk menangani masalah pengurusan sumber air yang membabitkan pelbagai kementerian dan pihak berkuasa.
Dasar penggunaan tanah, pembangunan industri, perumahan, pertanian, pelancongan, perbandaran dan pembangunan prasarana terus memberi kesan buruk kepada sumber air. Demikian juga tidak ada pelan yang menyeluruh untuk menanganinya secara lebih bersepadu.
Pengurusan kawasan tadahan air yang cekap memastikan bekalan air berkualiti untuk keperluan masa kini dan generasi akan datang. Memastikan kawasan tadahan air tidak tercemar lebih menjimatkan dari sudut ekonomi berbanding memproses sisa bahan cemar ke dalam loji rawatan air.
Namun tidak banyak usaha dibuat ke arah memulihara sumber-sumber air yang penting. Ini mungkin disebabkan tidak ada keuntungan yang diperoleh apabila memberi perlindungan sedemikian. Sebaliknya kerajaan bersedia melabur sebanyak RM60 bilion dalam prasarana sumber air seperti empangan, takungan, loji rawatan dan sistem rangkaian pengagihan. Teknologi dan bahan kimia untuk rawatan air yang mahal, skim pemindahan air permukaan antara negeri, yang membabitkan berbilion ringgit kini lebih digemari. Jelaslah, tidak ada kesungguhan politik untuk melabur ke arah menguruskan sumber air secara mapan.
Kes air yang berbau busuk tadi mendedahkan keadaan yang memalukan iaitu ketiadaan pihak berkuasa tunggal yang bertanggungjawab menjaga mutu air di negara kita. Sejak 1983 apabila Jabatan Kerja Raya, Jabatan Alam Sekitar dan Jabatan Kimia menubuhkan Garis Panduan Kebangsaan bagi Mutu Air Minuman (NGDWQ). Mereka bertanggungjawab melaksanakannya di bawah Program Pemantauan NGDWQ. Namun apa yang telah mereka laksanakan masih menjadi tanda tanya kepada kita.
Lebih penting lagi keadaan air minuman kita menunjukkan tidak terdapat undang-undang untuk melindungi air minuman, begitu juga tidak terdapat piawaian statutori untuk air minuman dari segi mendapan, bakteria, parasit, nitrat, besi, plumbum, PAH (hidrokarbon aromatik polinuklear) dan sisa racun makhluk perosak lain.
Di bawah penswastaan, ‘air yang dirawat dengan kualiti minimum yang telah ditentukan lebih dulu’ dibekalkan kepada umum. Apa sebenarnya maksud perkataan ini masih menjadi misteri. Justeru syarikat air tidak perlu mematuhi sebarang piawaian kualiti air meskipun pengguna terdedah kepada risiko kesihatan dan keselamatan daripada karsinogen, kimia pengganggu sistem pembiakan dan racun. Kesemuanya mendedahkan ancaman serius kepada kesihatan awam dan kesejahteraan generasi akan datang.
Dengan keadaan negara kita yang mempunyai sumber air dan taburan hujan yang banyak, kita tidak seharusnya menghadapi masalah kekurangan air atau berpindah dari satu krisis air kepada yang berikutnya. Tetapi anehnya, kita semakin bertukar menjadi sebuah negara yang semakin kekurangan sumber air dan krisis air dijangka akan berlaku tidak lama lagi.
Wee BW
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Water resources
Water resources
Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful to humans. It is important because it is needed for life to exist. Many uses of water include agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities. Virtually all of these human uses require fresh water. Only 2.7% of water on the Earth is fresh water, and over two thirds of this is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps, leaving only 0.007% available for human use. Fresh water is a renewable resource, yet the world's supply of clean, fresh water is steadily decreasing. Water demand already exceeds supply in many parts of the world, and as world population continues to rise at an unprecedented rate, many more areas are expected to experience this imbalance in the near future. The framework for allocating water resources to water users (where such a framework exists) is known as water rights.search by susanne chi
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION
So that you can become a water pollution expert, first we'll investigate different kinds of water pollution. And when you're ready, you can help clean up an oil spill! One kind of water pollution, which is usually the most common, is called CONVENTIONAL and is made up of conventional pollutants. Conventional pollutants are solid particles and matter found in our water. Most of the pollution you can see is conventional. Cans, bottles, paper--just about anything--can be a conventional pollutant. You can see conventional pollutants in the picture above.
Conventional pollutants cause a wide variety of environmental problems. The solids suspended in the water can block the sun's rays, and this blocking disrupts the carbon dioxide/oxygen conversion process. This process is vital to an aquatic food chain. Sometimes the solid pollution is so bad, the water becomes unusable to humans and animals. The best way to remove conventional pollutants is to run the water through a treatment plant. In treatment plants the water is skimmed, run through several filters, and settled. This removes about 60 percent of the pollutants. The remaining pollution is decomposed by tiny pollution-eating microorganisms. Microorganisms are living things that are so tiny you need a microscope to see them.
Another type of pollution is called NON-CONVENTIONAL and is made up of non-conventional pollutants. Non-conventional pollutants are more dangerous to the environment than conventional pollutants. Non-conventional pollutants are dissolved metals, both toxic (harmful) and nontoxic (not harmful). Many factories dump these pollutants into the water as byproducts of their production process. The most devastating type of non-conventional pollution is an oil spill. More than 13,000 oil spills occur each year in the United States.
Non-conventional pollutants are difficult to remove because they are dissolved in the water. Even though you can't see them most of the time, they are dangerous. Microorganisms, like the ones used to eat pollution in water treatment facilities, are the best way to get rid of non-conventional pollution. However, not all pollution can be removed from the water -- even with the most advanced technology.
WORKER CLEANING UP OIL SPILLS
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
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