Around 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is water-shrouded, and the seas hold about 96.5 percent of all Earth’s water. Water additionally exists noticeable all around as water fume, in waterways and lakes, in icecaps and icy masses, in the ground as soil dampness and in springs.
The water resources of Nigeria are enormous and unevenly distributed among the various hydrological areas. The Niger Delta and tropical rainforest areas have the highest precipitation of about 300 mm/year and longer duration of rainfall up to eight months.
This is followed by the Savannah zone with 1000 mm-1250 mm/year rainfall, the amount of rainfall decreasing northwards. The Sahel has annual precipitation of less than 750 mm/year and may be as low as 500 mm/ year in the northeastern region occasionally.
Rainfall duration can span for 3-4 months in these northern zones and shallow wells normally dry up during the dry seasons due to insufficient recharge. The south witnesses massive flooding and inundation of coastal aquifers by saline water especially low lying areas and reclaimed wetlands.
Given the insight on how the nation is bountiful with water, one would expect even dissemination and that water is accessible by all. The case is rather opposite of one’s expectations. The Niger Delta, endures a lot of unhygienic condition in form of water pollution.
Water pollution occurs when harmful substances, often chemicals or microorganisms contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water, degrading water quality and rendering it toxic to humans or the environment.
Water is exceptionally fundamental for our body and in our everyday activities, yet we treat it with such triviality. The measure of unhygienic things that goes into the waterways and lakes around us is an eye sore. This in turn goes on to pollute the air by producing foul odours.
Envision yourself while going through this post, and you need a break to hydrate yourself with a clean cold bottle of water, rather you are given a contaminated glass of water. Sicken right? Yet, that may turn into our fate soon. How could we arrive?
A well established fact about water is that it is a universal solvent. A dissolvable, this implies that it can break down various substances, that is why it is easily polluted. It will interest you to know that there are different types of water pollution:
- Ground water pollution
- Surface water pollution
- Ocean water pollution
- Point source pollution
- Non point source pollution
- Tran boundary water pollution
Aside the listed types of water pollution, in our environments there are major causes of water contamination and they are;
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE AND ACTIVITIES
The intentions of the agricultural sector is good, but in the cause of effectively distributing products like pesticide for pest control on farmlands or utilization of fertilizers, in eventuality that it rains , these harmful products are mixed with water in streams, rivers and lakes which makes it polluted and unsafe for drinking.
SEWAGE
Utilized water is wastewater. It comes from our sinks, showers, and latrines ( sewage) and from businesses like the hair salon beside you who washes her clients hair, modern, and horticultural exercises (think metals, solvents, and harmful slop). The term likewise incorporates the polluted water which is conveyed into our streams with the aid of rainfall. Or other times, this water becomes stagnant and in acts in capacity of both water pollution and Air pollutant.
OIL POLLUTION
The Niger delta region of Nigeria suffers this type of pollution a great deal. Oil spillage, contaminates the rivers, lakes and waterways, making the water harmful as a natural habitat and for humans. Stories make it to the news on how the fishes die and float on the rivers because of the unconducive environment.
RADIO ACTIVE POLLUTION
Radioactive waste is any contamination that transmits radiation past what is normally delivered by the climate. It’s created by uranium mining, thermal energy stations, and the creation and testing of military weapons, just as by colleges and clinics that utilization radioactive materials for examination and medication.
Water pollution massively affects the environment and on human wellbeing. Drinking of contaminated water can kill and it’s not advisable. It can also cause illnesses of all sorts which isn’t good for your overall health.
We can help resolve this by adhering to simple guidelines such as:
Avoid defecating by the river bank and other unhygienic practices
Properly dispose chemicals
Avoid throwing refuse by the river or other sources of water
Reuse plastic as opposed to disposing without caution. Majority of plastic sacks and containers are found adrift and this isn’t acceptable.
If you think Water pollution is not your concern because you have access to clean water, remember that old man or woman in the rural part. They deserve clean water. Remember that little child in the Niger delta he/she deserves better. Do the work and let your voice be heard.
