It’s important to protect our watercourses from contamination, because it can have serious effects on the environment and our health. Our precious watercourses are there for everyone to enjoy but don’t be surprised if you notice a dirty colour in one of your local rivers or streams. This could be due to a chemical leak or industrial waste that has been allowed to go into the watercourse unnoticed. Water pollution is often hidden behind contaminated land that sits upstream from your stream or river – you may see a different kind of leak or waste leaching into a watercourse here and there.
Why Water Contamination Happens
There are many reasons why water contamination happens. Some of the most common reasons include:
Industrial waste
When you have a factory or other business near your watercourse, sometimes its waste ends up in the river or stream. This can be due to improper disposal methods and lack of safety procedures. If you notice a dirty colour in one of your local rivers or streams, it could be worth checking with the local authorities to find out if there is any industrial waste leaching into your river.
Chemical leaks
Another reason why water pollution can happen is from a chemical leak from an industrial plant or facility. These types of leaks are not always obvious, but they can sometimes be seen as a dirty colour in your stream or river. It’s important to know where these kinds of leaks occur so that you avoid them when possible!
Inorganic pollutants
These come from man-made sources such as factories, farms and vehicles; they’re absorbed by plants and animals and then we consume them through food and drink (for example, pesticides).
Organic pollutants
These come from natural sources such as soil erosion and decay, animal waste, plants living in polluted soil (for example, nitrates), algae blooms near rivers or lakes (for example, phosphorus), plant residue left behind after harvesting crops (for example, ammonium nitrogen in fertilizer) etc.
Landfills
Landfills can leak chemicals into the soil, which can contaminate groundwater. This is why it’s so important to make sure that you are disposing of your waste correctly.
Industrial Waste – Industrial waste can leach into rivers and streams, which causes severe damage to the environment in general. Industrial processes can also create heavy metals, which are toxic and damaging to human health if ingested orally or through skin contact.
Leaky pipelines
Leaky pipelines are a common problem with many industries. This can lead to contamination of watercourses downstream from where they are located, as well as harming wildlife living there too.
Pesticides
Pesticides used on crops can seep into nearby waterways and contaminate them, making it dangerous for fish populations living in these areas too.
Toxic materials
Chemical spills in factories and mines are another source of water contamination. These types of spills often contain toxic substances like heavy metals and oil which can harm the environment and people who live nearby. In addition to this, some chemical spills contain dangerous bacteria like E coli or salmonella which can make you very ill if they enter your body through any type of wound such as cuts or burns on your skin.
Animal waste
Animals produce urine and faeces which they use as toilet waste in their living spaces, including streams and rivers that run through our towns and cities! This can lead to high levels of nitrogenous compounds such as ammonia being excreted by animals into their local watercourses, which then leads to excessive algae growth in those areas – hence why we sometimes see dirty-looking watercourses running through our towns and cities.
Our Watercourses are Important
Water pollution can have serious consequences for our environment, including the health of people and animals. It’s important to be aware of the signs that you see in your local watercourse and report them to your local authority so they can take action against those responsible. Water pollution is an issue that affects all of us and we should all do what we can to protect our watercourses from contamination.
Contamination to Watercourses is Harmful
Chemical leaching from land upstream from your stream or river into your local water is a common cause of water pollution, but it’s not always obvious. The chemicals could be anything from fertiliser to sewage, which means that you’re likely to find a range of different problems in one area. One problem could be a chemical spillage into an already polluted watercourse, while another could be a leaky pipe carrying industrial waste into your stream or river. If you notice signs of contamination such as high levels of ammonia in your local watercourse or dead fish floating on its surface, then report these immediately so they can be dealt with by authorities before they become more serious issues.
Ways to Prevent Product Leaking into Watercourses
Leak Detection
An important first step to leak prevention is to identify leaks by detecting water wasting and spotting leaks in the process flow. Leak detection can be achieved using a number of methods, including visual inspection, non-destructive testing (NDT) or ultrasonic testing, among others.
Piping Integrity
Pipes are subject to wear and tear due to temperature fluctuations, mechanical stress, and chemical degradation. The integrity of pipelines must therefore be maintained at all times to prevent water waste and loss through leaks due to corrosion or other damage. Pipe integrity can be assessed using several methods such as visual inspection, non-destructive testing (NDT), ultrasonic testing, among others.
Wellhead Maintenance
Wellheads are an important source of water for industrial processes and can be damaged by environmental factors such as sunlight, chemicals or even physical factors like wind erosion or debris contamination that could cause damage to the wellhead itself or its associated piping system resulting in leakage from these areas into surrounding waterways causing pollution/damage that may not be detected until it has already occurred
Use a sturdy, leak-proof container. Make sure the container you use is made of sturdy material and that it is not made of a material that can leach chemicals into the water. The plastic containers used in many supermarkets are not suitable as they can allow harmful chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA) to seep through.
Use a pump to transport the product
Ensure that the pump has a tight seal around it to prevent leakage. Use a pump that does not have any weak points, such as air vents or cracks in the bottom of the tank, which could result in leakage if they become damaged by pressure from carrying too much water. Ensure that you check all these areas regularly for damage or wear and tear so you can replace them before they break down completely and cause problems for you or your customers.
Use small amounts of product at one time
As this will reduce wastage and make it easier for you to store it safely away from its original container until needed again at a later date by another customer who orders it online or over the phone (if their supplier allows this). It will also reduce transportation costs if they need to send out
Bottom Line
After reading this article, it is safe to conclude that many of us are not aware that even a small dump of a harmful chemical can severely contaminate watercourses and cause irreparable damage to environmental conservation. It is also safe to conclude from the article that we have all the ways in place to prevent water contamination from occurring. Water contamination is a global problem which needs adequate solutions at global level. This planet belongs to all of us and we need to protect it for future generations to live in peace.
