Water Pollution due to Agriculture in U.S.

Water is one of the most important requirements for the survival of both humans and animals. Without water, life would not exist on earth. If the quality of water gets deteriorated, the quality of life on earth will also get deteriorated.                                            

The U.S. government has sponsored projects to produce 15 billion gallons on Corn Ethanol by 2022 in order to reduce the dependence on foreign oil. The U.S. farm bill provides farmers with incentives for producing lots of corn. Such corn is then converted to corn ethanol. Corn Ethanol requires 8 gallons of fossil fuel to produce 10 gallons of it. As a result, this increases the use of nitrogen fertilizers by farmers. Most of the run off from agriculture in the Mid-West usually go to the Mississippi river. This river drains water from 31 states as it flows through the heart of many states, eventually going to the Gulf of Mexico.

In the end, this drainage of nitrogen polluted water has created dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico. Dead zones are usually located at water openings and have no life present in it. Sediments and nitrogen fertilizers run off into the water bodies that create algae on it. Such algae die and when bacteria decompose on it, they consume all the oxygen present in the area. The water in this area becomes undrinkable and unswimmable for both humans and animals. Since the water is not fit for survival, all the water animals in the dead zones eventually die. The biggest human-induced dead zone can be seen at the Gulf of Mexico.

Sagar Taurani

 By SEVA Press

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By SEVA Press 

South Africa need of necessary efforts for Water Development

South Africa is a country with low rainfall, limited underground aquifers and relies on significant water transfers from neighboring countries in the continent of Africa. South Africa faces difficult economic and social choices between the demands of agriculture, industrial activities such as mining, power generation and large urban centers.

At present, South Africa may not have a crisis in terms of water security, but the government is still planning to take measures and necessary efforts to prevent severe shortages that could lead to serious social and economic challenges.

The national water resource strategy, released recently by the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa, warned that South Africa would be "at risk" if water was not taken seriously and if interventions were not applied timeously. According to some studies and evidence, it is said that if strong actions was not taken to improve the management of water, South Africa could experience serious water shortages as early as 2020.

Abhishek Dsouza
By SEVA Press

Water Scarcity: One of the leading problems in the World

Water scarcity is one of the world's leading problems affecting more than 1.1 billion people globally.The provision to access of running water remains in a state of crisis for a huge number of people across the continent of Africa and other parts of the world. Around three hundred million people still face shortage of safe drinking water according to Alan M. MacDonald, principal hydro-geologist at the British Geologist Survey.  

Ethiopian children drawing their drinking water from a filthy stream.

Generally, humans can live up to 3 to 5 days without water. Due to water scarcity, many people die from dehydration and water borne diseases. People are forced to consume unsafe water resources which then cause the spread of waterborne diseases like malaria, typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery and diarrhea.

Water scarcity also affects food security of a country as there is a shortage of water which directly affects the agricultural output. Many countries in Africa suffer from shortage of food due to droughts and crop failure.

Clean, safe drinking water is becoming more and more scarce and valuable as the population and consumption rise. Water is the foundation of life and a basic human need required for survival. It is important for us as individuals to take this matter seriously and solve the problem of scarcity.

Abhishek Dsouza
 By SEVA Press

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