Today's topic on the state of our global water supply is on drinking water contaminants and where they come from, what we can do about them, and how they effect our health.
Water borne diseases account for about 4.1 percent of our burden of global diseases. Roughly 1.8 million people die from water borne diseases each year and the number are on the rise.
What are these diseases?
There are several classes of diseases associated with water contamination, or dirty water. Lets take a look a few of them.
- Protozoal infections
- Parasitic infections (Kingdom Animalia)
- Bacterial infections
- Viral infections
These classes are responsible for many misdiagnosed illnesses that have symptoms similar to food poisoning, the flu, the common clod and many 24 hour viruses.
They can display many symptoms includiung vomiting, fevers, sore throats, cramps, bloating, rashes and even death!
How did they get into our water?
Water contamination can come about from many different ways. Floods can be a huge factor in introducing chemicals and human waste into our water supply.
Poor farming practices and water run off can be another huge source of fouling our water.
Improper disposal of chemicals can also add to the problem, as well as improper disposal of pharmaceutical drugs down our drains.
For many years factories were not regulated very well and were responsible for large amounts of dumping of chemicals and waste water into our lakes and rivers. Today there are much better regulations for these factories but there are still many that cut corners and still dump some nasty mixtures into our water system.
What kind of cost is involved with these illnesses?
The results can be costly. While government regulations are set to acceptable standards for clean public water supplies, they use a fits all number, and every person is a bit different. Some people are more sensitive to certain chemicals and bacteria than others, and while they do their best it is impossible to be able to find an affordable number that really fits all.
Hospital bills, doctor bills, higher insurance rates, and even death in some circumstances can result in consuming dirty water. With a bit of care and good hygiene practices many of these costs can be avoided.
How can I do my part?
One way to combat dirty water is for everyone to become more aware of why it is happening. Conserve clean water and practice green behavior when using and disposing of harmful chemicals. If you think a factory is polluting a river or stream, report it.
When brushing our teeth, flushing our toilets and doing our dishes, turn off that tap until you need it! You will be amazed at the amount of water you can save. Take shorter showers and does the lawn really need watering? You will also enjoy a smaller water bill for sure!
One of the biggest and best investments you can make is installing a multi-stage water filter system in your home, and get yourself a portable filter system for travelling.
I hope this helps bring a bit of attention to a growing problem our whole planet is facing in the coming years. With a bit of awareness we can all do a little bit to help mother nature start healing!
Please feel free to share this article and leave any questions or comments below!
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