Water Pollution
Water pollution is occurring all around the world and is an extreme danger for all people. If we cannot keep up with this growing pollution of our water sources, access to this life essential resource will become more and more scarce. Factors that contribute to water pollution include but are not limited to: waste from industries, leakages from underground storage, dumping of trash, and oil pollution (1)
A significant river that is an excellent example of the growing threat of water pollution is the Ganges River of India. This river is a cultural hearth for the people who live in its river basin and many people not only drink from there, but they also bathe there, play there, and even place their dead there (2). Since so many consider this river to be sacred, it has become common practice to set people to rest there. However, this is an unbelievable threat to all who use the Ganges, especially those who drink from it. Besides that, this river is also suffering from the addition of toxic industrial wastes, sewage, and even human and animal excretions (3).
The Ganga Action Plan has been somewhat successful in helping to direct sewage away from this sacred river, but there is still much more work to be done before the people of India can bathe and drink from this water source without the fear of extracting waterborne diseases (4). Maps of this area can be found on the Geogrophy of Water page.
Concept Questions
1. If the Ganges River is considered so sacred to India, why do you think it is that it's treated so poorly and polluted so heavily?
2. What is you think is the greatest factor of pollution globally? Industrial wastes? Trash dumping? Pollution from oil? Explain why you think so.
A significant river that is an excellent example of the growing threat of water pollution is the Ganges River of India. This river is a cultural hearth for the people who live in its river basin and many people not only drink from there, but they also bathe there, play there, and even place their dead there (2). Since so many consider this river to be sacred, it has become common practice to set people to rest there. However, this is an unbelievable threat to all who use the Ganges, especially those who drink from it. Besides that, this river is also suffering from the addition of toxic industrial wastes, sewage, and even human and animal excretions (3).
The Ganga Action Plan has been somewhat successful in helping to direct sewage away from this sacred river, but there is still much more work to be done before the people of India can bathe and drink from this water source without the fear of extracting waterborne diseases (4). Maps of this area can be found on the Geogrophy of Water page.
Concept Questions
1. If the Ganges River is considered so sacred to India, why do you think it is that it's treated so poorly and polluted so heavily?
2. What is you think is the greatest factor of pollution globally? Industrial wastes? Trash dumping? Pollution from oil? Explain why you think so.
Sources
1. "The Causes of Water Pollution." Water Pollution. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2012. <http://www.water-pollution.org.uk/causes.html>.
2. Schild, Amina-Laura. "The Pollution of the River Ganga." Water and Megacities. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.waterandmegacities.org/the-pollution-of-the-river-ganga/>.
3. Morrison, Dan. "India Stems Tide of Pollution Into Ganges River." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 23 Nov. 2011.
Web. 22 Nov. 2012. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/11/111123-india-ganges-river-pollution/>.
4. "Ganga Action Plan." N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2012. <http://www.cag.gov.in/reports/scientific/2000_book2/gangaactionplan.htm>.
5. The Ganges River. Digital image. Freshwater Ideas For a Thirsty Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2012.
<http://shipbright.wordpress.com/2010/02/08/holy-water-holy-river-the-ganges-the-goddess-of-purity-is-not-well-tibetan-plateau-
series-4/>.
2. Schild, Amina-Laura. "The Pollution of the River Ganga." Water and Megacities. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.waterandmegacities.org/the-pollution-of-the-river-ganga/>.
3. Morrison, Dan. "India Stems Tide of Pollution Into Ganges River." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 23 Nov. 2011.
Web. 22 Nov. 2012. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/11/111123-india-ganges-river-pollution/>.
4. "Ganga Action Plan." N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2012. <http://www.cag.gov.in/reports/scientific/2000_book2/gangaactionplan.htm>.
5. The Ganges River. Digital image. Freshwater Ideas For a Thirsty Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2012.
<http://shipbright.wordpress.com/2010/02/08/holy-water-holy-river-the-ganges-the-goddess-of-purity-is-not-well-tibetan-plateau-
series-4/>.