Water Pollution In Africa ‘The Water Pollution in Africa A Study of the Causes and Effects Vincent Banek Carl H. Kumpf Middle School Writing Mr. Benjamin Brown April 19, 2010Water pollution in Africa is a fast spreading health and environmental issue to most ‘African countries due to mining runoff, the discharge of household waste, industrial wastewater, and other factors. (O.I. Nkwonta and G.M. Ochieng 2008, and Tsiho 2007). Water is a vital resource and comprises over 75% of earth’s surface (O.I. Nkwonta and Ochieng 2008.) Africa alone possesses over five trillion cubie meters of water resources, only about 3.8% are developed (Ford 2008). Around 300 million people in Aftica do not have access to safe drinking water (Ford 2008). More than half of Africa’s people do not have access to clean drinking water and 80% of the diseases in developing countries including Africa are because of poor drinking water and sanitation, (dropinthebucket.com 2010). The effects of water pollution all over Africa are devastating but by far the most devastating effect is the waterborne diseases caused by water pollution. ‘One main cause of water pollution is fertilizer runoff from agricultural sites. Scientists in Soshanguave Africa collected water from a stream and ran a series of tests to determine the pollutants of the water. Their results concluded that 50% of the pollution came from fertilizer runoff of farming areas. (0.1. Nkwonta and G.M. Ochieng 2008) According to Jocelyn Collins of envirofacts.com, common pollutants from agricultural areas include agricultural fertilize, silt, and pesticides (Collins 2010). Not only is runoff from agricultural areas causing the pollution, but, industrial runoff and mining runoff is also adding to the problem of water pollution. Jocelyn Collins also concluded that industrial pollutants such as toxic metals, litter, and hot water are ‘common (Collins 2010). A news report from the Sandspruit River in South Africa, reported that there have been sightings of white foam collecting in the Sandspruit River. Mr. Paul Fairwell, a wetlands and riparian expert, reported that a nearby factory would regularly wash out their solphonic acid tanks into drains that filter into the Sandspruit River. (Water Pollution in‘Sandspruit River 2009) This could intern affect the water quality, which could damage the ecosystem and the health of many people. A news report titled, Zambia in Water pollution Scare reports 13 people being admitted into a nearby hospital after drinking alleged polluted water. Officials that visited the site said that acidic effluents from the Mopani Copper Mine entered the ‘water supply. “Nobody has died yet but we are screening all the people who consumed the water.” Mulfuliva town official Charles Mwandila said. (Zambia in Water pollution scare 2008) ‘Another cause of water pollution is the disposal and dumping of human waste into water supplies. In the study done at the stream in Soshanguave Africa, the scientists concluded that 50% of the community uses the river for dumping household wastes. (0.1. Nkwonta and GM. Ochi 2008). In Zambia, poor sewage treatment and sanitation has caused the pollution of bodies of water near towns and cities. Some experts believe that Zambian towns are only treating 20% of the sewage and that is not even treated properly (Tsiho 2007). Dropinthbucket.org, is a website made to inform people of the severity of water pollution in Africa, The website says that poor sewage systems are causing much of the human waste in Africa to spill into waterways. The water continually becomes worse and becomes harder to rid of the pollution. (dropinthebucket.org) The extent and severity of water pollution is becoming more and clearer to people around the world. Now, we finally realize the trouble Africa is in with water pollution. It has been estimated that around 300 million people in Africa do not have access to clean and safe drinking water (Ford 2008). According to a report from the e Nations Development Program another 1.8 billion people will have to face water pollution in Africa and other developing countries by the year 2080. (Ford 2008.) Africa possesses vast amounts of renewable water, but only about 4% is used. Africans simply do not have the wells, canals, pumps, reservoirs, and other irrigationsystems (Dropinthebucket.com 2010). According to the African Water Proposal, 14 African countries are facing water pollution and 11 more will by the year 2025. (The African Water Proposal 2009). This epidemic must be stopped, around 68,500 people die each day because of polluted water. (Hoff and Rodgers 1991). There are numerous devastating effects of water pollution in Africa. One major effect of the water pollution is the contamination of crops and agriculture. According to a study of the water pollution in stream in soshanguave Africa, the stream was not suitable for agricultural se and could easily vegetables and other crops (0.1. Nkwonta and G.M. Ochieng 2008) the effects ‘of water pollution can affect the environment and the ecosystems within the environment. A news report in the Sandspruit River reported that a factory would constantly dump its sulphonic acid tank residue into the river. Dr. Paul Oberholster CSIR research group leader in ecosystems and human health says that the dumping could lead to a change in the pH of the water. This could intern destroy the entire ecosystem because some species are sensitive to Ph levels (Water Pollution in it River 2009). In Zimbabwe, the discharge and dumping of industrial and municipal materials has lead to massive fish deaths in Lake Chivero. (Tsiho 2007) The effect of water pollution on human health is by the far the most devastating and most important. Over the past decade more people have died from diarrhea, a common sickness caused by contaminated water, than the total people killed in conflict in WWII (dropinthebucket.com 2010). It has also been said that over 80% of the disease in developing countries is caused by poor drinking water and water pollution. (dropinthebucket.com 2010). The World health organization says that half of Aftica’s population is suffering from 1 of 6 water related diseases. These include Cholera and Typhoid (Ford 2008). Diseases like Cholera, typhoid, and gastroenteritis are transmitted by water containing sewage and human waste(Collins 2010). Gastroenteritis is said to be one of the three main causes of child deaths under 5 in South Africa (Collins 2010). ‘Water pollution is a very serious and quickly spreading problem but, there are solutions and ways to stop the problem. According to dropinthebucket.com (2010), rules need to be made for agricultural and mining operations and followed. Also proper sewage disposal and water filtration is necessary to stop the problem (dropinthebucket.com). One great way to create better sewage disposal is by adding Roughing filters. These filters can effectively separate the solid ‘wastes over long periods of time without chemicals (0.1. Nkwonta and G.M. Ochieng 2008). Another simple way in which people are trying to rid of polluted water and make it consumable is by using heat. In Ruaha Africa, piped water is heated to 50 degrees Celsius by being placed in bottles on the roofs of houses. This gets rid of some dangerous bacteria (Ford 2008). Even recycling can be a major help in exterminating water pollution. Some large industries like SASOL and EKSOM recycle water and use that water for their plants. This is much batter than dumping it into water supplies where it can damage the environment and water quality (Collins 2010). ‘The waterborne diseases that are transmitted to humans because of contaminated water is definitely the worst effect of water pollution. Over 3 million people die a year from waterborne diseases caused by contaminated water (dropinthebucket.com 2010). Also almost 80% of the disease in developing countries like Africa is related to polluted water (dropinthebucket.com). According to the African Water Proposal, over 650 die from diarrhea a day and most of them are children (African Water Proposal 2009), An Incan proverb once said “the frog does not drink up the pond it lives in.” (Postel 2010). The water pollution in Africa is a problem that we as humanshave caused ourselves. All nations and citizens must work together to solve the growing problem in Aftica.Bibliography Brooks, David B. (2004). Water. (2004). 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