How to Protect the Egypt Nile River From Pollution Research Paper Introduction Egypt's Nie River's on record as the worlds largest river; it spans within a total length of 6,628 km and possesses a width of 28 km. The river aischarges to the Meaiterranean Sea, which is 1,850 km from the Aswan High Dam, whose annual discharge of water is approximately 80km?.The catchment area of the river is said to host over 75 milion people, Tis has played @ major role In recognizing the importance of river Nile 8s one ofthe world largest river and the environmental assessment that comes with it. Human pressures on the Nile River have resulted to deterioration of the rver, hence shifting the focus on systematic environmental assessment (Fishar & Willams Para. 3). ‘The river Nile is perceived as the substitute of the rain that rarely falls in Egypt. The source of the rver originates from the [Abyssinia's mountains and arrives in Egypt after a precipitation of seven cataracts. The secret to the overflowing w: Niles linked to the five months in @ year of rain experienced in Ethiopia. The overflowing waters carry with them precious sand that Is rich In nutrients, thus making the lands in Egypt fertile. sof the Causes of pollution in river Nile ‘The polistion ofthe Nile River is caused by various sources of pollution. These sources include municipal seworage, cil sil wastewater from industries, and agricultural wastewater, Presence of heavy metal ‘These heavy metals have ther origins from agricutural and municipal wastewater. Heavy metals have a major significance in ecological effects affecting the Nile River, as they are identified by heir accumulative behavior and toxicity. Some of these ‘metals include Cu, Po, and Cd. The main compartment used for storage of these metals in aquatic surroundings isthe sediments. The concentration of metal in sediments i reliable in attaining the levels of contamination but net the levels of toxicity in aquatic life (Miler Para 2). Ecotoxicologica effects of contaminated sediment will mainly be determined by the metals presence and the ving organism's ailty o assimilate metals. According toa research study conducted, there were presence of Cu, Pb, and Ci in the waters of river Nile (Gawad Para 2). Oil spills In September 11 2010, here was a diesel ol spill onthe waters of river Nile. The captain ofthe barge purportedly indicated that the drop in water levels was the maln cause ofthe ol spl, asthe Vessel could have tted on one side, thus spilling the ol. Such kinds of tragedies have extensive and devastating effects that include shutting of the water purification industries that could result to contamination of drinking water and deatns of aquatic Ife (Index to 2010 Issues of Ol Spl Intelligence Report Para 3) ‘According to Dumont, Nile River is used for cifferent purposes tnat include transportation of oll and oll products thus creating origins of cil polution. Apart from thi, a lt of factories and oll distributing centers have been established along the Nile River (Dumont 398) Industrial wastewater Incustial waste has been identified as one of the major contributor of pollutants to the river Nile. Egypt, being the most Industrialized country that uses the Nile River, is faced with a decrease ofits ground water and surface, which is caused by discharge of industrial and domestic effluents that are polluted. In fact, big industrial industries located in Cairo and Alexandria, are the major contributors of Nile pollution although small upcoming industries in Upper Egypt have started contributing too to pollution, Generally, chemical industries have been tributed to 60% of heavy metal pollution into the Nile River (Oummont 396). Municipal wastewater‘The high levels of population increase and urbanization along river Nile are some of the causes of Municipal wastewater pollution of the river, Egypt is one of the major contributors of municipal discharge, and this calls for the government to establish more treatment plants to deal with the municipal effluent, Not only do these effluent contain parasites and pathogens, but also toxic heavy metals. On discharge to the Nile River without treatment, this effluent may have severe consequences, 25 the Nile River is used for irigation purposes (Dumont 400) Protecting the Nile River from pollution Pr ion of the waters of river Nile has become a major priory in Egypt (Vasagar 1). This is due to the numerous negative consequences that results from water pollution that range from destruction of crops to lack of drinking water among others. Enhancement of environmental laws In Egypt, ays that concern protection of river Nile should be enforced in order to reduce pollution. Various government departments vested with the powers of administering these legislations should be relocated closer tothe river itself as opposes 10 Caira where the departments seemed to lax in their mandate. Indeed, the comprehensive law of 1993 should be implemented to the latter (Kirkwood and Longley 112). On-site treatment of wastewater (recycling) (On-site treatment is determined by a number of factors that include the type of pollutants and the qualty of wastewater, This. kind of treatment goes hand in hand with the CP application of recycling the water. In recycling, water is reused thus bringing down costs that could have been incurred in attaining, treating, and later on disposing the water. The systems involved in recycling consolidate the contaminants f he sole reason of preventing them from accessing the ground water and soll. In ‘addition to this, recycling wil result to accumulation of savings (Yanful 146 & 148). Wastewater treatment This is @ process whereby, wastewater is treated before it is discharged to the river. This is @ process that has been adapted by ome of the industries but elther way, the Egyptian government should be keen and strict in ensuring that al the industries discharging ther effluent tothe river have undertaken the wastewater veatment process. The wastewater treatment process Involves removal of solid wastes, while any traces of grease or ol ae then removed before the separation ofthe sand and water Is nally undertakon (Yanful 147) International and regional laws Emphasis should be given to international and regional laws that deal withthe environmental issues. According to Joyner, Jaws regulate activites that result to pollution of the environment. Under tne 1982 UN Convention law, counties are obliges to protect their territorial waters as wel as offshore jurisction waters. Acting contrary to these laws may result to legal action on international levels (Qwino 2004). On the other hand, regional agreements are said to be the pioneer of international laws. For instance, regional treaties signed between countries from the same region help to Keep in check the parties involved (Joyner 214, ens on pollution ‘The group of people perpetrating these pollution activities isthe same citizens of the importance of the Nile River, the Egyptian government will be tackling the palluting menace from its root souree. The Importance of Nile river pollution having been given the frst priority, the Egyptian government went on to produce a monthly ‘magazine by the name of “development and environment" through the Egyptian Environment affairs Agency (Jabbra, Dwived, IASIA & International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration 123) Conclusion River Nile nas been identified as the major source of drinking water in Egypt. Apart from this, Nile River has been facing major pollutant issues over the past years. The effluents causing pollution have been attributed to agricultural, industrial, and ‘municipal industries that are located along the river Problems pertaining to manganese and iron pollution ate lso on the rise os chemical industries are associated with this menace. The increasing demand of drinking water has not made it easier in tackling Nile pollution issue; it has made it more aifficltVarious methods of dealing with the Nile pollution menace have been introduced by the Egyptian government. Government {departments dealing with the river Nile have been constituted in Egypt although they have had thei fair share of not resolving the pollution problem. Apart from this, other pollution control methods should be emphasized which include recycling of the industrial water, water treatment processes, and st enforcing ofthe already ex'sting environmental laws. in addition, sensitization of the citizens is of great importance, as the problem willbe tackled from the origin, Works Cited Dumont, Hen J. The Nile origin, environments, imnology and human use. NY: Springer Science + Business Media. 2009. Fishar, Reda and Willams, Peter W. The development ofa Biotic Polution Index forthe River ile in Egypt. NV: Springer Science + Business Media, 2007, Gawad, Abd S. “The Mollusk Gastropod Lanistes carinatus (Olivier, 1204) as Abiomonitor for Some Trace Metals in the Nile River! International Journal of Zoological Research, 5(3), 115-125. 2008. Web. Index to 2010 Issues of Oi! Spl Intelligence Report” Oi Spl inteligence Report, Vol. 34, No.2, p. 1-4. 2010. Web. Jabbra, Joseph G. et al. 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