EFFECTS OF CONTAMINATED WATER ON HEALTH

 

Contaminated water is simply defined as water which contains impurities. Contaminated water can have an odour and sometimes taste. Unclean water might be colourless but the concept of unclean water is the impurities in it. Our environment has been polluted and this affects the water we use. Safe and readily available water is important for public health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, food production, or recreational purposes. Improved water supply, sanitation, and better management of water resources can reduce the risk of water-borne diseases. 

Due to improper management of urban, industrial, and agricultural wastewater, the drinking water that serves millions of people is contaminated or chemically poisoned. Arsenic and fluoride are examples of naturally occurring chemicals that may have health implications. Other chemicals, like lead, may be present in higher concentrations in drinking water as a result of leaching from water supply components that come in contact with the water. All these chemicals get into the water by wrong waste disposal. Also, sanitation is an important factor affecting the purity of water. When tanks and reservoirs are not washed well, the water gets contaminated.

There are many harmful bacteria in domestic and medical waste, and dumping it into a body of water without proper treatment can cause an outbreak of cholera and typhoid; two devastating diseases.

When pregnant women are exposed to contaminated water, it affects them negatively. It increases the rate of low birth weight, which has an impact on the well-being of the fetus.

Diseases like cholera, trachoma, schistosomiasis, and helminthiasis are more prevalent when there is a lack of access to water and sanitary facilities. In addition to illness, unclean environments and contaminated water can result in gastrointestinal disorders that impair nutrient absorption and cause malnutrition.

People spend less time and effort physically collecting water when it comes from improved and more accessible sources, allowing them to be more productive in other ways. Eliminating the need for lengthy or dangerous treks to collect and carry water, can also increase personal safety and decrease musculoskeletal disorders. Better water sources also mean less money spent on health care because people are more likely to stay healthy and avoid medical expenses.