Before I start this article I would like to quote few lines from the famous poem “The rime of the Ancient Mariner” written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
“Water, water, everywhere,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, everywhere,
Nor any drop to drink”
Ocean forms about 75% of the Earth’s surface and about 97% of Earth’s water supply. They are the source of water for various places and also houses variety of plants and animals under the vast expanse of water. Although they are mainly used for water consumption, currently there happen lots of things which have contributed to the unfit usage of this water. These are basically man made which has brought an ecological system imbalance thus affecting the plant and animal life underneath the water. As the poet correctly put up, there is water everywhere but not one drop to consume. Here I’m listing out some of the most disgusting things we as humans has done to these beautiful expanse of life nurturing substance.
1. Eutrophication
Fertilizers and other waste washed off from the farms and lawns which go into the ocean and sea causes in the depletion of algae which is responsible for converting the oxygen present in the air into the oxygen which is needed for the survival of marine animals. This depletion of algae is known as Eutrophication and it has increased from past couple of years. This causes the marine animals to die of suffocation due to less oxygen present in the water.
2. Decreased level of drinking water
Excessive usage of water by industries and factories for treating their materials, also discharging those water back into the oceans and seas has contributed to the acidifying for whatever water is left for drinking. Half treated effluents along with the contaminated water are released back into the water beds thus decreasing the level of drinking water. Currently the world is suffering from shortage of drinking water. Although some countries have abundant supply of drinking water, there are countries they haven’t seen a drop for ages. One should make sure the water released by these industries are properly treated which shouldn’t pollute the water.
3. Improper maintenance
There have been many cases of accidents in the water stating that the speed boat or the yacht was hit by debris found in the oceans or seas. One must remember any waste or debris from any material or substance needn’t be disposed of into the ocean as this might cause accidents. These not only threatens underwater life but also humans you are using the waterways for recreational or travel purpose.
4. Disposal of sewage
Have you ever wondered how the sewage system works in a country or state? Most of them work such that the sewage through a proper pipeline is later disposed off into oceans and seas. Yes that is very much true! A not-so-proper drainage system works such a way that at the end of the day the water you drink might be contaminated with these sewage matters. So what we can do this ensure that sewage is used for compost purposes rather than contamination.
5. Disposal of waste
We human beings have taken everything what is given to us for granted. Be it the abundance of minerals and resources or the vast expanse of life nurturing substance or the biodiversity of plants and animals, humans have not left a point of exploiting the same for our own benefit. This is seen more when we try to dispose our household waste into the sea or ocean because what we feel is the water will eventually consume that too. No that is not true! Whatever waste you dispose along with plastic products would kill the underwater life and these stay contaminating the purity of water.