Top 10 Causes Of  Water Pollution

by | Eco News, Green Energy

Top 10 Causes Of  Water Pollution

 

Top 10 Causes Of  Water Pollution: Poisoning The Very Source Of Life On Earth

At OrangeWebsite, we are very environmentally conscious, our company and data centre being in Iceland are both 100% reliant on Green Energy Our home country is renowned for its beautiful waters, drinkable straight from the source. But this isn't the case around the world. Water is without a doubt, the most precious gift of nature. With 70% of earth being covered in water, it is also our biggest resource. Each and every living being on this planet knows the importance of water. And, with us humans, the most intelligent of them all, being at the top, one would expect that we would have protected this valuable asset. But, alas! With our careless attitude and blind greed, we have managed to corrupt our greatest gift. The top 10 causes of water pollution mentioned below will throw light on what exactly is responsible for causing such harm to the planet and all its inhabitants.

Water is said to be polluted when it gets contaminated due to the entry of foreign substances that changes its composition. This includes all water bodies such as canals, lakes, rivers, ponds, sea, ocean, etc. Of course, water pollution is not something anyone would be unaware of. For most places around the world, it is a common sight. Although there are also natural phenomena that lead to water pollution, mankind is responsible for almost, all of the top 10 causes of water pollution. Even the 10 most polluted river in the world is all thanks to these various human activities.

Sources of Water Pollution

From plastic material to chemicals, a wide range of pollution infests our water bodies, poisoning our most essential resource. The various types of water pollution that we have to face today can be classified as coming from primarily two sources, the Point and Non-Point source. That is, the pollution either occurs due to a single source such as industrial discharge, or the pollution occurs from multiple sources, that is rainwater washing along pollutants from multiple regions into the water bodies. If this interests you, check out an article on Types of Water Pollution, it gives more detail on the subject. Let us now learn about the activities that are most responsible for polluting our planet’s various water bodies.

The Top 10 Causes of Water Pollution

Causes of water pollution #1: Rampant Urbanization

Indeed, the biggest culprit for spreading pollution is urbanization. Although mankind has progressed at a rapid pace, it has come at a very high cost. As you will see, urbanization is the primary factor responsible for almost all of the remaining causes of water pollution.

The ever-increasing population boosts up the demand for food and housing. This means increased construction and agricultural activities, which leads to an increased quantity of chemicals and pesticides contaminating the groundwater. With rising population levels, consumption too keeps rising, leading to vast amounts of domestic trash being generated. These include chemicals and detergents used for cleaning purposes, personal care products and of course, single-use plastic! The havoc that plastic has wrecked when it comes to polluting the planet is unmatched. An era of plastic overkill, is an eye-opener, in case you’re not aware of the magnitude at which plastic has polluted our planet. And, if the pollution crisis does concern you, the most useful step you could take is to reduce the amount of plastic and other inorganic trash that you and your household generate. Even simple measures such as using a Bamboo Toothbrush or a Bamboo Straw instead of the plastic alternatives, can go a long way in containing the pollution levels and also in spreading awareness among others. Check out our Eco Shop for more.

Causes of water pollution #2: Unchecked Industrialization

A major driving force of urbanization are the many industries around the world. The waste discharged by these industries on a regular basis is dense with toxic chemicals and other pollutants such as mercury, asbestos, lead, sulfur, etc. All these chemical ends up polluting not just the water, but the land and air as well.

Although, most countries have regulations t ensure proper waste disposal and management systems are in place, they are seldom followed. Due to the high cost incurred in waste management, most businesses tend to flout these regulations. As a result tons of toxic waste gets discharged into our lakes, rivers, sea, etc. Sometimes the case is so severe that it ends up changing the colour of the water body and destroying life underneath, where the pollution levels get too high. A perfect example of the consequence of unchecked industrialization is one of our neighbouring countries, infamous for being the most polluted rivers in the world.

Causes of water pollution #3: Agricultural Byproducts

The consequence of a rising population is the rising demand for food. As a result, the agricultural sector gets into a race to meet these demands by using chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase production. Over time these chemicals end up polluting the soil and groundwater. Additionally, when it rains, all of these chemicals get washed along with the rainwater and end up in the river, lake or pond, polluting the water body. A common effect of such pollution is the dense growth of algae in the water bodies, due to the increased presence of phosphates, nitrates, etc., which deplete the oxygen levels in the water.

Causes of water pollution #4: Excessive Mining Activities

As urban development progress and industrial activity increases, the rising demand for our precious resources is met by excessive mining activities. During mining, as the rocks get crushed, it releases sulfides, other chemicals and trace metals. All of these are harmful to our health. Additionally, the toxicity further increases when they get mixed with water. Health issues among mining workers and nearby residents being a typical scenario is a testament to the harmful effects of excessive mining.

Causes of water pollution #5: Sewer Lines Leaks

Sewer lines are a thriving place for harmful bacteria, pathogens and are loaded with chemicals that come from households, commercial outlets, etc. Due to heavy load, decay, accidents and other circumstances, the sewer lines often tend to leak in certain places. The pollutants then end up polluting the groundwater leading to the spreading of various diseases. If left unchecked for a long time, the leaking sewer water reaches the surface and becomes a breeding ground for insects such as mosquitoes.

Causes of water pollution #6: Accidental Oil Spills

Oil spills such as those caused by ships due to accidents or malfunction is a major threat to marine life because of the massive scale at which it happens. This is because of the large number of oil ships tend to carry. Once spilled, since it doesn't dissolve, the oil contaminates a large patch in the ocean for a long time, all the while destroying the marine life underneath.

Causes of water pollution #7: Burning of fossil fuels

Due to the high amount of energy it can generate per mass, fossil fuels are of great importance for development. However, the burning process tends to emit a tremendous amount of ash into the atmosphere. The emitted ash contains lots of toxic chemicals and metals. When these toxic particles come in contact with water vapour, it can result in acid rain.

With an estimated 21.3 billion tonnes being released into the air every year, the enormous amounts of carbon dioxide that pollutes the air, and eventually the water bodies when they settle down, is a significant issue with the burning of fossil fuels.

Causes of water pollution #8: Leakage From Landfills

The world produces billions of tonnes of trash every year which is loaded with all sorts of contaminants ranging from toxic chemicals and metals to plastic. All of this trash either gets dumped in the ocean or they are shipped off to some landfill where all of the harmful waste collects and sits for decades. Over time, the contaminants from this trash begin to seep down into the ground below where it finally pollutes the groundwater. Also during rain, many of these pollutants get washed along before it reaches a water body. Another major consequence of landfills leaking toxins into the ground is Land Pollution.

Causes of water pollution #9: Radioactive waste:

Radioactive waste is the by-product of nuclear energy generation. These waste products are highly hazardous to all life forms and are supposed to have strict regulation regarding its disposal. Despite the regulations a significant amount of radioactive waste either leaks or gets dumped into the ocean, thereby polluting the water and hurting all the life forms that will come in contact with it.

Causes of water pollution #10: Pollution Collected By Storm Water

Stormwater is the remaining rainwater that has not been soaked into the ground. These then run along the pavements, rooftops, roads, etc. before finally reaching some water body. Due to the various activities involved around urban development, the environment through which the stormwater runs along is filled with all sorts of pollutants, most of which occur as a result of the causes mentioned above. The stormwater washes along all of these pollutants till it finally pollutes the nearby water body.

With the help of aware individuals and the strength of social media, more and more people are now conscious of the hazards of water pollution and the role of businesses and poor management by governments in enabling the same.

It's not all doom and gloom, however, there are some great examples of urbanization and the environment coinciding in harmony, Calgary in Canada is regarded as the cleanest city in the world. It goes to show that us humans and live with our industrial lives and not do harm to the nature around us. Share this article with people you know, so that as more people can demand a change, we can hope for a cleaner and healthier future.

Human Body: Source of Energy Like Never Before

by | Eco News, Green Energy

An image of a woman with lightbulb.

Human body could be the next renewable energy resource if the world experienced a steep decline in global energy crisis.

We may live in a high-tech world but majority of us still rely on a rapidly diminishing supply of coals and fossil fuels – the questions of sustainability are becoming extremely urgent. How deep are we willing to mine and what sacrifices are we willing to make in the continuing quest for energy?

Israeli industrial designer Naomi Kizhner was intentionally to provoke some opinions and discussions through her project as part of her graduation at college and the answer she’d created is slightly disturbing, to say the least. Her regard sentiments and concerns are however at the right place.

How Close To The Matrix Are We?

For those who haven’t seen The Matrix, it is a science fiction movie back in those days which pictured and filmed humanity being enslaved by a race of sentient machines that are harvesting natural electricity produced by human bodies as an energy resource. It is exactly the sort of question that Kizhner wanted people around the world to seriously looking at.

Kizhner’s Energy Addicts takes a post-humanistic perspective, viewing the human body not only as a person but instead as a renewable energy resource too. These pieces would be inserted into wearer’s skin to catch involuntary movements like the flow of blood in veins, pulses and eyes blinking to produce kinetic energy then later be converted to electricity to power the light and wheel in the devices themselves. On one hand, it is a terrifying prospects like something right out of a cyberpunk dystopia where bodies are little more than cogs in the system. On the other hand to the logic side, there’s no denying that the human body is a renewable energy resource.

“There are lots of developments of renewable energy resources, but the human body is a natural resource for energy that is constantly renewed, as long as we are alive. Technologically we are not too far away from these ideas becoming a reality, but practically speaking, will we be willing to sacrifice our body in order to produce more energy? My intention is to provoke a discussion. I hope that the project will make people think about the possibility that this could be their future, and make them think about whether it is the future they want or whether we can do something different today to avoid it.” – Kizhner

Her decorative jewelleries are made of gold and 3D-printed biopolymer, each design in the collection would be worn on different parts of the body to harvest energy from specific physiological functions. Nevertheless her innovative designs are slightly seen as bizarre in some cases and are certainly not for the faint hearted.

Where Do We Draw The Line?

When pursuing the idea of renewable energy resources, it is easy to lose sight of the real issue. Instead of asking how we can produce the most energy at some possibilities, it might be more important question to ask how we can live within our means to electricity consumptions. Kizhner’s idea may not be the ultimate solution for resolving the energy crisis, but it reminds us that if we don’t take the energy situation seriously from now, we just might become the next renewable energy resource. Are we willing to wait another decade to materialize or shall we initially practice go green lifestyle from now on before it’s too late?

A Major Breakthrough on Carbon Cuts Announced by USA and China

by | Eco News, Green Energy

Carbon Cuts Announced by USA and China

Deal between USA and China positively surprised people around the world.

China and the United States have made surprising announcement on cutting their greenhouse gas output. USA agreeing to reduce their emission levels 26-28% below 2005 levels by year 2025. While China, the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, is committed to cap their carbon emissions 20% by year 2030.

The deal made secretly between US. president Barock Obama and president of China, Xi Jinping, was announced in public earlier today. “As the world’s two largest economies, energy consumers and emitters of greenhouse gases, we have a special responsibility to lead the global effort against climate change,” Obama stated in a joint news conference with president Xi.

The announcement has been taken positively around the world. People seem overall excited that USA has finally taken a step towards renewable energy alternatives and admitted their responsibility in reducing the emission levels. Whereas the country did not participate in Kyoto Protocol back in 2008.

We are all hoping that their plan is working as people now expect and we will see positive results within next years.

5 Unusual Sources of Green Energy

by | Eco News, Green Energy

An image of abstract green energy concept with green earth.

Green energy is rapidly becoming a viable solution for powering the modern world.

Finding sources of green energy is a growing challenge for most scientists and companies across the globe to harness the potential and in order to solve the impending needs in modern world and high-tech lifestyles. When it comes to green energy, everyone’s heard about the usual source such as solar power, wind and hydro-electricity captured with dams or from the tides.

But the world of green energy is full of scientists with massive imaginations and they have come up with some pretty amazing ideas. These scientists are continuing the quest of abundant, cheap and efficient energy by investigating the more unusual sources, ones that may seems a little bizarre, unrealistic and even ridiculous in some cases.

Here are lesser-known sources of green energy;

1. Anaerobic Digesters

Anaerobic digesters are quintessential example of the phrase “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. These machines used micro-organisms that ‘eat’ biological waste (grass clippings, food waste or even cow dung) and capture the methane that produced from the process. Methane is a huge contributor to global warming if it is allowed to rise into the atmosphere but capturing and burning it for energy, it rather breaks down to less harmful chemicals.

2. The Kinetic Dance Floor

Kinetic energy is an energy produced when you move, something that scientists have been trying to figure out to harness since a long time. The kinetic dance floor has debuted at clubs and concerts, and it uses the impact of dancing feet to create electricity. The dance floor however has to be on the bigger size to generate enough power but surely the project has a lot of potential. What if street lights could be powered by footsteps on a sidewalk?

3. Sound Waves

When a quartz crystal (like the one found in wrist watches) is put under pressure, it releases a small electric charge. This is called piezoelectricity and it’s the basis of a lot of renewable energy concepts. One idea has had use these crystals to catch sound waves which will produce the necessary charge just from ambient sound. This is possible to make things like self-charging cell phones to viable if the technology could be properly harnessed. This same technology has been worked onto clothing that allows people to charge a cell phone while simply walking around.

4. Algae

The slimy green scum that grows in ponds and fish tanks might actually be the future of fuel. Algae produces more than half of its body weight in lipid oils, and those oils can be converted rather easily into an efficient form of biodiesel. The obstacle that has to be overcome is scaling up production to meet energy demands but there are already dozens of companies working on it.

5. Human Body Electricity

Anyone who’s seen The Matrix knows that the human body generates a lot of electricity just by existing. Artist Naomi Kizhner has taken this concept to a whole new level by creating jewellery that plugs into your body, using your pulse to power the mechanism. While this is still a theoretical energy source, it is a good reminder of how much power is all around us – and inside us – that isn’t being harnessed, and also raises the question of how far we’ll go to produce the power we need.

Three Myths About Why Renewable Energy Won’t Work

by | Eco News, Green Energy

An image of green city concept through a leaf

Using renewable energy is significantly helping to maintain the balance of our eco-system.

You’ve probably heard a lot of corporate droning about the drawbacks of renewable energy. Powerful oil and gas companies are understandably interested in keeping myths about renewables prominently in the public square so that people will simply accept them as common knowledge. These corporations are profiting handsomely by keeping the energy situation exactly as it is now, and want to keep renewable sources from earning the legitimacy they deserve. We thought we’d debunk a few myths about the downsides of green energy, so you can make up your own mind.

1) It’s Too Expensive

People often cite the false belief that using renewable energy is still too expensive to consider in the immediate future, and that fossil fuels remain the most economically viable energy source. In many cases, this is simply not true, according to Greenpeace:

Right now, renewable energy is actually already cheaper than coal and nuclear power at every step.

Though some fossil fuels are still cheaper than going green, renewables are catching up. And the hidden costs of continuing to depend on carbon — irreversible climate change, dirty air and water, the destruction of habitats – are not usually factored into the market price. This myth gets people to think about their pocketbooks before the future of life on this earth. We humbly suggest that one is a little more valuable than the other.

2) It Actually Hurts the Environment

Many critics of green energy suggest that these sources have some harmful effects. For instance, they often cite the fact that birds and bats are sometimes killed by wind turbines and say that we have to be respectful of all living creatures. Indeed, this is true, but it is also a scare tactic.

With proper planning before the construction of wind turbines, it becomes quite easy to eliminate the problem. It all comes down to some simple assessments of the migratory patterns of the animals to determine where to put them. Basically, these animals — and all living creatures — are in more trouble in the long term if we don’t switch to renewables.

3) It’s Not Viable on a Large Scale

Wrong again. There are plenty of countries that get large portions of their total energy from renewable sources. Germany, Europe’s largest economy, gets 31% of its power from renewables. In 2012, Norway actually generated more electricity than its total consumption from sustainable sources. And Iceland, where our servers are located, generates 100% of its energy from a mix of hydro and geothermal power, and it’s attracting plenty of new business.

The point is that no matter where you are, from the Arctic Circle to the deserts of South Africa, there is almost certainly a renewable source of energy that can be adapted to large-scale use.

What You Can Do About It

The best thing that any of us can do to combat the harmful myths circulating about renewable energy is to educate ourselves and others about the true costs of fossil fuels and the actual facts about going green. Refuting years of corporate messaging is difficult, but necessary.

Contact us to learn more about doing your own part to combat corporate energy dominance.