Introduction
Water is among the most important things that both plants, animals and human beings needs to
survive. it is very vital in the growth and development of living things and enhances proper
functioning of the systems of the body. Due to the big role it plays in our day to day lives, its
contamination means danger to any living creature. Water enhances the cycle of life in so many
ways. A plant needs water to grow and reproduce. If the water it uses in its growth and
reproduction is contaminated, it will reproduce a plant that will not be healthy for human
consumption. Human beings require food to maintain the functioning of the system of their
bodies. We get these foods from plants. This fact shows how water runs our lives. Some animals
such as fish live in water. These animals are source of food to human beings. If the water, they
live in is contaminated then that means they will not survive and this will affect us greatly for we
shall be losing our source of food. Water should therefore be preserved. However, with all these
knowledge, some people still do not conserve water. They lead to its pollution through wastes
and chemicals. Most culprits of this act are the industries and farmers who we shall expound on
below.
How do industries enhance water pollution?
It is worldly known that industries play a big role in causing water pollution due to the amount of
chemicals and wastes that they release to the environment. There are so many industries and all
of them deal with variety of products. Most of them end up letting their wastes into the ocean,
sea, lakes or rivers around them for they either lack a good system of doing away with their dusts
and chemicals, they are not informed of the harm they cause or they are just arrogant and take
their actions lightly. The chemical substances that they dispose in water cause health hazards.
Some of these chemicals that can endanger any living thing include mercury, lead, phosphates,
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Sulphur, oil, petroleum and nitrates. Some of these chemicals when inhaled cause serious chronic
illness and may end up causing either lung cancer, liver cancer or intestinal cancer. Cancer is a
deadly disease.
Its known that mercury can cause the body a lot of harm. Mercury poisoning weakens the body
because in most cases the immune system usually fails to fight these chemicals because it is not
strong enough to sustain them. Sulphur leads to the death of aquatic lives. Many sea animals
cannot handle its effects therefore succumbing to death. Oils is another menace. scientifically, oil
does not dissolve in water. It only forms a layer on top of the water. This can cause harm because
the layer formed may prevent any plant depending on that specific water from receiving enough
sunlight to enhance photosynthesis.
How do farmers enhance water pollution?
Farmers are globally respected for their agricultural skills. From agriculture we get food and
fruits that boost our health systems. Agriculture remains one of the biggest source of economic
development all over the world. Many people have established themselves due to agriculture.
Farmers are very important to us without a doubt. However, they make us suffer so much when
hey pollute the water we are using to survive. we cannot refute the fact that agriculture wholly
depends on water and a conducive weather to succeed. Plants must be watered every now and
then to enhance their growth and development. Irrigation schemes require a lot of water for them
to be sustained.
However, intensified agriculture may lead to soil pollution. This soil pollution on the other hand
may end up contaminating water due to the fertilizers that farmers use on their products. Farmers
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also do not only grow plants, some of them engage in pastoralisation. They keep so many
livestock for their own personal use or to sell them. These livestock include cows, goats and
sheep. These animals usually live their wastes all over the compound. if it rains heavily, these
same wastes are usually carried away by the rain water into the nearest lake, river, swamp, ocean
or sea around. The wastes bring about water pollution thus leading to the death of marine lives.
Also the fertilizers end up being washed away by the rain water straight into the nearest source
of water.
Another way in which farmers lead to water pollution with their livestock is during their grazing
process. A farmer may take his or her livestock to graze near a river, lake or swamp or may
decide to take them to drink water from the said sources. During this process, animals usually
pollute the environment with their wastes. These wastes end up in the source of water around
them either through soil erosion or heavy rainfall.
Counter argument
As much as industries and farmers bring about water pollution, we also cannot survive without
them. We need them in almost every aspect of our lives. Industries make our work easier by
making products to be ready for use. Factories process our foods, make nice things such as door
mats for us, help us in designing our houses due to their creativity in coming up with a variety of
products among many other functions and benefits. Our industries play a huge role in our lives.
The many things that they come up with help us in sorting out our life puzzles in different ways.
Example is the shoe industry. To make a nice shoe some chemicals must be used in putting it
together. As much as these chemicals may end up polluting our water, we cannot walk
barefooted too. Imagine walking on mad barefooted or on a ground that has been thoroughly heat
by the sun. it is hard to do that and this is why we need our industries so much.
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Our farmers are also still very relevant and necessary to our lives. The amount of work they put
in to ensure that the country does not run short of food is amazing and thus cannot be taken for
granted. We need them to keep on producing and providing good food to us. Food makes our
bodies strong enough to face the next day. So many people in the world have died due to
starvation. Others have developed unending sicknesses and deficiency diseases due to lack of
food. We still need our farmers very much.
Conclusion
The essay has explained on how industries and farmers pollute water. It has expounded on the
menaces it causes to both human beings, plants and animals. It has also mentioned on the
usefulness of these industries and the farmers too. Bottom line is that both water, industries and
farmers are important to us. We cannot do away with any of them, we need them so as to carry
on with life smoothly. However, governments from all states should take action in controlling
water pollution in their territories. Able laws should be formulated and implemented strictly by
the respective organizations mandated to do so. Those breaking these laws should be punished to
deter them and others as well.
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References
Wing, Q & Yang, Z. (2016). Environmental Pollution: Industrial water pollution, water
environment treatment, and health risks in China. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305453052-industrial-wat…
Faruquee, M & Khan, M. Karim, M. Khan, N. (2014). Water Pollution by Industrial Effluent and
its Impact on Human Health. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270162971-Water-Polluti…
Chuan Ng, C. (2017). Agriculture and Water Pollution Risks. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320867723-Agriculture-a…