Creating waves of change
WATER POLLUTION
Causes
1. Urbanization
Research has shown that 58% of groundwater in the Philippines is already contaminated due to unsanitary practices. Domestic sewage from the increasing population contaminates our waters. Dumping trash, plastics, and industrial wastes make the waters toxic for the aquatic ecosystem and nearby communities.
2. Industrialization
Greenpeace stated that 50 out of 421 rivers in the Philippines are “biologically dead.” Manufacturers are openly dumping industrial waste: toxic chemicals, oil, and grease into lakes and rivers. Lethal chemicals such as cyanide, mercury, and lead kill the living organisms.
3. Agricultural /Organic waste
- Decayed plants, dead animals, livestock manure, soil-runoff, harmful pesticides, and fertilizers. Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus can over-enrich a water body (nutrient loading). This triggers dense plant growth and kills animals from lack of oxygen. This has already happened in Laguna de Bay, a major water resource in NCR.
4. Deforestation and Water Mismanagement
- Unregulated deforestation in the Philippines also leads to water pollution. Rivers, basins, creeks, and underground water lose protection they receive from the trees. This also decreases biodiversity in our ecosystems.
Effects
1. Death and Destruction of Aquatic Flora and Fauna
Waste in water contaminates aquatic ecosystems. An organism’s life spa and their ability to reproduce is decreased. This disrupts food chains and food webs in marine habitats. It leads to endangerment of species, decreasing our library of natural resources. Oil spills, algal blooms, and the changing climate cause both fauna and flora (such as coral reefs) to starve and die.
2. Microplastics
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic considered as “marine debris”. These come from microbeads, cleaners, and even toothpaste which passes through filtration systems.Microplastics kill sea turtles, fish, sea birds, and large marine mammals. It enters their digestive tracts and leads to starvation and death. Whether microplastics ingested by fish affect humans is still unknown.
3. Human health
Approximately 55 people die every day from lack of proper sewage in the Philippines. Around the world, water pollution kills 1.8 million annually. Lack of proper water sanitation leads to water-borne diseases. The scarcity of water supply also pushes people to drink unsafe water. This results in gastrointestinal diseases, leptospirosis, malaria, dengue, and Typhoid fever. If this continues, the world will run out of fresh water to drink.
WATER POLLUTION DURING COVID-19
Manila Bay Dolomite Sand Issue
About a month ago, the DENR proceeded with their rehabilitation plan that includes improving the aesthetic appearance of Manila Bay by adding crushed dolomite from Cebu. However, the extraction of dolomite rocks from Alcoy, Cebu damaged the marine ecosystem in the area due to heavy siltation. Reports have indicated that corals were destroyed within 500m of seawater. Not only that, since Dolomite has high amounts of heavy metals like lead & mercury, it would contribute to the pollution and acidity of the Manila Bay. Unfortunately, even if environmental groups are pushing for an environmental impact study for DENR’s actions, DENR undersecretary Benny Antiporda said that this and an environment compliance certificate are not necessary.
The Medical Waste Crisis
According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), 19,187.7 metric tons of infectious wastes, including PPE suspected of carrying pathogens, have been collected from April to July. However, that amount doesn’t include all the trash that is actually used by both households and hospitals. Unfortunately, these trash don’t only pose a health hazard but also a threat to marine life. According to a Greenpeace Philippines campaigner, waste can be mistaken as food by marine creatures and these can be choking hazards. Not only that, once they break down into microplastics, the reef corals might ingest them even if they can’t digest or release them back into the water. Recent studies estimate that about 8 million metric tons of plastics end up in the oceans annually. But because of the increase of waste brought about by the need to use PPEs, this problem will definitely worsen. Sadly, this is a worldwide phenomenon.
Sources
Documentaries:
http://www.documentarymania.com/player.php?title=FLOW%20For%20Love%20of%20Water
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTQwMzU0OTA5OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDgwMTk3MQ@@._V1_.jpg
https://www.netflix.com/watch/80164032?trackId=13752289&tctx=0%2C0%2Cbac286d2f737da747f9fd50718b0e44e92fca5cb%3A2a1a4846e90ddf6e526bfbdced24fde2769787e7%2Cbac286d2f737da747f9fd50718b0e44e92fca5cb%3A2a1a4846e90ddf6e526bfbdced24fde2769787e7%2C%2C
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71IzxY9SudL._SY445_.jpg
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffilmsfortheearth.org%2Fen%2Ffilms%2Fdark-waters&psig=AOvVaw3CIXr47sWsd9fiGltWWzLA&ust=1600619268086000&source
https://posteritati.com/posters/000/000/049/980/the-river-sm-web.jpg
SDG:
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopent/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/E_SDG-goals_Goal-06.png
https://www.government.se/globalassets/government/bilder/finansdepartementet/agenda-2030-icons/theglobalgoals_icons_color_goal_12.png?preset=Landscape_3x2_690x460
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/E_SDG-goals_icons-individual-rgb-13.png?resize=148%2C148&ssl=1
https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/e_print_14.jpg
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/E_SDG-goals_icons-individual-rgb-17.png?resize=148%2C148&ssl=1
Info Sources:
Sustainable consumption and production – United Nations Sustainable Development. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-consumption-production/
Oceans – United Nations Sustainable Development. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/oceans/
Global Partnerships – United Nations Sustainable Development. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/globalpartnerships/
Climate Change – United Nations Sustainable Development. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change/
US Department of Commerce, N. (2017, May 24). Why should we care about the ocean? Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/why-care-about-ocean.html
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation/ https://www.unenvironment.org/explore-topics/sustainable-development-goals/why-do-sustainable-development-goals-matter/goal-12
https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-13-climate-action.html
Water Pollution During COVID10
Chavez, L. (2020, September 14). Manila's new white sand coast is a threat to marine life, groups say. Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://news.mongabay.com/2020/09/manilas-new-white-sand-coast-is-a-threat-to-marine-life-groups-say/
Mayol, A. (2020, September 22). Cebu corals destroyed by crushed dolomite. Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1338151/cebu-corals-destroyed-by-crushed-dolomite
Picture Source:
Subingsubing, K. (2020, September 06). PPE waste disposal a growing challenge. Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1331800/ppe-waste-disposal-a-growing-challenge
Cabico, G. K. (2020, August 27). In the Philippines, medical waste piles up as COVID-19 cases rise. Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://earthjournalism.net/stories/in-the-philippines-medical-waste-piles-up-as-covid-19-cases-rise
Picture (2nd picture with the masks in the ocean): https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/ppe-masks-gloves-coronavirus-ocean-pollution/
DENR Stop Water Pollution A Growing Threat in the Philippines Petition. Retrieved from https://www.change.org/p/denr-stop-water-pollution-a-growing-threat-in-the-philippines.
Bengwayan, M. (2019, May 05). Many Philippine Rivers Are Dying – OpEd. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://landportal.org/news/2019/05/many-philippine-rivers-are-dying-%E2%80%93-oped
Ranada, P. (2013, October 10). 55 die daily in PH from lack of proper sewerage. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://rappler.com/nation/sewage-problem-denr
UN Environment. (n.d.). Battling pollution in the Philippines' largest lake. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/battling-pollution-philippines-largest-lake
Water Pollution in the Philippines: Causes and Solutions. (2018, February 28). Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.borgenmagazine.com/water-pollution-in-the-philippines/
Chatterjee, S. & Sharma, S. Microplastics in our oceans and marine health. The Journal oof Field Actions and Science Reports, Special Issue 19, 54-61. https://journals.openedition.org/factsreports/5257.
Denchak, M. (2018, May 14). Water Pollution: Everything You Need to Know. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/water-pollution-everything-you-need-know
Dennis, B. (2019, April 29). Pollution kills 9 million people each year, new study finds. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/10/19/pollution-kills-9-million-people-each-year-new-study-finds/
US Department of Commerce, N. (2016, April 13). What are microplastics? Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html
Cinco, M. (2020, June 10). After lockdown, fish kill hits Laguna de Bay. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1288931/after-lockdown-fish-kill-hits-laguna-de-bay
Courtney, C., Jhaveri, N., & Brooks, S. (2018, March 26). Marine Tenure and Small-Scale Fisheries: Learning from the Philippines Experience. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.land-links.org/research-publication/marine-tenure-and-small-scale-fisheries-learning-from-the-philippines-experience/
Srinivas, H. (2016, April). Communities along Rivers: Importance of Community Networking to Preserve Local Rivers. Retrieved September 25, 2020, from https://www.gdrc.org/oceans/river-mgmt.html