There are enough water pollution facts out there to make you dizzy. About 71 percent of this planet is covered by water, with about 80-100 gallons of water being used per day, per person.
Water is everywhere and every living thing needs it, making water pollution facts such as these even tougher to hear.
The facts on water pollution
- Around 80 percent of the entire world’s wastewater is dumped, without being treated, back into the environment.
- Almost 60 percent of U.S. beaches demonstrated unsafe water pollution levels in 2018.
- Forty percent of the lakes and rivers in the U.S. have water that’s too polluted to safely fish or swim in.
- Water is more vulnerable to pollution since it’s considered a universal solvent, meaning it can dissolve more substances than any other liquid out there. This includes toxic substances.
- Nutrient pollution is the primary threat to water quality around the world. This occurs when excess nitrogen or phosphorus enters our water supply.
- Oil is another prime pollutant in our water, but only a small portion comes from oil spills. Most comes from oil used in factories, farms, and cities.
- Eighty percent of pollution found in our oceans originates on land.
- Water pollution actually kills. Every year, over 3 million people die from water-related diseases.
- Water pollution also makes you sick. Each year about 1 billion people fall ill because of contaminated water. Issues range from diarrhea to typhoid, and a few unpleasant things in between.
- Water pollution can create what’s known as ‘dead zones.’ This is where the pollution in the water causes an algae bloom that sucks all the oxygen out of the water, suffocating plants and animals.
Can we save our water?
Even though the water pollution facts out there today are scary, we can work toward having a positive impact on the problem. On an individual level you can take small, simple steps such as:
- Avoiding the use of household chemicals that are dangerous to our water supply.
- Keeping fat and grease out of the drain.
- Use non-toxic detergent and cleaners that contain no phosphates.
- Recycling plastic properly and avoiding the use of plastic containers (and straws) whenever you can.
On a larger scale, you can get involved with a non-profit organization, working to do good by our water supply with the help of some like-minded new friends.
IMPACT COLLECTIVE helps offset our water footprint
IMPACT COLLECTIVE, a group of brands striving to make a positive impact on nature, continue to work to reduce their water, carbon, energy, and/or plastic footprint. Each brand crafts a customized plan to put something good back into the environment.
By working with IMPACT, brands are connected to The Nature Conservancy’s water projects, and farmers in California, who make it possible to offset water usage. In particular, IMPACT works with organizations:
- Restoring water flow in certain freshwater areas.
- Updating irrigation systems to decrease groundwater withdrawal.
- Changing the way fields are watered to truly conserve water.
The number of opportunities to offset water usage continues to grow, and already IMPACT’s partners, KADA, a clothing company, and Romer Skincare are providing perfect examples of how this can work. They both currently offset their water usage, hoping the work they’re doing for the environment will inspire other brands to take part as well.
To learn more about all the brands participating in IMPACT COLLECTIVE, check out our growing community and the work they’re doing for our water supply and beyond.