A report of policy evaluation water pollution in Australia
Introduction
Despite the government’s continued efforts to ensure people enjoy clean and safe water, there might be continued water pollution in the country that makes some water source unsafe for human consumption. In this essay, I am going to discuss water pollution, sources of pollution, measures that can be used to prevent water pollution, techniques of valuing water pollution, and cost-benefit analysis of water pollution.
Water pollution
Water pollution refers to the contamination of water bodies. It mainly results from human activities. The water bodies include groundwater, aquifers, oceans, rivers, and lakes. When the contaminants are exposed to the environment, they end to water bodies resulting in water pollution. People and industries release wastewater that is not well treated. Then it flows to and joins natural water bodies. This results in the degradation of the aquatic ecosystem (Schwarzenbach, 2010, pg35).
When the released pollutants join natural water bodies and flow downstream, it is consumed by the people who live there. This results in health problems. People will use the contaminated water for irrigation, bathing, and drinking. Water has been reported as the leading cause of diseases and death worldwide. This is a result of a waterborne health problem (Schwarzenbach, 2010, pg43).
Water pollution has been categorized into marine pollution, groundwater, and surface water pollution. Contamination can occur from non-point sources or point sources pollution. The point source mainly has one cause of pollution, a wastewater treatment plant, or storm drain. Non-point sources have many objects of pollution. The contamination occurs as a result of a continuous process over time. The living organisms that are inside water bodies are affected when they have exposed water bodies that are polluted (Thistlethwawayte, 1996, pg90).
Water pollutants range from pathogens, chemicals, and physical parameters. The organic and inorganic substances are water contaminants. Elevation of the water temperatures also results in pollution. Increased water temperatures reduce water oxygen levels and can lead to the death of aquatic life (Ashbolt, 1993, pg450).
Causes of water pollution in Australia
Despite the agricultural sector being a consumer of huge water for farming activities, it is one of the biggest water polluters. It is leading in terms of water degradation. The ocean, rivers, and wetland land are mainly polluted by chemicals used in the agricultural sector. During rainy seasons, animal wastes, pesticides, and fertilizers are carried by the rainwater to the water bodies leading to pollution. The excess phosphorous and nitrogen from fertilizers also contribute to water pollution (Tanik, 1991, pg45).
Any water that has been used is wastewater. It comes from agricultural activities, industries, toilets, showers, and even the sinks. Much of the sewage goes back to the environmental system without proper treatment. The untreated wastewater contains heavy metals, phosphorous, nitrogen, and other chemical waste from industries that are carried to the water bodies hence resulting in pollution (Ferrero, 1991, pg387).
The oil spill also forms part of water pollutants. The spills have a significant effect on the marine environment and affect aquatic life. The water quality is significantly reduced by the oil spills from ships and the motor-driven boats. The oil spills also on the land are carried by rainwater during rainy seasons to the water bodies, causing pollution. However, this accounts for about 0.1% of oil pollution in the country (Duke, 1997, pg8).
Plastics are different categories of materials obtained from petrochemicals. Their production and use globally has been on the rise. Their recycling process and disposability has made them increase waste (Hoonwerg, 2012). The plastic wastes are carried by the rivers, waves, and tides to the marine environment leading to pollution. Some of the plastics also fall from fishing boats used by the fishermen (Ryan and Moore, 2009, pg2003). Once they are in the ocean, they can sink to the seafloor in case they are made from polymer that is heavier than water. They also remain floating on the surface.
The radioactive wastes pollute the water bodies. The trash from nuclear plants and the use of uranium in mining leads to water pollution when the materials find they are to the water bodies. The radioactive elements are also released to the environment during a military test of weapons (Bo, Sarina, 2016, pg165).
Policy measure to control water pollution
Treating wastewater plays an essential role in reducing water pollution. Some methods are cheap, effective, and accessible. The industries and agricultural sector can use the water treatment strategies before releasing the wastewater that flows to the natural water bodies causing pollution. Wastewater can be purified through reverse osmosis and the modular anaerobic systems. These methods can remove the pollutants and help save water from pollution (Warren, 1971, pg80).
The formulation and adherence to the set discharge policies can save water from pollution. Businesses, industries, and the environmental management authority should implement policies that control unplanned disposal of materials and chemicals that are carried to the water bodies leading to contamination. The manufacturing industries’ ability to take their own established environmental disposal policies sustains the right environment, including the water bodies (Freeman, 2010, pg184).
Key environmental players who include the government, businesses, and the manufacturing industries can integrate ecological issues within their core economic development plans. It promotes and facilitates policy performance. The activities of these core actors profoundly affect the environment. Making environmental issues part of their core business encourages better water protection and the overall quality of the environment (Lutz, 1992, pg246).
Passing laws and their execution can prevent water pollution. The existence of an official piece of legislation that limits dumping waste into water bodies reduces water pollution. The rules that control loading and offloading along the seaports contributes to water protection. Regulations are put in place such that the businesses, companies, and individual people are supposed to acquire permits before dumping anything in the sea or any other water bodies. Strict law with enormous fines for anyone who pollutes water bodies can discourage the activities that dirty water. Legislation on the use of the agricultural chemicals and fertilizers will ensure that the farmers use the chemicals that are not harmful when they are dissolved and eventually mixed with the water bodies (William, 1996, pg89).
Monitoring water bodies is essential. The reports on status and quality of water bodies inform action to be taken in case of alarming rates of water pollution. Ensuring the environment is health and clean regularly contributes to the cleanness of water bodies. The collection of the samples and carrying out the laboratory tests gives feedback on the chemicals in the water bodies. It can be crucial in controlling the increase in those chemicals in water through investigation of the source of the substances (Ahuja, 2013, pg51).
Educating the people on the benefits of clean and quality water increases awareness in the community. This has a significant impact on water protection. When people understand the harmful effects of polluting water on their health, and the economy, they can engage in practices that do not pollute the environment. Environmental education offers people with knowledge and skills that are useful in promoting, protecting, and well use of water resources without destruction (Hill, 2010, pg56).
Techniques of valuation of water pollution
According to Smith (1991, pg89), people will always look for ways to protect themselves when environmental risks are faced like a shortage of clean drinking water. The defensive methods of protection will make them incur the cost. For example, when the contaminated water increases the health risk of an individual, he or she will have to bear the cost of buying the water filters to help improve the quality of water to drink. This increase in cost is a representation of the lower bound on the economic gains of a policy that can lower the risk of drinking water.
This valuation method consists of hypothetical questions. The question asked here involves a change in the speculative behavior instead of the subject of the cost one is willing to pay. For example, a respondent may be asked for a recreation trip in the water bodies when there is improved water quality or no improvements in water quality for recreational purposes (Whitehead, 2000, pg79). Conjoint analysis is more of the conditional behavior methodology and mainly asks theoretical recreation site of choice on the water bodies and the other discrete options (Louviere, 1998, pg68). The respondent is then presented with several scenarios to make several choices. Conjoint analysis and contingent behavior answers are regarded as behavioral information. Their report is done through the use of indirect approaches.
Conclusion
Analysis of water samples gives information on water pollution. Biological tests and chemical and physical tests are essential in determining pollution levels to take the appropriate action. Controlling water pollution needs good management plans and proper infrastructure. The necessary support includes industrial water treatment plants, sewage water, and wastewater treatment plants. Treating agricultural wastewater from farms and controlling soil erosion can help in reducing water pollution. Nature-based approaches are also essential in controlling water pollution. I believe applying the above measures to control water pollution can guarantee the people safe and clean water in the country.
References
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