28 Jul, 2022

A Brief Discussion

Do you want to know about the major causes of water pollution in Africa? Then, you have come to the right place. In short, humans are mainly responsible for causing water pollution in Africa, and there is no doubt about that. 

Human beings need access to clean, safe, and uncontaminated water to lead a healthy life. However, many people are indifferent when it comes to keeping freshwater sources pollution-free. That is why water is getting contaminated with foreign elements, which are thereby causing water-borne ailments in the human body. 

In short, water pollution makes freshwater sources become toxic or contaminated. In other words, the ecosystems, where contaminated freshwater sources are located, are adversely affected. 

Water pollution affects human bodies along with plant and animal life. In addition, it also wreaks havoc on the environment as well as communities. All these aspects hold true for Africa, where the water pollution level is on the rise. Nonetheless, it is the responsibility of not only the African government but also all the African citizens to protect the health and safety of freshwater sources in Africa.

Always remember that having access to clean, safe, and uncontaminated water is your fundamental right. Although clean water is a prime necessity to lead a healthy life, there are no sufficient healthy water resources in Africa. When it comes to environmental concerns in Africa, the causes of water pollution along with its impacts on human bodies and flora and fauna top the list. 
 

Which Key Factors Cause Water Pollution in Africa?

You already know that Africa is suffering from water pollution, and the effects can be evident in the water resources there. The combination of low-quality sanitation and contaminated water causes an array of water-borne diseases in Africa, such as diarrhea, cholera, hepatitis, dysentery, and so on. 

Residential and industrial developments and runoff from sewer pipes or landfills are impacting drinking water sources in Africa. Moreover, the sources of still water act as the breeding ground of various mosquito species, which marks the reason for the rise of various mosquito-borne diseases. It is time to talk about the key causes of water pollution in Africa:
Recently, evidence is found that indicates that the natural lakes, rivers, and dams of Kenya became the sources of polluted water. Therefore, the waters of these freshwater sources have become unfit for human consumption.

Lake Nakuru and Lake Victoria in Kenya have been heavily affected by water pollution. The reasons that cause this situation include raw sewage, fish waste, plastic, and agricultural contaminants.

The water pollution in South Africa is impacting the environment and citizens, especially around the UmBilo River, KwaZulu Natal. Even severe pollution is responsible for the alterations of the color of water, which causes dangers to plant as well as animal species.

Various Types of Water Pollution in Africa

Plastic Waste & Water Pollution:

Note that plastic pollution is one of the key issues in Africa. Moreover, it is one of the biggest political issues in Africa as well. 
Did you know every year witnesses a large pool of plastic wastes to be transferred from the Global North to countries like Kenya and South Africa? As a result, freshwater sources and dam ecosystems are getting severely affected. Even the coastlines of Africa are also impacted by water pollution. 

Another massive concern has surfaced that has made the water pollution situation severer for Kenyan authorities, and it is the upsurge in illegal plastic dumping in the Indian Ocean. 

And the situation has further been aggravated with the rise of plastic-polluted water flowing into the sea through various tributaries and rivers. These water resources are already filled with single-use plastic pieces as well as plastic bottles, so you can comprehend the severity of the situation with ease. And this severe water pollution largely impacts marine ecosystems. 

A large number of marine animals have already died due to microplastics, as these animals mistake these toxic substances with food. However, the #breakfreefromplastic movement has been helping to spread awareness about the harmful effects of plastic in water pollution in Africa. 

This campaign has been structured to examine the origins of plastic waste responsible for impacting the environment as well as the community due to the immersion of waterways in Douala. It is clear that plastic production is one of the major causes of water pollution in Africa. The answer is the pesticides as well as nitrogen-emitting fertilizers used in today’s agricultural practices.
 

Mining & Water Pollution:

Did you know various mining processes in Africa, including hydraulic fracturing, are known as one of the leading causes of water pollution? Water gets contaminated with sand, various chemical pollutants, and many other substances and enters into deep underground wells via high-pressure pumping to extract natural gas and oil to cater to energy requirements. 

However, these underground wells often start leaking out and the wastewater starts getting mixed with groundwater, which causes severe water pollution and makes the groundwater unsuitable for human consumption. 
Whenever the contaminated water starts getting drilled down to deeper levels into the rock, the extent of water pollution gets more severe. On the other hand, in case the underground wells in the hydraulic fracturing mining process are poorly sealed, water pollution becomes inevitable as well in Africa. 

Agriculture & Water Pollution:

Did you know large-scale farming is causing heavy water pollution due to the usage of agrochemicals? We are well aware of today’s situation that the demand for food worldwide is on the rise, which compels farmers to harvest crops faster than ever. And it is also the key reason why the production of organic farming is going downwards, which should not have happened in the first place.

The situation is responsible for the deterioration of the health of the African citizens by resulting in severe water pollution. How do the agricultural practices in Africa cause dreadful water pollution? These harmful chemicals contaminate the waters of freshwater sources and make them unfit for human consumption.
Furthermore, evidence also shows that massive dairy farming also causes water pollution by the contamination of nitrogen with freshwater sources and groundwater tables. Artificial nitrogen-loaded fertilizers are causing heavy water pollution in this regard. 

Untreated Wastewater Collection System & Water Pollution:

Did you know the population explosion in Africa is wreaking havoc on its infrastructure? And the degrading situation is evident from the ever-increasing water pollution scenarios in Africa. And the results of this situation are horrendous, which could be evident from the destruction of water sources all around Africa.
Another worth-noting fact is that raw human waste is poisoning and damaging the lakes in Uganda as well as Kenya. It is not only causing a dreadful situation for the environment and ecosystems but also wreaking havoc on the economic growth of Africa.

More Causes of Water Pollution in Africa

Needless to say, polluted freshwater sources are creating a huge challenge for African citizens in their day-to-day lives. A long list of human activities, such as mining, farming, industrial operations with caution, deforestation, and so on is transforming water bodies into unsuitable water sources for human consumption. 
In addition, the dumping of garbage into adjacent freshwater sources also results in water pollution in Africa. However, the situation is even more critical than it seems to be since communities do not have any alternative ways to dispose of waste.

On the other hand, one of the major causes of water pollution in Africa is deforestation. The severe impacts on the precious Congo Basin and Cameroon contribute to heavy water pollution. Deforestation leads to soil erosion that causes natural vegetation to strip away and split. As a result, freshwater sources get contaminated causing water pollution. And the resulting water becomes unfit for humans as well as animals.
 

What is the Solution

All the aforementioned aspects show a dire need for powerful water treatment and purification in Africa. And when it comes to the best water disinfectants, Aqua Salveo comes as a strong contender. It is a natural water disinfectant, which does not leave any by-products post-disinfection of water, unlike chemical disinfectants. 
Moreover, the environment-friendliness, budget-friendliness, non-toxicity, and safety have made this liquid water disinfectant an ideal solution to make water clean, safe, and free of contamination.

Wrapping Up

It is every African citizen’s right to have the provisions of unpolluted, safe, and clean water without any traces of pesticides, oil, plastic, waste elements, or any other pollutants. Moreover, it is a must to preserve the environment and save ecosystems. Therefore, every African should come forward to contribute to checking the causes of water pollution to ensure their health, happiness, and safety.