Thursday, 29 March 2012

Water Quality & Fisheries

      Why is clean water important?

   For starts, even though it is an obvious information, this article wants to emphasize the fact that water is very important to our lives.

   Waterways are a big attraction for recreation and tourism, and the aquatic environment is home for lots of different species that enhance our ecosystem.

  In most countries, the drinking water usually comes from lakes, rivers and artificial reservoirs, particularly those used for public water supplies.

   Water plays also an important part in the Industrial system (water use includes using water for such purposes as fabricating, processing, washing, diluting, cooling, transporting a product;  or for sanitation needs within the manufacturing facility) and in Agriculture.


 

  However despite all of the natural advantage, clean water is becoming scarce. In theory, we receive enough water from rainfall to meet the needs of the population, but there is an imbalance in the demand for and the distribution of water.

Water quality in Ireland

   The Irish island is surrounded on every side by water 
and it has one of the highest water availability rates in Europe.
 

Unfortunately according to the latest figures, one third of Irish rivers are polluted.
  
 There are lots of ways to pollute a river: Excess fertilisers seeping from forestry or

farmland; leakage from septic tanks, along with other sewage treatment works;  pesticides from forestry and agriculture .

 
 

 Unfortunately, the water sector in Ireland has no consistent policies, no standards, no consumer protection and no economic regulation.


Water quality in Brazil

  Like in Ireland, the water resources are vast in Brazil. We have lots of lakes, rivers, and groundwater sources. However, the pollution is also a big problem.

   Beside problems already mentioned (leakage, pesticides…) we also pollute the lakes and rivers directly by throwing all sorts of rubbish in them. 


   

Our protection policies are not consistent at all. Plus, the demand for water is increasing side by side with the population, the agriculture and industrial system.

Conclusion    

  A really big effort to change the way things are done is needed and by stopping pollution our waters would be able to restore healthy aquatic ecosystems and plentiful fish. 


  If we managed to do all of our activities - from building to farming, from 
industry to forestry - in a way that ensures the restoration of good water, its quality would increase. The streams and rivers would benefit and society could continue to enjoy the services that they provide.

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