The global environmental problems are what strike the world today more than economic and political issues, though being tightly interconnected. It is hard to imagine how many environmental problems there are nowadays due to technological progress and human activities. Of course, one of the greatest and the most debatable issues is the water supplies that are being dreadfully polluted by people without understanding if harming themselves.
The pollutions vary from human waste products to agrochemicals and heavy metals, whereas it is undoubtedly that many corporations do not have refining technologies before letting the floods of wastes mix with river waters. As such, an example of Nile River in Egypt is a wonderful representation of human disrespectful and irresponsible attitude towards nature resources. So, this paper will elaborate on Nile being terrifically polluted and damaged by more than seven hundred industrial facilities along the river that do not have purification systems, and due to the fishing methods of fishermen communities.
Talking about industrial pollutants it is necessary to say that Nile region is a very urbanized one, and industrial, hence it has its share of pollution. There are, of course, many pollutants kinds along the Nile River in Egypt since it happens to be one of the most important basins, among which are the municipal, agricultural, and industrial pollutants. So, the latter damage the environment to the highest extent. Almost 700 industrial facilities are situated along the Nile River. Evidently, the drained wastes are highly toxic, it is recorded that they include heavy metals, mixed with suspended solids that ultimately this creates sludge.
Moreover, it is highly important that industrial enterprises cause not only river pollution, but the air pollution as well. Therefore, the industrial chain that is situated along Nile is responsible for the smog hanging over Cairo and Alexandria that brings too much trouble and diseases of people. Although it is claimed that majority of river water is healthy enough, the ‘black zones’ close to the drains surpass the overall rate of normal water. So, it is important to foresee the future environmental crisis caused by the industrial plants and take measure today. Although this entails capital investments, the water treatment and purifying systems are worth it, otherwise Stiffer penalties should be administered to the industries who discharge wastes into the Nile. (Yanful, p. 181)
Yet, the problem is worse than it can be imagined. There are about 80 sewage outlets into the Nile River in Egypt. Moreover, the Nile is being poisoned with alike wastes 24 hours per day without prior purification. The most dangerous outlet is considered to be at Itsa village because 9000 cubic meters is being emptied to the waters daily. This is a horrible disaster that the inhabitants face every day. A foreigner is able to smell the stench one kilometer away from the village and get appalled by the condition of Nile River there. The wastes contain oils, agricultural fertilizers, etc. In a word those are enough to make the River Nile look like a swamp (Fishar, p. 21).
However, the poisonous substances are not the only trouble ever happened to Nile. Local people throw dead animals’ bodies and other refuse in the river. Of course, this entails many climate changes, for example, the lessening of oxygen and light has been noted, and the increase of water saltiness is enormous. There is no wonder people do not have enough nutritional components in the water – they damage their health with their own hands, because the water they eat and drink is highly polluted and is not sufficient for consuming.
Nevertheless, people are struggling to survive and provide for their families. However, it is to be noted that some actions of the family providers may cause more harm than benefit. The communities of fishermen end up with incorrect fishing methods. They resort to using gas, electricity and dynamite to enhance their catch. The decreasing number of fish is the result of industrial pollution, so the fishermen are trying to gain income disregarding this obstacle, which entails even more pollution due to diminishing number of fish and fish eggs. Moreover, most fishermen report about liver and kidney diseases that they get when drink directly from the Nile.
The pollution of Nile River must be thoroughly treated by adopting new policies as per purification systems for the industrial plants along the river. Besides, it is important to convey the catastrophic damage to the fishermen they make. Humanity should learn to limit their pollution damage to the nature in order not to wipe out planet’s resources. It is vital to think over the attitude towards the planet and its waters.
The way out of an environmental catastrophe is installing the filters and treating the waters wisely, since the records of renal failure, salmonella, cholera and cancer already exist. So, it is determinant to understand what exactly the root of the problem is, and fighting the problem now until it is too late via drawing political members to take an active part, as Jabbra clams ‘All nations need to bring the issue of environment and sustainable development from the margins to the mainstream of political thinking and decision-making’. (p. 3)
Works Cited
Fishar, Reda and Williams, Peter W. The Development of a Biotic Pollution Index for the River Nile in Egypt. New York: Springer Science and Business Media, 2007.
Jabbra, Joseph G. et al. Governmental Response to Environmental Challenges in Global Perspective. Amsterdam: IOS Press, 1998.
Yanful, Ernest K. Appropriate Technologies for Environmental Protection in the Developing World. New York: Springer Science and Business Media, 2009.