The depreciation in the quality of water consumed by many individuals in various regions in the US has raised severe health concerns across multiple municipalities. There is a water quality report that I was able to come across from my local municipality recently. The report was dated 27/05 2017. This meant that the kind of analysis documented in the report was carried out in 2017. The investigation that was conducted was obtained from tests done by the agency of environmental protection. Data analysis makes it easier to interpret the looming crisis and concern and come up with possible solutions (Hounslow 79). The report, however, was aimed at giving information about the current state of our water system. It also included statistical reports on health-related issues reported among individuals in the municipality and previous health reports and how they compare. The report also contained the importance of water quality and the safety measures that were supposed to be implemented to prevent future contaminations brought about by pollution and other environmentally unfriendly activities. Finally, the report contained strategies to be used by the municipality to put these safety rules into practice and provide the municipality with safe water for their consumption.

A very severe contamination issue has been going on in my community. An analysis was conducted on various water samples in my surrounding community including tap water, springs and wells, and reports revealed that the water was unfit for human consumption. The water that we were using was found to present traces of amoeba, as well as elements of heavy metals and plastics that had washed down into our primary water supply source. The community in the municipality where I come from is one where many individuals practice crop farming. Therefore many prefer using inorganic fertilizers for crop production. According to the reports documented by the municipality, fertilizer that was being washed downstream was a primary factor contributing to the contamination of our main water source. There was detection of some point source pollution brought about by sharing of a common sewage channel and piped water as well as nearby industrial discharge. Adjacent industries instead of adequately disposing of their industrial waste products opt to discharge them in nearby streams. They fail to realize that the same water is recycled and taken back to the original water reservoir that supplies the entire municipality.

The pollution and contamination that has led to poor quality of water used in my community have by so far resulted in many life-threatening risks and fatalities. There have been rampant reports of cholera and amoebic dysentery which has prompted municipality statisticians to document the reports comparing with reports from previous years and surrender them to the municipal authorities for their review. Our human health has deteriorated. There have also been reports of mutation cases on newborn babies that have been linked to consuming elements of heavy metals washed into water sources by expectant mothers. It has even gotten worse for the environment. Industrial wastes including plastics have been deposited in river beds, and some have been windblown to the environment, making it look degraded. This has even posted some threat to livestock since the cattle and sheep reared on farms once in a while drink from nearby streams. If they so happen to drink water containing plastics or these fertilizer deposits, they are likely to die. Aquatic life has also been threatened, and activities like fishing are under jeopardy.

Water pollution, however, can be controlled and avoided if individuals become more vigilant and sensitive. Best management practices play a vital role in curbing the pollution menace (Meals, Steven, and Thomas 93). The use of landscaping to minimize erosion of soil containing fertilizer and other inorganic elements as well as sedimentation into water bodies is very significant. Industries, on the other hand, should device appropriate methods of disposing of their effluents other than into water bodies. Coming up with effective water resource management policies helps in controlling water pollution (Altenburger et al. 548).  Recycling and reusing their waste products is more appropriate since it will ensure reduced cases of water and environmental pollution. Individuals are also advised to dispose of chemicals used in the household setting carefully and opt to use less hazardous chemicals that are likely to sip into water bodies and even into water used in the household setting.

The quality of water is essential in the overall health of life. It is, therefore, necessary to come up with strategies that will curb pollution in general to improve water quality and the overall quality of life.

Works Cited

Hounslow, Arthur. Water quality data: analysis and interpretation. CRC press, 2018. 76

Meals, Donald W., Steven A. Dressing, and Thomas E. Davenport. “Lag time in water quality response to best management practices: A review.” Journal of environmental quality 39.1 (2010): 85-96.

Altenburger, Rolf, et al. “Future water quality monitoring—adapting tools to deal with mixtures of pollutants in water resource management.” Science of the total environment 512 (2015): 540-551.