Water Pollution and Environmental Sustainability Interlinkages, Risks, and Sustainable Solutions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55544/sjmars.5.5.1Keywords:
Water pollution, Environmental sustainability, Ecosystem services, Wastewater treatment, Nature-based solutionsAbstract
Water pollution is a severe worldwide issue threatening ecosystem quality, human health, and the sustainability of the environment in the long term. Some of the major contaminants affecting freshwater bodies are industrial effluents, agricultural effluents, domestic effluents and novel contaminants like pharmaceuticals and micro plastics among others. The effects of these stressors on the quality of water, biodiversity, ecosystem services and quality-added water scarcity. Climate change, population increase, and socioeconomic differences in access to clean water further increase the impact of water pollution on environmental sustainability. Sustainable solutions involve a combined and preventative solution, such as nature-based solutions, high-technology wastewater treatment systems, clean production, and efficient environmental governance. Water quality indices, heavy-metal pollution indices, biological indicators, and remote sensing are the environmental indicators and monitoring tools that are essential to evaluate the dynamics of pollution and make policy decisions. Nevertheless, gaps in research have remained, especially on the emergent contaminants and the lack of capacity to monitor in the developing areas. This review identifies the major sources of pollution, its effects and sustainable solutions to help in the protection of water resources in the long term.
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