There are different types of pollution, but each one can be the worst thing to happen to the environment. We have already seen adverse impacts of pollution on everything from our water supply, land, and air. It can also break your bank too! If you have ever been to a city that has had issues with water pollution, you know how terrible it can be. The smell and pathetic water condition will compel you to leave the town as quickly as possible.
History has witnessed some drastic water contamination incidents where the government had to compensate the victims later on – putting immense pressure on the country’s resources. One such incident happened at Camp Lejeune. The water supplies at Camp Lejeune were contaminated with harmful chemicals – throwing the affected into immense suffering. After decades, those victims who struggled to get their claim filed a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit against the government.
This incident caused the government millions of dollars in compensation. Such incidents are remarkable examples of how the country’s resources can be depleted with small negligence. Well, let’s take a look at five reasons why pollution might affect your country’s economy:
Water Pollution Damages the Industry
The pollution caused by the discharge of industrial effluents into water bodies can damage the industries of a country. This can result in loss of revenue, jobs, tourism, and export-import revenues.
Water is used by various industries as a solvent or a medium for transporting their products. Without proper water management systems in place, these industries may pollute the water body with which they come in contact. This is likely to have an adverse impact on different other uses of that particular water body like fishing or recreation activities like swimming or boating etc.
In addition, if there is any toxic material released into these waters, then it would lead to serious health hazards for humans and animals alike. Those who use this contaminated water for drinking purposes or for agriculture purposes can develop serious diseases and lose their livelihoods (e.g., farmers) respectively.
Decrease in Fishing
Fishing is one of the most crucial industries in several countries. In fact, it’s often considered a significant economic indicator. Fish are a source of income for thousands of fishermen who sell their catch or deliver it to processing plants.
But when water is polluted with heavy metals or other toxins, fish can become unsafe to eat—and that can drastically reduce the number of people interested in pursuing fishing as a career. This can also be harmful to those who depend upon fish as an important part of their diet. If local waters are unfit for consumption, then residents will have fewer options when it comes time for dinner.
The key takeaway? Water pollution results not just in health problems but also in declined economic activity because fishing jobs go unfilled due to fear about food safety issues.
Agricultural Losses
Water pollution can negatively affect the agricultural sector, causing major losses for a country’s economy. When crops are contaminated, farmers struggle to harvest them and sell them to consumers. This could result in lower income and less food available for consumption.
Moreover, when water pollution affects the livestock, it can lead to financial losses for farmers who invest time and money into raising their animals. Also, polluted water can negatively affect soil quality and irrigation systems which could further reduce crop yields or even prevent certain crops from being planted altogether.
Water pollution can also affect food quality by making crops unsuitable for consumption as well as increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses such as E Coli poisoning or salmonella infection.
Effects on Biodiversity
When a country’s water quality is poor, it eventually leads to increased pollution. This can have harmful consequences for species that depend on clean water to survive. The loss of biodiversity can result in a loss of genetic diversity, thereby increasing the possibility of extinction of entire species. When this happens, ecosystems are disturbed, and biodiversity decreases further because there are fewer organisms left in the ecosystem.
Along with having an effect on biodiversity, poor water quality can also affect other important pillars of economic development like agriculture and tourism.
Human Health and Disease
Water pollution can also negatively affect human health. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that polluted water can cause various diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis, and others. This can even lead to a disease pandemic within a country, which eventually threatens its economy.
Water pollution can cause skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions, which can take a toll on a person’s pocket to treat with medication or creams. Along with this, it also causes eye problems such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), redness in the eyes, itching, and soreness in the eyes depending on what chemicals have been added into local water supplies from industrial waste products or agricultural run-offs from farms surrounding cities.
In Conclusion
Water pollution is a serious environmental problem that can cripple the economy of any country. Water pollution affects not only the health of people and animals but also their ability to work and live.
If left unchecked, water pollution can have devastating effects on a country’s economy by causing significant losses in tourism revenue, productivity rates in industries such as fishing or farming, and damage to property due to flooding caused by run-off from contaminated storms drains, etc.
