Rivers Pollution in Kathmandu Valley
Abcd Tuvwxy
Environmental Science
Nami College, Jorpati, Kathmandu
Abstract
For
the general population of the Kathmandu valley clean river water is only a
memory. Today the streams must be said to be spotless at their source and
waterway contamination has turned into a remarkable issue in the valley.
Because
of modernization, the building of concrete houses has begun. Individuals are
taking sand from the waterways, making them get to be more profound. The area
surface then inclines down, and squander items stream into the waterways.
Therefore started the contamination of the streams.
The
significant streams of the valley, Bagmati, Bishnumati, and Tukucha are no more
the critical characteristic assets that they once were. This is a result of the
poor administration of the seepage arrangement of houses and neighborhood
commercial ventures during a period of expanding urbanization. Indeed, even the
outlets of healing facilities stream specifically into the waterways. (K.C., B.
2006)
Introduction
Any
undesirable change of properties of water by harmful substances and reason
unfriendly impact on wellbeing and environment is called water pollution.
Pure
uncontaminated water does not happen in nature.it contains contaminations of
different types common and synthetic. The common pollutions are basically not
risky which may be grabbed within rainfall. The more genuine part of water
contamination is that brought on by human action urbanization and
industrialization
The
wellsprings of contamination coming about because of these are: (I). sewage,
which contains decomposable natural matter, (II). Modern and exchange
squanders, which contain poisonous operators running from metal salts to
complex manufactured natural chemicals, (III). Farming toxins, which contains
composts and pesticides, and (IV). Physical toxins, and radioactive substances.
Regardless
of the possibility that the source of water supply and its treatment are of an
elevated requirement, water contamination may even now happen as frequently
happens, because of destruction of channel lines, broken joints and cross
associations between water supply pipes and sewage waste funnels. Investigation
must be practiced at each point in the appropriation framework to guarantee
supply of safe water to the consumer. (Aryal, K.C., 2008)
Causes Of Water Pollution
In Nepal, due to rapid population growth, unsanitary
disposal of wastes and other human activities, most of the water sources are
becoming polluted. The prevailing practices of open defecation, unscientific
disposal of human wastes and agricultural practice in most of the rural
villages have increased the level of microbiological contamination in the water
from streams, springs and ground sources. Water quality problems caused by
physical and chemical parameters have huge impacts on public health when the
concentration is high.
1.
Sewage and waste water
Regular,
we cook, wash cloth, flush the toilet, wash our vehicles, shower and do
numerous things that utilization water. Consider how we utilize water in
schools, hospitals and public places.
Where
do you think all the water, fluid waste, latrine and pee winds up? In many
developed countries, this wastewater and dissolvable waste (called sewage) is
treated, cleaned and dumped into the ocean or waterway. Despite the fact that
they are dealt with, they are never the same as new water.
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In some not so developed nations like Nepal, the sewage is not treated, but rather immediately dumped into the rivers. This is very dangerous because they contaminate the environment and water bodies and bring many deadly diseases to us. (eschooltoday, 2015)
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2.
Industrial Waste
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Commercial enterprises produce large amount of waste which contains dangerous chemicals and contaminations which can bring about air contamination and harm to us and our surroundings. They contain toxins, for example, lead, mercury, sulfur, asbestos, nitrates and numerous other hurtful chemicals. Many industries do not have proper waste management system and drain the waste in the fresh water which goes into rivers, canals and later in to sea. The dangerous chemicals have the capacity to change the shade of water, expand the measure of minerals, change the temperature of water and bearing genuine risk to water creatures. (Conserve Energy Future, 2015)
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3.
Urbanization
The
physical disturbance of natural resources from building house, roads and
industries are the effect of urbanization. The chemical wastes from the
industries and the sewage system makes the rivers dirty and polluted. (Water
wise, 2014) The unmanaged urbanization give rise to many kind of problems and
effects the natural resources. The air gets polluted and the rivers get dirty.
Urbanization is one of the greatest cause of the water pollution. The populated
cities like Kathmandu is facing a lot of problems regarding the clean river
water. The daily house wastes are directly thrown into the river and the waste
pipes of the industries are directly connected with the river systems, which
results the polluted rivers. There used to be a time when people use to drink
the water of Bagmati River but now due to the unmanaged urbanization the water
of the rivers are not even suitable to touch.
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4.
Deforestation
Clearing land for agriculture and urban growth frequently leads to water
pollution. When soil is stripped of its protective vegetation it becomes likely
to to soil erosion. This leads to an increase in the darkness of the water
which can cause the following:- It can block
the gills of fish;
- Bottom
residence plants cannot photosynthesize as the sun’s rays cannot reach to them;
and
There is an increase in disease as bacteria and viruses use the soil particles as a method of transportation. (Water wise, 2015)
Fig: Deforestation affecting the river
Effect Of Water Pollution
Water pollution has a duel effect on nature. It has
negative effects on the living and also on the environment. The effects of
pollution on human beings and aquatic groups are many and diverse. Water
pollution causes many deaths, mostly due to contamination of drinking water by
untreated sewage in developing countries. Many Nepalese have no access to a
proper toilet. Many Nepali lack access of safe drinking water. Due to the
unmanaged sewage system and industrial waste, toxic chemicals get dissolved in
the water due to which most fishes especially the species expect food from
people are among the sensitive species that disappear with the least pollution.
Water pollution leads to damage to human health. Disease carrying agents such
as bacteria and viruses are carried into the surface and ground water. Drinking
water is affected and health dangerous result.
Direct damage to plants and animals nutrition also affects human health. Plants nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus and other substances that support the growth of aquatic plant life could be in excess causing algal despair and excessive weed growth. This makes water to have odor, taste and sometimes color. Ultimately, the ecological balance of a body of water is altered. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides cause acid rain which lowers the PH value of soil and emission of carbon dioxide cause ocean acidification, the ongoing decrease in the PH of the Earth’s Oceans as CO2 becomes dissolved. (Owa, F.D., 2013)
Direct damage to plants and animals nutrition also affects human health. Plants nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus and other substances that support the growth of aquatic plant life could be in excess causing algal despair and excessive weed growth. This makes water to have odor, taste and sometimes color. Ultimately, the ecological balance of a body of water is altered. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides cause acid rain which lowers the PH value of soil and emission of carbon dioxide cause ocean acidification, the ongoing decrease in the PH of the Earth’s Oceans as CO2 becomes dissolved. (Owa, F.D., 2013)
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Solution Of Water Pollution
There
are many approaches that could be adopted in water pollution control and
management. It could be through prevention, practice efforts or join a
project/program; Regulation and monitoring or engaging in control measures by
reducing or minimizing waste. Prevention of water pollution according to
Wikipedia includes the following ways:
i.
Wash your vehicles far away from any rain
water drains.
ii.
Don’t throw waste, chemicals or solvents
into sewer drains.
iii.
Inspects your septic system every 3 – 5
years
iv.
Avoid using pesticides and fertilizers
that can run off into water systems
v.
Sweep your driveway instead of hosing it
down
vi.
Use non-toxic cleaning materials.
vii.
Clean up oil and other liquid spills with
kitty litter and sweep them up.
viii.
Don’t wash paints brushes in the sink.
Another way is to join or get involved with pollution
prevention is to practice efforts on your own or join projects or program. Aware
people and monitoring is an effective way of pollution management. Many nations
worldwide have enacted these things to regulate various types of pollution as
well as to low the adverse effects of pollution.
Pollution
control means to control the emissions and effluents into the air, water and
land or soil. Without pollution control, the waster products from consumptions,
heating, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, transportation and other human
activities, whether they collect or separate, will degrade the environment.
Pollution prevention and waste minimization are more desirable than pollution
control. However, pollution could be minimize by adopting these practices (I)
by recycling (ii) by reusing (iii) waste minimization (iv) By modifying (v) by
preventing (vi) by compost. Apart from all these mentioned above, you can also
use pollution control devices which include Dust collection system e.g. bag
houses, cyclones, electrostatic precipitators, scrubbers etc. Industrial
wastewater treatment e.g. ultra-filtration, API oil-water separators, bio
filters, dissolved air flotation (DAF), powdered activated carbon treatment etc.
should be used. (Owa, F.D., 2013)
Conclusion
Over all most of the rivers of Kathmandu valley are in
very poor condition. The water of the rivers are very polluted and getting
polluted day by day. Though some sort of water cleaning program has been
conducted in the major river of Kathmandu valley like, Bagmati cleaning
program, but the question is that how much is these program effective so far.
The sewage and drainage system of the Kathmandu valley is directly mixed up in
the rivers which is one of the major problem too. People throw their kitchen
wastes directly into the rivers and dead animals are also thrown into the
river. These problem might have arisen because most of the people are still
uneducated. So, in order to reduce these kind of problems awareness program
must be launched, showing the effect of water pollution. There should be strict
law for the one who throws wastes into the river.
Due to the weak law there is no any step taken by the
government to clean the water of the rivers. If no step is taken soon by the
government then the rivers of Kathmandu valley will turn into land one day. So
the government must think about this issue seriously. An effective must be
taken in order to make the water clean.
References
1. K.C.,
B. (2006) River Pollution In Kathmandu Valley http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?no=316259&rel_no=1
2. Aryal,
K.C., (2008) Water Pollution Is Getting Dangerous: Nepal Samacharpatra
3. Eschooltoday.,
(2015) :Other causes of water pollution
4. Conserve
Energy Future., (2015):Causes of water pollution
5. Water
Wise., (2015):Urbanization
6. Owa, F.D., (2013) Water Pollution: Sources, Effects, Control and
Management. Mediterranean Journal of
Social Sciences,4(8).65-68
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