Water Pollution Has Become A Major Environmental Issue | Band 9 IELTS Essay Sample
Water pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues in many parts of the world.
Why is water pollution a growing concern for both individuals and governments? What measures can be taken to reduce the problem effectively?
Here is a band 9 essay on this topic. Need help with IELTS writing? Send your writing samples for a free band score estimate to manjusha_nambiar@yahoo.co.in
Band 9 essay sample
One of the biggest environmental disasters that we face today is water pollution. It is a cause of concern for both individuals and governments because it affects public health and increases healthcare costs. Since the biggest causes of water pollution are the effluent discharge from factories and the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, finding effective ways to deal with them is the only way to address this issue.
Water pollution makes water unsafe for drinking. If people and animals drink polluted water they may fall ill or even die. Healthy people are the backbone of any nation. If they fall ill often, it affects the economy and increases the healthcare costs. Water pollution also destroys aquatic life. It disrupts the entire marine ecosystems. Fish and other forms of aquatic life cannot survive in polluted water. When fish die in huge numbers, fishing communities lose their livelihood. This is another blow for national economies. Even if fish survive in polluted waters, if people or animals consume them, they are more likely to fall ill. Obviously, water pollution is a major cause of concern for both people and governments all over the world.
In order to address this issue, first we need to analyse the root causes. The dumping of untreated factory waste in water bodies is the biggest cause of water pollution. The government needs to enact stringent laws to prevent this practice. Industries that still indulge in such practices should have their licence revoked. Another cause of water pollution is oil spillage. This is also an issue that needs the immediate attention of international communities. Indiscriminate use of pesticides and fertilisers also pollute water. When chemical fertilisers reach water bodies, they lead to the excessive growth of certain algae and kill other forms of water life. People should be given proper guidelines regarding the safe and appropriate use of pesticides and fertilisers. Other solutions include educating people about the harmful consequences of throwing plastic and other waste materials into water bodies.
To conclude, water pollution has major consequences for public health and the entire ecosystems. Hence, it is an issue that needs to be resolved immediately. By stopping factories from dumping chemical waste in water bodies, preventing oil spillage and discouraging people from throwing waste into water bodies, we can address this issue to a great extent.
