Water Pollution and Cyanobacteria I can’t believe we’ve finally scheduled this picnic. Don’t even get me started, because you always can’t go. Monday you can’t go, Tuesday you can’t, Wednesday … UGHH!
WHAT’S THAT ON THE LAKE? What horror! And what is that smell?
Guys! I think I know what it is and I’ll explain in a moment, but first let’s move away from this stink. Quickly!
Well! Now I can tell you about it. Folks, I think this is a cyanobacteria bloom WHAT?
Cyanobacteria! These microscopic entities have existed in our planet for billions of years, long before the dinosaurs, and they never harmed anybody. Until the pollution generated by us all began to stir what was once nice and quiet.
Cyanobacteria are present in many places, but mainly in freshwater ecosystems like rivers, lakes, lagoons etc. When this water is polluted the concentration of phosphorus and nitrogen increases and cyanobacteria multiplies. But, they reeeeeally multiply: hundreds turn into millions in each litter of water.
Ok, but what about that blooming you mentioned? What does it have to do with anything? Hahahahaha!
They are not flower blooms, Jorge. The name is blooming and that’s exactly what we are seeing on the lake, an excess of cyanobacteria that forms this mass we are seeing now. So that’s why the water has that strange green color and that bad smell?
Yes, Flora. And actually, when water gets to this point, it becomes much more difficult to treat Wait a second. So you mean to say that these cyanobacterial blooms really deteriorate the water quality?
Good thing there’s a lot of water in the world. So much the Earth is blue. It’s not quite like that, darling!
The Earth is really blue, because more than three-quarters of it is covered by water. There are oceans, rivers, lakes, glaciers, snow, but just a little bit of it is good for human consumption: less than 0,1%. If all the water in the world fit inside a 2-liter plastic bottle, the water that is good for consumption would fit in fit half of a bottle cap.
We can hardly see it, right? Well, now I’m really stunned. The planet has so little water for consumption and we use it in so many ways: agriculture, industries, domestically.
. . In food, hygiene.
. . without water, even this orange juice in your hand couldn’t exist.
In short: our survival depends on water. All living beings need it. I know, 70% of my body – and yours - is made up of water.
Just talking about it, makes me thirsty Here in Brazil, we have eight main watersheds. In other words, we have eight great masses of freshwater The North and Central-West regions have the most available freshwater 80% of all the water in the country is in the Amazon region, which doesn’t mean in people’s homes. But the Northeast and Southeast regions suffers because they have little water to supply the population.
That’s why cyanobacteria are so dangerous. We know there are about 150 genera of cyanobacteria. that at least 40 of them produce very serious toxins, such as hepatotoxins which can attack our liver and neurotoxins which can affect our central nervous system and may be fatal Folks, it’s time for us to pack our suitcases and flee to another country.
I’m going to call my mother right now and. . .
It’s no use Jorge. These cyanobacteria blooms exists almost all over the world There are many reports of animal deaths caused by these contaminated waters. In Australia, in 1991, the Darling-Barwon River was covered by a huge cyanobacteria bloom: more than 620 miles of the river were compromised.
Thousand of animals consumed that water and died from a neurotoxins. And the most serious human case of cyanobacteria infection happened here in Brazil. In 1996, in a hemodialysis clinical center in the city of Caruaru, in the State of Pernambuco.
Water contaminated by cyanobacteria was used in treatments, and hepatotoxins went directly into the patients’ bloodstreams. Out of 135 contaminated people, 65 died, all because of these toxins. And there aren't other records of human deaths just because of cyanobacteria The tragedy of Caruaru is still used today as an example to encourage and promote prevention measures with water and health in populations around the world.
So we need to prevent to avoid so many blooms of cyanobacteria. We need to, I don’t know… take care, and demand that authorities look after our watersheds, soil and the control of fertilizers. The treatment of sewage from homes and industries is essential, and also the preservation of riparian forests.
That’s it Flora! Poor waste collection and treatment, and poor care and protection of springs are the main villains of water contamination. Yes.
My teacher said that here in Brazil only 55% of cities have sewage collection and treatment. Can you believe it? Almost half the country disposes wastewater in the wrong way.
If we consider only the domestic sewage, just 27% of Brazilian cities have treatment. When garbage and sewage reach the water, they brings a lot of bad things: For example, if city sanitary sewages, agriculture fertilizers and animal wastewater pour into a body of water, they cause an excess of organic materials in that place. The population of bacteria and cyanobacteria increases the water turns turbid, there is a lack of oxygen, and this kills the animals and vegetables of these aquatic ecosystems.
The name of this horrible process is Eutrophication. Yes! To use this water correctly and always, there is no other way but by preserving it.
Part of this preservation is the government’s responsability sewage collection and treatment, riverbank reforestation and, of course, to ensure the water quality that supplies our homes. It is also important to use irrigation systems that waste less water and are more efficient, since we already know that there is little fresh water available in the Planet. But the population must also have the commitment to care for the water of the country and the Planet.
We need to prevent all kinds of waste - at home and in the streets - collect and dispose garbage properly and pay attention to the actions of people around us too. I’m getting scared to even turn the tap on at home. Take it easy, Jorge!
The treatment stations follow many procedures from the Ministry of Health to ensure the water in our homes is secure. These stations evaluate the amounts of cyanobacteria at the source and do regular analyses to certify if the water can be used for consumption. And there is an important detail: the greater the water pollution, more expensive it is to treat.
We have a lot of things to do, don’t we? But at least we’ve got a bunch of information. Now it’s time for action!
Hey! And you can also do your part. Share this message, combat waste, fight against pollution If everyone does their part, we can accomplish many good things.
Everyone’s life depends on this. And to think that all of this started with a spoiled picnic.
