Costello1

Michael, Costello

Mr. King

English 1

19 October 2018

Clean Water and Sanitation

“The World Health Organization estimates the 3.575 million people die from

water-related diseases a year” (Dirty Water is Dangerous). This is how unclean water and bad

sanitation are harming people around the world. People are getting sick from lack of these basic

needs. People are also polluting and dumping harmful items in places. Which is harming the

environment. Doing things like this could put the survival of humans in question.

Clean water and sanitation is a big problem around the world and a lot of people don't

have access to it.. “Worldwide, 780 million people do not have access to an improved water

source” (Global WASH). Which is estimated to be around 10% of the world's population as well

as “an estimated 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation” (global WASH). This is

around 33% of the world's population. Another big problem is that unclean water can cause

disease and death. “An estimated 801,000 children younger than 5 years of age perish from

diarrhea” (global WASH). This is due to a lack of clean water and sanitation. Adding on the the

fact that the lack of these needs is life threatening, “unsafe drinking water, ​ ​inadequate

availability of water for hygiene, and lack of access to sanitation together contribute to about

88% of deaths from diarrheal diseases” (Global WASH). Pollution is a huge problem on earth

and could harm the environment and even people.

 Costello2

Pollution is around the world and is our water and making is dirty. Also its hurting people

and animals. Farmers fertilizers are hurting the farmers and waterways. Its hurting animals and

water because “Fertilizers have been known to lead to oxygen loss in waterways” (Campbell).

This is bad because then the fish in the water or other living things can't breathe and survive. Its

hurting people because “12 of the most popular pesticides in the United States have ingredients

known to cause cancer” (Campbell). Which could potentially kill the people who use them.

Ocean pollution is a big problem to the animals that live in it. This is because “the wastes that are

dumped into the ocean tend to have toxic substances, which soak into all the oceanic oxygen”

(Mambra). Which means the animals don't have the oxygen that they need and can die. Also

“more than 1 million seabirds are being killed by ocean pollution” (Mambra). Which is showing

how ocean pollution is harmful to the animals that live in the ecosystem, but what are people

doing to stop these things from happening.

People are helping fix this and help the people who don't have clean water and sanitation.

Like in Brazil “the city laid down 1,200 miles of sewer pipes” (the water crisis). Which helps

with the issue of sanitation that they had, but that is fixed because of the pipes. Also people are

getting funding to help the people who need it. Like water aid which is a nonprofit organization

that helps with trying to get clean water for people around the world. The government has also

made laws against waste dumping. Dumping can be a misdemeanor or a felony. You can also go

to jail for dumping.​ “​For misdemeanors, sentences may involve 12 months or less in county jail

or state prison. For felonies, the sentence can be one or more years” (White). These laws are

working to stop pollution and help have more clean water.

 Costello3

This is a big issue all around the world and needs to be gone. It is killing people and

making others sick. It is also hurting animals and the environment. This problem is hurting a lot

of people and could hurt people even more in the future if we don't get rid of it. What will you do

to help fix this problem?

​Works Cited

“Global Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene (WASH).” ​Centers for Disease Control and Prevention​,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 Apr. 2016,
www.cdc.gov/healthywater/global/wash_statistics.html​.

“Deaths from Dirty Water and Related Diseases - Globally, This Year.” ​The World Counts​,
www.theworldcounts.com/counters/interesting_water_facts/dirty_water_diseases​.

Campbell, Nicole. “Harmful Effects of Fertilizers.” ​LIVESTRONG.COM,​ Leaf Group, 14 Aug.

2017, ​www.livestrong.com/article/119955-harmful-effects-fertilizers/​.

Cain, Lakota, et al. “Cause and Effects of Ocean Dumping.” ​Marine Insight​, 4 Sept. 2017,
www.marineinsight.com/environment/causes-and-effects-of-ocean-dumping/​.

White, Clay. “Illegal Dumping: Laws & Penalties.” ​Www.criminaldefenselawyer.com​, Nolo, 6

Mar. 2017,
www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/crime-penalties/federal/Illegal-Dumping.htm​.