Problem significance
Chemical contamination of ground and surface water is a major source of water quality concerns. Different types of water use have increased contamination of ground and surface water. Urban, industrial, and agricultural developments have been singled out as the major causes of this problem (Harter, Rollins & University of California, 2008). These activities contaminate water with heavy metals such as lead and mercury. Naturally occurring chemicals such as fluorides, manganese, sulfates, and chlorides also cause water contamination (Harter, Rollins & University of California, 2008).
The contamination of ground and surface water is a critical environmental problem that demands more attention from environmental managers and officials. It is critical to understand that continued exposure to contaminated water can lead to cancer, reproductive problems, and other severe health problems. It is approximated that water, food, and air pollution account for 40% of global deaths (Potter, 2007). In addition, approximately 5,000 out 76,000 people hospitalized die each year in the United States (Potter, 2007) because of this problem. This is because of the increased prevalence of cancer and other health problems caused by water and air pollution.
Preventive and control measures
Prevention and control measures enhance environmental sustainability and promote human health. This can be achieved by improving urban and industrial pollution control measures. First, coordinated policies, regulations, and steps aimed at reducing industrial and urban chemical discharges should be put in place (Tortajada, Varis, Biswas & Lundqvist, 2013).
Secondly, the existing land use and management policies should be strengthened (Tortajada, Varis, Biswas & Lundqvist, 2013). Land users should be required to bear the costs of their land management practices. This can reduce soil erosion, pollution, and surface runoffs that are responsible for ground and surface water contamination.
Thirdly, the ground and surface water management practices and policies need to be integrated. This can be done by entrenching appropriate environmental standards (Tortajada, Varis, Biswas & Lundqvist, 2013). In addition, the environmental authorities should establish codes of conduct for the waste and the disposal logistics of hazardous materials. Lastly, waste containment technologies should be enhanced to reduce industrial pollution levels. Innovative approaches to waste management should also be explored in order to achieve this objective.
Barriers to reducing the problem
According to Brown and Farrelly (2009), cultural and institutional factors are the major barriers to water management. First, cultural barriers are likely to affect the prevention and control of chemical contamination of water. The social importance of agriculture is highly reflected in my society. Over the years, people have used human and animal fertilizer to produce enough food from their small farms to feed the increasing population. Therefore, this has created a strong cultural barrier that limits the introduction of waste management practices that can reduce water contamination.
Second, institutional barriers pose a significant challenge in the reduction of chemical contamination of these water sources. The prevention and control policies are likely to conflict with existing institutional policies. This can undermine the effective implementation of the earlier-mentioned preventive and control measures. In the end, it will hinder the effective management of ground and surface water. Finally, the application barrier is inevitable. The application of global water management models at the local level is costly to potential users. This creates barriers to the implementation of policies designed to reduce chemical contamination of ground and surface water.
References
Brown, R. R., & Farrelly, M. A. (2009). Delivering sustainable urban water management: a review of the hurdles we face. Water science and technology, 59(5), 839-846.
Harter, T., Rollins, L., & University of California. (2008). Watersheds, groundwater and drinking water: A practical guide. Oakland, Calif.: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Porter, M. (2007). Study Claims Pollution Causes 40% of Deaths. The Cornell Daily Sun. Web.
Tortajada, C., Varis, O., Biswas, A. K., & Lundqvist, J. (Eds.). (2013). Water Management in Megacities. Madison, NY. Routledge.