The issue with water access has influenced and it’s influenced by many economic, social, political, and cultural problems throughout history.The problem with water access and restrictions can be dated back to more than 4,500 years ago during ancient Mesopotamia. During this time, ancient Mesopotamia and city-states waged a war over who had access to water. Water, through out history has been used as a way to control a large group of people. This is usually accomplished by the rich having access or the rights to the water while having those lower than them pay for it.
Throughout history, humans have been contaminating water causing diseases. Diseases like cholera and typhoid were caused by water contaminated with raw sewage. The problem with contaminated water and the diseases that are the after effect of it, can be dated back to the Industrial Revolution. During this time, factories dumped their waste into rivers and streams. An incident that occurred in 1969 in which a river in Ohio bursted into flames, was the result of chemical toxins being released into the river.
There have been many laws throughout history that have been made to stop the problem of water contamination. In 1972, Congress passed The Clean Water Act to lower the rate of water pollution. Although there are laws that help stop water pollution, companies still find it acceptable to release their waste to into rivers and lakes. The Environmental News Service said that “more than 62% of industrial and municipal facilities across the country discharged more pollution into U.S. waterways than their Clear Water Act permits allowed between July 2003 and December 2004” from a report that was made in 2006.
Water contamination is largely and man made issue. Factories release hazardous toxins into lake and rivers and a high demand for oil has also made itself an important factor when it comes to water contamination. One of the most famous incidents that occurred because of oil is the 1989 oil spill which was caused by the Exxon Valdez (A ship carrying oil tanks). During the accident, 11 Million gallons of crude oil was dumped into the sea. The disaster created a 3,000-square-mile oil slick which instantly killed thousands of hundreds of birds, fish and other wildlife. This event devastated the area for years afterward.
This issue has been caused by political and economic influence throughout history. We need to remind people about the consequences that come with polluting our rivers, lakes, and oceans. History has reminded of the horrible things that occurred because of man’s carelessness towards our environment. We can’t let our generation be remembered as the cause for bad environmental conditions, we should be remembered as the ones that made the world a better place for the environment.
Throughout history, humans have been contaminating water causing diseases. Diseases like cholera and typhoid were caused by water contaminated with raw sewage. The problem with contaminated water and the diseases that are the after effect of it, can be dated back to the Industrial Revolution. During this time, factories dumped their waste into rivers and streams. An incident that occurred in 1969 in which a river in Ohio bursted into flames, was the result of chemical toxins being released into the river.
There have been many laws throughout history that have been made to stop the problem of water contamination. In 1972, Congress passed The Clean Water Act to lower the rate of water pollution. Although there are laws that help stop water pollution, companies still find it acceptable to release their waste to into rivers and lakes. The Environmental News Service said that “more than 62% of industrial and municipal facilities across the country discharged more pollution into U.S. waterways than their Clear Water Act permits allowed between July 2003 and December 2004” from a report that was made in 2006.
Water contamination is largely and man made issue. Factories release hazardous toxins into lake and rivers and a high demand for oil has also made itself an important factor when it comes to water contamination. One of the most famous incidents that occurred because of oil is the 1989 oil spill which was caused by the Exxon Valdez (A ship carrying oil tanks). During the accident, 11 Million gallons of crude oil was dumped into the sea. The disaster created a 3,000-square-mile oil slick which instantly killed thousands of hundreds of birds, fish and other wildlife. This event devastated the area for years afterward.
This issue has been caused by political and economic influence throughout history. We need to remind people about the consequences that come with polluting our rivers, lakes, and oceans. History has reminded of the horrible things that occurred because of man’s carelessness towards our environment. We can’t let our generation be remembered as the cause for bad environmental conditions, we should be remembered as the ones that made the world a better place for the environment.