GARBAGE IN WATERWAYS

“Polluting the natural environment”

 

Whether the garbage/waste in waterways is deliberate or not, its effects are detrimental to the environment and health. This type of water pollution has been documented to have many adverse effects on the environment, animal and plant life. When garbage/waste gets into contact with waterways the water becomes contaminated and can enter the human food chain through crops and livestock leading to health implications. Additionally it may lead to the death of various marine organisms. Contamination of waterways through garbage/waste has the potential to continue the cycle of pollution through evaporation and condensation.

In my opinion, I believe that pollution of this sort can be linked to factors such as governance whereby government deliberately or unconsciously neglect to properly deal with such matters. Deliberate dumping of garbage/waste may result due to factors such as lack of enforcement of laws, lack of access to or irregularity of waste disposal units, lack of knowledge on the consequences of water pollution and poor drainage.

 Also, I believe that the government of Trinidad and Tobago should place stronger penalties to prevent dumping. This image was taken a few meters away from a large dump site however people are still disposing of their garbage/waste in waterways. Hence it shows that there is indeed a need for stronger penalties to prevent dumping. The fact is that as cities grow so too do its population. In turn, the rate of consumption increases and consequences, the amount of waste. Hence in order to maintain the physical beauty of cities and to alleviate the effects of pollution, governments must see it fit and deal with such problems.