Water scarcity can also lead to diseases such as trachoma (an eye infection that can lead to blindness), plague and typhus. Water scarcity affects 1 in 3 people in the African Region and is getting worse with population growth, urbanization and increases in household and industrial uses.

Agriculture plays a major role in water contamination. Farming results in the release of large quantities of organic matter, agrochemicals, sediments, and drug residues. The use of fertilizers and excreta at farms cause nitrates and phosphates to enter bodies of water, leading to eutrophication.

2.3 Water quality 75% of Africa’s drinking water comes from groundwater16 and is often used with little or no purification. Water contaminated by microbiological pollutants spread diseases such as dysentery, cholera and typhoid.

Population increase is the main contributor to water pollution because exploding populations put extreme stress on delicate ecosystems. Industrial waste from mining and unregulated industries has made Africa’s water problems even worse. Erosion from deforestation has also contributed to water pollution issues.

Water is a precious yet non-renewable resource. Yet in Africa, the same water can be a source of life and death. Water is not only the most basic of need but also at the centre of sustainable development and essential for poverty eradication. Water is intimately linked to health, agriculture, energy and biodiversity.

Learn about a few of the most efficient ways to get clean water in Africa and how you can donate to the cause.

1. Set Up Rain Catchment Tanks.
2. Protect Natural Springs.
3. Install Sand Dams.
4. Rehabilitate Old Wells.
5. Build New Wells.

Bacterial contamination of drinking water is a major public health problem in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Unimproved water sources are a major reservoir of Escherichia coli (E. coli) causing severe diarrhoea in humans.

Dirty water diseases Bacteria in dirty water include: Salmonella typhi bacteria causes typhoid. Monica is well familiar with the symptoms of this serious disease: fever, abdominal pain, constipation, and headaches. Aeromonas Hydrophila bacteria causes severe dysentery in children and people with weak immune systems.

Contaminated water can transmit diseases such diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio. Contaminated drinking water is estimated to cause 485 000 diarrhoeal deaths each year.

Effects on Human Health If drinking water contains unsafe levels of contaminants, it can cause health effects, such as gastrointestinal illnesses, nervous system or reproductive effects, and chronic diseases such as cancer.

If you drink the contaminated water, you could get very sick. Tainted water can cause diarrhea, cholera, Giardia, Salmonella infection, and E. coli infection. If a boil water advisory is issued in your area, be extra careful that water is clean before you drink it or use it.

Here’s our process. With average pH levels of 7, chances are your tap water is hurting your skin. While these minerals are usually fine for drinking, it can cause breakouts, dryness, and irritation on your skin. It could also make dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis worse.

Water can be contaminated in several ways. It can contain microorganisms like bacteria and parasites that get in the water from human or animal fecal matter. It can contain chemicals from industrial waste or from spraying crops. Nitrates used in fertilizers can enter the water with runoff from the land.

Boiling. If you don’t have safe bottled water, you should boil your water to make it safe to drink. Boiling is the surest method to kill disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Bring the clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for three minutes).

Often county health departments will help you test for bacteria or nitrates. If not, you can have your water tested by a state certified laboratory. You can find one in your area by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or visiting www.epa.gov/safewater/labs.

However, when rainwater falls from the sky, substances from the air and land melt into the rainwater. Fortunately, when rainwater soaks into the ground, it then becomes mineral water. This water (groundwater) is relatively safe for drinking.