Water Pollution

It is also unrealistic to think that existing infrastructure will suffice to manage waste disposal.  There is already more wastewater generated and dispersed today than at any other time in the history of our planet.  Since the 1970’s, pollution in the form of human and industrial waste has increased tremendously and although technological advances have improved the water purifying process in some areas, these areas remain the minority.  For example, 95% of countries around the world still pump their sewerage lines directly into the ocean, untreated.  Smaller municipalities are unable to eliminate all toxic particles from the water as the demand for water increases.  Solid waste is also being carried into the ocean at an alarming rate. 

In recent years the North Pacific gyre has become a dumping ground more commonly referred to as the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”.  Environmentalists estimate that 3.5 million tonnes of waste has collected in the Pacific vortex creating a floating island twice the size of the state of Texas.  Thousands of birds and other sea creatures die each day from ingesting plastic or other harmful debris, however no one is being held accountable for this toxic waste due to weak global sanctions and environmental policies. (Kirby, A)