The need for water pollution solutions that work is growing intensely. Despite laws that are designed to protect our water from pollutants and contaminants, water pollution continues to be a very large part of our planet’s peril.

There are many laws in place to help protect the waters from pollution. However, enforcement of these laws is very slim.

Since the ocean is a vast territory, many vessels are still discharging and dumping directly into our oceans and poisoning them with contaminants.

In 1970 the Clean Water Act was passed to eliminate the discharge of all contaminants throughout the waterways. Discharging can mean anything from human waste to bilge waters contaminated with diesel, oil, or chemical residue or spills. In some cases it means biological and hazardous waste with lethal potential.

Factories and plants are still discharging harmful contaminants into streets, alleyways, and the ground which all have the potential to become dangerous to our groundwater or our waterways.

While there are laws to prevent these discharges, the likelihood of getting caught and the associated fine is often not steep enough to prevent the companies from repeating the action. These laws were put into place to encourage water pollution solutions and yet are rarely enforced throughout some of the most populated areas.

Fortunately, some cities are starting to crack down on violations of pollution laws. New York is a leader in emissions testing and spot checking factories and plants for violations of dumping and discharging laws.

The environmental police have taken charge of enforcing water pollution solutions. They have targeted everyone from delivery vehicles to the largest and wealthiest companies in the city. If more cities would follow suit, we would be well on our way to protecting our planet from intolerable water supplies.

Solutions To Water Pollution – What You Can Do

Outside of enforcing the current laws and creating even tougher regulations to prevent the continued pollution of water, there are dedicated and relatively simple objectives that everyone can participate in so that we can provide water pollution solutions to the average citizen.

Simple steps like driving hybrid cars and using home water coolers can reduce water pollution. Littering in any form can also create additional pollution. Conserving clean water supplies can be beneficial in many ways, including preventing the need for use of tainted water supplies.

Green agriculture - a water pollution solution

For instance, if everyone supported clean agriculture there would no longer be a market for agriculture that is responsible for poisonous runoff and ground water pollution. Clean agriculture is easier than ever to recognize because of the new standards for organic labeling.

Organic foods mean that there were no pesticides or other harmful contaminants used in the growing of the food. When a food product is labeled organic, federal law requires that it meets the criteria for being 75% organic or better.

When a food product is labeled 100% organic it meets the criteria for being 99% organic or better. 100% organic foods include the soil in which the product was grown as well as the process of which the product was packaged, shipped, and distributed.  But supporting organic foods you are supporting water pollution solutions through clean agriculture.

The preservation of natural wetlands provides a relatively simple water pollution solution. Wetlands serve as nature’s filter and create a natural buffering zone between the water and the land. The vast amount of various plant life, naturally occurring bacteria and algae, and microorganisms help to filter destructive pollutants.

Wetlands can be easily preserved through replanting efforts. Planting appropriate foliage can help a wetland survive. While some wetlands have been filled and developed, wetlands tend to make rather poor environments to build upon.

Discouraging wetland development and encouraging wetland replanting is one way that everyone can get involved in finding solutions to water pollution.