WATER POLLUTION IN MALAYSIA - SDG 6

 

               Clean water and sanitation is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by the United Nation (UN). SDG 6 focuses more on water resources and access to clean water and sanitation are essential to unlocking economic growth and productivity, and have a significant impact on existing investments in health and education.

               Water pollution become one of the serious problem in Malaysia, which negatively impacts the sustainability of water resources. Not only that, it also effects the plants and living organism, population health and the economy. Since Malaysia has a lot of seas , rivers and lakes that have been polluted , its quite hard to achieve the goals of SDG 6. To be best prepared for a situations like this, I must understand how and why the water resources such lakes, rivers and seas were polluted.

    Based on the research that I made before, water pollution in Malaysia caused by industrial activities, agricultural practices , urbanization and sewage disposal and illegal dumping and landfill leachate. Due to Malaysia's rapid industrialisation, contaminants have been released into waterways. Manufacturing, petrochemical, and mining industries discharge hazardous chemicals, heavy metals, and effluents into rivers and coastal regions. Next, Pesticides, fertilisers, and sediment overflow from agricultural practises all contribute to the contamination of the water. Surface and groundwater sources get contaminated as a result of improper pesticide application and ineffective soil erosion control techniques.

     This water pollution gives a lot of impacts in several fields including:

1. Ecological Consequences: Water pollution throws off the harmony of aquatic ecosystems, which causes fish populations to diminish, biodiversity to disappear, and coral reefs and mangrove forests to deteriorate. The health and resilience of the entire ecosystem are impacted by the pollution, which lowers oxygen levels, encourages the development of hazardous algal blooms, and destroys habitats.

2. Risks to public health are posed by contaminated water sources. The consumption of or contact with contaminated water can transmit waterborne illnesses including cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis. Communities lacking access to sanitary facilities and clean water are disproportionately affected by these illnesses.

3. Economic Implications: Malaysia's economy is impacted by water contamination. The fishing and aquaculture businesses are impacted by contaminated water, which also has an effect on coastal populations' quality of life and fish production. As visitors are discouraged by contaminated beaches and waterways, the tourism industry also suffers.

4. Water shortage and Resource Depletion: Problems with water shortage are made worse by water pollution. Polluted water sources can no longer be used for industrial, agricultural, or household reasons, which decreases the supply of clean water for different industries. This exacerbates the difficulties of guaranteeing water security in the nation and adds pressure to already overstretched water supplies.

According to my prior experience, Malaysia has undertaken few campaigns to meet SDG 6. One of the campaigns is the Water Treatment Campaign by Breeze Malaysia and the Global Peace Foundation. Through this effort, it hopes to give areas with limited or no water access access to clean water. By the time this campaign was over, they had successfully accomplished their goal. Despite the fact that Malaysia's water supplies were polluted, I am still able to access clean water on a regular basis. I believe the people of Malaysia should take action to resolve this issue. For instance, correctly disposing of harmful chemicals is important as it is one of the main causes of water pollution. Other than that , sweep fertilizer back onto the grass if it gets onto paved grass

               I've learned a lot from this issue. This issue made me realize that clean water supply and sanition are very important in our life as contaminated and poor water sanitation are linked to transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitus A, typhoid and polio. Other than that , clean water is a key factor for our economic growth.