5 consequences of improper liquid waste disposal

The release of contaminated liquid waste on the seaside and estuarine waters has been a longstanding practice by the majority of the nations in the world bordering seashores. The inadequacies of research facilities for conducting toxicity tests are a major cause for why many companies and plants go scot-free conducting such activities. It not only impacts the environment by proxies into causing human health hazards and even poisoning the water source we drink from. Here are the crucial 5 consequences of improper liquid waste disposal.

1.    Pollution

Water Pollution: Liquid waste has the frightening ability to cause alteration to the chemical composition of water. Something as non-threatening as a slow leak at a chemicals processing plant if goes undetected can poison water sources or disrupt aquatic ecosystems by wreaking havoc on the local flora and fauna. The effects of more major events like an oil spill on the coast are something we are all truly aware of. From the mass destruction of whale population, destroying coral reef, poisoning fish and seagulls, liquid waste disposal is a serious threat to life.

Air Pollution: Even though air pollution is much more commonly associated with fine particles, dust and gas contaminations, and liquid waste also has a part to play in this. Very common effects of improper liquid waste disposal are a foul smell, or emission of deadly gasses, resulting in multiple deaths all across the world majorly to sanitation workers.

2.    Land contamination

The land is a valuable commodity. Most sewage treatment plants have long pipelines running through miles of land, which must be maintained and monitored regularly a broken pipe can cause liquid waste to quickly seep into the earth surrounding the area. The plants that grow into the soil, the animals consuming those plants to people who consume food grown in that area are susceptible to heavy health damage. It also destroys the biodiversity of the polluted site.

Leachate is a toxic liquid pollutant, which is the result when waste is stowed improperly in hastily created landfills that are not properly sealed. It is caused by waste breaking down, creating a concoction of heavy metal mixed with pesticides, chemical compounds, and solvents which trickles down to the bottom of the landfill site. This is why it is essential to have a sealed barrier installed when a landfill site is created to prevent it from seeping down into the groundwater. The growing level of pollution only increases the risk of more and more leachate pollution.

3.    Potable water contamination

A real-life example of how improper liquid waste disposal can destroy a site is Perth in Western Australia. There were 15 boreholes at the disputed site of a liquid waste disposal land, which indicated the contamination plume got extended for about a kilometer in the direction of flow of groundwater.

Microbial and chemical analyses on the site gave an indication of a level of groundwater contamination with high concentrations of heavy metal, iron, and ammonia, as well as bacteria content many times the acceptable guideline for drinking. This resulted in the complete abandonment of a proposed water supply production in the area following the plumes. Any other wells in the area were also abandoned and nearby water sources are under monitoring in case the plume extends.

4.    Municipal impacts:

Any major pollution breakout is the responsibility of the municipality for containing and mitigating. Every town and municipality levies fine heavily on businesses that improperly dispose of liquid waste. These fines grow exponentially after the first offense or infraction. Additionally, the municipality ends up shelling out at least the partial cost for cleaning up the mess. Any large-scale liquid waste producers can be banned by the authority altogether on repeated infractions.

5.    Impact on real estate/property:

Businesses generate liquid waste in huge quantities, including non-hazardous and hazardous liquid waste. Often these include many chemical liquids which are regularly used substances like fertilizers, paints, and solvents. This kind of liquid wastes also generates in huge quantities. Hence the containers used for storing such material like storage tanks, piping should be inspected regularly.

Any large-scale liquid contamination impacts communities negatively. It brings down the property value, creating a huge problem for homeowners as well as businesses. When the businesses are themselves source to the pollution, it can lead to major public relations disaster and reflects local businesses in poor light. Customers and clients may not want to conduct business with the organization, advertisers may pull ads and investors stop inserting funds.