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water.

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you need it.

Us
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i need it.

koi fish
peacock
lions
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they

need

it.

water beads on a leaf
water beads on a leaf
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and they

need it too.

water beads on a leaf
fire daisy
red panda
tree leaves
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water is essential

for life.

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But all around the world, water

in lakes, rivers, oceans, and other places

are being affected by our actions.

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Our resources of drinkable water are running out.

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Although the Earth is 70% water, only 2.5% of that is freshwater. Of that 2.5%, only 1% of it is easily accessible. That 1%- we pollute it, we contaminate it, we waste it.

trash on a beach
polar bear on thin, melting ice
melting ice glacier
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The water is being polluted by trash and absorbing so many carbon emissions that the oceans are becoming acidic. This along with the rising ocean temperatures melt the sea ice, which cause sea levels to rise.

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bird covered in oil turtle entangled in pollution
bleached coral
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Ocean acidification also affects wildlife both in the water and on land.

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They are being entangled in the trash, eating the garbage, mutating from the chemicals, and dying from all the effects of our pollution.

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The increase in acidity has harmful consequences, such as decreasing immune responses in some organisms. It also contributes to coral bleaching.

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A woman at a river in Bangladesh
pigeon drinking dirty water
East Africans on the bank of a river

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Polluting the water increases likelihood of the water containing diseases.

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Every minute a child dies of a water-related disease and they are the number one cause of death of children below 5 years old.

erosion on the coast
restaurants and companies on the coast
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In the US alone, 3 million people have ocean and coast related jobs in coastal communities.

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Oceans and coasts provide millions of people with jobs and billions of dollars for the economy every year. The jobs are threatened by pollution.

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8,000,000 metric tons of plastic were dumped into the ocean last year

the cause of water pollution

and harm to water ecosystems
range from small actions such as throwing a plastic bottle
into the ocean to large actions such as oil spills.
mountain of trash
shopping cart in a river
bike in river
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A lot of different things are being thrown into rivers, lakes, and oceans that don’t belong there.


This includes chemicals, oil, industrial waste, radioactive waste, sewage, garbage, and so many more unimaginable things.

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70% of industrial waste is dumped, untreated, into the water in developing countries.

dead fish
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The increasingly risky development of industry is contaminating our water.


Industries dump toxic waste into oceans, lakes, and rivers. Chemicals released by mining mixes with water to form harmful substances.

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In Colorado, 23,000 abandoned mines have polluted 2,300 kilometers of streams.

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so what can you do?

water fountains
recycling bins
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You can reuse, reduce, recycle.


Make sure to use reusable plastic products and less water. Take short showers instead of baths, turn off the water when you brush your teeth, fix any leaks, and use your own bags when you go the store.

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The U.S. produces 25% of the world's trash but only recycles 34% of it.

trash field
case of alcohol bottles
garbage bag
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Clean up garbage


Clean up garbage in your neighborhood and on beaches because it could end up in your water supply. Make sure to dispose of hazardous materials

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bins
garbage bags
donations
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Take action.


Tell others about the cause and share it on social media. Donate to reputable charities with water conservation efforts. Find other activites, such as online petitions.

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Water provides so many things to us, to wildlife, to the earth. We need to treat rivers, lakes, and oceans with respect and be mindful of our actions. By being aware of problems and working together we can help and we can change.

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