Summary:

Southeast Asia is renowed for its greenery & scenic beauty, as well as unique animals not found in other parts of the world. The world needs to also know, everything beautiful about South East Asia is facing a grave threat. Which is Water Pollution.

The lack of efficient water quality management due to a combination of factors including rapid industrial growth, urban expansion, population increase, lack of desalination plants is causing the issue to be excaberated further as well as case harm to the climate which is a major risk in climate change efforts.  This issue is a core issue, as water is not only essential for survival but also a fundamental human right and a key agricultural resource. ((https://theaseanpost.com/article/southeast-asias-stream-polluted-rivers)

 

I will be focusing on the Mekong River as a way to describe the water pollution crisis and analyze to deduce any of the effects water pollution might cause. (https://theaseanpost.com/article/southeast-asias-stream-polluted-rivers)

(https://news.mongabay.com/2023/07/clean-me-a-river-southeast-asia-chokes-on-mekong-plastic-pollution/)

Mekong River:

The increasingly deteroriating state of the Mekong River is one of the key locations to survey and observe the effects of water pollution.

For many, it is a major source of drinking water, fishing, and a fundamental agricultural resource. The problem is, the Mekong River is suffering from severe pollution. This issue is excaberated because this pollution stems from modern industrial, domestic, and agricultural waste that is produced on the daily. The river has also been becoming a dumping ground for garbage and waste, leading to dangerously high levels of waterborne toxic contaminants and impacting wildlife and marine life inside or outside the river, as well as humans residing near it.

These issues can cause birth of even more severe sub-issues:

Freshwater availability is limited and unevenly distributed, with urban areas and city centers most effected. Especially during drought periods, which countries like the Phillipines are most known for, this can greatly endanger the lives of many and cause water scarcity. Lack of flood management system can also excaberate the issues and damage that comes with flooding, especially during Monsoon seasons and destroy entire villages as well as the lives in it. (https://www.wateronline.com/doc/the-ten-challenges-of-water-management-in-southeast-asia-0001)

Potential solutions that need to be brought to attention include government recognition and support for the right to safe water, and reaffirm water as a fundamental human right for all. Large corporations are also to blame, and there needs to be accountability from businesses affecting water systems, more stringent health protection standards for water contaminants, and greater public participation and access to information about water pollution and services.