About 90%
Explanation:
South Africa is a country that is currently having water issues because majority of its water has been polluted. The country is exposed to about 90% of unclean water. The water is contaminated because of various reasons such as dumping of the waste materials produced from the industries, factories and mines, acid rain, mining waste, and spilling of oil. Due to this water pollution, the water in the South African region is constantly degraded, making the water unsuitable for drinking and other purposes.
Further explanation:
The country of South Africa experiences a warmer climate due to its geographical location. The water in various parts of this country is highly polluted because of human activities. This includes-
Mining activities are common in South Africa. Minerals like gold, silver, and coal are extracted from these coal mines. During this process, a large number of waste materials are released that are added to the nearby rivers thereby polluting them.
The solid and liquid waste materials that are produced from the small and large scale industries spread rapidly that flow and mix with the river channels. This leads to the pollution of water and affects human beings as well as aquatic organisms.
A significant amount of fertilisers and pesticides are used in the agricultural fields of South Africa, and due to the soil erosion process and occurrence of rainfall, these materials that are comprised of fertilisers and pesticides are released into the rivers as a result of which the water is contaminated.
The extensive growth and expansion of urban areas led to the consumption of a large amount of water. This water after being used is again released contaminating adversely that eventually flows and mixes with the smaller water bodies such as streams, lakes, and rivers.
Thus, the water in this region is extremely polluted and there is no proper water treatment facility. Due to this, there is a scarcity of water and people are affected very often. So, this water problem is a huge issue in South Africa.
Learn more:
1. Water scarcity causes in South Africa (answer by Masonmrus)
2. Cause and effect of water pollution (answer by ArnimZola)
