Water Mismanagement and Contamination

Water mismanagement and contamination occur when the quality and/or quantity of water resources available are altered by human activities. Inefficient and ineffective use of water resources can lead to the over-use of water or water stress and create problems of scarcity; this is defined as water mismanagement. In the food and beverage sector this problem is often associated with over-irrigation but it can also be linked to the overuse of water during industrial processes of food production. Water contamination happens when harmful chemicals, pesticides or other dangerous residues are discharged into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove damaging compounds. Run-off from chemicals sprayed on fields and animal waste can enter local water systems, leading to significant problems if not properly treated.

Based on: 

• Agenda 21 -United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (1992), Activity 18.76d-f
• UN Economic and Social Council Protocol on Water and Health (1999), Art. 4.2 and 5

http://www.fairfood.org/facts/sustainability-agenda/environmental-issues/#c10070