Ezinye izilimi kule ndawo zingaguqulwa ngemishini futhi zingafaka amaphutha. Usizo lokuthuthukisa Funda isiNgisi esisemthethweni
Amanzi angcolile ane-waste ehambayo.
Blue Initiative

Uthuli lwezilwandle nezilwandle

Umfula wonke uyisixhumi esixhunywe phezulu. Okuthuthukile emhlabeni namhlanje uzofika emfuleni ngoLwesibili, futhi umfula awuzoyibuyisela emuva.

Umanzi yizinto eziphilayo ezinamandla amakhulu. Isusa amaminerali ematsheni, ihambisa izithako ezibalulekile emifuleni nasezinhlanzini, futhi ihlanza ngokwayo uma ihamba. Kuningi kwembali lokhu kwakunembile: abantu babeka izidakamizwa emifuleni futhi ubuhle buyisusa. At today’s scale, with more than eight billion people and industrial farming on every continent, dilution stopped working long ago. Izinto esizisusa ezweni zifinyelela emfuleni.

I-Mississippi River delta ithwala izingqimba ezingena eGulf of Mexico.
I-Mississippi River delta igeza isihlabathi eGolibha laseMexico. Lo manzi afanayo ahambisa izitshalo ezikhula ezindaweni zokutshala ezingaphezu kwengxenye yesithathu sezwe laseMelika. Credit: NASA

Indlela amanzi abangela ngayo ukuvuvukala

Ubuthi bufika ngezindlela ezimbili. Amakhompiyutha omthombo aphuma emgodini: i-wastewater outfall, ifektri drain, umgodi. Kulula ukuzithola futhi, uma unezimvume nokwelashwa, kulula ukuzilungisa. Amakhompiyutha asakazeka avela kuwo wonke amaphuzu: ukugeza izitshalo nezilwane eziphilayo, i-oyile ne-tyre powder ehlanza imizila, amagciwane asuka emithonjeni yembewu. Zinzima kakhulu, ngoba akukho ntambo eyodwa engakwazi ukuvala.

Izinhlekelele eziyinhloko yilezi:

  • Ama-nutrients. I-nitrogen ne-phosphorus kusuka ezithandweni, emhlabathini kanye nokudla okudliwayo. Emanzini badla izitshalo eziphila emhlabathini, ezikhula, zifa futhi zilahleka, zisebenzisa i-oxygen enhlanzi edinga.
  • I-pathogen Amabhaktheriya, amagciwane nama-parasites asuka emithonjeni yokudla engahlanzwa kanye nenyama yezilwane. Zibangela i-cholera, i-dysentery, i-typhoid kanye nesifo sokudla.
  • Amakhemikhali. Ama-metal anzima njenge-mercury ne-lead, ama-solvents embonini, izibulala-zinambuzane, amaphilisi kanye nalokho okubizwa ngokuthi yi-forever chemicals (PFAS), okusho ukuthi angeke ahlukaniswe ngokuphelele.
  • I-Sediment ne-heat. Imbewu evela ekuhlaselweni yilanga ibamba imifula futhi icindezele ama-reefs; amanzi abandayo ezindaweni zokukhiqiza amandla akhuphula kakhulu ukushisa kwegesi.
Ukukhanya kwe-green water okugcwele ama-algae eduze komgwaqo wemithi eLake Erie.
Izithako eziphilayo zibonakala: ukukhula kwe-algal kushintsha amanzi eLake Erie abe luhlaza okwesibhakabhaka eKelleys Island, Ohio. Izimbali ezifana nale zikhula ngemithi yokuhlanza kanye ne-wastewater esuka ezweni. Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0

Obani abathintekayo

Wonke umuntu udla ngaphansi komfula. Ngokusho kwe-World Health Organization, cishe 1.7 billion people isebenzisa amanzi okudla angcolile nge-feces e 2022, futhi 2.2 billion ayikwazi ukuphatha amanzi okudla ngokuphephile. Ubunzima bukhulu kakhulu kubantu abadala: amanzi aphephile, ukuhlanzeka nokuhlanza umzimba kuqhubeka kwenza kube nzima ukubulala abantu abancane ngenxa yokuvuvukala.

Ngaphakathi kwalezi nombolo yimpilo. Ngo-2022, amaphesenti angama-57 abantu emhlabeni basebenzisa i-toilet elawulwa ngokuphephile. Okungaphezu kuka 1.5 billion akukhona khona ukuhlanzeka okujwayelekile, futhi 419 million uhlala efaka izidakamizwa emgwaqweni, ezindlini zokugeza izinyawo, eduze kwezihlahla noma ngokuqondile emifuleni nasezilwandle. Ngo-2020, amaphesenti angama-44 ezindawo zokuhlanza amanzi zafakwa ngaphandle kokwelashwa okuphephile (i-WHO, ngo-2024). Uma kungekho siquphe, umfula uzoba omunye.

izigidigidi ezingu-1.7abantu basebenzisa amanzi okudla angcolileI-WHO)
42%of household wastewater flows were not safely treated in 2022 (I-UN-Water, 2024)
400+izifunda ezifile zesidlangalaleni zirekhodiwe, zihlanganisa cishe 245,000 km² (Diaz noRosenberg, 2008)

Izinhlelo zemvelo zikhokhela futhi. lapho imifula eminingi yezithako ihlangana khona nolwandle, ugesi ungawa phansi kakhulu ukuze izinhlanzi nenyama yenkomo ziphuze. Lezi izifunda ezifile manje ziyizigidi; enye yezinhlobo ezinkulu ngaso sonke isikhathi sonyaka eGulf of Mexico, ithosiwe yiMississippi. Ezweni lonke, i-ocean evulekile ilahlekelwa yi-oxygen nayo, futhi izindawo ezingaphansi kwe-oxygen zasolwandle ziye zakhula kusukela phakathi konyaka wesithupha wekhulu leshumi nambili (Breitburg et al., 2018).

Indawo efile iyindawo yokubulala lapho kunezigidi zabantu abashushiswayo futhi akukho mshayeli.

Amamfula aphethe kakhulu

Iningi lemifula libonisa izinkinga zonke ngasikhathi sinye: amanzi angcolile, izimboni ezilahlekile kanye nepulasitiki, konke kumanzi afanayo, emizini ekhula ngokushesha kunezintambo zabo, amabhodlela namapayipi okwelashwa. Ukubiza labo akulona ukusola. Abantu abahlala ngasezindaweni ezingaphansi kwalezi zindawo yibo abaqala ukuhlupheka ngenxa yazo, futhi abaningi babo basebenza kanzima ukuze bazibuyisele emuva.

Ukudla nokuphuza

I- i-Pasig ihamba ngeMetro Manila, indawo yokuhlala abantu abangaphezu kuka-13 million. Iningi lezinto ezingcolile nezokudla ezindaweni zokuhlala zifika kulo mzi ngemifula emincane kanye nezigoqo ezibhekene namadolobhana angeke abe nokuxhumana kwe-canal noma ukuqoqwa kwezidakamizwa. Uma imvula yesimu ifika, konke okuseqhulwini kuhlanzwa ngezansi komfula ngehora. Isibonelo esifanayo siphindaphindwa ngaphesheya kwe Klang eKuala Lumpur, i Ulhas ne Mithi eMumbai, kanye namakhulu emifula emincane emiphakathini yasetropiki.

Imvula emnyama ehlathini elisha ePasig River eManila, ne-rafting ye-water hyacinth emanzini aluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka kanye nama-tower blocks ngaphesheya kwebhange.
Imvula ebandayo ijikeleza phezu komfula iPasig eManila. Imvula enamandla ihlanza noma yini ekhona phezulu kweqhwa ibe yimifula futhi ifike emfuleni ngaphakathi kwezihora. Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0

Izimboni: izitolo zokugqoka kanye nezimonyo

eDhaka, izimboni zokubumba iHazaribagh zakhipha 21,600 cubic metres nsuku zonke, equkethe i-chromium, i-sulphur ne-ammonium, ezingeni lemifula esuka isi-Buriganga (I-Human Rights Watch, 2012). Abasebenza, abaningi babo bantwana, nabangani bathatha imiphumela yempilo yokuqala; isikhumba sahamba ezicatshangwa ukuthi ziyizicathulo nezipho zathengwa emhlabeni wonke.

Izikebhe zamatshe ezihamba ngezinyawo zigcwele esiteshini sesitimela somfula iSadarghat eBuriganga eDhaka, nezikhukhula zihamba ngaphaya komgwaqo.
I-Sadarghat eBuriganga, idolobhana elihamba phambili le-Dhaka. Umfula uyisizinda sendlela yezinkulungwane zabantu, futhi yindawo yokuhlanza amanzi engxenyeni enkulu yedolobha. Photo: Kritzolina, CC BY-SA 4.0

Ku-Java, i-Citadel i-Antarctica iyindawo eyinhloko yokudla kanye nokuhlanza amanzi enyakatho yeJava. Ucwaningo 2025 lukhombisa ukuthi umfula uthola cishe 35.5 tonnes of human waste every day ku 2017, futhi ukuthi cishe 90 percent of the 3,236 textile factories ngaso hlangothi ayikho ukuphathwa okunembile kwamanzi okudla, ngakho-ke amabala namakhemikhali asuka ngqo emanzini (Marselina et al., 2025). Ngo-2018 iIndonesia yasungula * Citarum Harum *, uhlelo lwezwe lokubuyisela i-basin ehlanganisa uMbuso wase-National neyendawo, amaqembu amaphoyisa, izinhlangano kanye nezifundazwe.

The Ganges is sacred to hundreds of millions of people and supplies water to a large part of India and Bangladesh. Esikhathini sayo, izimboni ezifana nezitolo zokugqoka kanye nezitolo zokubhaka zifaka iphunga labo emgodini wokudla okhula ngokushesha. Iphrojekthi yase-India Namami Gange, eqala ngo-2014, isebenza ekuthuthukiseni nokubhekana nezindawo zokuhlanza amanzi angcolile ezihamba ngomfula kanye nezifundazwe zayo (National Mission for Clean Ganga).

Iziphuzo zepulasitiki, amaphakethe kanye nezihlungi ziphoqa umfula omncane obhekene negadi eBali.
I-plastic waste eMfula omncane osuka eLovina Beach eBali, eIndonesia. Ama-streams amancane afana nalesi sikhulu sithwala iplastiki eningi elifika emfuleni. Photo: DayakSibiriak, CC BY-SA 4.0

Iplastiki

I-plastic iyinto ebonakalayo kakhulu yalezi zibulala izilwane, futhi yiyona esikwazi ukuyilinganisela manje ngomfula ngomfula. Izifundo ezimbili eziyinhloko zasebenzisa amamodeli wekhompyutha, ahlolwe ngokuya ngemilinganiselo yendawo, ukubikezela ukuthi ingilazi ngayinye ithatha kuphi elwandle:

  • Lebreton et al. (2017) ilinganiselwe 1.15 kuya ku-2.41 million tons ngonyaka kusuka kuwo wonke ama-mfula, nama-mfula aphezulu angama-20 aphethe ingxenye yesithathu, eholwa yiYangtze, iGanges neXi.
  • Schmidt et al. (2017) waqhubeka, ephakamisa ukuthi kuphela 10 imifula 88 kuya ku-95% yezinga lezwe lonke. Le “imifula elishumi” ikholelwa ukuthi yasakazeka kakhulu, kodwa ababhali babikezela ukubaluleka okuphezulu kokungaziqiniseki, futhi umsebenzi omusha awuxhasi lokhu.
  • Meijer et al. (2021) ilandela izikhukhula kusukela lapho ziphuma khona kuze kube yilapho kufinyelela khona emfuleni ophakathi nendawo bese zidlula elwandle, ngokubheka ukugwazeka kwemvula, ukusetshenziswa kwezwe kanye nokuphakama. Bathola ukuthi ama- izindawo ezingaphezu kuka-1,000 zithwala iphesenti le-80 lama- izigidi ezingama-0.8 kuya kwezingu-2.7 zamatoni ngonyaka engxenyeni yomhlaba, futhi ukuthi imifula emincane ehamba eduze kwemigwaqo enkulu iyiyona engcono kakhulu.

Izinga

These are the ten river mouths with the highest estimated plastic emissions in the newer model. Ama-figures afana nesimo sezulu ngo-2015, esimisiwe kumakhulu amane amatoni.

Lezi zinto zichaza okudlule. Izimodeli zombili zisebenzisa idatha esuka ngo-2015, ngaphambi kokuthi amaphrojekthi amaningi okulungisa aqale ukusebenza, futhi akukho okunye okuphinde kuqhutshwe emifuleni yamanje. Izithombe zeYangtze, iXi ne-Huangpu, isibonelo, zichaza imifula yaseChina eminyakeni eyisithupha eyedlule, lapho ukuhlanzwa kwayo kwamazwe omhlaba kwakuqale nje, futhi isithombe sePasig singaphambili kwephrojekthi entsha yeManila. Okwenzeka ngemuva, umfula ngomfula, kubhalwe kuma imifula ebuyayo emhlabeni wonke ngezansi.

IsikhundlaUmfulai-ItalyIzinga elilinganiselwe lepulasitiki elwandle (amatoni ngonyaka)Umsuka
1i-Pasigi-Philippines62,600I-Meijer et al. 2021
2i-Tullahani-Philippines13,500I-Meijer et al. 2021
3Imehloi-India13,400I-Meijer et al. 2021
4I-Klangi-Malaysia12,800I-Meijer et al. 2021
5i-Mexicoi-Philippines12,400I-Meijer et al. 2021
6i-Philippinesi-Philippines9,300I-Meijer et al. 2021
7isi-Libyani-Philippines7,100I-Meijer et al. 2021
8i-Gangesi-India ne-Bangladesh6,200I-Meijer et al. 2021
9i-Rio Grande do Suli-Philippines5,300I-Meijer et al. 2021
10I-Agnoi-Philippines4,600I-Meijer et al. 2021

Imodeli edala ihlukanisa izintaba ezinkulu zezintaba endaweni, ngezinga ngalinye:

IsikhundlaUmfulai-ItalyIngxenye yesikhathi (amathani ngonyaka)IbangaUmsuka
1i-Yangtze Riveri-China333,000310,000 kuya ku-480,000Lebreton et al. 2017
2i-Gangesi-India ne-Bangladesh115,000105,000 kuya ku-172,000Lebreton et al. 2017
3Xii-China73,90064,600 kuya ku-114,000Lebreton et al. 2017
4i-Hong Kongi-China40,80033,500 kuya ku-67,300Lebreton et al. 2017
5I-crossi-Nigeria ne-Cameroon40,30033,800 kuya ku-65,000Lebreton et al. 2017
6I-Brenti-Indonesia38,90032,300 kuya ku-63,700Lebreton et al. 2017
7i-Amazoni-Brazil, i-Peru, i-Colombia ne-Ecuador38,90032,200 kuya ku-63,800Lebreton et al. 2017
8i-Pasigi-Philippines38,80032,100 kuya ku-63,700Lebreton et al. 2017
9isi-Irawadii-Myanmar35,30029,700 kuya ku-56,900Lebreton et al. 2017
10I-soloi-Indonesia32,50026,500 kuya ku-54,100Lebreton et al. 2017

Ngabe lezi nombolo ziqiniseke kangakanani? Akunalutho, futhi kubaluleke kakhulu ukukusho lokhu. Zonke ziyimodeli: akukho muntu olinganisele i-plastic eshiya amazinyo omfula amakhulu. I-Meijer’s global total spans factor engaphezu kukathathu, futhi ababhali bachaza imodeli yabo njengengalungile ngaphakathi kwefactor yeshumi uma kuqhathaniswa nezingcindezi zendawo; iPasig ihlala endaweni yokugqama yale band. Izinhlobo ezimbili ziphikisana futhi ngezintaba ezikhethekile. I-Ganges ikhuphuka kusuka kumathani ayi-115,000 ngonyaka emodeli yakudala kuya ku-6,200 emlonyeni wayo omkhulu emodeli entsha, ngoba imodeli entsha inikeza amaplastiki awela eduze kwesifundazwe ithuba elincane kakhulu lokufinyelela emfuleni: ingxenye enkulu yawo ithathwa emigwaqweni, ngemuva kwamadam kanye ne-sediment ehamba ngendlela. Okunye imifula ebizwa ngegama emidlalweni yamphakathi, njengeChao Phraya eBangkok, iKelani eColombia neMithi eMumbai, futhi zivela phakathi kwezikhulu ezingu-50 ezikhiqizayo kuluhlu olusha lwemodeli elishicilelwe. Okusho ukuthi ucwaningo olufanayo lubonisa ukuthi i-plastic eningi esuka emifuleni ivela ezindlini lapho kungekho lutho olugcinwa khona, lapho abantu behlala khona eduze kwemifula, futhi lapho imifula emanzi igeza khona umhlaba.

Imifula ebuyela emuva emhlabeni wonke

Amamfula asethebulani aphezulu angeke abe yisizathu esilahlekile. Amamfula asele ebhalwe phansi abuyiselwe emuva emazweni amane, ezifundazweni ezicebile nasezikhungweni zezombusazwe ezahlukene. Akunalutho lwazo oluhlanzwe ngemiqondo eyodwa noma umthetho owodwa. Icala ngalinye ngezansi liphendula imibuzo emihlanu efanayo: yini eyaphukile, yini eyenziwayo, yini elinganiselwe, nokuthi yini engaxazululwanga. Zibhalwe ngokufanayo ngokulandelana lapho ukuhlanzwa kwabo okuyinhloko kwaqala khona.

I-Thames, eLondon

Ukubuka ngezansi kwe-concrete shaft ejikelezayo ebanzi yeThames Tideway Tunnel, ne-tunnel ivula eduze phansi.
Ukubuka phansi kwesinye sezindlu zeThames Tideway Tunnel, isikhala esisha seLondon ngezansi komfula. Photo: Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0

Into edlule kahle. I-London’s sewers and treatment works couldn’t keep up with the city’s growth. Ngo-1950s, i-oxygen encane yashiwo emaqenjini eThames enyakatho-ntshonalanga ukuthi ngo-1957 babhekwa njengezinyama eziphilayo. I-Victorian sewers ifaka amanzi emvula, futhi uma kuhlwayela kakhulu baqhubeka nokuphuma emfuleni.

Into eyenziwe. Ukulungisa umsebenzi wokuhlanza amanzi olwandle kwaqala ngo-1960 (BBC, 2001). Ngo-2014 iThames Water yaqedela ukuthuthukisa imisebenzi emihlanu yokuhlanza, eBeckton, Crossness, Riverside, Long Reach neMogden. Ku 2016 km i 7 Lee Tunnel yaqala ukuqoqa ngaphezulu kwe 5 million tons of sewage ngonyaka odlule eyasetshenziswa ukukhishwa kusuka ekungeneni okukhulu. I 25 km Thames Tideway Tunnel, iphrojekthi eyizigidi ezingama-£4.6 ekhokhelwa ngezimali zabaxhasi beThames Water, manje ixhunywe kuyo, ukuze uhlelo lukwazi ukugcinwa kwama-1.6 amamilione wemitha cubic yezinto ezingcolile zemvula; ixhunywe ngokuphelele futhi isebenza kusukela ngoFebhuwari 2025, futhi kulindeleke ukuthi ikhuphule ukukhishwa komfula osuka kumaphesenti ayikhulu eminyaka emihlanu kuya kumaphesenti ayisithupha (Thames Water; Tideway).

Into elinganiselwe. I-salmon yokuqala yabuyela ngo-1974, futhi ngo-2001 umfula waxhasa izinhlobo ezingu-115 zezinhlanzi (BBC, 2001). I-Zoological Society of London’s 2026 health check yathola ukuthi i-oxygen ephukile ikhula ngesikhathi eside kusukela ngo-2007 kuya ku-2024 futhi i-phosphorus ikhuphuka kusukela eminyakeni yama-1990; amakhowe aselwandle, ama-eels, izihlungi kanye namahhashi amancane manje ahlala emfuleni (ZSL, 2026).

Akukho sinqumo sethulwe. Ukuhlolwa kwempilo okwafanayo kwathola ukuthi i-nitrate iyakhula kusuka emithonjeni yokudla okuhlanzwe, futhi kunomthelela omuncane ekuhlalweni kwezinhlanzi kusukela ekuqaleni kweminyaka yama-1990s odinga ucwaningo oluningi. Ukuhamba phambili kwe-tunnele, ukudlula kwezintaba kanye nokusebenza kokwelashwa kweThames Water kwaholela ekubhujisweni kwamahora angama-298,081 ngo-2024, ngaphezu kuka-196,414 ngo-2023, ngokusho kokucwaninga kwedatha yokuhlola yenkampani (The Guardian, 2025). E-England, ukukhishwa kwegesi kuhla ngo-35% ngonyaka ka-2025, okusho ukuthi i-Environment Agency ithi kwakuyiminyaka emanzi (Environment Agency, 2026).

I-Cuyahoga, iCleveland, kanye ne-US Clean Water Act

Ibhuloho lensimbi eliphakeme elinokubukeka kwelanga eliluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka ngaphezu komfula iCuyahoga eCleveland.
Ukuphuma kwelanga phezu komfula iCuyahoga eCleveland, umfula omlilo wakhe ngo-1969 wasiza ukuletha umthetho waseMelika woMfula Ohlanzekile. Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0

Into edlule kahle. Ngomhla ka-22 kuJuni 1969, i-spark evela ebhasini elidlulayo lamisa umlilo owawunomswakama we-oyile eCuyahoga. Akukhona ukuthi kwakuyisikhathi sokuqala: isifundazwe samanzi angcolile sibala izimoto ezingu-13 emfuleni ngaphambi konyaka ka-1969 (NEORSD). Ngo-1970s, ngaphezulu kwamagaloni ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-9 amanzi olwandle kanye nama-rainwater ahlanganisene ngonyaka wadlula emfuleni naseLake Erie (NEORSD).

Into eyenziwa. Abavoti baseCleveland babesele begunyaza i-100 million dollar bond ukuhlanza izinsiza zokuhamba kwamanzi edolobhaneni, futhi uMengameli wathatha abashicileli emfuleni futhi waveza kuKhomishini (NPR, 2019). Ngo-1972 iKongre yadlula i-Clean Water Act, eyenza kube yingozi ukukhishwa kokulimala kusuka kupayipi kuya emanzini aseMelika ngaphandle kwelayisense futhi ikhokhwe izitshalo ezintsha zokuphathwa kwezinhlayiya (US EPA). In 1987 the river was named a Great Lakes Area of Concern with nine official problems to fix. Ngo-2011, iphrojekthi yesifundazwe se-sewer ebizwa ngokuthi yiProject Clean Lake, iphrojekthi eyizigidi ezingama-3 zamadola, eneminyaka engu-25, eyavumelana nayo imigomo, yaqala ukwakha izigoqo kanye nokugcinwa ukuze kunciphiswe ukudlula kwegazi kusuka kumalitha ayizigidi ezingu-4.5 ngonyaka kuya kumalitha ayizigidi eziyi-494 ngo-2036 (NEORSD).

Into elinganiselwe. Ukudlula kwamanzi kuncane ngo-2000. NgoDisemba 2025, amaphrojekthi angama-76 kulawo ayisi-78 eProjekthi yeLiki Elihlanzekile ayeqediwe noma eqhubekayo, esusa ama-gallon ayizigidi ezingu-2 olwandle oludlulayo ngonyaka. Inhlanzi yabuyela: ngaphezu kwezilwane ezingu-60 zatholakele emfuleni ngo-2014 (NEORSD). I-EPA isuse amaphutha amane kulokhu okushiwo yinkampani: ukubukeka okungalungile (2017), ukunciphisa ukudla izinhlanzi (2019), izitshalo eziphila emhlabathini (2021), izilonda zezinhlanzi (2023) kanye nokuvala izindawo zokubhukuda (2024) (US EPA).

Akukho sinqumo sethulwe. Izinkinga ezine zihlala: inhlanzi kanye nezinhlobo zezilwane eziphila ezindaweni ezimnyama, impilo emfuleni, ukudonsa i-navigation channel nokulahleka kwendawo yokuhlala yenhlanzi. Ekugcineni kweGorge Dam, eyenziwe ngo 1911, cishe ama- 865,000 amayadi ayizigidi zezinto eziphilayo ezingcolile zihlanzwa kusuka ku 2025 ngaphambi kokuba idam isuswa (US EPA).

i-Yarra, iMelbourne

Iqembu lokubhukuda emfuleni iYarra, nepaki ekhohlo kanye nama-towers eMelbourne asendaweni.
Abagijimi eYarra eMelbourne. Ingxenye ephakeme yomfula ihlinzeka ngengxenye enkulu yamanzi okudla edolobhaneni. Photo: Donaldytong, CC BY-SA 3.0

Into edlule kahle. Phambi kokuba amanzi angcolile aseMelbourne afakwe emigodini ezindaweni zokuhlanza amanzi eWerribee kusukela ngo-1897, iYarra yabhalwa njengenye yezilwandle ezibi kakhulu emhlabeni (AmaLwandle aseMelbourne). Ngokukhula komgwaqo, izindlu zangasese, izintaba-mlilo nezitezi zamanzi ziphinde zangeza ubuthi.

Into eyenziwe. Uhlelo lokuhlanza amanzi angcolile lwaqala kuqala, futhi umfula uthuthukisiwe kakhulu kusukela eminyakeni yama-1970 nama-1980 (umthombo owodwa). Ngo-2017 iVictoria yadlula kuMthetho wokuHlola Umfula iYarra (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron), umthetho ophatha umfula njengomuntu oyedwa ophilayo nohlaka oluphelele lwemvelo, futhi wasungula iBhirarung Council ukucebisa ngaye (umthetho weVictoria).

Into elinganiselwe. I-Yarra ephezulu ihlinzeka ngamaphesenti angama-70 wamanzi okudlela aseMelbourne (Amanzi aseMelbourne). NgoDisemba 2013, i-State Environment Agency yahlola amabhaktheriya ezindlini ezine ezidumile futhi yashicilela ukubikezela kokuzingela kuzo (i-EPA Victoria).

Akuxazululiwe okwamanje. Umgangatho wamanzi uqhubeka nokuphazamiseka ngenxa yokulima, ukuthuthukiswa komnotho kanye nemvula (iMelbourne Water). Izinkanyezi ezimbili ezikhona, i-Kew ne-Launching Place, zihlala zibhekwa njengezincane kakhulu ukubhukuda (i-EPA Victoria).

I-Minamata Bay, iJapan

Idolobhana laseMinamata libonakale kusuka ehlathini eliluhlaza, nama-amanzi apholile eMinamata Bay kanye neziqhingi ezingaphezu kwazo.
I-Minamata nebhishi layo ngo-2020, ibonakale ehlathini laseNakaoyama. Photo: Sanjo, CC BY-SA 4.0

Iphutha. Ngonyaka, ifektri yamakhemikhali elawulwa yinkampani yeChisso yakhipha i-methylmercury, i-byproduct yokwenza i-acetaldehyde, eMinamata Bay. Inhlanzi nenyama yezilwane ezincane zazithatha, futhi abantu nabangane abazozidla bazenza njalo. Ukubulala kwaziwa ngokusemthethweni njengesifo ngo-1956. Ifektri yayeka lenqubo ngoMeyi 1968, futhi igunya laqinisekisile ukuthi yisona sizathu (IMinistry of the Environment of Japan).

Into eyenziwe. Ngo-1974 ama-nets afakwe phezu kwebhishi ukuze kuvimbele izinhlanzi ezingcolile ukuthi ziyeke ukushiya. Kusuka ku-1977 kuya ku-1990, cishe amalitha ayizigidi eziyisishiyagalombili namathani ayizigidi ezingu-1.5 aqukethe ngaphezulu kwamaphesenti angama-25 e-mercury ngayinye yafakwa emgodini futhi wavalwa endaweni eyihektare ezingama-58 yendawo ebuyiselwe kabusha. Imisebenzi ibiza cishe ama-yen ayizigidi ezingama-48, okungukuthi, iChisso yakhokha cishe ama-30 amabilione kanye nezokuphatha zezwe nezomasipala ezingaphezu kwama-9 amabilione ngayinye (umthombo owodwa).

Into elinganiselwe. Amazinga kaMercury ezilwaneni eziyisithupha zalezi zinyoni ahlala ngaphansi kwezinhlayiyana zesikhathi eside iminyaka emithathu, futhi ngo-1997 umphathi wamemezela ukuthi ibhishi liphephile futhi ama-netes athathwe (umthombo owodwa).

Akukho sinqumo sethulwe. I-bay ibuyiselwe eminyakeni eminingi; abantu abazange bakwenze. NgoDisemba 2024, abantu abangu-3,000 babeqinisekisiwe ngokusemthethweni ukuthi banesifo seMinamata, kuhlanganise nalabo abavela esigabeni sokuqala esibulalayo eNiigata, futhi abangama-304 babo baphila (National Institute for Minamata Disease). Abantu abangaphezu kuka-11,000 bafinyelele ekutholeni usizo ngaphansi kwesivumelwano sepolitiki esifike ku-1995, abantu abangama-48,000 basebenzise umthetho wokusiza odlule ngo-2009 (IMinistry of the Environment of Japan), futhi izinkantolo ziqhubeka nokuthatha isinqumo mayelana nezingxabano: ngo-2023 inkantolo yaseOsaka yavuma bonke abameli abangu-128 ecala elinye, kanti ngo-2024 inkantolo yaseKumamoto yayeka abasolwa abangu-144 ngoba isikhathi sawo siphelile (Asahi Shimbun, 2024).

I-Singapore River

Izitolo ezincane ezimibalabala zeBoat Quay ngaseMfula iSingapore, nezindlu zomsebenzi ezingaphansi.
I-Boat Quay eMfula iSingapore, lapho amawaka amasha okuthutha izithuthi ahamba khona amanzi. Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0

Into edlule kahle. Ngo-1970s iSingapore River neKallang Basin yagcwele izikhukhula, amanzi angcolile kanye nezikebhe ezilahlekile. Izinsalela ezivela ezindaweni zokutshala izingulube nezidumbu, ezindaweni zokuhweba, ezitolo zesikhala kanye nasekhaya olungamanzi angcolile zasuka zihlanganiswa ngqo emanzini.

Into eyenziwe. Ngomhla ka-27 kuFebhuwari 1977, uMphathiswa Wezobulungiswa uLee Kuan Yew wabeka inhloso yonyaka owodwa wokuhlanza umfula. Across the river’s catchment and the neighbouring Kallang Basin, thousands of squatter families were resettled, and 610 pig farms, about 500 duck farms, more than 2,800 backyard trades and about 5,000 street hawkers were moved. Izimoto ezingu-800 ezihamba ngomfula zithunyelwe ePasir Panjang ngo-1983. Ibhodi leLibrary yaseNational libeka izindleko ezingaphezu kuka-300 million Singapore dollars, ngaphandle kokubala ukubuyiselwa kabusha (National Library Board).

Into elinganiselwe. Ngosikhathi lapho iphrojekthi yaphela khona ngo-1987, izinhlanzi nezingulube zazikhula emfuleni futhi (National Library Board). I-Marina Barrage, eqediwe ngo-2008, yashintsha umfula we-mouth into ye-freshwater reservoir ngo-2010, ene-capture of 10,000 hectares (PUB).

Akukho sinqumo sethulwe. Asikwazi ukuthola irekhodi elishicilelwe isikhathi eside lomgangatho wamanzi omfula. Ucwaningo lwe-2015 lusho ukuthi i-reservoir entsha, eyaziwa nangokuthi yi-estuary, iyahlupheka ngenxa ye-salinity ephezulu (Galelli et al., 2015).

i-Mersey, eningizimu-mpumalanga ye-England

ILiverpool waterfront neRoyal Liver Building, ibonakale kusuka ekhemisi elinomfula iMersey.
ILiverpool waterfront ibonakale kusuka ekhepheni elinomkhumbi eMersey. Photo: Richard Hoare, CC BY-SA 2.0

What went wrong. Two centuries of industry and the sewage of millions of people made the Mersey one of the most polluted rivers in Europe, and in 1985 it was called the most polluted estuary in the United Kingdom (Mersey Basin Campaign). Ngo-1970s, izigaba ezide zesihlabathi esiphezulu asikubikho ioksijini ngaso sonke isikhathi sonyaka, kunoma iyiphi indawo yesimo sezulu (Jones, 2006).

Into eyenziwe. I-Mersey Basin Campaign yasebenza iminyaka engu-25, kusukela ngo-1985 kuya ku-2010, ihlanganisa uMbuso, inkampani yamagesi, izimboni kanye namaqembu omphakathi (Mersey Basin Campaign). Umsebenzi omusha nothuthukisiwe wokuhlanza kanye nokulawulwa kokuphuma kwemboni kwalandela: ngo-2006, ngaphezulu kuka-£1 billion kwakusetshenzisiwe (Jones, 2006).

Into elinganiselwe. Ubunzima bezinsuku zobuthi obuphilayo (BOD) obungena emfuleni lwancipha kusuka kumathani ayi-300 ngo-1972 kuya kumathani angama-50 ngo-2000 (Jones, 2000). I-oxygen ephansi kakhulu erekhodwe engxenyeni ephezulu ye-estuary yanyuka yaba yi-48% yokukhutshwa ngo-2001, i-58% ngo-2002 ne-65% ngo-2003. NgoNovemba 2001, i-salmon yatholakalela emfuleni ekuqaleni kwekhulu leminyaka, futhi ama-26 ahlaselwe eWoolston Weir ngobusika be-2002 (Jones, 2006).

Akukho lutho oluxazululiwe okwamanje. Ehlobo, ugesi engxenyeni yeManchester Ship Canal lapho isilimo se-salmon sidinga ukudlula khona wawusengozini enkulu, cishe ngamaphesenti angama-20, okusho ukuthi izinhlanzi zihamba ngendlela yabo yokuya phezulu (umthombo owodwa). Abacwaningi abafunda ukuvuselelwa kwe-estuary babonisa ukuthi kuqhubeka nokukhathazeka ngezinsalela ezidala zokungcola ezidlula emgodini wokudla (Hawkins et al., 2020).

i-Boston Harbor

I-egg-shaped sludge digesters ne-wind turbines ye-Deer Island treatment plant, ebonakala ngaphesheya kwamanzi aluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka eBoston Harbor.
I-Deer Island treatment plant eBoston Harbor, enezitsha zokugaya izicubu ezibukeka njengeqanda. Photo: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0

Into edlule kahle. Kuze kwaba yiminyaka yama-1990, amanzi angcolile aseBoston ayefika emfuleni ngenqubo elula kuphela, futhi amatshe angcolile ayethunyelwa kuwo ngosuku ngalunye. Ngo-1987, izikhukhula ezingu-84 zahlanganisa izintaba-mlilo futhi zakhipha amanzi angcolile nezimvula ezingahlanzeki epulazini nasezilwandle zayo (MWRA).

Into eyenziwe. Ngo-1985 inkantolo yesifundazwe yacela umphathiswa wamanzi omusha wesifundazwe ukuba avule indawo yokuhlanza amanzi angcolile. Ukuthutha i-sludge epulazini lamanzi kwamiswa ngo-1991, indawo entsha yokuhlanza eDhir Island yavula ngezikhathi ezahlukene kusukela ngo-1995, futhi ngo-2000 inqobo nje umayela we-9.5 usuka emgodini ohlanzwe waphuma eduze kwendawo yolwandle olunzulu lweMassachusetts Bay (MWRA). Iphrojekthi yeBoston Harbor ibiza cishe amadola ayizigidi ezingama-3.8 (MWRA). Izinhlelo ezahlukene mayelana 906 million amadola ivale 34 of 84 overflows futhi yakhiwa ukucisha umthamo wamanzi aphumayo ngonyaka ojwayelekile ngephesenti le-88 (MWRA).

Into elinganiselwe. Inhlangano yokulawula amanzi ibheka amaphuzu angaphezu kuka-70 epulazini kanye nemifula yayo futhi ishicilela imininingwane, kanti isifundazwe sihlola iziqhingi ngaso sonke isikhathi sonyaka (MWRA). I-Charles River’s grade ikhule kusuka ku-D kuya ku-B noma ngcono kusukela ngo-2004 (MWRA), futhi ngo-2025 yonke indawo yokubhukuda edolobhaneni eliphakathi nendawo ukusuka eNahnant kuye eNantasket yathola amaphuzu angaphezu kuka-80% ukudoba okuphephile, okuqala (Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, 2025).

Akukho sinqumo sethulwe. Ngonyaka ojwayelekile umfula uCharles uhlangabezana nesilinganiso samabhaktheriya okubhukuda kuphela ngephesenti le-48, futhi ezinye izikhukhula zihlala zingafiki ezingeni elifunayo (MWRA, 2023). I-draft evuselelwe yephuzu lokudlula livuliwe ukuphawula kwabantu kuze kube ngumhla ka-30 kuNcwaba 2026 (Idolobha laseSomerville).

i-Rhine

Abantu bebhukuda eRhine eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka ebanzi eBasel ngosuku lwehlobo, namahhotela adala eduze kwebhange.
Abagijimi eRhine eBasel ngoJulayi 2023, indlela emfutshane esuka lapho umlilo we-1986 Sandoz wageza khona izidakamizwa ezibulala izilwane emfuleni. Photo: WikiEuropian, CC BY-SA 4.0

Into edlule kahle. Ngonyaka nonyaka iRhine yathwala izidakamizwa zalinye lamazwe akhiqiza kakhulu emhlabeni. Ngomhla ka-1 kuNhlangulana 1986, umonakalo owawusendawo yokutshala iSandoz etholakala eBasel wasusa amatoni ayi-30 wemithi yokubulala izinambuzane emfuleni futhi wabulala izinhlanzi ezingaphezu kwamakhilomitha angamakhulu.

Into eyenziwa. Izizwe ezibhekene nomfula zaphendula ngeRhine Action Programme ngo-1987: zikhuphule ngamaphesenti amahlanu ukukhishwa kwamakhemikhali abulalayo angama-40 eminyakeni eyisithupha, futhi zenza umfula uhlanzekile ngokwanele ukuthi i-salmon iphinde ibuye (IKomidi Eliphakathi Lezizwe Lokuvikela iRhine). Izitshalo zokuhlanza zakhiwa futhi zathuthukiswa, futhi izinkomo zivuleka ngaphesheya kwezigodini ezinkulu, e-Iffezheim ngo-2000 ne-Gambasheim ngo-2006 (ICPR).

Into elinganiselwe. Ama-heavy metals emfuleni akhuphuke kakhulu phakathi kuka-1987 no-2000 (ICPR). I-nitrogen esuka eRhine iye emfuleni ikhuphuke kusuka kumathani ayizigidi ezingama-443,000 ngo-1985 kuya kumathani angama-272,000 ngo-2016 (ICPR). I-Salmon yaqala ukubhukuda ukusuka eMfuleni weNtshonalanga iye emfuleni iSieg ngo-1990 futhi yakhula khona ngokuvamile kusukela ngo-1994; ngo-2000, izinhlobo zezinhlanzi ezingu-63 zabuyela emuva, futhi izinhlanzi zaseRhine, ngaphandle kwe-eel, zaziphephile ukudla kabusha (ICPR, Salmon 2020). IKomidi manje lidweba izinhlobo ezingu-71, ngazo zonke izinhlanzi eziziwa kusukela emfuleni odlule ngaphandle kwe-European sturgeon (ICPR).

Akukho sinqumo sethu. I-salmon ihlala inqaba: izinhlanzi ezidlula eKoblenz zibala abantu abadala ababuyela emuva abangama-11 ngo-2025 (ICPR counts). Ingxenye yesithathu ye-nitrogen manje ivela ekulimani nakwamanye ama-diffuse sources, ama-heavy metals asuka kuma-diffuse sources ahlala ephakeme kakhulu, futhi izitshalo zokuhlanza azisuse ingxenye enkulu yezidakamizwa nezinye izinto ezibangela ukubola okuncane; amazwe afuna ukuwasusa ngaphesheya kwezigidi ezingama-30 ngo-2040 (ICPR).

i-Danube ne-Black Sea

I-Dalmatian pelican eneziqu ezibanzi ihamba ngezulu elikhanyayo phezu kweDanube Delta.
I-Dalmatian pelican eDanube Delta, lapho umfula uhlangana khona noMfula Omnyama. Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0

Into edlule kahle. I-fertilizer, i-mulch kanye ne-wastewater kusuka kusinye sezifundazwe ezinkulu ze-Europe zageza izithako eziwusizo enyakatho-mpumalanga yeBlack Sea. From the early 1970s, water near the sea bed ran out of oxygen every year, and in 1983 the low-oxygen area covered about 20,000 square kilometres (Capet et al., 2013).

Ini ekwenzeke. Ngo-1994 amazwe ase-basin asayina iConvention of Danube River Protection eSofia, futhi kusukela ngo-1998 basebenza ndawonye ngeKomidi Eliphakathi nendawo lokuHlola nokuvikela umfula iDanube, ngokulandelela okufanayo ne-basin plan (ICPDR).

What was measured. The commission reports that nitrogen emissions in the basin fell by about 30 percent and phosphorus by about 50 percent over roughly 15 years (ICPDR). Isifunda esiphansi se-oxygen seMfula Omnyama sancipha, nakuba ucwaningo olunemininingwane lwathola ukuthi ukuvuselelwa ekugcineni kwekhulu le-1990 kwakuncane kunalokho okucabangayo ekuqaleni, futhi kwavela ikakhulukazi eminyakeni eyizigidi ezingama-2000 (Capet et al., 2013).

Akukho sinqumo sethulwe. Ehleloni le-2021, amaphesenti angama-24 kuphela esitezi solwandle olude lunesimo esingcono semvelo kanye namaphesenti angama-36 anesimo esihle samakhemikhali, izimo ezingezinhle ezingama-624 zivimbela ukufuduka kwezinhlanzi, i-European sturgeon yanyamalala ethekwini, futhi ubunzima bezinto eziphilayo babe ngaphezulu kwalawo aseminyaka ye-1960 (ICPDR, 2021).

I-Pasig, iManila

I-promenade ebheke umfula enezibani ezimhlophe ezibomvu ezishisayo eduze komfula iPasig eManila, ne-water hyacinth emanzini kanye nebhuloho elidlulayo.
I-esplanade entsha enyakatho ye-Intramurus ePasig, ngoJuni 2025. Photo: Ralff Nestor Nacor, CC BY-SA 4.0

Into edlule kahle. I Pasig ibamba izidakamizwa zendawo yedolobha elikhulu elinamazigidi ezingama-13 abantu, futhi yabhekwa njengenyama ngo-1990 (GMA News, 2018). Iphezulu kuluhlu lwemodeli entsha yemifula ethwala ipulasitiki eningizimu, nakuba ababhali bayo baphawula ukuthi le modeli ilinganisela kakhulu iPasig uma kuqhathaniswa nokuhlolwa okwenziwe ngo-2019 (Meijer et al., 2021).

Okuqediwe. Ngo-1999 kuya ku-2019 iKomidi leMfula iPasig lihlanze izintaba nezigodi. Ngo-2018, lapho iwina khona iPrize yokuqala yeSifundazwe saseAsia River, izilwane ezingu-18,719 ezihlala emigwaqweni zabuyiselwa futhi 17 zezindawo ezingu-47 zomthombo wamanzi zithuthukiswe, kusukela ngohlelo olusha eEstero de Paco ngo-2010 (Izindaba zeGMA). Ikomidi lasuswa ngo-2019 (Philstar, 2019). Since January 2024 a new programme, Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli, has been building a riverside esplanade, whose fourth phase opened in October 2025 (ABS-CBN, 2025).

Into elinganiselwe. I-athikili yeKomidi ibonisa ukuthi ukukhishwa kwezinto eziphilayo (BOD) emfuleni kwakungu-30.79 mg/l kusukela ngo-2009 kuya ku-2014, ngaphezu kohlobo olujwayelekile lwe-7, futhi kwanyuka kusuka ku-23.09 ngo-2012 kuye ku-39.03 ngo-2014; ugesi waphakathi kuka-2.85 mg/l kuphela (PRRC, 2014). Ukuhlolwa kwesifundazwe ngo-2018 kwathola ukuthi iphesenti le-96 lamamali asetshenziswayo ukuhlanza izintaba-mlilo lisebenziseke, kanti phakathi kuka-1 no-28% wemisebenzi elungiswe yenziwe (i-I-Rappler, ngo-2018).

Akukho sinqumo sethulwe. Kuningi. Sithole ukuthi amanzi asezingeni eliphakeme kakhulu kusukela ngo-2014, ngakho-ke asikwazi ukuchaza ukuthi umfula uvuselelwa yini manje. Izintaba zibonisa ukuthi lokhu kungakwenziwa eduze kwedolobhana ngalinye; umfula wonke akazange alandele.

i-Cheonggyecheon, i-Seoul

I-stream encane ecacile enezihlahla kanye nebhuloho lokuya phambili elihamba eduze kwedolobhana le-office tower eSeoul ngesikhathi sokuphuma kwelanga.
I-Cheonggyecheon eSeoul, eyahamba ngaphansi kwekhonkrithi nemotoway ephakeme kuze kube ngu-2003. Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0

Into edlule kahle. I-stream ephakathi kweSeoul yagqokwa ngekhonkrithi futhi ifakwe umgwaqo ophakeme.

Into eyenziwe. Kuphakathi kuka-2003 no-2005 idolobha lavala umgwaqo omkhulu futhi lavula amakhilomitha angama-5.8 wepayipi, ngezindleko ezingu-amadola ayizigidi ezingama-380 aseMelika (Landscape Architecture Foundation, 2011).

Okulinganiselwe. Phakathi kuka-2003 no-2008 inani lezinhlobo zezinhlanzi lakhuphuka kusuka ku-4 kuya ku-25, izinhlanzi kusuka ku-6 kuya ku-36, izilwane ezifuywayo kusuka ku-15 kuya ku-192 nama-plants kusuka ku-62 kuya ku-308. Umoya ohamba ngaso isiqhingi upholile ngo-3.3 kuya ku-5.9 °C kunaleyo ehamba ngendlela elinganayo (Inhlangano yokwakha i-Landscape), futhi ngo-2025 abacwaningi barekhode izinhlobo ezingu-33 zezinhlanzi, ezingaphezu kwazo zonke kusukela kubuyiselwa (I-Korea Herald, ngo-2025).

Akukho sinqumo sethulwe. Umthombo ukhiqizwa ngokugcwele: kufakwe amanzi angaphezu kuka-48,000 amatoni ngosuku, ikakhulukazi amanzi ahlanzwe emfuleni iHan kanye nama-water ground, futhi ukugcinwa kwayo kubiza cishe ama-2.9 billion won ngonyaka (The Guardian, 2025). Ngo-2011, amabhaktheriya e-coliform esiqandisini alinganiselwe izikhathi eziningi kunesilinganiso sokubhukuda (The Korea Herald, 2011).

I-Ganges, i-India

I-Ganga igcwele izikebhe ezihamba ngezinyawo ekuseni eVaranasi, nezindlu zesigodlo kanye nemigodi emidala ezindaweni ezingaphansi komhlaba.
Isonto eGanga eVaranasi, enye yezindawo ezingcwele kakhulu zomfula kanye nenye yezingxenye zokuhlola. Photo: travelwayoflife, CC BY-SA 2.0

What went wrong. The Ganga is sacred to hundreds of millions of people and supplies water to a large part of India and Bangladesh. Esikhathini sayo, izimboni ezifana nezitolo zokugqoka kanye nezitolo zokubhaka zifaka iphunga labo emgodini wokudla okhula ngokushesha.

Okuqediwe. Iphrojekthi yase-India Namami Gange, eqala ngo-2014, isebenza ekuthuthukiseni nokubhekana nezitshalo zokuhlanza amanzi angcolile ngapha komfula kanye nemifula emincaneInhlangano yomhlaba jikelele). Imali ekhokhwayo yayiyizigidi ezingama-20,000 zamaRandi kuze kube nguMashi 2021 kanye nezigidi ezingama-22,500 zamaRandi ngesigaba sesibili kuze kube ngu-2026. Ngo-Mashi 2026, amaRandi ayizigidi ezingama-21.340 asele ekhokhwe futhi izinhlelo ezingu-355 zezinto eziyi-524 ezigunyazwe ziqediwe (Press Information Bureau, 2026), kanti ngo-Mashi 2025 izitshalo zokuhlanza ezikwazi ukuphatha amalitha ayizigidi ezingama-3.446 wokudla okungcolile ngosuku zakhiwa noma zavuselelwa (Press Information Bureau, 2025).

Okulinganiselwe. I-faecal bacteria ikhuphuke ezizindani ezilawulwayo, njengoba kuboniswe yi-government report: ukubala okuphakathi e-Assi Ghat eVaranasi kwahla kusuka ku-2,500 nge-100 millilitres ngo-2014 kuya ku-790 ngo-2025, futhi eGandhi Ghat ePatna kusuka ku-5,400 kuye ku-2,200, ngaphezu komkhawulo wokubhukuda we-2,500 (I-Press Information Bureau, 2026).

Akukho lutho oluxazululiwe. Ngo-2025, isilinganiso sokubhukuda se-fecal bacteria sahlangabezana kuphela ezindaweni ezithile zaseUttar Pradesh, Bihar neWest Bengal, futhi ukukhishwa kwezinto eziphilayo kwakuphezulu kakhulu kusuka kuFarrukhabad kuya eKanpur naseMirzapur kuya eGhazipur (umthombo owodwa). During the Maha Kumbh festival in 2025, the first report of the Central Pollution Control Board found the water at monitored sites unfit for bathing on several occasions; i-report ebuyekeziwe yamuva nje yanikeza umphakathi ngaphakathi komkhawulo (The Hindu, 2025).

I-China’s rivers and the Yangtze

Izinkomo ezintathu ze-Yangtze ezingenazinso zibhukuda ndawonye epulazini eliluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka.
I-Yangtze finless porpoises eNhlangano Yezilwane Eziphila Ngesihlabathi ye-Chinese Academy of Sciences eWuhan, ngo-2006. Photo: Huangdan2060, CC BY 3.0

What went wrong. Ku 2015 kuphela 64.5 percent yezindawo zokuhlola zezwe laseChina ezimizini namahlathi ezinemanzi eGrade I kuya ku-III, ama-grade angakwazi ukuphathwa utshwala, futhi 8.8 percent ayebi kunale Grade V, angasebenzi kahle (Ministry of Environmental Protection, 2016). ngo-2013, 16,000 amakhowe afile Kwathiwa kwakhishwa kusuka eHuangpu nasezindaweni zayo ezingaphansi kweShanghai, umsuka wamanzi ovela emgwaqweni, ngemuva kokuthi izitshalo ezingaphansi kolwandle zikhiphe ama-carcass emfuleni (I-The Guardian, 2013).

Ithini elenziwe. Ngo-Ephreli 2015 iNhlangano Yezwe yakhipha Izinhlelo Zokusebenza Zokuvimbela Nokulawula Ukugqwala Kwamanzi, ezibizwa ngokuthi yi “Izikhulu Zesihlabathi”, ezinemigomo yonyaka ka-2020: ngaphezulu kuka-70% wamanzi emigodini eyisithupha enkulu yomfula eGrade III noma engcono, izimboni ezincane ezilimaza amanzi zivale, izinkomo zasekhaya zisuka emanzini a sensitive futhi cishe amaphesenti angama-95 wezinto zokudla eziphuma emgwaqeni zihlolwe (Ikomiti lesifundazwe, 2015). Ngo-2016, wonke umfula nelali kwanikezwa “umholi womfula”, ophethe amanzi awo futhi ehlobene nokuhlolwa kwezinkomba (I-Ofisi Yomphakathi yeKomiti Eliphakathi le-CPC kanye neNhlangano Yezwe, 2016; Umthetho Wokuvikela Nokulawula Uthuli Lwezilwandle, Isigaba 5). Ngo-2018, amaphesenti angama-97.8 ezindaweni ezinkulu zezokukhiqiza abenezibhedlela eziphakathi nendawo zokuphatha amanzi angcolile nokuqapha okuzenzakalelayo, futhi ngo-2019 imiphakathi yahlanza ama-2,513 we-2,899 “amamnyama namabi” amaqembu amanzi asedolobhani abewachaze (IMinistry of Ecology and Environment, 2018 ne-2019 bulletins). A Yangtze River Protection Law, in force since March 2021, bans new chemical plants within one kilometre of the river and its tributaries (Yangtze River Protection Law), and commercial fishing in the Yangtze has been banned for ten years from 2021, with support for the fishers who stopped (Xinhua, 2026).

What was measured. Ngo-2025, 91.4 percent amaphuzu okuhlola asekhaya aye kuGrade I kuya ku-III futhi 0.6 percent aye ngcono kunale Grade V; e-Yangtze basin, 98.9 intshisekelo ye 1,016 amaphuzu aye kuGrade I kuya III (Ministry of Ecology and Environment, 2026). Inombolo yama-yangtze finless porpoises yanyuka kusuka kuma-1,249 kucwaningo lwe-2022 kuya kuma-1,426, futhi izinhlobo zezinhlanzi ezingama-351 zabhalwa ezindaweni ezingaphansi komhlaba ngo-2021 kuya ku-2025, ngaphezu kuka-43 kunangaphambili kwemithetho yokudoba (Xinhua, 2026).

Akukho sinqumo sethulwe. Ngo-2025, amaphesenti angama-28.4 ezindaweni ezibalulekile zolwandle nezigoqo zaqhubeka zithola ubisi oluningi kakhulu, futhi i-algal bloom enkulu kunazo zonke eTaihu yagubuzela inhlanu yendawo yolwandle; iphosphorus ihlala iyingozi enkulu yokungcola emfuleni omkhulu weYangtze (IMinistry of Ecology and Environment, 2026). Izinga lokushisa lamanzi alilinganisi i-plastic: ukumiswa okuqhubekayo kwezinhlayiya ezisetshenziswa kanjena kwaqala ngo-2020 (NDRC neNhlangano Yezimboni Zomhlaba kanye Nobume, 2020), kodwa asikwazi ukuthola umbiko omusha wokulinganiselwa kwe-plastic eyangcwaba yiYangtze. Uhlelo lokulinganisa lukhule kusuka kumaphuzu angama-967 ngo-2015 kuya ku-3,641 ngo-2021, ngakho-ke amaphuzu angaphambili nesikhathi esidlule angeke alinganiswe ngokuqinile.

I-Seine, iParis

Abasebhishi ezindaweni zokubhukuda eziboshwe ngentambo kuSeine eParis, nedekhi yemithi, izihlahla kanye ne-Eiffel Tower ngaphambili.
Abagijimi esitezi sokugeza iGrenelle eSeine ngoAgasti 2026, isizini yesithathu yokubhukuda emfuleni osemthethweni ngaphezulu kwekhulu. Photo: Heidi Meudt, CC BY 4.0

Into edlule kahle. Ukubhukuda eSeine kwamiswa ngo-1923. Izintaba-mlilo zaseParis zithatha amanzi angcolile kanye nemifula, futhi ngezinsuku ezibandayo zidlula emfuleni; izindawo eziningi eziphezulu zemvelo zaxhunywa ngokungemthetho kumapayipi emvula. Ngo-1970s, cishe izinhlobo ezintathu kuphela zezinhlanzi zatholakala emfuleni obhekene neParis (France 3 / AFP, 2025).

Into eyenziwa. Kusuka ngo-2015, izinhlelo zokubhukuda zidlulise ngaphezulu kwezigidigidi ezingama-euro eziyi-1.4 ezitsheni zokugcina amanzi, ukuvuselelwa kwezinsiza kusebenza zesihlabathi, izitshalo zokuhlanza kanye nokuxazululwa kwama-23,000 okuxhumeka kwasekhaya okungalungile; isikhala sokugcina amanzi esisodwa eAusterlitz kuphela sinomthamo wamamitha ayi-50,000 futhi sisebenza kusukela ngoMeyi 2024 (City of Paris). I-Olympic triathlon ne-marathon swimming yaqhutshwa emfuleni ngo-2024, kepha imvula yabangela ukulibazisa (France 24, 2024).

Into elinganiselwe. Ngomhla ka-5 kuJulayi 2025, izizinda ezintathu zokubhukuda zamphakathi zivuleka, eBras Marie, Grenelle naseBercy (France 24, 2025). Ngo-2026 bamukela abantu abangaphezu kuka-120,000, iphesenti le-20 ngaphezulu kunalo 2025 (Idolobha laseParis, 2026). Kuphakathi kwezinhlanzi ezingu-35 ne-40 eziphila eSeine eParis, ngokusho kwegunya lezokunakekelwa kwezempilo lesifundazwe, kufaka phakathi i-bullhead, eyabuyela (France 3 / AFP).

Akukho sinqumo sethulwe. Umvula ugcina ibangela ukuthi amapayipi adala aphume, ngakho-ke izizinda zivuliwe kuphela uma kukhona umfutho, izinga lokushisa kanye nesimo sezulu sivumela, futhi isizini ka-2026 saphela kuqala ngenxa yesimo sezulu (Idolobha laseParis). I-gobies ehlaselayo manje iyingxenye yenhlanzi evame kakhulu ukulahleka (France 3 / AFP).

I-phytoplankton enyakatho ye-Gotland elwandle lwaseBaltic.
I-phytoplankton ikhula ezindaweni ezingaphansi kolwandle zaseBaltic, enye yezilwandle ezithinteka kakhulu yimithombo yezinto eziphilayo. Credit: USGS/NASA Landsat 7

Izinto ezibuyiselwe zikhona

Funda ngakwesokudla, izihloko zihamba kahle. Iningi lezinto ezithinta abantu zifaka phakathi: umfula oqhumayo, ibhishi elibi, umlilo wekhemikhali, umfula ogcwele izingulube ezifile. Kwafika amamithetho anezinsuku zokuphelelwa isikhathi, abantu ababizwa ngokuthi babambe iqhaza, imali yamapayipi namapulazi okuhlanza amanzi, nokuqapha ukuthi wonke umuntu angabheka. Akukho lutho olusheshayo. IThames yathatha ngaphezulu kwekhulu elilodwa, i-Mersey campaign yasebenza iminyaka engu-25, iRhine iyalinde ukuthi isilimo sayo se-salmon sikhule kakhulu, futhi abantu abatholwe bephukile eMinamata baqhubeka becela ukuba bakwaziswe.

Akukho hlelo ngalinye elisha, futhi ukuhlolwa kuchaza lokhu ngokucacile njengoba kurekhoda ukuphumelela. Kodwa lapho amanzi angcolile eqoqwa khona futhi aphathwa khona, kanye nezimboni ezidinga ukuhlanza lokho abakhiphayo, umfula uphendule. Imindeni ehamba ngasogwini lwePasig, iCitarum neGanga ibonisa lokhu futhi namhlanje, umfula owodwa nomphakathi owodwa ngesikhathi esisodwa.

Kungani kwenzeka lapha, nokuthi kungani akuyona inkinga yasekhaya

Ucwaningo lweMeijer luqhathaniswa nemifula emibini. I- isi-Indonesia, edlula ngeJakarta, isusa amakhilomitha ayi-591 amamitha, angaphansi kwengxenye yephesenti i-Rhine i-basin enyakatho ye-Europe, futhi i-basin yayo ikhiqiza ukungcola kweplastiki okuncane. Kodwa-ke iCiliwung yalinganiselwa ukuthi ithumela cishe 300 tonnes yepulasitiki ngonyaka elwandle, futhi iRhine mayelana 3 tonnes. Ushintsho luvela ezindaweni ezihlukene kanye nezinhlelo zokwakha: e-Ciliwung basin, umthamo ophakathi nendawo wezinto ezilahlekile ukhiqizwa kumakhilomitha angama-1 ukusuka emfuleni namakhilomitha angama-29 ukusuka emkhathini, futhi imvula yetropiki isusa izidakamizwa. Akukho lutho oluhlukile kubantu. Imiphakathi yabo yakhula ngokushesha kunezinhlelo zabo zokulahla.

Ukudla okubomvu komfula iCiliwung ohamba phakathi kwezintaba zekhonkrithi, izihlahla nezindlu eJakarta.
I-Ciliwung ephakathi kweJakarta. I-basin yayo incane kunengxenye yephesenti yobukhulu beRhine, kodwa yalinganiselwa ukuthi ithatha amahora angamakhulu angaphezu kwepulasitiki elwandle. Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0

Izizathu zihlukaniswe, futhi:

  • Ukusuka ezindaweni eziseduze. Izifundazwe zaseMpumalanga naseNtshonalanga ye-Asia, i-Afrika neLatin America zihlanganise abantu abangaphezu kwamazigidi ezinyangeni ezimbalwa, ikakhulukazi ezindaweni ezingaziwa ezisezintaba-mlilo nezimo zezulu ezibandayo, lapho kungekho izitsha, akukho ukuqoqwa noma amanzi angcolile.
  • Izinsizakalo ze-waste ezilahlekile. Ukuqoqa nokuphatha izidakamizwa ezilahlekile kubiza imali eminingi, futhi abantu abaqoqayo, abaningi babo abakhiqizi bezidakamizwa ezingagunyaziwe, bavame ukukhokhelwa kuphela ngeplastikhi engabizi kakhulu.
  • Imikhiqizo eyenziwe kwezinye izindawo. Izinkomishi ezisebenza ngayinye, izihlungi ezinezingqimba eziningi kanye nokupakisha okubizayo kufakwe futhi kuthengiswe yizinkampani ezinamaziko aphakathi nendawo, endaweni engatholakali kuyo indlela yokuzisebenzisa kabusha.
  • Ibhizinisi le-global elingenalutho. Kuze kube yiminyaka, amazwe anamandla athumela i-plastic waste emazweni angaphandle ukuze “iphinde isebenziseke”. IChina yathatha cishe 45 percent yezinto ezilahlekile zepulasitiki ezithengiswe emhlabeni kusuka ku 1992 kuze kube yilapho ivimbela ukuthunyelwa okuningi e 2018; izwe eliphakeme-imali etholakele impahla mayelana 70 intshisekelo yabo plastic izidakamizwa ku 2016 ezingeni eliphezulu-imali etholakele emazweni aseMpumalanga Asia nePacific, futhi mayelana 111 million tonnes kuzodinga indawo entsha 2030 (Brooks et al., 2018). Ezinye zalezi zithonya ziphela ezimfuleni ezifanayo.
I-blue ne-green swirls ye-plankton elandelela imimoya yolwandle, ibonakala kusuka ku-orbit.
I-ocean currents ethweswe i-plankton, ibonakala kusuka ku-orbit. Lezi zimo ezifanayo zithwala i-plastic ehambayo kusuka enkabeni yezwe kuya kwesinye. Credit: NASA

Iplanethi eyodwa, umfula owodwa

Amamfula ahlala ezindaweni eziphakathi, futhi nolwandle aluhlali. Ibhodlela elishiya iManila Bay lingahamba ngezintaba ezidlula ePacific; ama-microplastics atholakala kusuka emngceleni we-Arctic kuya emazingeni aphansi kakhulu. I-coastal line ngayinye ithola lokho okunye okulula, futhi izwe ngalinye lithenga futhi lithengisa izinto ezipakishwe ziye emanzini. Kukhona umfula owodwa kuphela, futhi siwuhlukanise nathi bonke, ngakho-ke akukho into efana nomfula wesifazane.

Umfula eManila ngumfula wePacific. Izinto esizenzayo kuyo, sizenza elwandle.

i-Europe ayikhululekile kumaplastiki

Kuyinto ethakazelisayo ukubona ukutheleleka komfula njengenkinga yezindawo ezide. Akunjalo. Amamfula ase-Europe agcina amaplastiki ancane ngenxa yeminyaka yokutshalwa kwemali ekuqoqweni, ezindaweni zokulahla kanye nokuphathwa, kodwa amaplastiki ahlala emigwaqweni nezindawo zaselwandle, futhi ezinye zezinhlayiya ezithunyelwe kwabuyela emfuleni kwezinye izindawo.

  • The Mediterranean is a plastic trap. It holds about 1 percent of the world’s sea water but about 7 percent of its microplastics, and more than 200 million visitors each year push marine litter up by about 40 percent in summer (WWF, 2018). I-plastic ehambayo yatholakala kuwo wonke amasayithi athathwe njengesibonelo ngaphesheya kwe-basin, ngobukhulu obufana ne-ocean’s great garbage patches, okuhlanganisa nokubalwa kuka-1,000 kuya ku-3,000 tons afloat (Cózar et al., 2015).
  • Greece and its islands. Ucwaningo lwamabhishi aseGreece angama-80 luthole ukuthi amapulasitiki akhiqiza iphesenti lama-43 kuya kuma-51 wezinto ezilahlekile, futhi izinto ezivame kakhulu ziyiziphuzo zesikhashana, izibuko zebhodlela, izitsha, iziphuzo, izigqoko zokupakisha ukudla kanye namaphakethe; iGreece isebenzisa kabusha kuphela inkulungwane yesishiyagalombili yepulasitiki eyisebenzisayo (WWF, 2018). Kulezi zindawo ezine zokubhukuda eCorfu, umlinganiselo 142 izinto ezintsha ngamamitha ayi-100 15, ikakhulukazi ethwalwe ngamanzi (U-Prevenios nokunye, 2018). Ezindaweni zaseMedithera, izikhukhula ezifika emabhishi zikhula zibe 4.7 times ngesikhathi sonyaka wokuhamba ngezinyawo (Grelaud and Ziveri, 2020).
Amaphuzu amancane epulasitiki amhlophe ahlukaniswe phakathi kwamatshe amnyama e-volcanic engxenyeni yolwandle laseTenerife.
Amaphuzu eplastiki phakathi kwamatshe asuka emkhathini we-Atlantic beach eTenerife, esiqhingini saseCanary saseSpain. Photo: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato), CC BY 3.0
  • In the water and in the fish. In the Thermaic Gulf off Thessaloniki, researchers counted about 750,000 microplastic particles per square kilometre of sea surface and found microplastics in all seven fish species they tested (Kermenidou et al., 2023). Ibhodlela lepulasitiki elisuka eqhwa lase-Aegean ne-Ionian lihlala lingashintshi cishe iminyaka engu 15 years ngaphambi kokuba liqale ukuwa (Ioakeimidis et al., 2016).
  • Amamfula amakhulu ase-Europe. I-Rhine yathatha umthamo ophakathi kuka 890,000 amaphuzu e-microplastic ngekilomitha elilodwa 3.9 million ezindaweni eziseduze nemiphakathi yeRhine-Ruhr (Mani et al., 2015). EDanube yaseAustria, ipulasitiki ehamba phambili yadlula izinhlanzi ezihamba phambili, futhi umfula walinganiselwa ukuthi uthatha cishe 4.2 tonnes of plastic a day ukuya kuMfula Omnyama (Lechner et al., 2014).

I-European Union manje ivimbela izinto eziningi zeplastiki ezisetshenziswa kanjena futhi idinga abakhiqizi ukuthi bakhokhele ukuhlanza abanye ngaphansi kwe-Single-Use Plastics Directive. Lawa mazinga alungile. Kodwa-ke, yonke indawo yokubhukuda ehlanzekile esiqhingi saseGreece ibonisa ukuthi ipulasitiki, uma yenziwe, ihlala isikhathi eside kunanoma yisiphi isitatimende.

Okusebenza

Izindaba ezinhle ukuthi ukukhishwa kwamanzi yinkinga eyisishiyagalombili abantu abaxazulule, endaweni ethile, izikhathi eziningi, njengoba imifula ibonisa phezulu. Amathuluzi aziwa:

Izinhlanzi ezimbili ezijikelezayo zokuhlanza amanzi angcolile eduze kwelali, zibonakala ngasentshonalanga, zibhekene nemihlahla nezindawo zokuhlala eBangalore.
Ifektri encane yokuhlanza amanzi angcolile etholakala eduze kwe-Doddabommasandra Lake eBangalore, eIndia. Photo: Vraj Acharya, WELL Labs, CC BY-SA 4.0
  1. Izixazululo zezinkinga zokudla. Ukuqoqa nokuxazulula izinkinga zokudla kuyinto ebalulekile kakhulu ekulweni nezinkinga zokudla ezikhona emhlabeni jikelele. Uma izitshalo zokuhlanza zikhiwa futhi zigcinwa, izifo ezibangelwa amanzi ziyancipha.
  1. Ukudla izitshalo, hhayi imifula. Ukusetshenziswa okunembile kwe-fertilizer, ukuqoqwa kwezitshalo kanye nokuvimbela izihlahla nezithelo ezihamba ngezintaba kunganciphisa kakhulu ukuphuma kwamavithamini, futhi kugcine imali yabakhiqizi be-fertilizer.
Umbono ovela elwandle we-creeks ehamba phambili ehlobene ne-belt enkulu yamatshe namaqabunga phakathi kwezintaba ezibomvu eIowa.
I-buffer yamatshe nemithi esuka eBear Creek eStory County, Iowa, iqoqa uthuli nokudla kwezitshalo ezisuka emithini ngakwesobunxele nakwesokudla ngaphambi kokuba zifike emanzini. Photo: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, public domain
  1. Isitifiketi, ukuqapha, ukusabalalisa. Ukukhishwa kwemboni kuhla uma isitifiketi sibeka ama-limits, ukuqapha kwenziwa njalo futhi izimpendulo zitholakala kubantu. Ukubukeka okucacile kusebenza ngoba akukho muntu ofuna ukuba yigama kwimephu.
  2. Buyisela ama-wetlands. Ama-wetlands yizihlungi zamanzi zeplanethi, ziqoqa izingqimba futhi zisusa i-nitrogen ngaphandle kwezindleko.
  3. Ukugqwala kwentengo. Ukukhokhisa imali yokukhishwa kwamanzi, kanye nokukhokha abakhiqizi ngemisebenzi yamanzi ahlanzekile, kwenza amanzi ahlanzekile abe yinto ekhokhelwa ngamanani emakethe.
  4. Hlanganisa yonke ibhodlela, futhi ukhokhele abaqoqi. Iningi lepulasitiki ye-river liqala njengento elahlekile engatholi muntu. Ukuqoqwa okujwayelekile emigodini engasemthethweni, kanye nokuthola imali efanele yabaqoqi bezinhlayiya abasele bethola ingxenye enkulu yalokho okuvuselelwe kabusha, kuvimbela ipulasitiki ngaphambi kokuba ifike emanzini.
  5. Uzothola ngaphambi kolwandle. Izinsiza zokuvimbela, izinsiza zokuxhumana kanye nezimo ezincane ze-waste traps ezintabeni ezinkulu zasemadolobheni nezindawo zokuhlanza amanzi zingavimbela uthuli olusuka ezindaweni eziphakathi nendawo. Babhekana nezimpawu, hhayi isizathu, kodwa emigwaqweni emincane emisha elawula ukubalwa kwezinto, bangakwenza inguquko enkulu ngenkathi ukuqoqwa kuthuthukiswa.
  1. Yenza abakhiqizi babe nesibopho. Uma abakhiqizi bekhokha ukuqoqwa kwephakethe labo elithengiswe, futhi ama-schemes ediphozithi-yokubuyisa akhokhela abantu ukuthi babuyele, iphakethe lizosetshenziswa kabusha futhi liphinde libuyiselwe endaweni yomfula.
  2. Izimboni ezihlanzekile, izitshalo ezihlukanisiwe. Izinhlangano zokubumba isikhumba nezitolo zoboya zingahlukanisa isitshalo esisodwa sokwelashwa kwezinhlayiyana ezisebenza kahle, futhi abathenga isikhumba nezinto zokugqoka bangadinga amanzi ahlanzekile njengesimo se-oda ngalinye.

Izinhlelo ongaxhasa ngazo

Izinkampani ezizimele zithole imali eningi kakhulu, kodwa azikho kuphela. Amaqembu angekho emthethweni aqoqa izikhukhula ezimfuleni ngaphambi kokuba zifike elwandle, enza ukuhlolwa kwamanzi lapho abaphathi bendawo bengazi, bathatha labo ababulala imvelo esibhedlela futhi baguqule amazigidi zabantu abafisayo babe yidatha. Lawa amanye amathuluzi akhona, ngalinye linezimpendulo ezishicilelwe. Sicela ubheke ukuthi yini abayenzayo, futhi uma ungakwenza, unikeze kubo ngokuqondile ngewebhusayithi yabo.

  • The Ocean Cleanup (Netherlands). Inhlangano engathola inzuzo ekhiqiza ama-machines ukususa ipulasitiki. Ezindaweni ezingaphansi komhlaba Izinsiza ezihamba phambili, izimo ezihamba phambili nezintambo ezincane zokuthwala zithatha i-waste ezindaweni eziningi ezibulalayo nama-gulls, kusuka kuKingston eJamaica kuya kuMotagua eGuatemala, Los Angeles naseBangkok, futhi uhlelo lwayo lwe “30 Cities” lubhekisa emigwaqweni emikhulu emi-30 yendawo yasenyakatho. Elwandle, System 03, i-barrier ehambayo efaka amapulasitiki endaweni yokuqoqa efakwa emanzini nsuku zonke ezine, isebenza eGreat Pacific Garbage Patch kusukela 2023 futhi yathola cishe 500,000 kg khona. Ibhodi layo elisemthethweni libala amakhilogremu ayizigidi ezingama-65 asuswa emizini nemifula namalwandle; inhlangano ithi lezo zibalo ezizenzakalelayo zihlolwa yinkampani ehlukile iDNV kuphela ngesikhathi ngasinye (imifula, izilwandle, ibhodi). Abacwaningi bayo bakhiqize futhi isilinganiso somfula esisetshenziswa kulekhasi. Izinkokhelo ziyodluliselwa kuStichting The Ocean Cleanup, inhlangano ebhalisiwe yomphakathi eNetherlands, noma e-US kuAmerican Friends of The Ocean Cleanup, inhlangano yezezimali engu-501(c)(3) (FAQ).
  • ** Mnu. I-Trash Wheel** (Baltimore, i-United States). Izimoto ezine ezinamazinyo amnyama, eziqashwe phakathi kuka-2014 no-2021, zihlala ezindaweni zokudonsa amanzi ezisuka emfuleni odlula eBaltimore. Ibhomu lidonsa izidakamizwa ezihamba phambili kunoma iyiphi isondo, futhi isondo lokushisa elijikelezwe yi-current, elisiza nge-solar powered pumps, liqhuba i-rake ne-conveyor kwi-dumpster. Baqoqa ndawonye cishe ama- 500 US tons (ama- 450 tons) ezinto ezilahlekile ngonyaka, cishe ama- 90 ayizinkulungwane zazo zihlanganiswa yimvula, futhi abahlanganyeli babala ngesandla okuqukethwe kwebhokisi lezinto ezilahlekile ngonyaka ukuze basize ukucacisa umthetho wokuvimbela udoti. Ziqhutshwa yiWaterfront Partnership of Baltimore, i-501(c)(3) engathola inzuzo; amathuluzi akhiwa futhi agcinwe yiClearwater Mills, inkampani yaseMaryland (ukuhlushwa kwethonya, ukusebenza kwayo).
I-wheel ehambayo yezinto ezilahlekile enezindlebe ezinkulu, i-wheel yamanzi ne-canopy, efakwe esiphethweni se-orange boom eBaltimore's harbour.
uMnu. I-Trash Wheel embuzweni weJones Falls eBaltimore. I-orange boom iqhuba izidakamizwa ezihamba phambili ku-wheel, ezenza zifike kwi-dumpster. Photo: Matthew Bellemare, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Waterkeeper Alliance (New York, esebenza emhlabeni wonke). Kuzalwa iqembu lama-Hudson River fishermen abhekana nababulala izitshalo kusukela ngo-1966, iqembu lasungulwa ngo-1999 futhi manje lixhuma amaqembu asendawo angama-296 ezindaweni ezingaphezu kuka-40. Babheka imifula yabo, ama-lakes kanye nezindawo eziphakathi nendawo futhi basebenzisa isayensi yamazwe omhlaba, izimangalo nomsebenzi wenqubomgomo ukuphatha ababulalayo.mayelana).
  • Ocean Conservancy (Washington, D.C.). I- Ukunakekelwa kwe-International Coastal I-Clean Swell ithole amalungu ayizigidi ezingu-19 asebenza ngokuzithandela ezindaweni zokubhukuda nasezintaba, abaqoqe amaphesenti angama-400 wezinto ezingasebenziyo, futhi irekhoda yonke into nge-app ye-Clean Swell, ngakho-ke ukuhlanzwa kukhombisa ukuthi yiziphi izinto ezingenamanzi.
  • Surfrider Foundation (California, nezindawo ezihlukene e-United States). I- Iqembu lomsebenzi weBlue Water iqhuba amalabhorethri angaphezu kuka-60 asebenza ngokuzithandela ahlola amabhaktheriya ezindaweni ezingaphezu kuka-600 zokubhukuda, iziqhingi nezilwandle, lapho ukuhlolwa okusemthethweni kumiswa khona ngesikhathi sonyaka, futhi isebenzisa izimpendulo ukucindezela ukuxazululwa kwezinkinga (Iqembu lomsebenzi weBlue Water).
  • Thames21 (London). Inhlangano yobuciko ebhalisiwe (inombolo 1103997) eletha amawaka amalungu omphakathi ngonyaka wonke ukuhlanza nokubuyisela emifuleni nemifula eyi-400 yeLondon, umsebenzi wosuku ngalunye ngemuva kokubuyiselwa kweThames okuchazwe phezulu.

Yini ongayenza, nokuthi ungathatha kanjani inxaxheba

Amamfula ahlanzekile akhiwa yizinkampani zezimboni, izinhlangano zomphakathi kanye nezitshalo, kodwa futhi namamilione emisebenzi emincane kanye nehora elilodwa lokunikela ngokuzibophezela. Lapha kuzoba khona okuzosiza, kusuka ekhefini kuya esiteshini sesitimela. Uma ukulungele ukwenza okuningi, Local Solar System I-foundation Ikhasi lokuhlomula uhlu imisebenzi yasekhaya ungathatha lapho uhlala khona, futhi indlela thola noma qala isiqephu sasekhaya. izinhlelo ezingezansi zikwamukela abahlanganyeli kanye nokunikela. Noma yini oyenzayo, sitshele ngayo nge- ibhodi lokungenisa, lapho iBhunga leNhlangano libheka khona wonke umthwalo.

Ekhaya

  • Bin the fat. Layisha i-fat yokupheka, i-oyile ne-grease, bese uyisusa kwi-bin. Zibangela ukuvalwa kwezinsiza kusebenza ze-Thames Water ezingaphezu kuka-20,000 ngonyaka, okungukuthi iphesenti le-28 lokuvala zonke izindlu zangasese (Thames Water, 2025). Ngo-2017, i-”fatberg” eyodwa yesisindo kanye ne-wipes ngaphansi kweWhitechapel eLondon yakhula ibe yimitha engu-250 ubude no-130 amatoni (BBC, 2017).
  • Flush kuphela pee, poo nephepha. Wet wipes bangela amaphesenti angama-94 we-sewer blockages e-United Kingdom, futhi i-sewers evimbeliwe ikusho ukuthi ukugwazeka kwemvula emazweni asebenzisane kakhulu (Water UK; Bin the Wipe). Ama-wipes, ama-cotton buds nama-sanitary products afakwa ebhokisini.
I-manhole ejikelezayo yensimbi eyenziwe ngensimbi eLondon pavement enelogo yeThames Water negama elithi "The Whitechapel fatberg was defeated here in 2017".
I-manhole cover eWhitechapel, London, ikhombisa lapho 130-tonne fatberg ye-fat ne-wipes yasuswa khona kusuka emgodini wokugeza ngo-2017. Photo: AndyScott, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Thina sizobuyisela emuva amaphilisi angeke afuneke. Ungawasusanga noma awuthumeli: thola ukuthatha ku-pharmacy noma kuhlelo lokuzikhipha (NHS; US EPA). Ucwaningo lwama-258 ama-rivers emazwe angama-104 lwathola ukuthi cishe ukwelashwa okufanayo ku level ebhekwa njengengaphephile kubantu, noma ingozi yokumelana ne-antibiotic, kungaphezu kwengxenye yezindawo ezisampuliwe (Wilkinson et al., 2022).
  • Nquma ukuthi izindlu zangasese zihlale zimanzi. Ezindaweni eziningi, izindlu zangasese zihamba ngokuqondile emfuleni ophakathi nendawo ngaphandle kokwelashwa (iGosa lase-UK). Ungagcini nje ngokulinganisa imibala, i-oyile yemoto noma amanzi amanzi emoto; thola imibala ne-oyela emgwaqeni wokuvuselela.
  • Izitshalela igadi, hhayi umfula. Sebenzisa ubisi oluncane kanye nemithi yokuvimbela izitshalo, inani elivunyelwe kuphela, ligcine lisendaweni engaphandle kwezintaba nezifunda, futhi akufanele lihlukaniswe ngaphambi kokugwazeka kwemvula (US EPA). Uma unendawo engaphansi kwamanzi, i-strip yemithi yasekhaya ebhekene nebhange lihlanza amanzi aphumayo ngaphambi kokuba afike.

Indawo ohlala kuyo

  • Joyina ukuhlanza, noma uhlela okuthile. Imini Yesihlabathi Sokuhlanza iqala ngo-20 Septemba ngayinye ngonyaka, futhi aba organisers bayo bathi abantu ezindaweni ezingu-212 zamazwe namadolobha bathathe inxaxheba (United Nations; World Cleanup Day). I-Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup ne-Marine Conservation Society’s Great British Beach Clean iqala ngasekupheleni kukaSepthemba, futhi amaqembu omfula njenge Thames21 ahlela izingqungquthela ngonyaka wonke. Bhala lokho okutholayo, isibonelo ku-Clean Swell app emahhala, ukuze ukuhlanza kube yidatha (Ocean Conservancy).
Abahlanganyeli abayisithupha ezindaweni zokuphila ezinama-paddles, ama-kayaks namabhokisi othuli oluqoqwe emfuleni iTrinity eCalifornia.
Abahlanganyeli ngemuva kosuku lokuhlanza i-paddle eMfula iTrinity enyakatho yeCalifornia. Photo: Bureau of Land Management California, public domain

  • Sihlale siphephile uma usenza lokhu. Ngqoka izigxobo noma sebenzisa isiqoqi sezinto ezilahlekile, qala lapho imvula iphansi noma amahora amabili ngemuva kokugwazeka kwemvula enkulu, futhi ungase uchofoze izidakamizwa, amabhodlela noma noma yini ebukeka ingalimaza: shiya lapho ikhona bese uyitshela. Njenge-Marine Conservation Society ichaza, uma ukhathazekile, ungayikhuphuli (MCS organizer guide, 2026).

  • Ukuhlola umfula wakho. Amaphrojekthi esayensi yomphakathi akunikeza i-kit elula, uqeqesho kanye nendawo yokuhlukanisa izimpendulo. I-FreshWater Watch, elawulwa yi-Earthwatch, iqoqe amasethingi angaphezu kuka-70,000 wokulinganisa kusuka kubantu abangaphezu kwama-22,000 abasebenza ngokuzithandela emhlabeni wonke. I-Rivers Trust’s Big River Watch icela abantu base-UK nase-Ireland ukuthi babheke umfula imizuzu engu-15, izikhathi ezimbili ngonyaka, nge-app emahhala. I- I-Riverfly Partnership iqeqesha abafisayo ukubhekana nezilwane ezincane zomfula ezizizwa zikhathazekile ngokugqwala. I- EarthEcho Water Challenge isiza abantu abancane ukubheka amanzi abo asendawoni, i- Water Rangers inikeza amakits okubheka kanye nepulatifomu yolwazi oluvulekile eCanada, i- Waterwatch ixhasa amaqembu e-Australia, futhi i-Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force ihlola iziqhingi e-United States.

Abantwana nabesifazane abakhulule abafisayo bahamba ngemifula, begcwalisa amakhofi amancane ngamanzi emini ukuze kuhlolwe i-kit.
Abafundi abavela ezikoleni ezimbili zesikole esiphakeme saseDenver kanye nabahlanganyeli bahlola umfula iSouth Platte ngokukhanya, izinga lokushisa ne-pH ngekit yokulinganisa elula. Photo: US Environmental Protection Agency, public domain
  • Ingxelo yokugqwala lapho ubona khona. Inhlanzi efile, amanzi angcolile, i-oyile ekhanyayo, iphoyinti noma amamibala ahlukile: qaphela indawo nesikhathi, thola isithombe uma kuphephile, futhi thinta umphathi ngokushesha. E-England, i-Environment Agency’s incident line yi 0800 80 70 60, usuku nobusuku (UK government); eScotland, i-SEPA ithatha izibikezelo ku-inthanethi noma ku-0800 807060 (SEPA); eIreland, i-national complaints line iyi 1800 365 123 futhi amanye amakomiti amukela izibikezelo nge-See it? I-Say it! app (EPA Ireland); e-United States, i-EPA inefomu le-inthanethi lokuphendula, futhi izimo eziphuthumayo zihamba kwiNational Response Center ku-1-800-424-8802 (US EPA); eVictoria, e-Australia, i-EPA Victoria iphendula ku-1300 372 842 (EPA Victoria). Kunoma yikuphi, ikomiti lakho lendawo noma inhlangano yezwe yokuvikela indawo yokuhlala iyindawo yokuqala.
  • Isibhakabhaka esitshalwe. Ezinye izindawo zisebenzisa ama-schemes lapho isikole, iklabhu noma iqembu labangani libheka khona ngemuva komfula noma umfula omusha, futhi liyihlola njalo; IGeorgia Adopt-A-Stream e-United States iyisibonelo esisha esisebenza isikhathi eside. Uma kungakho lutho okunye okukude nawe, phakamisa enye njenge imisebenzi yasendaweni.

Ngezwi lakho

42%of the world's household wastewater was not safely treated in 2022 (I-UN-Water, 2024)
22,289izizinda zokubhukuda kwahlolwa e-Europe ngo-2025, futhi 85% yazo zahlukaniswa njengezihle (i-EEA)
94%of sewer blockages in the United Kingdom are caused by wet wipes (I-Water UK)
  • Umbuzo wedatha. Iningi layo likhona ngokusemthethweni. E-England naseScotland, i-Rivers Trust’s sewage map ibonisa ukuthi yonke intaba-mlilo idlula futhi ingaphi izikhathi ezishisayo (The Rivers Trust); e-Europe, i-European Environment Agency ishicilela izimpendulo zezindawo zokubhukuda ezingaphezu kuka-22,000, amaphesenti angama-85 azo ahlobene kahle ngo-2025 (EEA); e-United States, i-EPA’s How’s My Waterway ikhombisa isimo samamfula namachibi asendawo. Uma kungekho lwazi, buza ikomiti lakho noma umhlinzeki wamanzi ukuthi kungani kungasebenzi, nokuthi yini inhloso.
  • Usizo lokubuyiselwa kwe-deposit kanye nokwethembeka kokhiqizi. I-deposit ibuyisela iziphuzo namabhodlela emuva ngaphambi kokuba zifike emfuleni, futhi ama-schemes okukhiqiza avumela abakhiqizi bephakethe ukuthi bakhokhele ukuqoqwa kwayo. I-plastic pollution explainer yethu ibonisa ukuthi zisebenza kanjani kahle.
Izinkomishi zepulasitiki ezilahliwe zihlala zilinde ukubuyiselwa emuva.
Izinkomishi zepulasitiki ezilahliwe zilungele ukubuyiselwa emuva. Izinhlelo zokutshala imali zibuyisela iziphuzo ezihlanzekile nezihlukaniswe, okusho ukuthi kunzima kakhulu ukuzisebenzisa kabusha zibe yiziphuzo ezintsha. Photo: Grendelkhan, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Ukubuyisa inkokhelo ezindaweni zokuhlanza amanzi nokuphatha. Ngo-2022, iphesenti le-42 lama-water wastes asendlini emhlabeni akufanele kuphathwa ngendlela ephephile (UN-Water, 2024). Ukubuyiswa konke kule khasi kwakhokhelwa ngemali yomphakathi, ama-bills amanzi noma zombili; tshela abameli bakho ukuthi uxhasa lokhu.
  • Sixhase abakhiqizi abavikela amanzi, futhi sibuze izitolo ukuthi ukudla kwabo kuvelaphi. Buza izitolo ozithengayo ukuthi zishicilele ukuthi zingaki iplastiki ezithengisa kuyo izindawo ezingatholakali khona ukuqoqwa kwezinto ezincibilikayo, nokuthi zenzani ukuze ziyibuyisele.

Uma uhamba

  • Ungashiya lutho emuva. Thola izidakamizwa zakho ekhaya kusuka emigwaqweni, emifula nasezilwandle, ikakhulukazi lapho kungakhonjiswa khona ngokujwayelekile.
  • Iziphuzo ezingenalutho ngaphezu kokuthenga. Nciphisa ukusetshenziswa kwamaphakethe kanye nama-sachet asetshenziswa kanjena; lapho amanzi epayipi angaphephile ukuwadla, landela izincomo zokunakekelwa kwempilo yasendaweni.
  • Khangela ngaphambi kokushayela, usebenzisa izibonakaliso noma ama-ratings okudlalwa amanzi, futhi uhlale ngaphandle kwamanzi ngemuva kwemvula enamandla endaweni lapho kungena khona amanzi.
  • Volunteer with care. Uma ufuna ukusiza emfuleni ongcolile ezweni elisha, funda go there, learn, and help ngezansi kuqala.

Yabelana ngemibono yakho

Amamfula aphezulu esigabeni ngeke alungiswe nge-inventive eyodwa. Zizoxazululwa ngezigidi zamaqiniso angcono, ahlolwe lapho abantu behlala khona: indlela engcono yokuqoqa izitsha, isitolo sokugcwalisa, iqembu lesikole elilinganisela umfula wayo, isikhala esincane se-canal, intengo efanele yepulasitiki eqoqwe. Sithumelele zakho, njengoba ukhona.

Iya khona, kufunda, futhi usize

Into ebaluleke kakhulu abanye abantu bangayenza ukuthi bahambe. Abanjiniyela, abafowethu nabazali, abaphathi bezikole, abafundi kanye nabaqashi abakhubazekile banganikeza iziqu ezincane kakhulu, futhi baphinde babuyisele ukuqonda okungaba khona incwadi ekwazi ukukunikeza. Uma ungakwazi ukushayela kulowo mfula, yenza njengomunye umuntu, hhayi njengomsindisi.

  • Qala ngokulalela. Xhumana namaqembu asendawoni, izikole eziphakeme, amakomiti edolobha kanye nezindawo zokusebenzela zedolobha ngaphambi kokuba ufike, futhi ubuze ukuthi yini abafunayo. Abantu abahlala ngasenyakatho yalezi zindawo basebenza kuzo iminyaka.
  • Beka imindeni kanye nezinkampani ezisebenza ndawonye. Ukushintsha okuqhubekayo kudinga okunye: abaphathi basendaweni abakwazi ukushintsha imizila yokuqoqa nokunikezwa izinqumo, nabasezindaweni abakhetha ukuthi yini ephuma emanzini ngosuku ngalunye. Sinikeza ukuxhuma kwabo, hhayi ukushintsha.
Udade ogqoke i-shirt eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka ehlala ekhoneni lomfula, eqoqa amabhodlela epulasitiki phakathi kwezitshalo ze-water on the River Benue.
Udadewabo uqoqa iziphuzo zepulasitiki ebhange leNtaba iBenue eNigeria, ngo-2018. Abantu abaphila eduze kwemifula engcolile basebenza kuwo. Photo: Ummigarba, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Ukufundisa, futhi ufunde. Siza ukuthi uyazi mayelana nokuqapha, ukuhlanzeka, amasistimu okukhipha noma impilo, futhi ufunde ukuthi izinto zisebenza kanjani khona. Sishiye izikhono kanye nedatha evulekile, hhayi uku зависимость.
  • Sihlale siphephile. Amanzi angcolile aletha izifo nezidakamizwa. Ukulandela izincomo zokuhamba zesifundazwe sakho, ukuthatha izidakamizwa ezinikezwa yiklinikhi yokuhamba, ukungadlalwa noma ukuphuza amanzi emifula, kanye nokuhlonipha amalungelo namasiko asendawo.
  • Nquma ngokucacile. I- Local Solar System Foundation ayilungiseleli, ixhase noma ikhokhele ukuvakasha. Wonke umuntu osiza ukwenza lokhu njengomuntu osebenza ngokuzimela futhi akatholi imali ngegama lethu.

Uma ubuyela, sitshele ukuthi yini ofunde ngayo ngefomu elingezansi, futhi ucabangele uqala isiqephu sasekhaya ukuze umsebenzi uqhubeke lapho uhlala khona.

Izinsizakusebenza