Committee:​ World Health Organization

Topic: ​Water Pollution

Country:​ Russia
A Solution to the Rapidly Increasing Effects of Water Pollution

Water pollution, as a whole, has created many issues globally, economically, and
politically. Many different forms of water pollution are having a big impact on the environment
and populated areas around them. One form of water pollution is the result of factories and farms
dumping waste and chemicals, called industrial and agricultural runoff. It is considered runoff
because rain can wash away fertilizers and chemicals from sewers into nearby lakes and streams.
The result of this runoff water can cause excessive algae growth and depopulate​ ​fish species.
Another type of pollution includes oil and chemical dumping into water sources, and waste such
as plastic and other forms of trash. Two million tons of sewage and industrial and agricultural
waste are dumped into the world’s water supply daily. This is equivalent to the weight of all 6.8
billion people on earth (World Water Day, 2010). This includes plastic, oil, factory runoff, and
agricultural runoff. As a result this pollution has caused major damage to the fishing industry
(Russia Facts and Details, 2014), it has caused acid rain and disease, and drinking water is highly
polluted in many countries around the world. Diseases caused by unsanitary water include
cholera, typhoid, and dysentery (Vestergaard, 2014). A change in waste management needs to be
made soon in order to preserve earth’s natural habitats, ecosystems, and humans.
One of the most affected countries, Russia, has had a brief history of working to solve
this issue. For many years, Russia has been dealing with polluted drinking water. In some cases,
there have even been parasites found in tap water (Moscow Times, 2016). In the past couple of
decades, there have been changes throughout small businesses, but nothing that has had a lasting
effect on the country’s pollution issue. Changes they have made include small companies
offering innovative new solutions for water sanitation and the Clean Water Federation Program
(Circle of Blue, 2018), or C.W.F.P., in 2010 which was focused on replacing infrastructure and
improving water quality (Russia Beyond, 2014). Unfortunately, the C.W.F.P. was unable to
complete its goals and had little to no effect on the pollution crisis. Russia has previously voted
on a UN resolution (United Nations, 2010) to provide technology and resources to less
developed countries in efforts to provide safe and sanitary water for all. Further improvement in
waste management and landfill control needs to be accomplished in order to make significant
change in Russia’s polluted water sources.
To combat the issue at hand, Russia has future plans on improving their current waste
management system. More specifically the improvement of waste recovery, waste cleanup, and
the management of existing landfills. This would include optimizing municipal solid waste
systems for future waste management, specifically at the collection stage (Geohistory, 2018) in
order to increase waste recovery. There are also plans to close and control local landfills that
have exceeded maximum capacity and have been a health concern to communities. In order for
local landfills to be closed, waste will be compressed into bales and transported to so called
“ecotechnoparks”, or waste facilities, across Russia (Moscow Times, 2018). Citizens in Russia
would also like to see an improvement on recycling policies. Russia would like the UN to
consider supplying less developed countries with better technology and resources for water
sanitation. As a whole, Russia would like to work with other countries to create new and
innovative technology for sanitation and waste recovery systems to better our environment.
Committee:​ World Health Organization
Topic: ​Water Pollution
Country:​ Russia

Speech

Thank you honorable chair, the country of Russia feels that the issue of water pollution is
causing a monumental amount of harm to surrounding populated areas and environments. For
example, chemical dumping causes harmful algae blooms which then causes large fish mortality
rates. These fish mortality rates can be a major issue to businesses and the overall economy.
Water pollution is also a major health concern to those who do not have access to clean water.
Five million people die every year due to unsanitary water related illnesses. The government of
Russia has dealt with the issue of water pollution by creating the Clean Water Federation
Program, or CWFP, but it was unfortunately unable to complete its goals. Russia has also voted
for a UN resolution to provide new technology and resources to less developed countries in
efforts to provide them with clean water. Lastly, Russia has future plans to close and control
local landfills that have exceeded maximum capacity and have been a health concern to
communities. In order for local landfills to be closed, waste will be compressed into bales and
transported to so called “ecotechnoparks”, or waste facilities, across Russia. The country of
Russia encourages the committee to consider supplying less developed countries with better
technology and resources for water sanitation. As a whole, Russia would like to work with other
countries to create new and innovative technology for sanitation and waste recovery systems to
better our environment.
Committee:​ World Health Organization
Topic: ​Water Pollution
Country:​ Russia

Sources

Hays, Jeffrey. “WATER POLLUTION IN RUSSIA.” ​Facts and Details​, 2014,

http://factsanddetails.com/russia/Nature_Science_Animals/sub9_8c/entry-5064.html

Terekhova, Sophie. “Russia's Battle with Water Pollution Continues.” ​Russia Beyond​, 5 Sept.
2014,
www.rbth.com/science_and_tech/2014/09/05/russias_battle_with_water_pollution_contin
ues_39577.html​.

“Recycling and Waste Recovery in Russia: Policy and Infrastructure Challenges.” ​GeoHistory​,
29 Mar. 2018, ​https://geohistory.today/recycling-waste-recovery-russia/​.

“World Water Day, 2010.” ​WORLD WATER QUALITY FACTS AND STATISTICS​, 22 Mar.
2010, ​www.pacinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/water_quality_facts_and_stats3.pdf​.

“United Nations Maintenance Page.” ​United Nations​, United Nations, 28 July 2010,
www.un.org/press/en/2010/ga10967.doc.htm​.

Gershkovich, Evan. “How Russia's Attempt to Solve Its Trash Crisis Is Backfiring.” ​The
Moscow Times​, The Moscow Times, 12 Dec. 2018,
www.themoscowtimes.com/2018/12/12/how-russias-attempt-to-solve-its-trash-crisis-is-b
ackfiring-a63795​.

“Drinking Contaminated Water Can Lead to Waterborne Diseases.” ​Drinking Contaminated

Water c2014an Lead to Waterborne Diseases​, Vestergaard, 2014,
www.vestergaard.com/global-challenges/waterborne-diseases​.

“Drinking Contaminated Water Can Lead to Waterborne Diseases.” ​Drinking Contaminated

Water c2014an Lead to Waterborne Diseases.​, 2014,
www.vestergaard.com/global-challenges/waterborne-diseases​.

The Moscow Times. “Moscow Lifehack: Can I Drink the Water in Moscow? Are You Sure?”
The Moscow Times​, The Moscow Times, 25 Apr. 2016,
www.themoscowtimes.com/2016/04/25/moscow-lifehack-can-i-drink-the-water-in-mosc
ow-are-you-sure-a52617​.
Committee:​ World Health Organization
Topic: ​Water Pollution
Country:​ Russia