๐ Introduction
Look around your home, school or community. You may see buildings, roads, trees, people, drains, animals and water bodies. All these form part of the environment in which we live.
A clean environment helps people live healthy and productive lives. But when rubbish is thrown carelessly, drains become blocked or people practise poor sanitation, the environment can become unsafe. Keeping our surroundings clean is therefore a responsibility shared by everyone.
๐ฏ What You’ll Learn
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
- Explain the meaning and types of environment.
- Explain sanitation and identify common sanitation problems.
- Describe cultural practices that may affect sanitation.
- Explain the effects of poor sanitation and ways of managing sanitation problems.
๐ฟ What Is the Environment?
The environment refers to everything around us that affects the way we live.
It includes both natural and human-made surroundings as well as the people and institutions with whom we interact.
Our environment can broadly be considered under two areas:
๐ณ Physical Environment
The physical environment consists of the natural and human-made things around us.
Examples include:
- Land
- Rivers and streams
- Trees and vegetation
- Mountains
- Buildings
- Roads
- Bridges
- Schools
Some physical features occur naturally, while others are created by humans.
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ Social Environment
The social environment consists of the people, groups, institutions and relationships around us.
Examples include:
- Family
- Friends
- Teachers
- Religious groups
- Schools
- Community leaders
- Neighbours
Our social environment influences our behaviour, values and relationships with other people.
๐งน What Is Sanitation?
Sanitation refers to the practices and conditions that help maintain cleanliness and protect people’s health.
Good sanitation includes:
- Proper disposal of waste.
- Keeping homes and surroundings clean.
- Using toilets properly.
- Keeping drains clean.
- Maintaining clean sources of water.
- Keeping public places free from rubbish.
Sanitation is important in our homes, schools, markets, workplaces and communities.
๐๏ธ Common Environmental and Sanitation Problems
Communities may experience different environmental and sanitation problems.
1. Improper Waste Disposal
Throwing rubbish on streets, in gutters or on open land makes the environment dirty.
2. Blocked Drains
Plastic bags, bottles and other waste can block drains and prevent water from flowing freely.
3. Open Defecation
Defecating in bushes, near water bodies or other open places can contaminate the environment and spread disease.
4. Poor Wastewater Disposal
Pouring dirty water carelessly around homes and streets may create stagnant water and unhealthy surroundings.
5. Polluted Water
Dumping waste into rivers and streams can make water unsafe for people and animals.
6. Poorly Maintained Public Places
Markets, schools, transport stations and other public spaces can become unhealthy when they are not cleaned regularly.
๐งโ๐คโ๐ง Cultural Practices and Sanitation
Culture influences how people behave in their communities.
Some traditional and community practices can promote sanitation. For example:
- Communal clean-up exercises.
- Community rules against littering.
- Maintaining clean surroundings during festivals.
- Teaching children to keep their homes clean.
However, some practices may create sanitation problems when they involve:
- Careless disposal of waste after ceremonies or festivals.
- Dumping refuse at unsuitable places.
- Poor disposal of animal waste.
- Using unsafe methods of disposing of household waste.
A cultural practice should therefore be examined according to its effect on people’s health and the environment.
โ ๏ธ Effects of Poor Sanitation
Poor sanitation affects both individuals and communities.
๐ฆ 1. Spread of Disease
Dirty surroundings may encourage the breeding of flies, mosquitoes and other disease-carrying organisms.
Poor sanitation can contribute to illnesses such as:
- Cholera
- Diarrhoea
- Typhoid
- Malaria
๐ 2. Flooding
When rubbish blocks drains, rainwater may not flow properly.
This can contribute to flooding, especially during heavy rainfall.
Waste โ Blocked drains โ Poor water flow โ Increased flood risk
๐ง 3. Water Pollution
Waste dumped into rivers, streams and other water bodies can contaminate the water.
Polluted water may become unsafe for:
- Drinking
- Cooking
- Washing
- Aquatic life
๐ฐ 4. Increased Costs
Poor sanitation can increase the amount of money families and governments spend on:
- Healthcare
- Cleaning
- Waste removal
- Repairing damaged infrastructure
Preventing sanitation problems can therefore save resources.
๐๏ธ 5. Unattractive Communities
Piles of rubbish, unpleasant smells and dirty drains make communities unattractive.
This can negatively affect the quality of life of residents and the image of the community.
๐ ๏ธ Managing Sanitation Problems
Sanitation problems can be reduced when individuals, communities and authorities work together.
๐๏ธ Proper Waste Disposal
Waste should be placed in appropriate bins and collected for proper disposal.
โป๏ธ Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Where possible:
Reduce unnecessary waste.
Reuse suitable items instead of immediately throwing them away.
Recycle materials that can be processed and used again.
๐งน Regular Cleaning
Homes, classrooms, markets, drains and public spaces should be cleaned regularly.
๐ฝ Proper Toilet Facilities
People should use suitable toilet facilities and avoid open defecation.
๐ข Public Education
People should be educated about:
- Waste disposal
- Personal hygiene
- Environmental cleanliness
- Protection of water sources
โ๏ธ Enforcing Sanitation Rules
Community and local authorities should enforce appropriate sanitation regulations.
People who repeatedly violate sanitation rules should be held accountable according to the law.
๐ค Everyone Has a Role
Maintaining sanitation is not only the responsibility of government.
Individuals should:
- Avoid littering.
- Keep their surroundings clean.
- Use waste bins.
- Protect water sources.
Communities should:
- Organise clean-up activities.
- Encourage responsible behaviour.
- Report serious sanitation problems.
Authorities should:
- Provide appropriate waste-management services.
- Maintain public sanitation facilities.
- Educate the public.
- Enforce sanitation regulations.
Clean communities require shared responsibility.
๐ง Think About It
Imagine two communities.
Community A
Residents throw rubbish into drains because they believe the local authority should clean everything.
Community B
Residents use waste bins, participate in clean-up exercises and report overflowing waste containers to the appropriate authorities.
Which community is more likely to remain clean?
Community B.
Government services are important, but citizens also have a responsibility to protect their environment.
๐ Key Words
Environment: Everything around us that affects the way we live.
Physical Environment: The natural and human-made physical surroundings in which people live.
Social Environment: The people, groups, institutions and relationships surrounding an individual.
Sanitation: Practices and conditions that maintain cleanliness and protect health.
Pollution: The contamination of the environment by harmful substances or waste.
Open Defecation: Passing human waste in open places instead of using proper toilet facilities.
Recycling: Processing waste materials so they can be used again.
๐ Lesson Summary
The environment includes our physical surroundings as well as the people and institutions around us. A healthy environment requires good sanitation.
Improper waste disposal, blocked drains, open defecation, polluted water and poor wastewater disposal are examples of sanitation problems. Some cultural and community practices can either improve or worsen sanitation.
Poor sanitation can contribute to disease, flooding, water pollution, increased costs and unattractive surroundings.
These problems can be managed through proper waste disposal, regular cleaning, suitable toilet facilities, public education, recycling, enforcement of sanitation rules and responsible behaviour by citizens.
๐ฏ Let’s Practise!
A. Multiple Choice
1. Which statement BEST describes the environment?
A. Only the natural things found around us
B. Everything around us that affects how we live
C. Only buildings constructed by people
D. Only the people living in a community
2. Which of the following belongs mainly to the social environment?
A. River
B. Mountain
C. Family
D. Road
3. Which activity is an example of good sanitation?
A. Throwing rubbish into a drain
B. Leaving wastewater around the house
C. Dumping refuse beside a river
D. Using appropriate bins for waste disposal
4. How can improper waste disposal contribute to flooding?
A. Waste can block drains and prevent rainwater from flowing properly.
B. Waste causes rainfall to increase.
C. Waste makes roads wider.
D. Waste prevents rivers from containing water.
5. Which action would BEST help improve sanitation in a community?
A. Leaving sanitation entirely to children
B. Combining proper waste disposal, public education, regular cleaning and enforcement of sanitation rules
C. Burning every type of waste anywhere
D. Dumping rubbish far away from homes without considering where it goes
B. True or False
6. The social environment includes people and institutions that influence our lives. ________
7. Poor sanitation can contribute to the spread of disease. ________
8. Keeping a community clean is solely the responsibility of the government. ________
C. Short Answer
9. State four environmental or sanitation problems that may occur in a community.
10. Explain four ways people can help improve sanitation in their communities.
Answers: 1 B | 2 C | 3 D | 4 A | 5 B | 6 True | 7 True | 8 False