Defination: Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies ( eg , lakes , rivers , occeans , groundwater )
Causes of water pollution:
-Improper disposal of sewage
It is harmful as it usually contains large amounts of toxin.
-Oil spills
It occurs when the oil tanker meets an accident and spill the oil into the seas.
Oil spills are very difficult to clean up as they are spread over large areas and are not easily broken down.
-Harmful gas from cars and factories /Acid rain
Both the lower pH and higher aluminium concentrations in surface water that occur as a result of acid rain can cause damage to fish and other aquatic animals.
As lakes and rivers become more acidic biodiversity is reduced. (E.g.)At pHs lower than 5 most fish eggs will not hatch and lower pHs can kill adult fish.
Acid rain could eliminated some fish species.
-Land runoff
It carries soil and particles laden with carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and minerals.
This nutrient-rich water can cause fleshy algae and phytoplankton to thrive in coastal areas, known as algal blooms, which have the potential to create hypoxic conditions by using all available oxygen.
Polluted runoff from roads and highways can be a significant source of water pollution in coastal areas.
Major upheavals such as storms, earthquakes, acid rain, floods, and volcano eruptions have been known to disrupt the ecological system and pollute water.
Consequences of water pollution:
-Endangering plant and animel species:
Oil spills endanger the lives of animalsas during oil spill, a layer of oil spreads over the water surface.When animals (sea birds or sea mammals) comes into contact with the polluted water, oil sticks sticks to their feathers or fur.
This removes the air trapped by the feathers or fur, causing them to freeze to death.
Oil clogs the bird's feathers that prevents them from flying or floating on water, and this causes them to drown.
Aquatic lifes are affected as well. Sunlight cannot reach the aquatic plants through the layer of oil. It dies as it cannot photosynthesize.
Oil clogs the bird's feathers that prevents them from flying or floating on water, and this causes them to drown.
Aquatic lifes are affected as well. Sunlight cannot reach the aquatic plants through the layer of oil. It dies as it cannot photosynthesize.Animals that depend on these plants for food will also be affected.
Plastics dumped into ocean can affect the marine life seriously as it could choke and suffocate the sea animals, as they eat them thinking that they are food.
E.g.Plastics are known to be a major cause for the death of turtles, as they swallow the floating bags, mistaking them for jelly fish.
Dumping of industrial wastes such as pesticides, especially DDT, can accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals. This could lead to the failure in the reproductive system of mammals and birds.
E.g.Plastics are known to be a major cause for the death of turtles, as they swallow the floating bags, mistaking them for jelly fish.
Dumping of industrial wastes such as pesticides, especially DDT, can accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals. This could lead to the failure in the reproductive system of mammals and birds.
-Major impact on food chain
When toxins are in the water, the toxins travel from the water the animals drink to humans when the animals’ meat is eaten.
-Negative impact on human health
Water pollution caused by improper disposal of watse affects us negatively.
(E.g. Poisons in industrial watse can accumalate in bodies of fishes and shellfish.
These poison may be passed on to us when we consume the contaminated animals.)
We may suffer from cholera and typhoid when we drink contaminated water.
-Economic loss
E.g. Oil spill threaten fisherman's livelihood as well as the fishing industry.
When the spilled oil reaches a tourist resortalong a coast, it dirties the beaches and makes it unattractives to tourists.
Also, cleaning up oil spills requires requires huge efforts and money.
Actions taken against water pollution
-Clean water act
It is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution.
The act established the goals of eliminating releases to water of high amounts of toxic substances, eliminating additional water pollution by 1985, and ensuring that surface waters would meet standards necessary for human sports and recreation by 1983.
Simple things we could do:
-Conserve water by turning off the tap when running water is not necessary.
This helps prevent water shortages and reduces the amount f contaminated water that needs treatment.
-Be careful about what you throw down your sink or toilet.
Don't throw paints, oils or other forms of litter down the drain.
-Use environmentally household products, such as washing powder, household cleaning agents and toiletries.
-Take great care not to overuse pesticides and fertilisers.
This will prevent runoffs of the material into nearby water sources.
-Don't throw litter into rivers, lakes or oceans.
Help clean up any litter you see on beaches or in rivers and lakes, make sure it is safe to collect the litter and put it in a nearby dustbin.
-Use public transport instead.
Reduce the usage of vehicles by taking public transport more often.
Walk if your destination is short.
