WATER POLLUTION

Water covers over 70% of the Earth’s surface and is a very important resource

for people and the environment. 

Water pollution affects drinking water, rivers, lakes and oceans all over

the world. This consequently harms human health and the natural

environment. 

What is water pollution??????

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater). Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.

Water pollution is any chemical, physical or biological change in the quality of water that has a harmful effect on any living thing that drinks or uses or lives (in) it.

When humans drink polluted water it often has serious effects on their health. Water pollution can also make water unsuited for the desired use.

Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of water.

In almost all cases the effect is damaging not only to individual species and populations, but also to the natural biological communities.

Types of Water Pollution…..

Point sources

Non–point sources

Point source water pollution refers to contaminants that enter a waterway from a single, identifiable source, such as a pipe or ditch.

Examples of sources in this category include discharges from a sewage treatment plant, a factory, or a city storm drain.

Point sources

Non–point source pollution refers to diffuse contamination that does not originate from a single discrete source. NPS pollution is often the cumulative effect of small amounts of contaminants gathered from a large area. A common example is the leaching out of nitrogen compounds from fertilized agricultural lands. Nutrient runoff in storm water from "sheet flow" over an agricultural field or a forest are also cited as examples of NPS pollution.

Non-Point sources

Contaminated storm water washed off of parking lots, roads and highways, called urban runoff, is sometimes included under the category of NPS pollution. However, this runoff is typically channeled into storm drain systems and discharged through pipes to local surface waters, and is a point source.

Causes of Water Pollution…….

If you want to help keep our waters clean, there are many things you can do to help. You can prevent water pollution of nearby rivers and lakes as well as groundwater and drinking water by following some simple guidelines in your everyday life.

Conserve water by turning off the tap when running water is not necessary. This helps prevent water shortages and reduces the amount of 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.

What Can You Do?

Use environmentally household products, such as washing powder, household cleaning agents and toiletries.

Take great care not to overuse pesticides and fertilizers. This will prevent runoffs of the material into nearby water sources.

By having more plants in your garden you are preventing fertilizer, pesticides and contaminated water from running off 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.