WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies

(e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans and groundwater).
Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in
these bodies of water; and, in almost all cases the effect
is damaging not only to individual species and
populations, but also to the natural
biological communities.
Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged
directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate
treatment to remove harmful compounds.

CAUSES
1. Dumping of industrial wastes, containing heavy
metals, harmful chemicals, by-products, organic toxins
and oils, into the nearby source of water is one of the
visible causes of water pollution.
2. Another cause for the contamination of water is the
improper disposal of human and animal wastes.
3. Effluents from factories, refineries, injection wells and
sewage treatment plants are dumped into urban water
supplies, leading to water pollution.
4. A number of pollutants, both harmful and poisonous,
enter the groundwater systems through rain water.

5. The residue of agricultural practices, including

fertilizers and pesticides, are some of the major sources
of water pollution.
6. Untreated pollutants are drained into the nearest
water body, such as stream, lake or harbor, causing
water pollution.
7. Another major source of water pollution comprises
of organic farm wastes. When farm land, treated with
pesticides and fertilizers, is irrigated, the excess
nitrogen and poisons get mixed into the water supply,
thereby contaminating it.
8. Pathogens, sediments and chemical pollutants are
other sources of water pollution.

EFFECTS

1. A number of waterborne diseases are produced by the

pathogens present in polluted water, affecting humans
and animals alike.
2. Pollution affects the chemistry of water. The pollutants,
including toxic chemicals, can alter the acidity,
conductivity and temperature of water.
3. Polluted municipal water supplies are found to pose a
threat to the health of people using them.
4. As per the records, about 14000 people perish or incur
various communicable diseases due to the consumption
of contaminated drinking water.
5. The concentration of bacteria and viruses in polluted

6. Marine life becomes deteriorated due to water

pollution. Lethal killing of fish and aquatic plants in rivers,
oceans and seas is an aftereffect of water contamination
only.
7. Diseases affecting the heart, poor circulation of blood
and the nervous system and ailments like skin lesion,
cholera and diarrhea are often linked to the harmful
effects of water pollution.
8. Carcinogenic pollutants found in polluted water might
cause cancer.
Alteration in the chromosomal makeup of the future
generation is foreseen, as a result of water pollution.
9. Discharges from power stations reduce the availability
of oxygen in the water body, in which they are dumped
.

PREVENTION OF
WATER POLLUTION
1. Bringing Awareness
Measure 1 is bringing awareness among people. So people must be
against of dumping wastes and sewage in to fresh water. They must
force the government to go for an alternate way like treating the
sewage before dumping. And people who dump wastes must be
penalised
2. Leakages from Drainage Pipe Lines
Leakages from drainage pipe lines must be avoided. If this enters
fresh water it causes water pollution. So leakages must be avoided by
repairing immediately.
3. Industrial Wastes
Industrial wastes are the main cause of water pollution. They often
dump all these wastes in to near by lakes or rivers. So government
must pass strict orders not to dump wastes in to rivers. They must be
provided with other options like treatment of that wastes before
dumping.

4. DONT Use too much Pesticides

Farmers must take care and see that they don't use too much
pesticides. This will prevent runoffs of the material into nearby water
sources
5.
Avoid
. Paint and Petroleum to Sinks
Do not throw paints or petroleum products in to your toilets or sinks.
Since paints and petroleum products cannot be treated they should
not be dumped i to sewage water as it results in long lasting effects.
6. Avoid Oil Spills in Oceans
Oil spills in ocean are one of the major contributors of water pollution.
So ships must transport oil only when weather conditions are good.
During storms ships must not be allowed to transport oil which might
result in shipwrecks and eventually oil spills.

THE

END