Water Pollution

Introduction
Comprising over 70% of the Earth’s surface, water is undoubtedly the most precious natural resource
that exists on our planet.  Without the seemingly invaluable compound comprised of hydrogen and
oxygen, life on Earth would be non-existent: it is essential for everything on our planet to grow and
prosper.  Although we as humans recognize this fact, we disregard it by polluting our rivers, lakes, and
oceans. Subsequently, we are slowly but surely harming our planet to the point where organisms
are dying at a very alarming rate.  In addition to innocent organisms dying off, our drinking water has
become greatly affected as is our ability to use water for recreational purposes.  In order to combat
water pollution, we must understand the problems and become part of the solution.

Causes of pollution
Many causes of pollution including sewage and fertilizers contain nutrients such as nitrates and
phosphates.  In excess levels, nutrients over stimulate the growth of aquatic plants and algae.  Excessive
growth of these types of organisms consequently clogs our waterways, use up dissolved oxygen as they
decompose, and block light to deeper waters.
This, in turn, proves very harmful to aquatic organisms as it affects the respiration ability or fish and
other invertebrates that reside in water.
     Pollution is also caused when silt and other suspended solids, such as soil, wash off plowed fields,
construction and logging sites, urban areas, and eroded river banks when it rains.  Under natural
conditions, lakes, rivers, and other water bodies undergo Eutrophication, an aging process that slowly
fills in the water body with sediment and organic matter.  When these sediments enter various bodies of
water, fish respiration becomes impaired, plant productivity and water depth become reduced, and
aquatic organisms and their environments become suffocated.  Pollution in the form of organic
material enters waterways in many different forms as sewage, as leaves and grass clippings, or as runoff
from livestock feedlots and pastures.  When natural bacteria and protozoan in the water break down
this organic material, they begin to use up the oxygen dissolved in the water.  Many types of fish and
bottom-dwelling animals cannot survive when levels of dissolved oxygen drop below two to five parts
per million.  When this occurs, it kills aquatic organisms in large numbers which leads to disruptions in
the food chain

Effects
Virtually all types of water pollution are harmful to the health of humans and animals. Water
pollution may not damage our health immediately but can be harmful after long term exposure.
Different forms of pollutants affect the health of animals in different ways:
  Heavy metals from industrial processes can accumulate in nearby lakes and rivers. These
are toxic to marine life such as fish and shellfish, and subsequently to the humans who
eat them. Heavy metals can slow development; result in birth defects and some are
carcinogenic.
 Industrial waste often contains many toxic compounds that damage the health of aquatic
animals and those who eat them. Some of the toxins in industrial waste may only have a
mild effect whereas other can be fatal. They can cause immune suppression, reproductive
failure or acute poisoning.
 Microbial pollutants from sewage often result in infectious diseases that infect aquatic
life and terrestrial life through drinking water. Microbial water pollution is a major
problem in the developing world, with diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever being
the primary cause of infant mortality.
 Organic matter and nutrients causes an increase in aerobic algae and depletes oxygen
from the water column. This causes the suffocation of fish and other aquatic organisms.
 Sulfate particles from acid rain can cause harm the health of marine life in the rivers and
lakes it contaminates, and can result in mortality.
 Suspended particles in freshwater reduces the quality of drinking water for humans and
the aquatic environment for marine life. Suspended particles can often reduce the amount
of sunlight penetrating the water, disrupting the growth of photosynthetic plants
and micro-organisms.

Prevention/conclusion
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 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 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.