Water Pollution

Introduction:

Water pollution can be defined as the contamination of a stream, river, lake, ocean or any other
stretch of water, depleting water quality and making it toxic for the environment and humans. In
addition to the release of substances, such as chemicals or
microorganisms, water pollution may also include the release
of energy, in the form of radioactivity or heat, into water bodies

Causes:
Unsurprisingly, human activity is primarily responsible for water pollution, even if
natural phenomenon such as landslides and floods can also contribute to degrade the
water quality.
Main causes of water pollution are:
1. SEWAGE AND WASTEWATER: Inadequate sewage collection and treatment are
sources of water pollution. More of the worldwide wastewater goes back in the
environment without being treated or reused.
2. AGRICULTURE: Agriculture has an impact on water pollution due to the use of
chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or insecticides running off in
the water. Livestock excrement, manure also causes pollution. Aquaculture poses direct
impact on water quality due to the use of excess food and fertilizers.
3. Industries: Industries produce a lot of waste containing toxic chemicals and pollutants.
A huge amount of the industrial waste is flow in the fresh water which then flows into
canals, rivers and finally in the sea and pollutes water in all water bodies from canals to sea.
4. Oil Pollution: Spillages of oil affect water in many ways. It can make drinking
water unsafe to drink. Oil released in the oceans and seas will destroy the living conditions
of fishes and causes to their death. The main causes of oil related water pollution are
spillage during delivery and disposal of waste oil to drainage systems.
5. MARINE DUMPING: Garbage such as plastic, paper, aluminium, food, glass, or rubber
are deposited into the sea. These items takes hundreds of years to decompose, and thus they
are a major cause for water pollution.
6. RADIOACTIVE WASTE: Radioactive waste is another source of water pollution.
Radioactive substances are used in nuclear power plants, industrial, medical and other
scientific processes. When these substances are released accidentally or disposed
 improperly, they pollute groundwater, surface water, as well as marine resources and poses
very bad impact on human health.

SOURCES: