Water pollution

http://Sayyed Bajahat ali roll no – 51 WATER POLLUTION Water pollution can be defined as the contamination of water bodies. Water pollution is caused when water bodies such as rivers, lakes, oceans, groundwater and aquifers get contaminated with industrial and agricultural effluents. As seen in the example mentioned above, the dumped plastic bottles, tins, water cans and other wastes pollute the water bodies. These result in water pollution, which harms not just humans, but the whole ecosystem. Toxins drained from these pollutants, travel up to the food chain and eventually affect humans. In most cases, the outcome is destructive to only the local population and species, but it can have an impact on a global scale too. Nearly 6 billion kilograms of garbage is dumped every year in the oceans. Apart from industrial effluents and untreated sewage, other forms of unwanted materials are dumped into various water bodies. These can range from nuclear waste to oil spills – the latter of which can render vast areas uninhabitable. Water pollution is a major global environmental problem because it can result in the degradation of all aquatic ecosystems – fresh, coastal, and ocean waters Controlling water pollution Control of water pollution requires appropriate infrastructure and management plans. The infrastructure may include wastewater treatment plants, for example sewage treatment plants and industrial wastewater treatment plants. Agricultural wastewater treatment for farms, and erosion control at construction sites can also help prevent water pollution. Effective control of urban runoff includes reducing speed and quantity of flow. Von Sperling, Marcos (2007). “Wastewater Characteristics, Treatment and Disposal”. IWA Publishing. 6. doi:10.2166/9781780402086. ISBN 978-1-78040-208- 6. Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License Effects of water pollution on human health Waterborne pathogens, in the form of disease-causing bacteria and viruses from human and animal waste, are a major cause of illness from contaminated drinking water. Diseases spread by unsafe water include cholera, giardia, and typhoid Effects of water pollution on ecosystem Rising global temperatures caused by CO2 emissions heat the water, reducing its oxygen content Felling forests can exhaust water resources and generate organic residue which becomes a breeding ground for harmful bacteria Chemical dumping from these sectors is one of the main causes of eutrophication of water. The UN says that more than 80% of the world’s sewage finds its way into seas and rivers untreated. The transportation and storage of oil and its derivatives is subject to leakage that pollutes our water resources. Summary The destruction caused by water pollution is a result of various factors, including industrial waste, sewage discharge, and agricultural runoff. These pollutants contaminate the water, leading to serious damage to the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems.

By Sayyed Bajahat Ali

Im hardworking fast learner

Leave a comment