What is it?
Water pollution can best be described as the contamination of water bodies due to direct or indirect pollutants. As stated on the homepage, there are two types of water pollution, point source (direct) and nonpoint source (indirect). Point source water pollution is the term used when referring to a pollutant that is localized and that can be identifiable. For example, water pollution caused by a waste treatment center is a point source pollution because we know exactly where it is coming from and can identify what it is. Nonpoint source pollution, on the other hand, is referred to as pollution from a diffuse source. Nonpoint source water pollution originally comes from a point source, but because it has been moved to various locations and can come from more than one source, it is classified as nonpoint source. An example of this type of water pollution would include polluted runoff that originally came from an agriculture field.
Different causes of water pollution
Water pollution can best be described as the contamination of water bodies due to direct or indirect pollutants. As stated on the homepage, there are two types of water pollution, point source (direct) and nonpoint source (indirect). Point source water pollution is the term used when referring to a pollutant that is localized and that can be identifiable. For example, water pollution caused by a waste treatment center is a point source pollution because we know exactly where it is coming from and can identify what it is. Nonpoint source pollution, on the other hand, is referred to as pollution from a diffuse source. Nonpoint source water pollution originally comes from a point source, but because it has been moved to various locations and can come from more than one source, it is classified as nonpoint source. An example of this type of water pollution would include polluted runoff that originally came from an agriculture field.
Different causes of water pollution
- Sewage and wastewater- sewage is the term used to describe feces, urine and laundry waste. This wastewater can get into the main water bodies and become really harmful to living organisms. Also, in developing countries this is a huge problem. Most water is often untreated before being used and disease outbreak is a major concern. People many times use the same water that they wash their clothes and bodies with to drink and go to the bathroom in. Sewage is also a problem in developed countries. For example, when people flush toxic chemicals down the drain, they can effect the water and environment at large. Harmful viruses can get into the water and cause health problems to the surrounding people.
- Marine dumping- This type of pollution is especially harmful to the animals living in the oceans and large bodies of water. When waste is dumped, it can directly effect the living organisms. For example, if a plastic ring that was used to hold cans together gets placed in the water, it can get stuck around an animals neck and cause a lot of harm. Below are a few examples of garbage that get thrown into water and approxmately how long each of them takes to degrade.
- Cardboard – Takes 2 weeks to degrade.
- Newspaper – Takes 6 weeks to degrade.
- Photodegradable packaging – Takes 6 weeks to degrade.
- Foam – Takes 50 years to degrade.
- Styrofoam – Takes 80 years to degrade.
- Aluminium – Takes 200 years to degrade.
- Plastic packaging – Takes 400 years to degrade.
- Glass – It takes so long to degrade that we don’t know the exact time.
- Industrial Waste- Industries dump a lot of pollution that is extremely dangerous to people and the surrounding environment. Facilities many times use water to carry away pollution, but these water flows are carried into larger bodies of water such as rivers, lakes and oceans. Examples of industrial waste include: nitrates, phosphates, mercury, asbestos, lead and sulfur.
- Oil Pollution- Oceans are constantly being polluted by oil in the form of oil spills, run-off, dumping and shipping. A huge effect can be seen when looking at the BP oil spill and how many lifeforms it directly effected and caused harm to. Oil is a huge problem because it cannot dissolve in water, so instead it forms a layer on top which suffocates fish and harms feathered animals. Although oil spills are localized, they are really hard to clean up.
- Atmospheric Deposition- This type of water pollution is caused by previous air pollution. When acid rain is formed (see air pollution) it can cause a lot of harm marine habitats during a rainfall. These acids not only effect plants, but also animals.
- Radioactive Waste- Radioactive waste is formed from medical, scientific and industrial processes. Plants in northern Europe are the largest sources for this type of waste. Sometimes, waste from these areas can be carried and taken as far away as Greenland.
- Underground Storage Leakages- Underground storage containers are containers that are at least 10% underground (in volume). These tanks hold substances such as petroleum. Although the containers themselves are not extremely harmful, if there is a crack, these pollutants can escape and get mixed into the groundwater sources.
- Global Warming- As global warming continues to occur, water temperature continue to rise. This elevation in water temperature can be extremely harmful to marine animals and habitats. For example, when temperatures rise, coral can begin to expel the microorganisms that it depends on. This process is known as coral bleaching.
- Eutrophication- When the environment becomes enriched with nutrients, many negative consequences can come to marine habitats. These nutrients, many times, come from fertilizers than have ran off. For example, algae blooms can begin to grow, blocking out all oxygen and light for any other plants in the water.
Prevent!
- Conserve water, turn off faucets when you are not using them
- Use environment friendly household products
- Be careful about what you throw down the drain
- Do not litter
- Plant more in your gardens in order to reduce agriculture runoff
Video on water pollution