Water Pollution: Definition, Causes, Effects & Control measures
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Water Pollution
Water Pollution: Water pollution is the contamination of water in water bodies such as rivers, oceans, lakes and swamps. This indicates that one or more substances have built up in water to the extent of causing effects on people, animals and plants. The addition of certain substances to the water such as organic, inorganic, biological, radiological, and heat, degrades the quality of water hence making it unfit for use. Water pollution is not only confined to surface water, but it has also spread to groundwater, sea and ocean.
Causes of Water Pollution
Some of the causes of Water Pollution are-
| Causes of Water Pollution | |
| Rapid Urban Development | The development of building of roads, highways, houses, and industries in urban areas. The chemicals, waste products, and detergents released from them are one of the major causes of water pollution. |
| Improper Sewage Disposal | The improper disposal of sewage causes water pollution. The sewage from houses, hospitals, and industries is released directly into the water bodies without any treatment. |
| Fertilizer Run-Off | People attempting to keep their yards vibrant, green, and weed-free. In order to cope with the growing population, farmers use fertilizers to have vibrant cultivation. But these fertilizers play a large role in the cause of water pollution on this planet. |
| Oil Spills | The release of oil in petroleum, and crude oil from tankers causes pollution in the marine ecosystem. |
| Chemical Waste Dumping | Industrial sites, construction sites and factories produce toxic chemicals which are used during manufacturing. These chemicals are then exposed to rainwater which causes them to be washed into the soil or directly into rivers, streams, oceans or lakes. |
| Global Warming | Rising global temperature in the environment is leading to causes increased concentrations of carbon dioxide level and reduced oxygen levels. |
| Deforestation | Falling or reduction of trees in the environment can cause exhaust water resources which is also one of the causes of water pollution. |
Effects of Water Pollution
The effects of water pollution are-
| Diseases | In humans, drinking or consuming polluted water results in disastrous effects on our health. The diseases such as typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, etc, are caused due to water pollution. |
| Destruction of Ecosystems | Ecosystems are extremely dynamic in nature and they respond immediately to even small changes in the environment. Such pollution can even cause an entire ecosystem to collapse if it is left unchecked. |
| Eutrophication | The increased concentration of chemicals in a water body results in the growth of algae. The growth of algae on the top of the pond or lake causes the low amount of sun rays to penetrate resulting in a decreased amount of oxygen in the water body, severely affecting the aquatic life there. |
| Effects on the food chain | Disruption of food chains is caused when toxins and pollutants in the water are consumed by aquatic animals (fish, shellfish etc) which are then consumed by humans. |
Control Measures to Reduce Water Pollution
Prevention is better than cure. So in order to prevent the effect of water pollution on the ecosystem preventive measure needs to take. The measures to reduce water Pollution includes-
- Recycle.
- Treatment of sewage water and industrial effluents should be done before they are released directly into the water bodies
- Hot water should be cooled before they are finally released from the power plants.
- Regular Domestic Cleaning in tanks, streams and rivers, which supply drinking water, should be prohibited.
- Excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides, and weedicides should be avoided.
- Organic farming and the efficient use of animal residues as fertilizers also act as control measures to reduce water pollution.
- Water hyacinth (an aquatic weed) also purifies water by taking some toxic materials and a number of heavy metals from water.
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Water Pollution- FAQs
Ans. Water pollution is the contamination of water in water bodies such as rivers, oceans, lakes and swamps. This indicates that one or more substances have built up in water to the extent of causing effects on people, animals and plants. The addition of certain substances to the water such as organic, inorganic, biological, radiological, and heat, degrades the quality of water hence making it unfit for use. Water pollution is not only confined to surface water, but it has also spread to groundwater, sea and ocean.
Ans. Some of the causes of Water Pollution are- Rapid Urban Development, Improper Sewage Disposal, Fertilizer Run-Off, Oil Spills, Chemical Waste Dumping, Global Warming and Deforestation.
Ans. The effects of Water Pollution are- Diseases, Destruction of Ecosystems, Eutrophication and Effects on the food chain.
Ans. The measures to reduce water Pollution includes- Recycle, Treatment of sewage water and industrial effluents should be done before they are released directly into the water bodies, Hot water should be cooled before they are finally released from the power plants, Regular Domestic Cleaning in tanks, streams and rivers, which supply drinking water, should be prohibited.
Ans. Water hyacinth (an aquatic weed) also purifies water by taking some toxic materials and a number of heavy metals from water.