What is water?

Water is a chemical substance consisting of hydrogen and Oxygen. It has many uses such as drinking, irrigation washing clothes and many more. It exists in 2 forms which are

-Hard water

-Soft water

Both humans and animals use water as it is a very important resource. Water can be a liquid, solid and gaseous state.

What is water pollution?

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, groundwater).

Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of water and, in almost all cases the effect is damaging either to individual species and populations, but also to the natural biological communities.

Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies treatment.

Types of Water pollution

Industrial and agricultural work involves the use of many different chemicals that can run-off into water and pollute it.

• Metals and solvents from industrial work can pollute rivers and lakes. These are poisonous to many forms of aquatic life and may slow their development, make them infertile or even result in death.

• Pesticides are used in farming to control weeds, insects and fungi. Run-offs of these pesticides can cause water pollution and poison aquatic life. Subsequently, birds, humans and other animals may be poisoned if they eat infected fish.

• Petroleum is another form of chemical pollutant that usually contaminates water through oil spills when a ship ruptures. Oil spills usually have only a localised affect on wildlife but can spread for miles. The oil can cause the death of many fish and stick to the feathers of seabirds causing them to lose the ability to fly.

Nutrients are essential for plant growth and development. Many nutrients are found in waste water and fertilisers, and these can cause excess weed and algae growth if large concentrations end up in water.

• This can contaminate drinking water and clog filters.

• This can be damaging to other aquatic organisms as the algae use up the oxygen in the water, leaving none for the surrounding marine life.

Microbiological water pollution is usually a natural form of water pollution caused by microorganisms.

• Bacteria
• Viruses
• Protozoa

Causes

Sewage

Domestic households, industrial and agricultural practices produce wastewater that can cause pollution of many lakes and rivers.

 Sewage is the term used for wastewater that often contains faeces, urine and laundry waste.

Sewage disposal is a major problem in developing countries as many people in these areas don?t have access to sanitary conditions and clean water.

Untreated sewage water in such areas can contaminate the environment and cause diseases such as diarrhea.

 Sewage is treated in water treatment plants and the waste is often disposed into the sea.

Marine DUMPING

Dumping of litter in the sea can cause huge problems. Different items take different lengths of time to degrade in water:

• 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.
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