Water is the elixir of life. Two thirds of the earth’s surface is water of which, almost 97% is in the oceans and is unfit for human consumption. The remaining fresh water is distributed between glaciers, groundwater and lakes and rivers.

Water pollution is the contamination of water sources by substances which make water unusable for drinking, cooking, cleaning, swimming, etc. .All forms of pollution eventually make their way to water.

POINT SOURCE POLLUTION: Drains carrying sewage and industrial effluents. Leaching from contaminated areas such as sewage tanks, abandoned factories and fields. Waste water treatment plants. Power plant discharges.

NON POINT SOURCE POLLUTION: Runoff from areas used for dumping water. Contaminated stormwater -run-offs through agricultural fields, sewage tanks and so on. Dumping dead bodies, washing cattle and mass bathing. Soil erosion. Disasters like oil spill.

SOME OF THE DISEASES CAUSED BY THE USE USE OF CONTAMINATED UNSAFE WATER ARE: Dysentery, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, respiratory infections, disorders of the endocrine and reproductive systems diseases.

WAYS TO PREVENT WATER POLLUTION: do not dispose of hazardous household chemicals, cleaning agents or medication, down the kitchen sink or toilet, do not pour cooking oil or fuel down stormwater drains. clean your water tank at prescribed intervals. Do not throw garbage in or around water bodies. Reduce the use of pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides as much as possible. Practice organic farming. Take care when  disposing of trash like diapers and sanitary napkins as most of them are made from non degradable materials.