Water Pollution (Ambassador Report For March)by Prince Foley | 17-03-2022 16:12 |
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 Water pollution is the contamination of water sources by substances which make the water unusable for drinking, cooking, cleaning, swimming, and other activities. Pollutants include chemicals, trash, bacteria, and parasites. All forms of pollution eventually make their way to water. Air pollution settles onto lakes and oceans. Land pollution can seep into an underground stream, then to a river, and finally to the ocean. Thus, waste dumped in a vacant lot can eventually pollute a water supply. The main water pollutants include bacteria, viruses, parasites, fertilisers, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, nitrates, phosphates, plastics, faecal waste and even radioactive substances. These substances do not always change the colour of the water, meaning that they are often invisible pollutants. That's why small amounts of water and aquatic organisms are tested to determine water quality. EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION Eutrophication Plants and very small animals in lakes and ponds grow so fast that they use up all the oxygen in the water, causing everything else to suffocate.It is caused by too many nutrients in the water. Diseases, Medical Problems Water pollutants may cause disease or act as poisons. Bacteria and parasites in poorly treated sewage may enter drinking water supplies. The WHO estimates that about 2 billion people have no option but to drink water contaminated by excrement, exposing them to diseases such as cholera, hepatitis A and dysentery. Depletion of Aquatic Animals Populations The hazardous chemicals my also cause death to aquatic animals like fish, crocodiles and hippopotamus. Once these animals ingest or come in contact with the contaminated water they may die or not reproduce properly. Let's always manage our wastes properly and avoid dumping wastes in water bodies as they degrade our beautiful environment. The pictures below shows how serious the issue of water pollution is in Malawi, Limbe river. References https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/water-pollution
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