Water Pollution

WATER POLLUTION
Done By: Ajahni Muschette

What is water pollution?
•Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes,
rivers, oceans and groundwater), very often by human activities.
•Any change or modification in the physical, chemical and biological
properties of water that will have a detrimental consequence on living things
is water pollution.
• It occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into
water bodies without enough treatment to get rid of harmful compounds.
•Pollutants get into water mainly by human causes or factors.
•Water pollution is the second most imperative environmental concern

along with air pollution.
Sources of Water Pollution
•There are various classifications of water

pollution.
•The two chief sources of water pollution can be
seen as
•Point source
•Non-Point source
Point source
Those sources which discharge water pollutants directly into the water are
known as point sources of water pollution.
Oil wells situated near water bodies, factories, power plants, underground
coal mines, etc. are point sources of water pollution.
Non-Point source
Those sources which do not have any specific location for discharging
pollutants, in the water body are known as non-point sources of water
pollution.
Run-offs from agricultural fields, lawns, gardens, construction sites, roads
and streets are some non-point sources of water pollution.

What are the types of water pollution
1. Nutrients Pollution
•Some wastewater, fertilizers and sewage contain high levels
of nutrients.
•If they end up in water bodies, they encourage algae and
weed growth in the water.
•This will make the water undrinkable, and even clog filters.
•Too much algae will also use up all the oxygen in the water,
and other water organisms in the water will die out of oxygen
starvation.
2. Surface water pollution
•Surface water includes natural water found on the earth's
surface, like rivers, lakes, lagoons and oceans.
•Hazardous substances coming into contact with this surface
water, dissolving or mixing physically with the water can be
called surface water pollution.

3. Oxygen Depleting
•Water bodies have micro-organisms including aerobic and
anaerobic organisms.
•When to much biodegradable matter end up in water, it
encourages more microorganism growth, and they use up more
oxygen in the water.
•If oxygen is depleted, aerobic organisms die, and anaerobic
organism grow more to produce harmful toxins such as
ammonia and sulfides.
4. Ground water pollution
•When humans apply pesticides and chemicals to soils, they

are washed deep into the ground by rain water.
•This gets to underground water, causing pollution

underground.
•This means when we dig wells and bore holes to get water
from underground, it needs to be checked for water pollution.
5. Suspended Matter
•Some pollutants (substances, particles and chemicals) do not
easily dissolve in water.
•This kind of material is called particulate matter.
•Some suspended pollutants later settle under the water body.
•This can harm and even kill aquatic life that live at the floor of
water bodies.
6. Chemical Water Pollution
•Many industries and farmers work with chemicals that end
up in water.
•These include chemicals that are used to control weeds,
insects and pests.
•Metals and solvents from industries can pollute water
bodies.
•These are poisonous to many forms of aquatic life and may
slow their development, make them infertile and kill them.
7. Oil Spillage
•Oil spills usually have only a localized effect on

wildlife but can spread for miles.
•The oil can cause the death to many fish and get
stuck to the feathers of seabirds causing them to lose
their ability to fly.
Water pollutants
River, lake and sea water may be polluted in many ways:
• Domestic sewage discharged into rivers from areas located on its banks.
• Industrial wastes effluents from urban areas containing high concentration of oil,
heavy metals and detergents.
• Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and plant remains.
• Radioactive waste from nuclear reactor.
• Excretory wastes of humans and animals in water bodies.

Effects of Water Pollution
•The effects of water pollution are varied and depend on
what chemicals are dumped and in which locations.
•Many water bodies near urban areas are highly polluted.
•This is the result of both garbage dumped by individuals
and dangerous chemicals legally or illegally dumped by
manufacturing industries, health centers, schools and market
places.
Health Effects
• Consumption of polluted water is a major cause of

ill health in India.
• Polluted water causes some of the deadly diseases
like cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, tuberculosis,
jaundice, etc.
• About 80 per cent of stomach diseases in India are
caused by polluted water.
Effect of Nutrients- Eutrophication
• Water supports aquatic life because of the presence of nutrients in it.
• Excess fertilizers from agricultural fields may mix with surface water and
may get drained into water bodies (surface runoff).
• The enrichment of water with nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates that
triggers the growth of green algae is called eutrophication.
• This fast growth of algae followed by decomposition depletes the water
body of its dissolved oxygen.
• As a result aquatic animals die of oxygen shortage.
Sewage and/or fertilizer run off from fields
↓
Enriched nutrient content in lakes (Eutrophication)
↓
Algae multiply to produce an ‘algal bloom’
↓
Algae use up oxygen and begin to die
↓
Decomposers (bacteria) multiply and use more oxygen
↓
Organisms (such as fish) die due to lack of oxygen
Effect of Toxic Pollutants
• Toxic pollutants mainly consist of heavy metals, pesticides and other
individual xenobiotic pollutants.
• Some metals e.g., Mn, Zn and Cu present in trace quantity are important
for life as they help and regulate many physiological functions of the body.
• Some metals, however, cause severe toxicological effects on human health
and the aquatic ecosystem.

• Biomagnification
• Non-biodegradable pesticides, such as DDT are widely used for crop protection.
• Once they enter the food chain, their concentration keeps on increasing with each trophic level
(steps of a food chain).
• As a result, accumulation of these compounds takes place in the body of top consumers over a
period of time.
• Entry of harmful non-biodegradable chemicals in small concentrations and their accumulation
in greater concentrations in the various levels of food chain is called biomagnification.

• Water → Algae → Fish → Pelican bird (top consumer)
• DDT used in small quantities to kill mosquitoes can enter the food chain and may get
concentrated in large concentration due to its non-biodegradable nature in the body of birds
(top) consumer.
• This causes adverse effects, such as weak egg shells, resulting in decreased population.
0.2 ppm 77 ppm 500-600 ppm 1700

ppm
Control of water pollution
• Recycling and Reuse of water
• Treating industrial effluents before discharging into rivers, separate
channels for river and sewage water
• Avoid contamination of rivers, lakes and ponds by washing clothes,
bathing. etc.
• Not throwing waste, food materials, paper, biodegradable vegetables and
plastic into open drains.

• Qualified and experienced people must be consulted from time to
time for effective control of water pollution.
• Public awareness must be initiated regarding adverse effects of
water pollution using the media.
• Laws, standards and practices should be established to prevent water
pollution and these laws should be modified from time to time based
on current requirements and technological advancements.

Water Pollution

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WATER POLLUTION

Done By: Ajahni Muschette

•Water pollution is the second most imperative environmental concern

•There are various classifications of water

known as point sources of water pollution.

coal mines, etc. are point sources of water pollution.

pollutants, in the water body are known as non-point sources of water

Run-offs from agricultural fields, lawns, gardens, construction sites, roads

and streets are some non-point sources of water pollution.

•Surface water includes natural water found on the earth's

surface, like rivers, lakes, lagoons and oceans.

•Hazardous substances coming into contact with this surface

water, dissolving or mixing physically with the water can be

called surface water pollution.

•When humans apply pesticides and chemicals to soils, they

•This gets to underground water, causing pollution

•Some pollutants (substances, particles and chemicals) do not

easily dissolve in water.

•This kind of material is called particulate matter.

•Some suspended pollutants later settle under the water body.

•Oil spills usually have only a localized effect on

heavy metals and detergents.

• Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and plant remains.

• Radioactive waste from nuclear reactor.

• Excretory wastes of humans and animals in water bodies.

• Consumption of polluted water is a major cause of

individual xenobiotic pollutants.

• Some metals, however, cause severe toxicological effects on human health

and the aquatic ecosystem.

(steps of a food chain).

• Entry of harmful non-biodegradable chemicals in small concentrations and their accumulation

in greater concentrations in the various levels of food chain is called biomagnification.

0.2 ppm 77 ppm 500-600 ppm 1700

• Recycling and Reuse of water

• Treating industrial effluents before discharging into rivers, separate

channels for river and sewage water

• Avoid contamination of rivers, lakes and ponds by washing clothes,

• Not throwing waste, food materials, paper, biodegradable vegetables and

plastic into open drains.

time for effective control of water pollution.

• Public awareness must be initiated regarding adverse effects of

water pollution using the media.

• Laws, standards and practices should be established to prevent water

on current requirements and technological advancements.

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