Water Pollution

What is water pollution?

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater), very often by human activities. 

Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.

Water covers over 70% of the Earth’s surface. It is a very importantresource for people and the environment. Water pollution affects drinking water, rivers, lakes and oceans all over the world. Water pollution is the second most imperative environmental concern along with air pollution. 

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.
Lakes,rivers, oceans and groundwaters are affected by pollution every now and then. Today we shall learn all about water pollution and what you can do about it. Ready...?
Types of water pollution

Water comes from many sources. This means they can be polluted in many scenarios. Let's see a few types of water pollution:
1. Nutrients Pollution
Some wastewater, fertilizers and sewage contain high levels ofnutrients. 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 from starvation.
2. Surface water pollution
Surface water includes natural water found on the earth's surface, likerivers, lakes, lagoons and oceans. Any kind of activity that pollutes these surface waters can be called surface water pollution.
3. Oxygen Depleting
Water bodies have micro-organisms. These include aerobic andanaerobic organisms. When to much biodegradable matter (things that easily decay) end up in water, it encourages more microorganism growth, and they use up more oxygen in the water. If oxygenis 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. 

This means when we dig wells and bore holes to get water from underground, it needs to be checked forground water pollution.

5. Microbiological
In many communities in the world, people drink untreated water (straight from a river or stream). Sometimes there is natural pollution caused by microorganisms like viruses, bacteria and protozoa. This natural pollution can cause fishes and other water life to die. They can also cause serious illness to humans who drink from such waters. This is calledmicrobiological pollution.
6. 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.
7. Chemical Water Pollution
Many industries and farmers work withchemicals 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.
8. Oil Spillage
Oil spills usually have only a localised affect on wildlife but can spread for miles. The oil cancause the death of many fish and stick to the feathers of seabirds causing them to lose the ability to fly. 

Do you remember the BP Oil spill in 2010? (Read about it here) Over 1,000 animals (birds, turtles, mammals) were reported dead, including many already on the endangered species list. Of the animals affected by the spill that are still alive only about 6% have been reported cleaned,...