I.

THE DEFINITION

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities. Water bodies
include for example lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater. Water pollution results
when contaminants are introduced into the natural environment. For example, releasing inadequately
treated wastewater into natural water bodies can lead to degradation of aquatic ecosystems. In turn, this can
lead to public health problems for people living downstream. They may use the same polluted river water
for drinking or bathing or irrigation. Water pollution is the leading worldwide cause of death and disease,
e.g. due to water-borne diseases.
Water pollution can be grouped into surface water pollution. Marine pollution and nutrient pollution are
subsets of water pollution. Sources of water pollution are either point sources and non-point sources. Point
sources have one identifiable cause of the pollution, such as a storm drain, wastewater treatment plant or
stream. Non-point sources are more diffuse, such as agricultural runoff. Pollution is the result of the
cumulative effect over time. All plants and organisms living in or being exposed to polluted water
bodies can be impacted. The effects can damage individual species and impact the natural biological
communities they are part of.
The causes of water pollution include a wide range of chemicals and pathogens as well as physical
parameters. Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances. Elevated temperatures can also
lead to polluted water. A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power
plants and industrial manufacturers. Elevated water temperatures decrease oxygen levels, which can kill
fish and alter food chain composition, reduce species biodiversity, and foster invasion by
new thermophilic species.
Water pollution is measured by analyzing water samples. Physical, chemical and biological tests can be
done. Control of water pollution requires appropriate infrastructure and management plans. The
infrastructure may include wastewater treatment plants. Sewage treatment plants and industrial
wastewater treatment plants are usually required to protect water bodies from untreated
wastewater. Agricultural wastewater treatment for farms, and erosion control from construction sites can
also help prevent water pollution. Nature-based solutions are another approach to prevent water
pollution. Effective control of urban runoff includes reducing speed and quantity of flow. In the United
States, best management practices for water pollution include approaches to reduce the quantity of water
and improve water quality.

Water pollution can be defined as the contamination of a stream, river, lake, ocean or any
other stretch of water, depleting water quality and making it toxic for the environment
and humans.

There are two types of water pollution:

1.Organic pollution due to microorganisms - bacteria and viruses - present in the water,
generated by excrement, animal and vegetable waste
2.Chemical pollution generated by the nitrates and phosphates of pesticides, human and animal
drugs, household products, heavy metals, acids and hydrocarbons used in industries
II. CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION

The specific contaminants leading to pollution in water include a wide spectrum

of chemicals, pathogens, and physical changes such as elevated temperature and discoloration.
While many of the chemicals and substances that are regulated may be naturally occurring
(calcium, sodium, iron, manganese, etc.) the concentration usually determines what is a natural
component of water and what is a contaminant. High concentrations of naturally occurring
substances can have negative impacts on aquatic flora and fauna.
Oxygen-depleting substances may be natural materials such as plant matter (e.g. leaves and
grass) as well as man-made chemicals. Other natural and anthropogenic substances may
cause turbidity (cloudiness) which blocks light and disrupts plant growth, and clogs the gills of
some fish species.
Alteration of water's physical chemistry includes acidity (change in pH), electrical conductivity,
temperature, and eutrophication. Eutrophication is an increase in the concentration of chemical
nutrients in an ecosystem to an extent that increases the primary productivity of the ecosystem.
Depending on the degree of eutrophication, subsequent negative environmental effects such
as anoxia (oxygen depletion) and severe reductions in water quality may occur, affecting fish and
other animal populations.
 III. EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION

How does water pollution affect humans? Try drinking untreated water nowadays and your body
will immediately react to it. You will get a stomach ache at the least. Water-borne diseases
account for the deaths of 3,575,000 people a year! That’s equivalent to a jumbo jet crashing
every hour, and the majority of these are children.

Infectious diseases can be spread through contaminated water. Some of these water-borne
diseases are Typhoid, Cholera, Paratyphoid Fever, Dysentery, Jaundice, Amoebiasis and
Malaria.

Chemicals in the water also have negative effects on our health.

Pesticides – can damage the nervous system and cause cancer because of the carbonates and
organophosphates that they contain. Chlorides can cause reproductive and endocrinal damage.
Nitrates – are especially dangerous to babies that drink formula milk. It restricts the amount of
oxygen in the brain and cause the “blue baby” syndrome.

Lead – can accumulate in the body and damage the central nervous system.

Arsenic – causes liver damage, skin cancer and vascular diseases

Flourides - in excessive amounts can make your teeth yellow and cause damage to the spinal
cord.

Petrochemicals – even with very low exposure, can cause cancer.

IV. WAYS TO PREVENT

Here are the top 12 simple and easily implementable ways to counter water pollution.

1. Keep out oils, fat, or grease from the sink. Desist from pouring cooking oil, fat or grease
down the kitchen sink. Instead, keep a jar that collects all the fats, grease or oil then discard in
solid waste.

2. Abstain from flushing contaminated liquids, pills, drugs, or medications down the
drain. These substances contain scores of toxic materials that destroy the quality of natural water
systems. Instead, use the recommended disposal methods.

3. Desist from using the toilet as a bin. Most people discard dust clothes, paper wastes,
synthetic materials, and wrappers in the toilet. The destructive elements of these materials may
finally end up in the oceans, lakes or rivers. Desisting from this habit can considerably prevent
water pollution.
4. Ensure minimal use of bleach or detergents. During cleaning of laundry or cutleries, it is
vital to minimize the use of bleach and detergents. Instead, you can persist on only using
phosphate-free detergents and soaps.

5. Reduce the use of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. Excessive use of herbicides,
pesticides, and fertilizers leads to water pollution as the chemicals contained in the products
often find way into the water systems through surface runoff or infiltration into the soil.
Minimizing their usage or using organic methods for pest, weed, and disease control can
appreciably reduce water pollution.

6. Proper sewage treatment and management. Proper sewage treatment is required to limit the
amount of toxic substances that normally end up in water systems such as lakes, rivers, and
oceans. Also, individual homes that use septic tanks or cellar drains need to ensure proper
management of their home sewage to avoid pollution.

7. Dispose trash properly. When trash is not disposed properly some of the non-degradable
products such as diapers and sanitary towels may end up destroying the process of sewage
treatment, especially when they are flushed down the toilet. At times, poor disposal of solid non-
degradable materials such as plastics normally ends up littering the beaches and river banks.

8. Avoid direct dumping into water systems. By all means possible, we should desist from
disposing rubbish or any other waste products into lakes, rivers, streams or oceans. Still, you can
do the best to clean your local water body whenever you notice rubbish littering the beaches or
banks.

9. Always conserve water. Play an active role in reducing water pollution by conserving water
at all time. You can achieve this by ensuring the taps are always turned off when they are not in
use. Conserving water reduces the amount of contaminated water that needs to be treated.
10. Insist on using environmentally safe products. Whenever you purchase household
products such as cleaning material, medical supplies, paints, insect/ant repellants, or chemical
substances; always persist on obtaining and using products that are less harmful to the
environment.

11. Practice tree planting. Planting trees reduce the speed of surface water runoff and as such,
lessens erosion and prevents toxic substances and chemicals from washing into water systems. If
you live next to a water body, please take this initiative today and plant trees and vegetation
covers such as flowers, grass, and shrubs.

12. Re-use automobile oil as much as possible and keep your vehicle well maintained. Re-
using automobile oil reduces the amount of used oil that is discarded which may end up polluting
water bodies. Also, it is essential to keep your vehicle well maintained so as to prevent the
leakage of deadly fluids like oil and antifreeze.