Kiera Jefferson
Water is vulnerable to pollution as it is able to dissolve more substances than any other liquid on Earth. Freshwater sources receive contaminants from a wide range of sectors, threatening human and wildlife health. Pollution can enter water directly, through both legal and illegal discharges from factories, or imperfect water treatment plants. Spills and leaks from oil pipelines can degrade water supplies. Stormwater runoff from nonpoint source pollution is one of the most significant threats to aquatic ecosystems. As water runs over and through the watershed, it picks up and carries contaminants and soil. In addition, the agricultural sector is the biggest consumer of global freshwater resources, and it is also a serious water polluter. Every time it rains, fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste from farms wash nutrients and pathogens into our waterways.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of pollution | Point source, nonpoint source, transboundary |
| Pollutants | Big pieces of garbage, invisible chemicals, PFAS, oil, microplastics, toxic chemicals, radioactive waste, sewage, wastewater, nutrient run-off, industrial waste, agricultural waste, municipal waste, heavy metals, plastic, fertilizer, pesticides, bacteria, viruses, pathogens |
| Causes | Imperfect water treatment plants, spills and leaks, wind, storms, littering, industrial waste, agricultural waste, municipal waste, septic tanks, mining, petroleum production, leaking underground storage tanks, urbanization, industrialization, saltwater intrusion, flooding, leaks from factories, farms and cities |
| Effects | Human health issues, poisoned wildlife, long-term ecosystem damage, dead zones, rashes and other ailments, negative impact on tourism, diarrhoea, diseases, death |
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Industrial waste
The production of industrial goods generates wastewater that can be contaminated with toxic substances. This wastewater contains a mix of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and other pollutants such as antibiotics, hormones, ammonia, solvents, and petroleum. These substances are often not biodegradable and can accumulate in water sediments, leading to the illness and death of aquatic life.
Chemical companies are among the top industries releasing contaminants into water sources. For example, the now-defunct Diamond Alkali Co. in Newark, New Jersey, polluted the Passaic River, a drinking water source for millions, with chemicals used to make Agent Orange. In another instance, Anaconda Aluminum in Montana contaminated local water sources with lead and chromium.
In addition to chemical companies, utilities, plastics and rubber manufacturers, mining companies, and petroleum and coal producers are also significant contributors to water pollution. These industries release harmful substances such as benzene, lead, chromium, and volatile organic compounds into water sources.
The release of untreated industrial wastewater has severe consequences for freshwater ecosystems. It affects key parameters such as oxygen demand and suspended solids, making it difficult for aquatic life to survive. The self-purification processes of rivers are slowed down, and the community structure is altered. Furthermore, infectious diseases from polluted waters can pose life-threatening risks to both humans and animals.
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Agricultural waste
Agriculture is the single largest consumer of freshwater resources, using about 70% of the world's surface water supplies. It is also a significant polluter of freshwater sources.
Secondly, agricultural activities contribute to chemical runoff, which contaminates surface and groundwater. Pesticides and fertilisers used in farming can leach into water sources, posing risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health. In semi-arid areas, livestock waste near drinking troughs can contaminate wells, leading to high nitrate levels. Furthermore, the improper disposal of silage and slurry leakages from fish farms can result in organic pollution.
Thirdly, agricultural practices can lead to soil erosion, sedimentation, and salinisation of water bodies. Poor agricultural techniques, such as net soil loss and waterlogging of irrigated land, contribute to the degradation of water quality.
Finally, the unsafe use of wastewater in agriculture can introduce microbiological and chemical pollutants into water sources. While treated wastewater can be beneficial, providing both water and nutrients, untreated wastewater can contaminate crops and transmit diseases to consumers and farm workers.
To mitigate these issues, various measures can be implemented. These include buffer strips of vegetation along farms and rivers to reduce pollutant concentrations entering waterways, integrated farming systems to optimise resource use and reduce pollution, and proper wastewater treatment to ensure its safe application in agriculture. Additionally, farmers can play a leadership role in watershed efforts by collaborating with various organisations to reduce nutrient pollution and implement best management practices to minimise environmental impacts.
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Oil spills
Large oil spills are major disasters that can have long-lasting consequences. They typically occur when pipelines break, large oil tanker ships sink, or drilling operations go wrong. Oil spills can also happen due to operational releases from vessels or tanker accidents. Operational releases are often a result of non-compliance with regulations or the arbitrary discharge of waste oil and oil-contaminated water. Accidents involving tankers, barges, pipelines, refineries, drilling rigs, and storage facilities are the most common cause of oil spills.
The behaviour of oil in freshwater is influenced by natural dispersion, evaporation, sedimentation, and dilution. Natural dispersion occurs when turbulence and waves break down an oil slick into droplets of varying sizes in the upper water layer. These droplets may remain suspended in the water column, resurface, or sink and attach to organic material or sediment particulates. Evaporation typically occurs in the initial hours or days after a spill, unless new oil is continuously introduced. Sedimentation is more common in freshwater due to its lower water density, causing oil to sink or remain suspended underwater. Dilution of oil droplets can occur through biodegradation, depending on local microbial communities and adequate water depth for mixing.
Overall, oil spills in freshwater sources can have significant impacts, but there are knowledge gaps regarding their effects and effective remediation techniques.
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Plastic pollution
The primary sources of plastic pollution in freshwater sources are land-based, stemming from urban and stormwater runoff, littering, industrial activities, tyre abrasion, construction, and agriculture. The improper disposal of plastic waste is a significant contributor, with lightweight single-use plastic products and packaging often discarded at or near the location of consumption. This waste is then carried by wind or water into freshwater sources, where it accumulates and breaks down into microplastics (smaller than 5mm) and nanoplastics (smaller than 100nm) through solar radiation, wind, and other natural factors.
Littering is a major cause of plastic pollution in freshwater sources, as individuals fail to dispose of single-use plastic items properly, such as food wrappings, plastic bags, bottles, and straws. These items end up in waterways and eventually in freshwater ecosystems. Additionally, plastic pollution results from improper manufacturing processes, with microplastics shed from products like synthetic textiles and tyres through abrasion.
The impact of plastic pollution on freshwater ecosystems is significant. Wildlife, such as birds, fish, and turtles, mistake plastic waste for food, leading to ingestion, suffocation, and internal injuries that reduce their ability to survive. Plastic pollution also transports invasive alien species, contributing to biodiversity loss and species extinction. Furthermore, plastic pollution alters habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems' ability to adapt to climate change and affecting human livelihoods, food production, and social well-being.
To address plastic pollution in freshwater sources, a systemic transformation is necessary. While recycling is important, it is not sufficient, as only about 10% of plastic is currently recycled, and recycled plastic is "properly" disposed of, whereas plastic pollution arises from improper disposal. Instead, a global plastics treaty is needed to reduce plastic production, phase out harmful products, and implement strong national plans and rigorous reporting mechanisms. Public education and sustained funding are also crucial to combat littering and reduce the consumption of single-use disposable goods.
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Sewage and wastewater
Sewage treatment processes aim to reduce pathogen and organic matter levels in wastewater. However, they do not eliminate them entirely, and even treated sewage can harm freshwater ecosystems. Research has shown that treated wastewater can cause subtle yet fundamental shifts in ecosystem function, even when released into an unpolluted stream. These shifts in energy flows through the ecosystem can be challenging to isolate and understand, as water upstream of wastewater treatment plants may already be degraded.
In addition to the issues with treatment, ageing and inadequate sewage infrastructure contributes to the problem. In the United States, the average age of sewer pipes is 33 years, with some pipes in cities on the eastern seaboard being nearly 200 years old. Urban sprawl into the countryside has increased the amount of stormwater surging into sewers and the amount of pollution spewing out. According to the EPA, America's wastewater infrastructure releases over 850 billion gallons of untreated wastewater each year, causing sewage to spill onto streets and parks and pour into rivers and streams.
Untreated human sewage contains various harmful contaminants, including salmonella, hepatitis, dysentery, and cryptosporidium. The release of untreated sewage into waterways has sparked public outcry in the UK, with water companies facing fines and legal changes following illegal discharges. Sewage in waterways poses a danger to human health and can have detrimental effects on aquatic plants and animals. For example, sewage can cause algal blooms, which block light needed for photosynthesis and deplete oxygen levels in the water, leading to the death of fish and other organisms.
Overall, sewage and wastewater pollution is a significant issue that requires attention. It poses risks to both human health and the delicate balance of freshwater ecosystems. While treatment processes can help, they are not always accessible or entirely effective, and infrastructure updates are costly and time-consuming. A combination of improved infrastructure, conservation efforts, and cross-sector collaboration is needed to address this complex problem effectively.
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Frequently asked questions
Freshwater pollution occurs due to various sources, including municipal, industrial, and agricultural waste, wastewater, nutrient runoff, power generation, heavy industry, automobiles, and others. Industrial waste is one of the biggest sources of water contamination, with many industrial sites producing toxic chemicals and pollutants and dumping them into nearby freshwater systems.
Freshwater pollution has significant health and environmental impacts. Unsafe water kills more people each year than war and all other forms of violence combined, with 4,000 children dying daily from diseases caused by polluted water and inadequate sanitation. Pollution also harms wildlife, with increased discharges of untreated sewage, fertilizer, and chemicals triggering pathogen, chemical, and nutrient pollution, leading to an overgrowth of plant life and “dead zones" where oxygen levels are too low for marine life to survive.
Notable examples of freshwater pollution include the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, which released over 4 million barrels of oil, and the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska's Prince William Sound in 1989, which released 260,000 barrels. In addition, studies have found microplastics in every aquatic organism tested, including seafood, raising concerns about potential health effects.
