Helena Joyce
Water pollution can be categorised into four main types: pathogens, inorganic compounds, organic material and macroscopic pollutants. Inorganic materials such as heavy metals and chemicals can cause severe health problems in humans and other organisms. Organic material includes pesticides and fungicides used in farming, which can contaminate groundwater and disrupt aquatic ecosystems. Macroscopic pollutants are large, visible items in waterways, such as plastic waste, wood, metal and shipwrecks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pathogens | Bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that can cause disease |
| Inorganic compounds | Heavy metals like arsenic, mercury, copper, chromium, zinc, and barium |
| Organic material | Plants, animals, and other organic matter that can decompose and release nutrients |
| Macroscopic pollutants | Large, visible items in waterways or bodies of water |
| Chemical pollutants | Pesticides, fungicides, metals, and solvents from industrial sites |
What You'll Learn
Pathogens
To prevent the spread of pathogens in water sources, it is important to implement proper sanitation and hygiene practices. This includes treating wastewater before it is released back into the environment and ensuring that sewage and animal waste are properly disposed of. Additionally, regular monitoring of water sources for pathogens can help to identify and address potential contamination issues.
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Inorganic compounds
These materials contain molecules that have carbon in their makeup. One of the most frequently detected volatile organic chemicals is methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). MTBE was formerly used as an air-cleaning gas additive.
Agriculture is a key source of water pollution, especially for groundwater. Fertilisers and pesticides applied to crops can seep into the ground and contaminate underwater rivers and waterbeds, thus compromising the quality of wells, boreholes and other places from which groundwater is extracted for human use.
Chemicals can infiltrate both underground water sources and those sitting on the Earth’s surface. As an integral component of the agricultural industry, it’s unsurprising that much of chemical contamination comes from the pesticides and fungicides used in farming, but metals and solvents from industrial sites are also leading contributors.
The most common type of water pollution, chemicals can infiltrate both underground water sources and those sitting on the Earth’s surface. As an integral component of the agricultural industry, it’s unsurprising that much of chemical contamination comes from the pesticides and fungicides used in farming, but metals and solvents from industrial sites are also leading contributors.
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Organic material
The most frequently detected volatile organic chemicals is methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). MTBE was formerly used as an air-cleaning gas additive.
Other types of organic material pollution include nurdles (small plastic pellets), pieces of wood, metal, and even obvious things like shipwrecks and shipping containers. This form of water pollution is arguably the most manageable, however it is an urgent environmental issue that these larger pollutants be removed in order to avoid disruption of aquatic ecosystems and contamination upon the chemical breakdown of these objects.
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Macroscopic pollutants
Water pollution is the contamination of water by pollutants such as bacteria, parasites, chemicals, and trash like plastic. Water pollution is when waterways become damaged by contaminants, making them unsuitable for human use, or when it creates an undesirable or dangerous environment for aquatic life. When water becomes polluted, harmful substances contaminate the water, making it toxic. Water pollutants include chemicals, bacteria, parasites, and trash.
Water pollution is the most common type of pollution, therefore, understanding what water pollution is, and its effects are essential to improving water quality. Water pollution occurs when toxic compounds from farms, towns, and factories dissolve and mix with it. Water is very susceptible to pollution because water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid found on Earth. Water can become polluted both directly and indirectly, so understanding the different types of water pollution and the causes, can help improve water quality.
Surface water pollution occurs in three ways: naturally, accidentally, and intentionally. Naturally: Flooding or tsunamis, that pick up fertilizers, pesticides, debris, and other contaminants. Accidentally: Oil spills and agricultural runoff. Intentionally: Industries dumping waste directly into waterways. Waste such as plastics, rubber, and other man-made materials that are improperly disposed of and cannot be broken down easily in water is called particulate or suspended matter.
Chemical pollution is one of the types of water pollution. Chemical pollution is when harmful pollutants pollute a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water, the water quality deteriorates and the water becomes toxic to humans or the environment. Groundwater pollution is another type of water pollution. Groundwater comes from below the Earth’s surface, found in stores called aquifers. Groundwater pollution occurs when toxic compounds from farms, towns, and factories dissolve and mix with it.
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Inorganic materials
Water pollution is the contamination of water by pollutants such as bacteria, parasites, chemicals, and trash like plastic. Water pollution is when waterways become damaged by contaminants, making them unsuitable for human use, or when it creates an undesirable or dangerous environment for aquatic life. When water becomes polluted, harmful substances contaminate the water, making it toxic. Water pollutants include chemicals, bacteria, parasites, and trash.
Water pollution is the most common type of pollution, therefore, understanding what water pollution is, and its effects are essential to improving water quality. Water is very susceptible to pollution because water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid found on Earth. Water can become polluted both directly and indirectly, so understanding the different types of water pollution and the causes, can help improve water quality.
Water contamination occurs when toxic compounds from farms, towns, and factories dissolve and mix with it. Groundwater comes from below the Earth’s surface, found in stores called aquifers. Surface water refers to all bodies of water above the Earth’s surface, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers. Any hazardous substance that comes into contact with surface water is called surface water pollution.
Waste such as plastics, rubber, and other man-made materials that are improperly disposed of and cannot be broken down easily in water is called particulate or suspended matter. Oil spills and agricultural runoff are also examples of surface water pollution. Industries dumping waste directly into waterways is another example of surface water pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
Water pollutants include chemicals, bacteria, parasites, and trash like plastic.
Water can become polluted both directly and indirectly. Waterways can become damaged by contaminants, making them unsuitable for human use, or when it creates an undesirable or dangerous environment for aquatic life.
Chemical pollution is defined as the presence or addition of undesired chemicals in water.
Groundwater pollution is one of the main types of water pollution and occurs when toxic compounds from farms, towns, and factories dissolve and mix with groundwater.
Surface water pollution occurs when hazardous substances come into contact with surface water and can occur in three ways: naturally, accidentally, and intentionally.
