
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies with harmful substances that negatively affect their uses. Water pollution is typically referred to as polluted water when it is impaired by anthropogenic contaminants and contains high levels of harmful substances that cannot be drunk or used for essential purposes. Water pollution is usually a result of human activities and can lead to many problems such as the degradation of aquatic ecosystems and spreading water-borne diseases.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Definition | Water whose composition has been changed to the extent that it is unusable |
Impacts | Reduced availability of good quality water, degradation of aquatic ecosystems, spreading of water-borne diseases, reduction in ecosystem services |
Sources | Agriculture, urban areas, wastewater, industrial discharges, sewage discharges, agricultural activities, urban runoff, stormwater, bacteria, viruses, parasites, fertilisers, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, nitrates, phosphates, plastics, faecal waste, radioactive substances |
Human Impact | Impaired human use, marked shift in ability to support biotic communities, drinking water, irrigation |
What You'll Learn
Water pollution causes
Water pollution is the addition of substances or energy forms that directly or indirectly alter the nature of the water body in such a manner that negatively affects its legitimate uses. Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is impaired by anthropogenic contaminants. Water pollution results when contaminants mix with these water bodies. Contaminants can come from one of four main sources: sewage discharges, industrial activities, agricultural activities, and urban runoff including stormwater.
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, with a negative impact on their uses. It is usually a result of human activities. Water bodies include lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, reservoirs and groundwater. Water pollution may affect either surface water or groundwater. This form of pollution can lead to many problems. One is the degradation of aquatic ecosystems. Another is spreading water-borne diseases when people use polluted water for drinking or irrigation.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that polluted water is water whose composition has been changed to the extent that it is unusable. In other words, it is toxic water that cannot be drunk or used for essential purposes like agriculture, and which also causes diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and poliomyelitis that kill more than 500,000 people worldwide every year. The main water pollutants include bacteria, viruses, parasites, fertilisers, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, nitrates, phosphates, plastics, faecal waste and even radioactive substances. These substances do not always change the colour of the water, meaning that they are often invisible pollutants.
The most common sources of water pollution are from agriculture, urban areas and wastewater, industrial discharges, as well as plastic and other litter. Water pollution also reduces the ecosystem services such as drinking water provided by the water resource. Pollution is decreasing the availability of good quality water.
Water pollution is pollution of water bodies with a negative impact on their uses. It is usually a result of human activities. Water bodies include lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, reservoirs and groundwater. Water pollution may affect either surface water or groundwater. This form of pollution can lead to many problems. One is the degradation of aquatic ecosystems. Another is spreading water-borne diseases when people use polluted water for drinking or irrigation.
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Waterborne diseases spread
Waterborne diseases are illnesses that are spread through contaminated water. Water pollution is the addition of substances or energy forms that alter the nature of the water body in such a way that it negatively affects its legitimate uses. Water pollution is caused by contaminants that mix with water bodies like lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, reservoirs, and groundwater. These contaminants can come from sewage discharges, industrial activities, agricultural activities, and urban runoff.
Waterborne diseases are caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, fertilisers, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, nitrates, phosphates, plastics, faecal waste, and even radioactive substances. These substances do not always change the colour of the water, meaning that they are often invisible pollutants. Waterborne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and poliomyelitis are caused by drinking polluted water. These diseases kill more than 500,000 people worldwide every year.
Water pollution also reduces the ecosystem services such as drinking water provided by the water resource. Water pollution is decreasing the availability of good-quality water. Water pollution is caused by agriculture, urban areas, and wastewater, industrial discharges, as well as plastic and other litter.
Waterborne diseases are a major public health concern in many parts of the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that polluted water causes diseases that kill more than 500,000 people worldwide every year. Waterborne diseases are particularly prevalent in developing countries where sanitation and water treatment facilities are inadequate.
To prevent the spread of waterborne diseases, it is important to ensure that water sources are protected from contamination and that water is treated properly before use. This includes boiling water before drinking and using water purification techniques such as chlorination and filtration. Additionally, improving sanitation and hygiene practices can help to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases.
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Ecosystem degradation
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies with a negative impact on their uses. It is usually a result of human activities. Water bodies include lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, reservoirs and groundwater. Water pollution results when contaminants mix with these water bodies. Contaminants can come from one of four main sources. These are sewage discharges, industrial activities, agricultural activities, and urban runoff including stormwater. Water pollution may affect either surface water or groundwater. This form of pollution can lead to many problems. One is the degradation of aquatic ecosystems. Another is spreading water-borne diseases when people use polluted water for drinking or irrigation.
Water pollution also reduces the ecosystem services such as drinking water provided by the water resource. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that polluted water is water whose composition has been changed to the extent that it is unusable. In other words, it is toxic water that cannot be drunk or used for essential purposes like agriculture, and which also causes diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and poliomyelitis that kill more than 500,000 people worldwide every year. The main water pollutants include bacteria, viruses, parasites, fertilisers, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, nitrates, phosphates, plastics, faecal waste and even radioactive substances. These substances do not always change the colour of the water, meaning that they are often invisible pollutants.
Pollution is decreasing the availability of good quality water. What can we do to tackle it at source? Water is polluted when it contains high levels of harmful substances. These substances include toxic chemicals and microorganisms and are often invisible. But they are dangerous for our health and for the environment and it means that we cannot drink or use this water. The most common sources of water pollution are from agriculture, urban areas and wastewater, industrial discharges, as well as plastic and other litter.
Water pollution is the addition of substances or energy forms that directly or indirectly alter the nature of the water body in such a manner that negatively affects its legitimate uses. Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is impaired by anthropogenic contaminants. Due to these contaminants, it either no longer supports a certain human use, such as drinking water, or undergoes a marked shift in its ability to support its biotic communities, such as fish. The following compounds can all reach water bodies via raw sewage or even treated sewage discharges: Various chemical compounds found in personal hygiene and cosmetic products.
Pollution is decreasing the availability of good quality water. What can we do to tackle it at source? Water is polluted when it contains high levels of harmful substances. These substances include toxic chemicals and microorganisms and are often invisible. But they are dangerous for our health and for the environment and it means that we cannot drink or use this water. The most common sources of water pollution are from agriculture, urban areas and wastewater, industrial discharges, as well as plastic and other litter.
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Anthropogenic contaminants
Water pollution is the addition of substances or energy forms that directly or indirectly alter the nature of the water body in such a manner that negatively affects its legitimate uses. Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is impaired by anthropogenic contaminants. These contaminants can come from sewage discharges, industrial activities, agricultural activities, and urban runoff including stormwater.
Water pollution can lead to many problems, including the degradation of aquatic ecosystems and the spread of water-borne diseases. It can also reduce the ecosystem services provided by the water resource, such as drinking water.
Water pollution is a global issue that affects lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, reservoirs and groundwater. It is a result of human activities and can have serious consequences for human health and the environment.
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Water quality decrease
Water pollution is the addition of substances or energy forms that alter the nature of the water body in such a manner that negatively affects its legitimate uses. Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is impaired by anthropogenic contaminants. Due to these contaminants, it either no longer supports a certain human use, such as drinking water, or undergoes a marked shift in its ability to support its biotic communities, such as fish.
Water pollution also reduces the ecosystem services such as drinking water provided by the water resource. Sources of water pollution are either point sources or non-point sources. The main water pollutants include bacteria, viruses, parasites, fertilisers, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, nitrates, phosphates, plastics, faecal waste and even radioactive substances. These substances do not always change the colour of the water, meaning that they are often invisible pollutants.
Water pollution is usually a result of human activities. Water bodies include lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, reservoirs and groundwater. Water pollution results when contaminants mix with these water bodies. Contaminants can come from one of four main sources. These are sewage discharges, industrial activities, agricultural activities, and urban runoff including stormwater. Water pollution may affect either surface water or groundwater. This form of pollution can lead to many problems. One is the degradation of aquatic ecosystems. Another is spreading water-borne diseases when people use polluted water for drinking or irrigation.
Pollution is decreasing the availability of good quality water. Water is polluted when it contains high levels of harmful substances. These substances include toxic chemicals and microorganisms and are often invisible. But they are dangerous for our health and for the environment and it means that we cannot drink or use this water. The most common sources of water pollution are from agriculture, urban areas and wastewater, industrial discharges, as well as plastic and other litter.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that polluted water is water whose composition has been changed to the extent that it is unusable. In other words, it is toxic water that cannot be drunk or used for essential purposes like agriculture, and which also causes diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and poliomyelitis that kill more than 500,000 people worldwide every year.
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Frequently asked questions
Water is polluted when it contains high levels of harmful substances such as toxic chemicals and microorganisms. These substances are often invisible but are dangerous for our health and the environment.
The main causes of water pollution are sewage discharges, industrial activities, agricultural activities, and urban runoff including stormwater.
Water pollution can lead to many problems including the degradation of aquatic ecosystems and spreading water-borne diseases. It also reduces the ecosystem services such as drinking water provided by the water resource.