Water Pollutants: Common Sources and Their Harmful Effects.

BY Team Aakash Byjus

Pollution can be defined as the entry of harmful materials into the environment.

Pollution:

Pollutants are harmful materials which can pollute the environment.

Pollutants:

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Types of Pollution: Environmental pollution can be categorised into mainly three types. These include air pollution, water pollution and land pollution.

Contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and ponds by harmful materials makes the water impure and unusable for drinking, cooking, cleaning and other activities.

Water pollution:

Harmful chemicals, microorganisms, trash, parasites, pesticides, fertilisers, and radioactive substances pollute water resources.

Water pollutants:

Big factories discharge harmful materials into the environment.

Sources of water pollution:

Industrial waste:

Agricultural run-off carries pesticides and fertilisers, which pollute water sources.

Pesticides and fertilisers:

Nuclear power plants all around the country release radioactive waste into the air, water and soil.

Radioactive waste:

Improper sewage disposal also causes water pollution.

Radioactive waste:

Accidental oil leakage can cause underground water pollution as well as may pollute marine water. During the transportation of crude oil

Dumping solid waste, burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and mining activities also cause water pollution.

Eutrophication: Chemicals in the water encourage the growth of algae. This decreases the oxygen levels in the water, which affects aquatic forms.

Effects of water pollution:

 Microbial contamination can spread diseases like Typhoid, Malaria etc.

Diseases:

Water pollution can cause the entire ecosystem to spoil.

Imbalance of Ecosystem:

Toxic chemicals in polluted water can destroy aquatic life.

Disruption of the food chain: