Freshwater Pollution : Harmful And Dangerous Hazard

When you think of problems in the world today, water pollution isn’t one that would normally come up. In fact it is one of the worst problems in the world today. Water pollution, by definition, is the contamination of streams, lakes, underground water, bays, or oceans by any substances harmful to living things. All living things contain water and most need water to survive, so water pollution is a big problem. If severe, the pollution can kill off birds, fish, and any animals that use the water source. In some cases even killing an entire species.

First a background on the problem with water pollution must be given. Both oceans and freshwater

Water pollution, as defined by the World Wildlife Fund, “happens when toxic substances enter water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans and so on, getting dissolved in them, lying suspended in the water or depositing on the bed.”1 In 1948, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act was passed by congress, but was later amended in 1972 in response to great public outcry—this amended document is what is now known as the Clean Water Act.2 Despite these national efforts, in a report released by the Environment America Research & Policy Center in 2014, Virginia was listed as one of the top five states with the largest discharge of toxic substances into waterways, documented at over eleven million pounds.3 Furthermore, in a 2014 report conducted by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, it was found that the water pollution has spread throughout sixteen-thousand miles of the state’s rivers.4

The freshwater that is available for use is becoming more contaminated with each use. The Clean Water Act of 1972 put in order more regulations in regards to wastewater and the dumping of it into rivers and lakes. Multiple-step filtration systems have been used since then to better remove toxins from wastes before it enters freshwater. In a personal interview with Moe Crabtree, Nature Resource Specialist for the Washington Department of Natural Resources, I learned some measures taken to keep water clean. Her common job is to setup timber sales which includes much precaution of rivers and streams. I asked her- “In what ways do you have to avoid water contamination?” she replied, “we have to divert culverts at minimum one hundred feet from

Water pollution is when, “one or more substances have built up in the water to such an extent that they cause problems for animals and people” (Woodford). Water pollution is also bad for humans and animal’s health. Sewage, chemicals, radioactive waste, oil pollution, and plastic, are some causes for water pollution (Explain That Stuff). When water from rain runs off roofs and roads into rivers it carries away trash, toxic chemicals, dirt, and harmful organisms (NRDC Water). Some solutions to these are to throw things into the correct bin, use water wisely, and not throw chemicals, oil, paints, and medicine down the sink, drain, or toilet. Also plant lots of trees and have cities develop a sewage treatment plant to minimize pollution (eSchool Today). It’s important to protect our

TRASH! TRASH! TRASH! Regardless of environmental laws that protect the quality of streams and lakes, garbage often ends up in our waters. Most of the trash comes from people who fish or participate in other forms of water-related recreation. Regardless of the source, trash is a form of water pollution. The most important issue facing us is the preserving of our waterways for future generations to enjoy. There are several things which can be done to make a difference regarding this issue so we will have a lifetime to enjoy our beautiful rivers and lakes.

This pollution also does harm to the nature resources all around us which affects our daily lives. Having dirty rivers because the death of fish will cause a chain reaction where the seals in the rivers will not have food to eat as well as humans. Not being able to fish causes less food on people’s dinner plate. As well as local business who depend on the river staying clean and providing them business for anglers to come and buy bait. This will also affect restaurants that depend on local fisherman who supply them with their daily seafood which they sell to their customers. Having less seafood will mean the closing down of business as well as not being able to eat fish which consumers will then turn to meat which will deplete thru resources even quicker. Having pollution in the bodies of water on the earth would be the worst situation since humans need water to live and survive. If all of the natural water sources have pollution in them; life on earth would cease to exist. This chain reaction all starts from one person littering and killing one

Water pollution is defined as “a change in the chemical, physical and biological health of a waterway due to human activity” (1). Over the past 50 years, pollution in the Great Lakes has been a rising concern. Pollution in the Great Lakes includes the disposal of sewage, heavy metals, invasive species, and pesticides that come from factory dumping, runoff of agriculture, nautical transportation, and air pollution. According to an article published by the US Department of Commerce, roughly 40 million people depend on the Great Lakes for drinking water, sport, power (electricity), and transportation (McCartney). The negative consequences of water pollution include, but are not limited to, the killing off of vital organisms, an increase in birth defects, infertility, malfunctioning nervous systems, and learning disabilities (McCartney).

According Oraclethinkquest, "Water pollution has the potential to have a harmful effect on all living things including plants and animal species. Chemicals, radioactive waste, industrial waste in the water can affect species and their development. There is no

Water pollution and lack of clean water is affecting our health. Water pollution and contaminated water is hurting us here in the United State and all around the world. We need to take charge and stop throwing harmful things into our

The quality of water in the Great Lakes not only effects the different species living in the lakes, but human health, all over Canada as well. “The five lakes occupy an area greater than half a billion square kilometers, have a shoreline of 17,000 kilometers, and are surrounded by a population of over 33 million.” (Sproule-Jones, Mark., 2002.) With the lakes being so massive there are plenty of different species living in them and people surrounding the lakes, living off the water. These factors make poor water quality an even bigger issue. Pollution can be seen in many forms; such as fecal contamination, toxic contamination from metals, nitrates and pesticides,

Water pollution has had devastating effects on the environment, which include irreversible effects to the ocean's ecosystem, health problems and abnormal conditions.

A reason that water pollution is a problem today is because many people don’t realize that they are hurting out water supplies when they really are. There are many pollutants that hurt our water supply such as farming. When farmers spray their fields with chemicals and apply fertilizers. Some of these chemicals reach the river, and animal urine and manure may be washed into the river. Another cause of water pollution is from accidents, such as tanker spills. Accidents with chemicals may cause river pollution as well. Mining can be another cause because the dusts and minerals get washed into the rivers. Seepage is another cause of water pollution. Because chemicals from waste dumps join the groundwater flow into the river. Urban Wastes is a major cause because the sewage comes from toilets, sinks, and industrial processes. This causes many human diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis, and cholera.

First of all, what I’m going to tell you is about how water pollution does to wildlife. According to care2.com, over one million birds are killed each year because they ingest plastic. 10 percent of the 100 million tons of plastic produced each year ends up in the ocean. Another thing is how cruise ships are dumping more than 250,000 gallons of sewage into the ocean, legally! Current regulations allow cruise ships to dump untreated sewage from the ship when it is three miles away from the shore. Most of the stuff they dump has harmful elements, such as, bacteria, pathogens, medical wastes, oils, even heavy metals! All of these are putting the marine life at risk of death. Also, water in the atmosphere is mixing with the chemicals emitted from burning fossil fuels, forming acidic compounds. Acid rain has had many effects on ecosystems, especially aquatic ones. Plus there are toxic amounts of aluminum being disposed improperly by being put into the water. This kills wildlife and throws delicate ecosystem out of balance. Don’t you see how deadly and harmful these actions truly are?

* Rampant pollution of water can render it unusable. Humans litter and industrial plants dump waste into freshwater rivers, lakes and streams. This waste typically contains toxic chemicals that make the water dangerously unhealthy. If the problem is not resolved, an estimated 18,000 square kilometers of freshwater around the world could be destroyed by 2050, according to an article from The Age in Australia.