Solution Of Water Pollution

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.

Water is probably the most important resource we as people have. Humans can survive without food for several weeks, but without water we would die in less than a week. On a slightly less dramatic note, millions of liters of water are needed every day worldwide for washing, irrigating crops, and cooling industrial processes, not to mention leisure industries such as swimming pools and water-sports centers. Despite our dependence on water, we use it as a dumping ground for all sorts of waste, and do very little to protect the water supplies we have.

Water pollution has become a major problem in our water sources. People think that when they litter or dump in our waters that their little contribution will not hurt anything, but everyone’s little contributions add up to some major problems. Our water ecosystems and the species that reside in them are being destroyed and we need to take the steps necessary to stop this. Why would anyone use the source of most of the world’s food as a dumping ground for garbage? People need to start realizing what it is they are doing when they do not take the proper steps to dispose of their garbage and the problems they are making for the future.

It is easy person to point their finger at big industrial and chemical plants and blame them for the cause of so much pollution in our water. When taking a closer look, those same people pointing the finger are equally contributing to the pollution of our water supply and are also to blame. This person could be a friend, family member, classmate, or even you. Even if people do not think that they have a part in this, most do. A variety of data has shown traces of pharmaceuticals used by every day humans in our water. As well as pharmaceuticals there is a presence of chemical contaminants, mainly pesticides that are causing harm to our environment and wildlife. Even humans can be affected by such contamination in the water supply, and

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

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

Water pollution impacts how humans and other living organisms live their life. Most common way humans are effected by water pollution is through diseases while drinking the water. Scientists have found over “five hundred different types of diseases” that can affect humans. (Book). These diseases get into the water streams by human and animal wastes. The diseases in the water can often lead to death for humans. Recent research has shown that that each year

Pollution threatens our marine resources as well. Pollutants are released into the ocean as a

Three main ways our public drinking waters can become contaminated are by agricultural runoff, which have effects that go all the way from the effects of the remnants left behind from sprayed pesticides and unmanaged animal feces. Second, we have an oil and coal industry that just never stops. What comes from our oil industry ultimately ends up changing and altering the biology of the surrounding water with thermal pollution, and in some cases I have seen this reported as just as if not more damaging than bacterial or sedimentary pollution. The coal industry pollutes surrounding waters with sulfides from leaching. Illustrations are given below.

When we talk about how water is being polluted we just justify ourselves saying that there is a lot of water in this world and that a little bit of it getting damaged doesn’t matter at all. To understand the consequences of water pollution we first have to know what water pollution is and how it happens. Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies like lakes, rivers and oceans. This form of environmental degradation occurs “when pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds” (“Wikipedia”). Chemical waste from factories is sometimes dumped into rivers and lakes. These chemical

When looking at the ocean pollution caused by people it impacts animals and ourselves as humans. For many years, the unregulated dumping of chemicals, toxins and other waste directly into lakes, rivers, streams and oceans triggered disease and other risks to humans and wildlife(Calhoun 89). This can affect

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

Pollution affects all living species and almost all ecosystems. Studies have shown a link between air pollution and increased deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory problems. But, humans are not the only ones who are affected by air pollution. Dangerous toxins, like mercury, have shown to settle on plants and in water. Animals then consume the water and plants and then they become affected. The health effects of these poisons then go up through the food chain until it has reached the top. Animals at the top of the food chain are the ones with the largest concentrations of these toxins. Water pollution is another impactful factor in our ecosystems. Clean water is vital to the survival of life. Water is used for drinking, irrigating crops, and other recreational means. But water can easily be contaminated with improperly disposed industrial waste, agricultural runoff, mining activities, and waste treatment plants. Although most people can fight harmful bacteria and viruses, some with compromised immune systems, may not be able to fight them off. Life threatening conditions could occur; it could also affect wildlife in a harmful way. Soil contamination, which consist of harmful liquids or solids mixed with soil, can also affect humans and wildlife in a harmful way. If dangerous chemicals, or other harmful substances, mix with soil, they then can take root in plants that grow on them. If

            The ocean is a vast, and magnificent body of water; it stretches for miles all over the world. In truth, 71 percent of the earth is water-covered, moreover, 96.5 percent of all the water contained within the Earth is ocean water (water.usgs.gov). Comprised within these bodies of water the Indian, Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans, are millions of sea animals. These animals alike are at a high-danger risk, due to waste and debris throughout these oceans, such as, plastic, metal, rubber, and other man-made debris.

Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.