What is Water Pollution: Types, Sources, Causes, Effects, Controls

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This is the best essay on What is Water Pollution: Types of Water Pollution, Sources of Water Pollution, Causes of Water Pollution, Effects of Water Pollution, Controls of Water Pollution in a very simple and short way.

Water pollution is the contamination of unwanted and noxious elements in water bodies that deteriorate the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water which make it harmful to living organisms of the earth. Water gets polluted through both natural and anthropogenic activities.

What Is Water Pollution?

“Water pollution may be defined as Contamination of anything that makes water dirty and unhealthy which is also harmful to biotic and abiotic components of the earth. water pollution occurs when toxic chemicals and Excessive biological agents deposits on water or underground water. water gets polluted by naturally and various human activities.“

In simple words, we can say that water pollution is the mixing of various types of impurities in water bodies, that makes water harmful for living organisms. these living organisms may be aquatic and terrestrial.

Sources of Water Pollution

There are so many sources that can pollute the water. here we are not going into deep to understand the Sources of Water Pollution. We will discuss it in another article. here we are providing the short note on Sources of Water Pollution.

Some popular examples of water pollutants are Detergents, industrial solvents. , acidic buildup, chemical waste, insecticides, petroleum, fertilizers and sediments, marine debris, the trashes from runoff, Thermal pollution caused by humans (Coolants released by power plants or by urban runoff)

These all pollutants are primarily coming from following sources such as Sewage (Waste Water), Agricultural Pollution, Oil Pollution, Radioactive Substances, River dumping, Marine Dumping etc.

Causes of Water Pollution

There are both natural and anthropogenic causes of water pollution. Following are the various types of causes which are primarily responsible for water pollution.
Excretion of human excreta into rivers, canals etc is a big cause which pollutes fresh water of rivers and ponds.

Dumping of waste materials into rivers and ponds by various industrial units.
One of the major cause is the dissolving toxic chemicals and fertilizers which are used in agriculture to boost the yield of the crop.
Dumping of household material in the nearby water source pollutes water on a daily basis.
While oils collect from wells it mixed with water, it also pollutes the water.
DDT, BHC etc pesticides also pollute the water.

Types of Water Pollutants

We can categorise water pollutants into four categories.

Organic Water Pollutants: Manure or sewage
Inorganic water contaminants: Mining, industrial or agricultural chemicals
Macroscopic water pollutants: caused by microorganisms.
Thermal Pollutants: Change in temperature by human activities

Effects of Water Pollution

Harms marine animals and fishes etc. Ultimately affecting the food chain.

Water Pollution causes various Diseases in live stocks, humans, and other aquatic species. It causes typhoid, cholera, hepatitis and various other diseases are caused by water pollution.
Water pollution can destroy the entire ecosystem and its living organisms.
Eutrophication is another harmful effect of Water pollution. Eutrophication is due to Chemicals in a water body, encourage the growth of algae. In eutrophication, algae form a layer on top of the water bodies pond or lake. Eutrophication occurs in water bodies which are stable.
Water Pollution disturbs the entire food chain. The food chain disturbance starts when toxins and pollutants are consumed by aquatic species (fish, shellfish etc).

How to Prevent Water Pollution?

Cleanliness and proper management of dirty water bodies are very important.
Population growth has to be reduced as soon as possible to prevent different types of pollutions.
Deforestation for housing and other reasons is also to promote water pollution.
We have to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers to boost the yield of the crop. we can replace it with organic fertilizers.
We have to reduce the use of pesticides and other chemicals to control harmful pests in agriculture. we have to adopt biological control instead of chemicals.
Different types of waste materials will have to be reused to stop water pollution.
We have to stop contamination of dirty water into freshwater bodies (such as rivers, ponds) coming from factories directly into the river-drain and other water bodies.
We should make people aware of the environment and its importance.. so that peoples will help to reduce various types of pollutions.

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