Water pollution refers to water that is being contaminated. This means that the water is contaminated with harmful substances. It is the result of chemicals, garbage and other foreign particles that enter the water and contaminate the system. Pollution affects water bodies, such as ponds, lakes, rivers, sea and oceans and, consequently, affects the life of plants and organisms that live in these bodies of water. Contaminated water is not adequate and safe to drink and for other consumption processes as well. It is also not suitable for agricultural and industrial purposes. Water pollution is the second most important environmental problem: the first is air pollution.
In the old days, it was not required to filter the water since it was safe to drink. With the modernization of society and the advancement of technology, we have contaminated our environment without concern, since we feel that they are available at no cost. But as they have polluted the environment, natural resources are freely available, posing a great risk to our health and now we have to pay only to use natural resources in their safest form.
What are the causes of water pollution
Important sources of water pollution include the following:
Domestic Waste: Domestic waste is generated through various household activities. This household waste contains organic and inorganic materials such as phosphates and nitrates. People often throw garbage in the nearby water source, which leads to diseases, such as diarrhea
Agricultural Waste - Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used in agricultural farms in large quantities. In the case of rainfall, the runoff from the agricultural fields gets the mixture causing the water to contaminate, which in turn contaminates the water sources such as rivers, streams and lakes.
ndustrial Waste - Waste material that comes from industries contains many harmful and toxic substances. Some of the pollutants of industrial origin are heavy metals such as lead, mercury, nitrates, phosphates, oils, etc. These industrial effluents are a major source of water pollution.
Plastic: Plastics and other plastic-like substances such as fishing nets can become entangled in fish and many other marine mammals, causing injury to them. Sometimes, it can also cause death. The marine mammals that are killed by the plastic decompose easily, but the plastic does not decompose. This translates into the increasing number of deaths in aquatic life.
Hydrocarbon Pollution: Oil spills, shipping, and dumping are causing the oceans to become polluted. The oil can not be dissolved in water and forms a thick layer in the water. Due to the formation of this layer, the fish suffocate, leading to death. The oil layer also blocks the light from reaching the photosynthetic aquatic plants.
How to prevent water contamination
Making people aware of the problem, is the first and most important way to solve it. This can be done through proper education. The other methods include the following
Denitrification: Denitrification is a natural process that can be used to prevent the leaching of nitrates in the soil, which in turn stops any groundwater from being contaminated with nutrients.
Ozone treatment of wastewater - treatment with ozone from wastewater involves the use of an ozone generator that breaks down pollutants to prevent the continued spread of contamination in natural water sources. Ultraviolet radiation is the most common type of ozone generator that is used to break down wastewater pollutants.
Septic Tanks - Septic tanks are used to treat wastewater where it is located. It is usually used to treat wastewater from an individual building.
It is very necessary to treat water pollution, otherwise it puts plants, animals and human life at great risk. Therefore, it is necessary that each one of us take the appropriate measures to avoid that our most precious resource, water, continues to be contaminated.
