"Water pollution (or aquatic pollution) is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities, so that it negatively affects its uses."
An exploration of the different types of water pollutants, sources of water contamination, and the impact of water pollution on human health, aquatic life, and the environment. It also covers water treatment methods and regulations.
Water pollutants: Different types of pollutants that can contaminate water, including chemical, biological and physical pollutants.
Sources of water pollution: Different sources of water pollution such as domestic, agricultural, industrial, and natural sources.
Water quality parameters: Parameters that determine the quality of water such as dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and turbidity.
Water treatment: Different methods used to treat polluted water such as physical, chemical, and biological treatment.
Point and non-point sources of pollution: The difference between point and non-point sources of pollution and their impact on water quality.
Eutrophication: The process of nutrient enrichment of water bodies leading to excessive growth of algae and resulting in oxygen depletion.
Toxicity: The harmful effects of chemicals on aquatic organisms and humans.
Sedimentation: The process of deposition of solids in water bodies, resulting in reduced water quality.
Bioaccumulation: The accumulation of toxic substances in the food chain.
Effects of pollution on aquatic ecosystems: The impact of pollution on aquatic habitats, aquatic life, and biodiversity.
Regulatory frameworks: The different international, national, and local regulations governing water quality and pollution control.
Case studies: Real-world examples of water pollution events and their causes, impacts, and management strategies.
Chemical pollution: Caused by harmful chemicals, such as pesticides, fertilizers, and heavy metals, that get released into water bodies through industrial processes, agriculture, and human activities.
Nutrient pollution: Caused by excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, that get discharged into water bodies from agricultural and industrial runoff, sewage treatment plants, and animal feedlots.
Biological Pollution: Caused by harmful microorganisms, such as bacterias and viruses, that get present in the waterbody due to human and animal waste disposal, runoff from farms, livestock operation, and sewage treatment facilities.
Thermal pollution: Occurs when water bodies receive very hot water from manufacturing or power industries, discharging water that is higher by few degrees. Thermal pollution can harm aquatic life and impact the ecosystem.
Radiological pollution: Caused by radioactive materials, such as nuclear waste, that may get exposed to water bodies due to accidents in power plants, disposal of radioactive waste, and other radioactive materials.
Petroleum pollution: Caused by oil spills and leaks during oil transportation, and offshore drilling operations in water bodies, which affect aquatic life and cause severe ecological damage.
Suspended industrial solids: These are fine particles, produced by the manufacturing or industrial production process, that, when introduced into water bodies, block sunlight and decrease dissolved oxygen, essential for aquatic life.
Plastic pollution: caused by large plastics in oceans: Small-sized plastics that get through drains or sanitary pipes, that breaks down into a tiny-size plastic that affects both marine and human life.
Agricultural pollution: Arises from agricultural activities such as fertilizers and pesticides runoff, which pollute water bodies and harm the ecosystem.
Acid mine drainage: When sulfur-containing minerals are exposed to air and water, they produce acidic runoff that can harm aquatic life.
Marine debris: The presence of debris in water bodies that may arise from fishing nets, garbage, and plastic that can harm aquatic life and disrupt the ecosystem.
"Contaminants can come from one of four main sources: sewage discharges, industrial activities, agricultural activities, and urban runoff including stormwater."
"This form of pollution can lead to many problems, such as the degradation of aquatic ecosystems."
"Spreading water-borne diseases when people use polluted water for drinking or irrigation."
"Water pollution reduces the ecosystem services (such as providing drinking water) that the water resource would otherwise provide."
"Water pollution is either surface water pollution or groundwater pollution."
"Point sources have one identifiable cause, such as a storm drain, a wastewater treatment plant or an oil spill. Non-point sources are more diffuse, such as agricultural runoff."
"Pollution is the result of the cumulative effect over time."
"Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances."
"A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers."
"Control of water pollution requires appropriate infrastructure and management plans as well as legislation."
"Technology solutions can include improving sanitation, sewage treatment, industrial wastewater treatment, agricultural wastewater treatment, erosion control, sediment control, and control of urban runoff (including stormwater management)."
"Contaminants can come from one of four main sources: sewage discharges, industrial activities, agricultural activities, and urban runoff including stormwater."
"Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances. A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers."
"Stressful conditions (e.g., changes of pH, hypoxia or anoxia, increased temperatures, excessive turbidity, changes of salinity)."
"Contaminants can come from one of four main sources: sewage discharges, industrial activities, agricultural activities, and urban runoff including stormwater."
"Technology solutions can include improving sanitation, sewage treatment, industrial wastewater treatment, agricultural wastewater treatment, erosion control, sediment control, and control of urban runoff (including stormwater management)."
"Control of water pollution requires appropriate infrastructure and management plans as well as legislation."
"Water pollution is either surface water pollution or groundwater pollution. This form of pollution can lead to many problems, such as the degradation of aquatic ecosystems or spreading water-borne diseases when people use polluted water for drinking or irrigation."
"Contaminants can come from one of four main sources: sewage discharges, industrial activities, agricultural activities, and urban runoff including stormwater."