"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."
Contamination of bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans, by human activities such as dumping waste and chemicals.
Types of water pollution: This topic involves understanding the various types of water pollution, such as surface water pollution, groundwater pollution, marine pollution, and atmospheric pollution.
Sources of water pollution: This topic covers the different sources of water pollution, including industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, oil spills, and sewage treatment plants.
Impacts of water pollution: This topic discusses the negative effects of water pollution on human health, aquatic life, and the environment.
Water quality standards: This topic covers the standards set by regulatory bodies to ensure the quality of water in different aspects.
Monitoring and assessment: This topic involves the monitoring of water quality and the assessment of the effects of water pollution on the environment.
Laws and regulations: This topic covers the various laws and regulations related to water pollution at the local, state, and federal levels.
Water treatment technology: This topic explains different water treatment technologies used to remove pollutants from contaminated water.
Best practices for preventing water pollution: This topic discusses the best practices and strategies to prevent water pollution, such as reducing chemical use and waste disposal, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Community engagement: This topic involves engaging communities in the fight against water pollution by raising awareness, encouraging participation, and building capacity.
International cooperation and agreements: This topic covers international cooperation and agreements aimed at preventing and controlling water pollution, such as the International Maritime Organization's International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.
Inorganic Chemical Contamination: This occurs when inorganic chemicals from industries, agriculture, and mining are discharged into water bodies, contaminating the water.
Organic Chemical Contamination: This occurs when organic chemicals in pesticides, herbicides, and industrial chemicals are discharged into water bodies, contaminating the water.
Pathogenic Contamination: This occurs when microbial organisms like bacteria, virus, or parasites contaminate water due to inadequate sewage treatment or sewage disposal practices.
Thermal Pollution: This occurs when water is used as a coolant by industries and power plants and then discharged back into water bodies at a much higher temperature, which can have a negative impact on aquatic flora and fauna.
Radioactive Contamination: This occurs when radioactive materials from nuclear power plants, medical laboratories, and other sources are discharged into water bodies, contaminating the water.
Eutrophication: This occurs when excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are discharged into water bodies, leading to the growth of harmful algal blooms that consume oxygen, leading to a decline in fish and other aquatic life.
Sediment Pollution: This occurs when soil and other particles get washed into water bodies due to human activities like deforestation, mining, and construction, making water cloudy and reducing light penetration.
Oil Spills: This occurs when oil is spilled into water bodies, causing harm to aquatic life and polluting the water.
Agricultural Runoff: This occurs when fertilizer, pesticides, and animal waste from farms are washed into water bodies, causing nutrient pollution and contaminating water.
Marine litter: This occurs when waste like plastics, metals, rubber, glass, and other materials are dumped into oceans and other water bodies, leading to pollution.
Air Pollution: Air pollutants like acid rain and smog cause water pollution when they fall onto water surfaces, contaminating it.
Pharmaceutical contamination: This occurs when unused or or partially used medicines are flushed down the drain and then pass through the sewage system, ultimately entering water bodies and causing contamination.
Microplastics: This is a type of water pollution caused by tiny plastic particles that are less than 5mm in size. They are usually introduced into waterways as a result of various sources, including the use of plastic products, poor waste disposal practices, and the washout of synthetic clothing.
Nutrient pollution: This occurs when excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers, detergents, and other chemicals used in agricultural and industrial activities are introduced into water bodies, leading to the proliferation of harmful algae blooms and hypoxia.
"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."