Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater).

Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds. Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of water. In almost all cases the effect is damaging not only to individual species and populations, but also to the natural biological communities. Water pollution can come from a number of different sources. If the pollution comes from a single source, such as an oil spill, it is called point-source pollution. If the pollution comes from many sources, it is called nonpoint-source pollution. Basic Types of Water Pollution 1. Surface Water Pollution Surface water pollution is the most visible form of pollution and we can see it floating on our waters in lakes, streams, and oceans. Trash from human consumption, such as water bottles, plastics and other waste products, is most often evident on water surfaces. This type of pollution also comes from oil spills and gasoline waste, which float on the surface and affect the water and its inhabitants. 2. Groundwater Pollution This type of pollution is becoming more and more relevant because it affects our drinking water and the aquifers below the soil. Groundwater pollution is usually caused by highly toxic chemicals and pesticides from farming that leak through the ground to contaminate the wells and aquifers below the surface. 3. Microbial Pollution Microbiological pollution is the natural form of water pollution that is caused by microorganisms in uncured water. Most of these organisms are harmless but some bacteria, viruses, and protozoa can cause serious diseases such as cholera and typhoid. This is a significant problem for people in third world countries who have no clean drinking water and/or facilities to cure the water. 4. Oxygen Depletion Pollution Microorganisms that thrive in water feed on biodegradable substances. When there is an influx of biodegradable material from such things as waste or erosion from farming, the numbers of these microorganisms increase and utilize the obtainable oxygen.

When these oxygen levels are depleted, harmless aerobic microorganisms die and anaerobic microorganisms thrive. Some of these organisms produce damaging toxins like sulfide and ammonia. 5. Nutrient Pollution Nutrients are usually found in wastewater and fertilizers. These can cause excess vegetation in the water such as algae and weeds, using up the oxygen in the water and hurting the surrounding marine life and other organisms in the water. 6. Suspended Matter Pollution This type of pollution occurs when pollutants enter the water and do not mix in with the water molecules. These suspended particles form fine silt on the waterbed, harming the marine life by taking away the nutrients and disturbing their habitat. 7. Chemical Pollution Due to the nature of industry these days and the mass production in industrial plants and farms, we have a lot of chemical run-off that flows into the nearby rivers and water sources. Metals and solvents flow out of factories and into the water, polluting the water and harming the wildlife. Pesticides from farms are like poison to the wildlife in the water and kill and endanger the aquatic life. If birds or humans eat these infected fish the toxins are transferred to us and we swallow these dangerous pesticides and toxins, affecting our health. Petroleum is a different type of chemical pollutant that dramatically affects the aquatic life. This oil kills the fish and marine life and sticks to the feathers of birds, causing them to lose their ability to fly. Summary Most water pollution is typically blamed on big industries. However, recreational and agricultural pollution are also largely to blame as our aquatic life suffers and species go extinct. Major Types of Water Pollutants, Common Diseases Transmitted Through Contaminated Drinking Water , & Measuring Water Quality

1. Bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasitic worms. Sources: Human & animal wastes.

Harmful effects:

Disease 2. Oxygen Demanding Wastes Organic waste such as animal manure and plant debris that can be decomposed by aerobic bacteria. Sources: Sewage, animal feedlots, paper mills, an food processing facilities. Harmful effects: Large populations of bacteria decomposing these wastes can degrade water quality by depleting water of dissolved oxygen. This causes fish and other forms of oxygen-consuming aquatic life to die. 3. Inorganic chemicals Water soluble, acids, compounds of toxic metals such as lead , arsenic and selenium (Se) and (3) salts such as sodium chloride (NaCl) in ocean water and fluorides found in some soils. Sources: Surface runoff, industrial effluents and household cleansers. Harmful effects: Can 1) make fresh water unusable for drinking or irrigation, 2) cause skin cancers and crippling spinal & neck damage (F) 3) damage the nervous system, liver and kidneys (Pb and As), 4) harm fish and other aquatic life, 5) lower crop yields, and 6) accelerate corrosion of metals exposed to such water. 4. Organic Chemicals Oil, gasoline, plastics, pesticides, cleaning solvents, detergents Sources: Industrial effluents, household cleansers, surface runoff from farms & yards. Harmful effects: Can 1) threaten human health by causing nervous system damage (some pesticides), reproductive disorders (some solvents) and some cancers (gas, oil, solvents). 2) harm fish and wildlife. 5. Plant Nutrients Water soluble compounds containing nitrate, phosphate and ammonium ions. Sources:

Sewage, manure, and runoff of agricultural and urban fertilizers. Harmful effects: Can cause excessive growth of algae & other aquatic plants, which die, decay, deplete water of dissolved oxygen and kill fish. Drinking water with excessive levels of nitrates lowers the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and can kill unborn children & infants (blue baby syndrome) 6. Sediment Soil, silt Sources: Land erosion Harmful effects: Can 1) cloud water and reduce photosynthesis 2) disrupt aquatic food webs, 3) carry pesticides, bacteria & other harmful substances, 4) settle out and destroy feeding and spawning grounds of fish, and 5) clog and fill lakes, artificial reservoirs, stream channels & harbors. 7. Radioactive Materials Radioactive isotopes of iodine, radon, uranium, cesium and thorium. Sources: Nuclear and coal-burning power plants, mining and processing of uranium and other ores, nuclear weapons production, natural sources. Harmful effects: Genetic mutations, miscarriages, birth defects, and certain cancers. 8. Heat (Thermal pollution) (excessive heat) Sources: Water cooling of electric power plants and some types of industrial plants. Almost half of all water withdrawn in the United States each year is for cooling electric power plants. Harmful effects: Lowers dissolved oxygen levels & makes aquatic organisms more vulnerable to disease, parasites, and toxic chemicals. When a power plant first opens or shuts down for repair, fish and other organisms adapted to a particular temperature range can be killed by the abrupt change in water temperatureknown as thermal shock. Common Diseases Transmitted to Humans Through Contaminated Drinking Water

1. Bacteria Disease: Typhoid fever (diarrhea, severe vomiting, enlarged spleen, inflamed intestine, often fatal if untreated.) Cholera (diarrhea, severe vomiting, dehydration; often fatal if untreated.) Bacterial dysentery (diarrhea, rarely fatal except in infants without proper treatment.) Enteritis (severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting; rarely fatal) 2. Viruses Disease: Infectious hepatitis (fever, severe headache, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, jaundice, enlarged liver; rarely fatal but may cause permanent liver damage) 3. Parasitic protozoa Disease: Amoebic dysentery (Severe diarrhea, headache, abdominal pain, chills, fever; if not treated can cause liver abscess, bowel perforation and death.) Giardiasis (Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, flatulence, belching, fatigue) 4. Parasitic worms Disease: Schistosomiasis (Abdominal pain, skin rash, anemia, chronic fatigue, and chronic general ill health)