What is water pollution?

 
Water pollution  occurs when harmful substances, often chemicals or mi-
cro-organisms contaminate water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans
etc. 
 
The process of eutrophication:  
Eutrophication is an increase in the levels of mineral ions, such as nitrate
and phosphate in the water. Its leaching of fertilizers from the soil can
cause it. 
 
Leaching: the dissolving of soluble substances from the soil, which are
then carried away in the soil water. Leeches are worms that feed on blood,
they're found in water. 
 
What causes water pollution?  
Water pollution is caused by the discharge of harmful substances into
rivers and lakes, due to industrial and agricultural effluents. 
 
What are sources of water pollution? 
Sewage: If untreated sewage gets into rivers, micro-organisms decompose
it. They use oxygen from the water for aerobic respiration. As a result,
there is less oxygen dissolved in water, so aquatic organisms such as fish
may be unable to survive. 
 
Nutrients: nutrient pollution is the process where too many nutrients,
mainly nitrogen are added to water bodies and can act like a fertilizer,
causing excessive growth of algae. 
 
Chemical waste: industrial and agricultures effluents involves the use of
many different chemicals that can run-off into water and pollute it. Metals
and solvents from industrial work can pollute rivers and lake, causing dam-
age to them. 
 
Elevated water temperatures: elevated water temperature would cause a
decrease in oxygen levels which can kill fish and other sea animals. 
 
What are the effects of pollution of water? 
Disease: contaminated water can cause people to be ill,  
 
Destruction of ecosystems: the elimination of microorganisms destroys the
ecosystem, nutrient pollution, for example, leads to an increase in algae
which depletes the water of oxygen, thereby leading to the death of fish
and other sea animals. 
 
Can affect the food chain: pollution disrupts the food chain by moving the
toxins from one level in the food chain to higher levels. In some cases, pol-
lution can wipe out an entire part of the food chain. Such affect the other
organisms by either causing excessive growth, in case the predators dies. 
 
Ways you can prevent water pollution?