The word pollution is often associated with exhaust, litter, and greenhouse gases; however, water, specifically water runoff, poses as a major source of harm to the environment. Runoff occurs when excess water flows over the earth’s surface, and it is usually the result of rain, meltwater, or storms (“Application”). While this water is not innately toxic, unless it is runoff resulting from acid rain or a contaminated mountain, it becomes harmful as it travels to water drains (“After”). During its path to these drains, the water often comes into contact with various impurities, such as metals, bacteria, and chemicals (“After”). As a result, anything that goes down a drain, including illegal disposals, all have the potential to end up in large bodies of …show more content…
Thus, contaminated water from water runoff continues to be a constant threat to the world’s ecosystem and humanity’s health. Additionally, given that some states, including California, are currently in droughts and facing dwindling water supplies, the lack of clean water poses an even larger issue. Through its negative impacts on the health of humankind, the state of the natural environment, and the quality of water, water runoff poses a huge threat to the earth’s well-being and requires immediate attention. Given the drainage of polluted water and illegal disposals, contaminants easily find their ways into bodies of water and threaten the world’s ecosystems. For example, algal blooms generally do not occur naturally; instead, these detriments to the environment are caused by the toxins carried to lakes, oceans, and streams (“Application”). They consist of rapid increases in populations of algae in an aquatic system, and during this period of increase, the growth in algae also leads to a growth in bacteria populations. This bacteria then need oxygen to survive; however, other animals living in the water also need the same oxygen to live. Due to this competition
'Water pollution is any chemical, physical or biological change in the quality of water that has a harmful effect on any living thing that drinks or uses or lives(in) it. ' (Azeem 1). In Canada, most people live in the southern part along with many agricultural and industrial activities causing the worst cases of water pollution. Water pollution is caused by population growth and industrialization, but can be prevented if proper controls are taken into consideration to help reduce the discharge of waste materials. Water pollution has been a huge disadvantaging concern for humans as well as wildlife for over many decades, but can actually be prevented if attempted. Preventing waste materials from being dumped into lakes and rivers, controlling
Introduction: Rainwater runoff, also called non-point source, is everywhere, especially in the artificial concrete communities that we live in. Rainwater runoff occurs after rain showers and thunderstorms, when the water flows down streets, sidewalks and gutters. There is so much rainwater runoff now a day because of the colossal neighborhoods and buildings and parking lots we are creating. The runoff happens when the water can’t soak into the ground, like it naturally does. With growing cities and industrialization, runoff water is becoming more and more of a problem and people need to start worrying about it. Runoff water has the possibility of becoming very dangerous, depending on what the water takes with it. Pesticides, garbage, bacteria, sediments from roads, feces and oil/gasoline are just some of the many substances that rainwater runoff carries with it on it’s journey; and lets not forget about all of the possible toxic chemicals that would fall into its path. So many residencies have been built, causing more runoff water because it isn’t being absorbed into the soil, since the soil is covered in concrete or other substances that were used to build. Everything that rests in gutters also goes down into the soil and in sewers that dump water into soil or other bodies of water, and the effects can both be positive and negative. Substances such as phosphate can travel with the runoff water into areas with soil and grass, causing it to grow faster. While some people may think fast growing grass is helpful, lets not forget about the rest of the environment the phosphate can effect. Certain algae’s can be harmful to humans when ingested. After knowing that, people should realize that it is time for environmental management to co...
Water is essential in our everyday life. Water is one of the most important substances on earth. All plants and animals utilize water to survive. Therefore it is vital that there be clean water for our communities to utilize to survive as a whole. Unfortunately because of different determinants our source of water are not always safe to use. We happen to have to deal with contamination of drinking water. Contamination of fresh water used for household needs, including pollution of oceans, rivers, lakes and reservoirs. There are categories of the different contaminants that exist such as Physical contaminants, Chemical contaminants, Biological contaminants, and radiological contaminants ("Types of Drinking Water Contaminants | Drinking Water
Living in a world that is roughly 70% water, and all living creatures found on this planet depend on this resource whether directly or indirectly, making water quality an important topic and vital to sustain our world of cycles. “Determination of status of water quality of a river or any other water sources is highly indeterminate. It is necessary to have a competent model to predict the status of water quality and to advice for type of water treatment for meeting different demands.” (Bai V, 2009) With most of our water on this planet made of salt water and our constant damage towards the remaining water that can be consumed by humans is diminishing with improper distribution on a global scale. If our greed comes before companionship, and our quality of life is more important than pollution, then our future generations to come will be born into a world of chaos, and a scarce of a basic human necessity.
With the waste products or waste materials, for example, plastic bags and toxic or chemical waste, the water bodies have turned into a poisonous pool. In a simplest word to say, is, water pollution by meaning, water fully contains the contamination in its bodies. So, when the water resources, such as ponds, lakes, oceans, rivers etc. are misused, water pollution will occur. Pollution of water occurs when the polluted substances alter the water and exhaust in the water bodies. This pollution can be divided into two categories: directly and indirectly.
There are many causes of water pollution, and the effects on the environment are directly related to the primary cause of the pollution. Therefore, each cause has to be examined for harmful effects. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration states nutrient pollution, "can lead to more serious problems such as low levels of oxygen dissolved in the water" (3). The dissolved oxygen levels being low lead to aquatic life dying. Nutrient pollution also can cause algae blooms which cause serious environmental problems affecting aquatic ecosystems, and which can cause dangerous health issues for animals and humans. Water pollution caused by sewage is an environmental problem. When sewage pollutes water it can be dangerous especially if it enters people 's source of drinking water as author Woodford states, "It is possible to catch illnesses such as hepatitis, typhoid, and cholera from river and sea water" (4). Chemical and radioactive runoff can be dangerous to humans as well. When water that is contaminated by chemicals is consumed by humans it can lead to sickness, paralysis or even death depending on the kind of chemical polluting the water and the concentration of the pollutant in the water. The Flint Crisis is an example of the damaging effect of chemical runoff, as the Flint communities ' water was contaminated by the lead pipes that carried the water resulting people in the affected communities ending up with lead poisoning. The environment and the animals are also impacted by chemical and radioactive runoff, increasing the death of organisms and decreasing biodiversity(3). Oil runoff water pollution is yet another example of water pollution. The effects oil runoff has on the environment are especially debilitating. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico for example, hurt not only aquatic life, but also land animals. The oil would get on to anything that touched the
The Earth’s surface is covered by over two-thirds of water. With half of the world being covered by water; pollution in the water is a very big crisis that can actually be reduced to some extent. Water pollution is a human problem because it seems to be a recent development that started round the end of the 19th century. Scientists say that “humans have limits with an estimated 7 billion people on the planet, and pollution is a sign of exceeded pollution. According to the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) pollution is a serious problem. “Pollution from toxic chemicals threatens life on this planet. Every ocean and every continent, from the tropics to the once-pristine polar regions, is contaminated." Now that we know how serious it is, let’s talk about what pollution is, what causes it, the effects, and how we can help.
A single water drop traveling from any river to any ocean is influenced with more than one hundred toxic chemicals and thousands of industrial pollutants. This is what people call water pollution, occurring in any state, country or continent. Unfortunately, throughout the centuries, water pollution has been an ongoing problem, mainly caused by the release of industrial toxins and chemicals. People around the world believe that plastic and metal make up the vast majority of this issue, but as years have come and gone, the quantity of chemicals released by small and large facilities are now the leading cause of water pollution. Although industries need to release waste somewhere, they should avoid putting it in waterways because it impacts the
According to research conducted by Harvard University, over six million people in the United States are using water that contains an excessive amount of PFAS, a kind of chemical that use in the industrial sector. Among the victimized districts, California stands out as one of most heavily influenced state (Water in California). California is a big state in the United States, and it is also one of the driest states. Over one hundred years ago, most areas in California were still the drought. Later, California develops rapidly and becomes the state with the largest population and a specialty in farming in the US. Needless to say, water is a critical resource for common households and the farming as well as many other industries. There is a huge
Pollution has been found to be a major conflict in today’s society. It’s no doubt that the air we all breathe is filled with toxics. Allowing the toxic chemicals to penetrate deep into the lungs tend to cause damage. In addition, multiple forms of contamination have been in found in many ecosystems as well. These particles poison soils and streams, killing plants and animals. Some particles come naturally, but many of them are caused by us, humans.
Pollution is a global intimidation to the environment and it becomes an alarm word of today’s world. The swift growth of human populations fuelled by scientific developments in health and agriculture has led to a speedy increase in the environmental pollution. Water has a major impact on all aspects of human life, including but not limited to health, food, energy and the economy. The unprecedented inhabitants’ multiplies and the industrial development during the 20th century has not only increased the conventional solid and liquid waste pollutants to critical levels but also produced a range of previously unknown pollution problems for which the society was unprepared. Of the total 220 million deaths per year it was estimated that the causes of death in 12-20 million are due to water and non-fatal infections which is very high(2). The run- off flow is considered to be the freshwater source on which the people depend. The steady flow of fresh water was estimated at 12.700 to 16.000 km3 year which is 4200 km3 per year. It is used for freshwater irrigation, industrial and domestic purposes, and that is estimated to increase by a number of 4350-5200km3 per year . Alternatively, the available fresh water is only 0.5% of the worlds 1.4 billion km3 water, which is also poorly distributed throughout the world (3). There is a limited ability to increase the supply of drinking water due to the
Water Pollution is a current issue that has serious consequences; it progresses everyday in our lakes, oceans, rivers and other bodies of water.
lines, rope, and plastic nets are being caught in the rutter and the engine, but
Water pollution has affected many people and animals. Water pollution is the disposal of garbage into a water stream. Some of the water pollution is from littering, some water pollution is done by chemical leaks, and others by ships. Also, There is much information about water pollution.
The Causes of Water Pollution Water pollution is very harmful to the environment and living things. Water pollution can come from many different sources. If the pollution comes from only one source, such as an oil spill, it is called point-source pollution. If it comes from many different sources, it is called nonpoint-source pollution. Most water pollution affects the immediate area surrounding the source, but there are some types of pollution, such as hazardous, that can affect areas miles away from the source.