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Photo of polluted stormwater draining into a creek from an overflow

Water pollution: an introduction

by Chris Woodford . Last updated: October 1, 2023.

O ver two thirds of Earth's surface is covered by water ; less than a third is taken up by land. As Earth's population continues to grow, people are putting ever-increasing pressure on the planet's water resources. In a sense, our oceans, rivers , and other inland waters are being "squeezed" by human activities—not so they take up less room, but so their quality is reduced. Poorer water quality means water pollution .

We know that pollution is a human problem because it is a relatively recent development in the planet's history: before the 19th century Industrial Revolution, people lived more in harmony with their immediate environment. As industrialization has spread around the globe, so the problem of pollution has spread with it. When Earth's population was much smaller, no one believed pollution would ever present a serious problem. It was once popularly believed that the oceans were far too big to pollute. Today, with around 7 billion people on the planet, it has become apparent that there are limits. Pollution is one of the signs that humans have exceeded those limits.

Photo: Stormwater pollution entering a river from a drain. Photo by Peter C Van Metre courtesy of US Geological Survey .

What is water pollution?

Water pollution can be defined in many ways. Usually, it means one or more substances have built up in water to such an extent that they cause problems for animals or people. Oceans, lakes, rivers, and other inland waters can naturally clean up a certain amount of pollution by dispersing it harmlessly. If you poured a cup of black ink into a river, the ink would quickly disappear into the river's much larger volume of clean water. The ink would still be there in the river, but in such a low concentration that you would not be able to see it. At such low levels, the chemicals in the ink probably would not present any real problem. However, if you poured gallons of ink into a river every few seconds through a pipe, the river would quickly turn black. The chemicals in the ink could very quickly have an effect on the quality of the water. This, in turn, could affect the health of all the plants, animals, and humans whose lives depend on the river.

Photo: Pollution means adding substances to the environment that don't belong there—like the air pollution from this smokestack. Pollution is not always as obvious as this, however.

Thus, water pollution is all about quantities : how much of a polluting substance is released and how big a volume of water it is released into. A small quantity of a toxic chemical may have little impact if it is spilled into the ocean from a ship. But the same amount of the same chemical can have a much bigger impact pumped into a lake or river, where there is less clean water to disperse it.

"The introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment (including estuaries) resulting in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources, hazards to human health, hindrance to marine activities, including fishing, impairment of quality for use of sea water and reduction of amenities." [1]

What are the main types of water pollution?

When we think of Earth's water resources, we think of huge oceans, lakes, and rivers. Water resources like these are called surface waters . The most obvious type of water pollution affects surface waters. For example, a spill from an oil tanker creates an oil slick that can affect a vast area of the ocean.

Photo of detergent pollution in a creek

Photo: Detergent pollution entering a river—an example of surface water pollution. Photo courtesy of US Fish & Wildlife Service Photo Library.

Not all of Earth's water sits on its surface, however. A great deal of water is held in underground rock structures known as aquifers, which we cannot see and seldom think about. Water stored underground in aquifers is known as groundwater . Aquifers feed our rivers and supply much of our drinking water. They too can become polluted, for example, when weed killers used in people's gardens drain into the ground. Groundwater pollution is much less obvious than surface-water pollution, but is no less of a problem. In 1996, a study in Iowa in the United States found that over half the state's groundwater wells were contaminated with weed killers. You might think things would have improved since then, but, two decades on, all that's really changed is the name of the chemicals we're using. Today, numerous scientific studies are still finding weed killers in groundwater in worrying quantities: a 2012 study discovered glyphosate in 41 percent of 140 groundwater samples from Catalonia, Spain; scientific opinion differs on whether this is safe or not. [2]

Surface waters and groundwater are the two types of water resources that pollution affects. There are also two different ways in which pollution can occur. If pollution comes from a single location, such as a discharge pipe attached to a factory, it is known as point-source pollution . Other examples of point source pollution include an oil spill from a tanker, a discharge from a smoke stack (factory chimney), or someone pouring oil from their car down a drain. A great deal of water pollution happens not from one single source but from many different scattered sources. This is called nonpoint-source pollution .

When point-source pollution enters the environment, the place most affected is usually the area immediately around the source. For example, when a tanker accident occurs, the oil slick is concentrated around the tanker itself and, in the right ocean conditions, the pollution disperses the further away from the tanker you go. This is less likely to happen with nonpoint source pollution which, by definition, enters the environment from many different places at once.

Sometimes pollution that enters the environment in one place has an effect hundreds or even thousands of miles away. This is known as transboundary pollution . One example is the way radioactive waste travels through the oceans from nuclear reprocessing plants in England and France to nearby countries such as Ireland and Norway.

How do we know when water is polluted?

Some forms of water pollution are very obvious: everyone has seen TV news footage of oil slicks filmed from helicopters flying overhead. Water pollution is usually less obvious and much harder to detect than this. But how can we measure water pollution when we cannot see it? How do we even know it's there?

There are two main ways of measuring the quality of water. One is to take samples of the water and measure the concentrations of different chemicals that it contains. If the chemicals are dangerous or the concentrations are too great, we can regard the water as polluted. Measurements like this are known as chemical indicators of water quality. Another way to measure water quality involves examining the fish, insects, and other invertebrates that the water will support. If many different types of creatures can live in a river, the quality is likely to be very good; if the river supports no fish life at all, the quality is obviously much poorer. Measurements like this are called biological indicators of water quality.

What are the causes of water pollution?

Most water pollution doesn't begin in the water itself. Take the oceans: around 80 percent of ocean pollution enters our seas from the land. [16] Virtually any human activity can have an effect on the quality of our water environment. When farmers fertilize the fields, the chemicals they use are gradually washed by rain into the groundwater or surface waters nearby. Sometimes the causes of water pollution are quite surprising. Chemicals released by smokestacks (chimneys) can enter the atmosphere and then fall back to earth as rain, entering seas, rivers, and lakes and causing water pollution. That's called atmospheric deposition . Water pollution has many different causes and this is one of the reasons why it is such a difficult problem to solve.

With billions of people on the planet, disposing of sewage waste is a major problem. According to 2017 figures from the World Health Organization, some 2 billion people (about a quarter of the world's population) don't have access to safe drinking water or the most basic sanitation, 3.4 billion (60 people of the population) lack "safely managed" sanitation (unshared, with waste properly treated). Although there have been great improvements in securing access to clean water, relatively little, genuine progress has been made on improving global sanitation in the last decade. [20] Sewage disposal affects people's immediate environments and leads to water-related illnesses such as diarrhea that kills 525,000 children under five each year. [3] (Back in 2002, the World Health Organization estimated that water-related diseases could kill as many as 135 million people by 2020; in 2019, the WHO was still estimating the annual death toll from poor water and sanitation at over 800,000 people a year.) In developed countries, most people have flush toilets that take sewage waste quickly and hygienically away from their homes.

Yet the problem of sewage disposal does not end there. When you flush the toilet, the waste has to go somewhere and, even after it leaves the sewage treatment works, there is still waste to dispose of. Sometimes sewage waste is pumped untreated into the sea. Until the early 1990s, around 5 million tons of sewage was dumped by barge from New York City each year. [4] According to 2002 figures from the UK government's Department for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the sewers of Britain collect around 11 billion liters of waste water every day; there are still 31,000 sewage overflow pipes through which, in certain circumstances, such as heavy storms, raw sewage is pumped untreated into the sea. [5] The New River that crosses the border from Mexico into California once carried with it 20–25 million gallons (76–95 million liters) of raw sewage each day; a new waste water plant on the US-Mexico border, completed in 2007, substantially solved that problem. [6] Unfortunately, even in some of the richest nations, the practice of dumping sewage into the sea continues. In early 2012, it was reported that the tiny island of Guernsey (between Britain and France) has decided to continue dumping 16,000 tons of raw sewage into the sea each day.

In theory, sewage is a completely natural substance that should be broken down harmlessly in the environment: 90 percent of sewage is water. [7] In practice, sewage contains all kinds of other chemicals, from the pharmaceutical drugs people take to the paper , plastic , and other wastes they flush down their toilets. When people are sick with viruses, the sewage they produce carries those viruses into the environment. It is possible to catch illnesses such as hepatitis, typhoid, and cholera from river and sea water.

Photo: Nutrients make crops grow, but cause pollution when they seep into rivers and other watercourses. Photo courtesy of US Department of Agriculture (Flickr) .

Suitably treated and used in moderate quantities, sewage can be a fertilizer: it returns important nutrients to the environment, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which plants and animals need for growth. The trouble is, sewage is often released in much greater quantities than the natural environment can cope with. Chemical fertilizers used by farmers also add nutrients to the soil, which drain into rivers and seas and add to the fertilizing effect of the sewage. Together, sewage and fertilizers can cause a massive increase in the growth of algae or plankton that overwhelms huge areas of oceans, lakes, or rivers. This is known as a harmful algal bloom (also known as an HAB or red tide, because it can turn the water red). It is harmful because it removes oxygen from the water that kills other forms of life, leading to what is known as a dead zone . The Gulf of Mexico has one of the world's most spectacular dead zones. Each summer, according to studies by the NOAA , it typically grows to an area of around 5500–6500 square miles (14,000–16,800 square kilometers), which is about the same size as the state of Connecticut. [21]

Waste water

A few statistics illustrate the scale of the problem that waste water (chemicals washed down drains and discharged from factories) can cause. Around half of all ocean pollution is caused by sewage and waste water. Each year, the world generates perhaps 5–10 billion tons of industrial waste, much of which is pumped untreated into rivers, oceans, and other waterways. [8] In the United States alone, around 400,000 factories take clean water from rivers, and many pump polluted waters back in their place. However, there have been major improvements in waste water treatment recently. Since 1970, in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has invested about $70 billion in improving water treatment plants that, as of 2021, serve around 90 percent of the US population (compared to just 69 percent in 1972). However, another $271 billion is still needed to update and upgrade the system. [15]

Factories are point sources of water pollution, but quite a lot of water is polluted by ordinary people from nonpoint sources; this is how ordinary water becomes waste water in the first place. Virtually everyone pours chemicals of one sort or another down their drains or toilets. Even detergents used in washing machines and dishwashers eventually end up in our rivers and oceans. So do the pesticides we use on our gardens. A lot of toxic pollution also enters waste water from highway runoff . Highways are typically covered with a cocktail of toxic chemicals—everything from spilled fuel and brake fluids to bits of worn tires (themselves made from chemical additives) and exhaust emissions. When it rains, these chemicals wash into drains and rivers. It is not unusual for heavy summer rainstorms to wash toxic chemicals into rivers in such concentrations that they kill large numbers of fish overnight. It has been estimated that, in one year, the highway runoff from a single large city leaks as much oil into our water environment as a typical tanker spill. Some highway runoff runs away into drains; others can pollute groundwater or accumulate in the land next to a road, making it increasingly toxic as the years go by.

Chemical waste

Detergents are relatively mild substances. At the opposite end of the spectrum are highly toxic chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) . They were once widely used to manufacture electronic circuit boards , but their harmful effects have now been recognized and their use is highly restricted in many countries. Nevertheless, an estimated half million tons of PCBs were discharged into the environment during the 20th century. [9] In a classic example of transboundary pollution, traces of PCBs have even been found in birds and fish in the Arctic. They were carried there through the oceans, thousands of miles from where they originally entered the environment. Although PCBs are widely banned, their effects will be felt for many decades because they last a long time in the environment without breaking down.

Another kind of toxic pollution comes from heavy metals , such as lead, cadmium, and mercury. Lead was once commonly used in gasoline (petrol), though its use is now restricted in some countries. Mercury and cadmium are still used in batteries (though some brands now use other metals instead). Until recently, a highly toxic chemical called tributyltin (TBT) was used in paints to protect boats from the ravaging effects of the oceans. Ironically, however, TBT was gradually recognized as a pollutant: boats painted with it were doing as much damage to the oceans as the oceans were doing to the boats.

The best known example of heavy metal pollution in the oceans took place in 1938 when a Japanese factory discharged a significant amount of mercury metal into Minamata Bay, contaminating the fish stocks there. It took a decade for the problem to come to light. By that time, many local people had eaten the fish and around 2000 were poisoned. Hundreds of people were left dead or disabled. [10]

Radioactive waste

People view radioactive waste with great alarm—and for good reason. At high enough concentrations it can kill; in lower concentrations it can cause cancers and other illnesses. The biggest sources of radioactive pollution in Europe are two factories that reprocess waste fuel from nuclear power plants : Sellafield on the north-west coast of Britain and Cap La Hague on the north coast of France. Both discharge radioactive waste water into the sea, which ocean currents then carry around the world. Countries such as Norway, which lie downstream from Britain, receive significant doses of radioactive pollution from Sellafield. [19] The Norwegian government has repeatedly complained that Sellafield has increased radiation levels along its coast by 6–10 times. Both the Irish and Norwegian governments continue to press for the plant's closure. [11]

Oil pollution

Photo: Oil-tanker spills are the most spectacular forms of pollution and the ones that catch public attention, but only a fraction of all water pollution happens this way. Photo by Lamar Gore courtesy of US Fish & Wildlife Service Photo Library and US National Archive .

When we think of ocean pollution, huge black oil slicks often spring to mind, yet these spectacular accidents represent only a tiny fraction of all the pollution entering our oceans. Even considering oil by itself, tanker spills are not as significant as they might seem: only 12 percent of the oil that enters the oceans comes from tanker accidents; over 70 percent of oil pollution at sea comes from routine shipping and from the oil people pour down drains on land. [12] However, what makes tanker spills so destructive is the sheer quantity of oil they release at once — in other words, the concentration of oil they produce in one very localized part of the marine environment. The biggest oil spill in recent years (and the biggest ever spill in US waters) occurred when the tanker Exxon Valdez broke up in Prince William Sound in Alaska in 1989. Around 12 million gallons (44 million liters) of oil were released into the pristine wilderness—enough to fill your living room 800 times over! Estimates of the marine animals killed in the spill vary from approximately 1000 sea otters and 34,000 birds to as many as 2800 sea otters and 250,000 sea birds. Several billion salmon and herring eggs are also believed to have been destroyed. [13]

If you've ever taken part in a community beach clean, you'll know that plastic is far and away the most common substance that washes up with the waves. There are three reasons for this: plastic is one of the most common materials, used for making virtually every kind of manufactured object from clothing to automobile parts; plastic is light and floats easily so it can travel enormous distances across the oceans; most plastics are not biodegradable (they do not break down naturally in the environment), which means that things like plastic bottle tops can survive in the marine environment for a long time. (A plastic bottle can survive an estimated 450 years in the ocean and plastic fishing line can last up to 600 years.)

While plastics are not toxic in quite the same way as poisonous chemicals, they nevertheless present a major hazard to seabirds, fish, and other marine creatures. For example, plastic fishing lines and other debris can strangle or choke fish. (This is sometimes called ghost fishing .) About half of all the world's seabird species are known to have eaten plastic residues. In one study of 450 shearwaters in the North Pacific, over 80 percent of the birds were found to contain plastic residues in their stomachs. In the early 1990s, marine scientist Tim Benton collected debris from a 2km (1.5 mile) length of beach in the remote Pitcairn islands in the South Pacific. His study recorded approximately a thousand pieces of garbage including 268 pieces of plastic, 71 plastic bottles, and two dolls heads. [14]

Alien species

Most people's idea of water pollution involves things like sewage, toxic metals, or oil slicks, but pollution can be biological as well as chemical. In some parts of the world, alien species are a major problem. Alien species (sometimes known as invasive species ) are animals or plants from one region that have been introduced into a different ecosystem where they do not belong. Outside their normal environment, they have no natural predators, so they rapidly run wild, crowding out the usual animals or plants that thrive there. Common examples of alien species include zebra mussels in the Great Lakes of the USA, which were carried there from Europe by ballast water (waste water flushed from ships ). The Mediterranean Sea has been invaded by a kind of alien algae called Caulerpa taxifolia . In the Black Sea, an alien jellyfish called Mnemiopsis leidyi reduced fish stocks by 90 percent after arriving in ballast water. In San Francisco Bay, Asian clams called Potamocorbula amurensis, also introduced by ballast water, have dramatically altered the ecosystem. In 1999, Cornell University's David Pimentel estimated that alien invaders like this cost the US economy $123 billion a year; in 2014, the European Commission put the cost to Europe at €12 billion a year and "growing all the time. [18]

Other forms of pollution

These are the most common forms of pollution—but by no means the only ones. Heat or thermal pollution from factories and power plants also causes problems in rivers. By raising the temperature, it reduces the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water, thus also reducing the level of aquatic life that the river can support. Another type of pollution involves the disruption of sediments (fine-grained powders) that flow from rivers into the sea. Dams built for hydroelectric power or water reservoirs can reduce the sediment flow. This reduces the formation of beaches, increases coastal erosion (the natural destruction of cliffs by the sea), and reduces the flow of nutrients from rivers into seas (potentially reducing coastal fish stocks). Increased sediments can also present a problem. During construction work, soil, rock, and other fine powders sometimes enters nearby rivers in large quantities, causing it to become turbid (muddy or silted). The extra sediment can block the gills of fish, effectively suffocating them. Construction firms often now take precautions to prevent this kind of pollution from happening.

What are the effects of water pollution?

Some people believe pollution is an inescapable result of human activity: they argue that if we want to have factories, cities, ships, cars, oil, and coastal resorts, some degree of pollution is almost certain to result. In other words, pollution is a necessary evil that people must put up with if they want to make progress. Fortunately, not everyone agrees with this view. One reason people have woken up to the problem of pollution is that it brings costs of its own that undermine any economic benefits that come about by polluting.

Take oil spills, for example. They can happen if tankers are too poorly built to survive accidents at sea. But the economic benefit of compromising on tanker quality brings an economic cost when an oil spill occurs. The oil can wash up on nearby beaches, devastate the ecosystem, and severely affect tourism. The main problem is that the people who bear the cost of the spill (typically a small coastal community) are not the people who caused the problem in the first place (the people who operate the tanker). Yet, arguably, everyone who puts gasoline (petrol) into their car—or uses almost any kind of petroleum-fueled transport—contributes to the problem in some way. So oil spills are a problem for everyone, not just people who live by the coast and tanker operates.

Sewage is another good example of how pollution can affect us all. Sewage discharged into coastal waters can wash up on beaches and cause a health hazard. People who bathe or surf in the water can fall ill if they swallow polluted water—yet sewage can have other harmful effects too: it can poison shellfish (such as cockles and mussels) that grow near the shore. People who eat poisoned shellfish risk suffering from an acute—and sometimes fatal—illness called paralytic shellfish poisoning. Shellfish is no longer caught along many shores because it is simply too polluted with sewage or toxic chemical wastes that have discharged from the land nearby.

Pollution matters because it harms the environment on which people depend. The environment is not something distant and separate from our lives. It's not a pretty shoreline hundreds of miles from our homes or a wilderness landscape that we see only on TV. The environment is everything that surrounds us that gives us life and health. Destroying the environment ultimately reduces the quality of our own lives—and that, most selfishly, is why pollution should matter to all of us.

How can we stop water pollution?

There is no easy way to solve water pollution; if there were, it wouldn't be so much of a problem. Broadly speaking, there are three different things that can help to tackle the problem—education, laws, and economics—and they work together as a team.

Making people aware of the problem is the first step to solving it. In the early 1990s, when surfers in Britain grew tired of catching illnesses from water polluted with sewage, they formed a group called Surfers Against Sewage to force governments and water companies to clean up their act. People who've grown tired of walking the world's polluted beaches often band together to organize community beach-cleaning sessions. Anglers who no longer catch so many fish have campaigned for tougher penalties against factories that pour pollution into our rivers. Greater public awareness can make a positive difference.

One of the biggest problems with water pollution is its transboundary nature. Many rivers cross countries, while seas span whole continents. Pollution discharged by factories in one country with poor environmental standards can cause problems in neighboring nations, even when they have tougher laws and higher standards. Environmental laws can make it tougher for people to pollute, but to be really effective they have to operate across national and international borders. This is why we have international laws governing the oceans, such as the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (signed by over 120 nations), the 1972 London (Dumping) Convention , the 1978 MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships , and the 1998 OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic . The European Union has water-protection laws (known as directives) that apply to all of its member states. They include the 1976 Bathing Water Directive (updated 2006), which seeks to ensure the quality of the waters that people use for recreation. Most countries also have their own water pollution laws. In the United States, for example, there is the 1972 Clean Water Act and the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act .

Most environmental experts agree that the best way to tackle pollution is through something called the polluter pays principle . This means that whoever causes pollution should have to pay to clean it up, one way or another. Polluter pays can operate in all kinds of ways. It could mean that tanker owners should have to take out insurance that covers the cost of oil spill cleanups, for example. It could also mean that shoppers should have to pay for their plastic grocery bags, as is now common in Ireland, to encourage recycling and minimize waste. Or it could mean that factories that use rivers must have their water inlet pipes downstream of their effluent outflow pipes, so if they cause pollution they themselves are the first people to suffer. Ultimately, the polluter pays principle is designed to deter people from polluting by making it less expensive for them to behave in an environmentally responsible way.

Our clean future

Life is ultimately about choices—and so is pollution. We can live with sewage-strewn beaches, dead rivers, and fish that are too poisonous to eat. Or we can work together to keep the environment clean so the plants, animals, and people who depend on it remain healthy. We can take individual action to help reduce water pollution, for example, by using environmentally friendly detergents , not pouring oil down drains, reducing pesticides, and so on. We can take community action too, by helping out on beach cleans or litter picks to keep our rivers and seas that little bit cleaner. And we can take action as countries and continents to pass laws that will make pollution harder and the world less polluted. Working together, we can make pollution less of a problem—and the world a better place.

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Text copyright © Chris Woodford 2006, 2022. All rights reserved. Full copyright notice and terms of use .

This article was originally written for the UK Rivers Network and first published on their website in April 2006. It is revised and updated every year.

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  • Water Pollution Essay

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Water Pollution and How it Harms the Environment

Global pollution is a problem. Pollution can spread to remote areas where no one lives, despite the fact that urban areas are typically more polluted than the countryside. Air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution are the three main categories of pollution. Some contaminated water has a terrible smell, a muddy appearance, and floating trash. Some contaminated water appears clean, but it contains dangerous substances that you can't see or smell.

Together, developed and developing nations must fight to conserve the environment for present and future generations. Today, we dig deep into the subject of Water Pollution. This article can be an introduction to water pollution for kids as we will read many things such as the causes of water pollution further in the article.

What is Water Pollution?

Water contamination occurs when pollutants pollute water sources and make the water unfit for use in drinking, cooking, cleaning, swimming, and other activities. Chemicals, garbage, bacteria, and parasites are examples of pollutants. Water is eventually damaged by all types of pollution. Lakes and oceans become contaminated by air pollution. Land contamination may contaminate an underground stream, a river, and ultimately the ocean. As a result, trash thrown on an empty lot can eventually contaminate a water source.

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Water Pollution

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The water cycle, called  the hydrological cycle, involves the following steps:

Evaporation- Because of the sun's heat, the water bodies such as oceans, lakes, seas etc., get heated up, and water evaporates in the air, forming water vapours.

Transpiration- Like evaporation, the plants and trees also lose water from them which goes to the atmosphere. This process is called transpiration.

Condensation- As the water evaporates, it starts to become cool because of the cold atmosphere in the air and because of this cooling down of water leads to the formation of clouds.

Precipitation- Because of the high movements of the wings, the clouds start to collide and then fall back to the earth’s surface in the form of rain. Sometimes they also fall back in the form of snow, hail, sleet etc., depending upon the temperature.

Runoff or Infiltration- After precipitation, the water either flows to the water bodies called runoff or is absorbed into the soil, called infiltration.

Causes of Water Pollution

There are many reasons for water pollution. Some of the reasons are directly affected by water pollution and some indirectly. Many factories and industries are dumping contaminated water, chemicals, and heavy metals into major waterways as a result of direct water pollution. 

One more reason for water pollution is the use of modern techniques in farms. Farmers apply nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium in the form of chemical fertilizers, manure, and sludge. It causes farms to discharge large quantities of agrochemicals, organic matter, and saline drainage into water bodies. It indirectly affects water pollution.

Pollutants can be of various types such as organic, inorganic, radioactive etc. Water pollutants are discharged either from one point from pipes, channels etc., which are called point sources or from various other sources. They can be agricultural areas, industries etc., called dispersed sources. 

Some of the major forms of water pollutants are as follows:

Sewage- Domestic sewage from homes contains various forms of pathogens that threaten the human body. Sewage treatment reduces the risk of pathogens, but this risk is not eliminated. 

Domestic sewage majorly contains nitrates and phosphates, and excess of these substances allows the algae to grow on the surface of water bodies. Due to this, the clean water bodies become nutrient-rich water body and then slowly, the oxygen level of water bodies reduces. This is called eutrophication or cultural eutrophication (if this step rapidly takes place by the activities of humans). This leads to the early death of water bodies.

Toxins- The industrial or factory wastes that are not disposed of properly and contain chemicals such as mercury and lead are disposed of in the water bodies making the bodies toxic, radioactive, explosive and cancerous.

Sediments- Sediments are the result of soil erosion that is formed in the water bodies. These sediments imbalances the water bodies ecologically. They also interfere in the reproductive cycle of various aquatic animals living in the water.

Thermal pollution- Water bodies get polluted because of heat, and excess heat reduces the oxygen level of the water bodies. Some of the species of fish cannot live in such water bodies with very low oxygen levels. The disposal of cold waters from the power plants leads to increased thermal pollution in the water bodies.

Petroleum oil pollution- The runoff of oil into the water bodies, either accidentally as happened in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico, or intentionally, leads to an increase in water pollution.

As water is an important element of human health, polluted water directly affects the human body. Water pollution causes various diseases like typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, cancer, etc. Water pollution damages the plants and aquatic animals present in the river by reducing the oxygen content from the water. Polluted water washes the essential nutrients which plants need out of the soil and also leaves large amounts of aluminium in the soil, which can be harmful to plants. 

Wastewater and sewage are a by-product of daily life and thus produced by each household through various activities like using soap, toilets, and detergents. Such sewage contains chemicals and bacteria which are harmful to human life and environmental health. Water pollution also leads to an imbalance in our ecosystem. Lastly, it also affects the food chain as the toxins in the water bodies are consumed by aquatic animals like fish, crabs etc., and then humans consume those animals forming turmoil. 

Sometimes our tradition also becomes a cause for water pollution. Some people throw the statues of deities, flowers, pots, and ashes in rivers.

There are various standards to define water quality standards. Water meant for swimming may not be clean enough for drinking, or water meant for bathing may not be good for cooking. Therefore, there are different water standards for defined:

Stream standards- Standards that define streams, lakes, oceans or seas based on their maximum use.

Effluent standards- Define the specific standards for the level of contaminants or effluents allowed during the final discharge of those into the water bodies.

Drinking water standards- Define the level of contamination allowed in water that will be supplied for drinking or cooking in the domestic areas.

Different countries regulate their water quality standards through different acts and amendments.

While many of the solutions for water pollution need to be applied on a broader macro-level for that individual, companies, and communities can have a significant and responsible impact on the water quality. Companies, factories have to dispose of leftover chemicals and containers properly as per the product instructions. Farmers also have to reduce the use of nitrates and phosphates from fertilizers, pesticides, and contamination of groundwater. 

The Swachh Bharat Mission of the government had led to reduced groundwater contamination. Under the Namami Ganga program, the government has initiated several major projects to clean Ganga. Along with all these steps, conservation of water is the very basic and important step towards water conservation and should be followed globally, treatment of sewage before their disposal in the water bodies and using environment-friendly products that do not form toxins when dissolved in water. These are some small steps that have to be taken into consideration by every human being.

As we all know, “Water is life’s matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.” We have to save water. We must keep the water clean. If everyone will follow their responsibility against water to protect it from getting polluted then it will be easy to get clean and healthy drinking water. Clean water is a must for us and our kids' present, future, and healthy environment. 

We cannot just live with contaminated waters filled with toxins and no oxygen. We cannot see our wildlife being destroyed and therefore, immediate steps have to be taken by groups of people to first clean the already contaminated water bodies and then keep a check on all the surrounding water bodies. Small steps by every individual can make a huge difference in controlling water pollution.

Water Pollution Prevention

Conserve Water 

Our first priority should be to conserve water. Water wasting could be a big problem for the entire world, but we are just now becoming aware of it.

Sewage Treatment 

Cleaning up waste materials before disposing of them in waterways reduces pollution on a large scale. By lowering its dangerous elements, this wastewater will be used in other sectors or in agriculture.

Usage of Eco-Friendly Materials

We will reduce the amount of pollution produced by choosing soluble products that do not alter to become pollutants.

Water contamination is the discharge of pollutants into the water body, where they dissolve, are suspended, are deposited on the bottom, and collect to the point where they hinder the aquatic ecosystem's ability to function. Water contamination is brought on by toxic compounds that easily dissolve and combine with it and come from factories, municipalities, and farms.

Healthy ecosystems depend on a complex network of organisms, including animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi, all of which interact with one another either directly or indirectly. In this article, we read about water pollution, its causes and prevention. With this, we have come to the end of our article, in case of any other doubts, feel free to ask in the comments.

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FAQs on Water Pollution Essay

1. What are the effects of water pollution?

Water pollution has a great impact on human health. Water pollution kills. It's been recorded that in 2015 nearly 1.8 million people died because of water pollution. People with low income are exposed to contaminated water coming out from the industries. Presence of disease causing pathogens in drinking water are the major cause of illness which includes cholera, giardia, and typhoid. Water pollution not only affects human health but also our environment by causing algal bloom in a lake or marine environment. Water pollution also causes eutrophication which suffocates plants and animals and thus causes dead zones. Chemicals and heavy metals from industrial and municipal wastewater contaminate waterways and harm aquatic life.

2. What are the causes of Water pollution?

Water being a universal solvent is vulnerable to pollution as it dissolves more substances than any other liquid on earth. Therefore, water is easily polluted. Toxic substances from farms, towns, and factories readily dissolve into water and mix with it, resulting in water pollution. Agricultural pollution is one of the major causes of contamination in rivers and streams. The use of excessive fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste from farms and livestock operations lets the rain wash the nutrients and pathogens—such as bacteria and viruses—into our waterways. The other major cause of water pollution is used water,  termed as wastewater which comes from our sinks, showers, toilets and from commercial, industrial, and agricultural activities. It's been reported that the world's 80% wastewater flows back into the environment without being treated or reused. Oil spills and radioactive waste also cause water pollution to a great extent.

3. How to prevent water pollution?

It is important to keep our water bodies clean so we can take the following preventive measures to prevent from water pollution:

Chemicals like bleach, paint, paint thinner, ammonia, and many chemicals are becoming a serious problem. Dumping toxic chemicals down the drain or flushing them down the toilet can cause water pollution. Thus, proper disposal is important. Also, household chemicals need to be recycled.

Avoid buying products that contain persistent and dangerous chemicals. Buying non-toxic cleaners and biodegradable cleaners and pesticides cut down on water pollution.

Prevent from pouring fats or greasy substances down the drain as it might clog the drain resulting in the dumping of waste into yards or basement which can contaminate the local water bodies.

4. What is the role of medical institutions in polluting the water?

Pharmaceutical pollution affects aquatic life and thus there is a need to take preventive measures. Consumers are responsible for winding up pharmaceutical and personal care products in lakes, rivers, and streams. There's a lot of unused and expired medication that can potentially get into the water if not disposed of properly.

5. What are the major kinds of pollution?

The three main types of pollution are air pollution, water pollution or soil pollution. Some artificial pollution is also there, such as noise pollution. Factors leading to such pollution include:

Air Pollution: Industrial emissions, fires, traffic and transportation, burning of chemical waste, etc.

Water Pollution: No proper sewage disposal, pesticides in farms leaking into water bodies, industrial waste dumped into water bodies, etc.

Soil Pollution:  Oil spills, acid rains, irresponsible disposal of trash, chemical waste, etc.

Noise Pollution: Honking of horns, construction activities, loud parties, etc.

Essay on Water Pollution for Students and Children

500+ words essay on water pollution.

Water is the most important resource for survival on a planet. It is the essence of life on our planet – Earth. Yet if you ever see a river or lake around your city, it would be evident to you that we are facing a very serious problem of Water pollution. Let us educate ourselves about water and water pollution . Two-thirds of the Earth’s surface is covered by water , seventy-six perfect of your body is made up of water.

essay on water pollution

Water and Water Cycle

As you already know water is everywhere and all around.  However, we have a fixed amount of water on earth. It just changes its states and goes through a cyclic order, known as the Water Cycle. The water cycle is a natural process that is continuous in nature. It is the pattern in which the water from oceans, seas, lakes, etc gets evaporated and turns to vapor. After which it goes through the process of condensation, and finally precipitation when it falls back to earth as rain or snow.

What is Water Pollution?

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (like oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, aquifers, and groundwater) usually caused due to human activities. Water pollution is any change, minor or major in the physical, chemical or biological properties of water that eventually leads to a detrimental consequence of any living organism . Drinking water, called Potable Water, is considered safe enough for human and animal consumption.

Sources of Water Pollution

  • Domestic Waste
  • Industrial effluents
  • Insecticides and pesticides
  • Detergents and Fertilizers

Some of the water pollutions are caused by direct Sources, such as factories, waste management facilities, refineries, etc, that directly releases waste and dangerous by-products into the nearest water source without treating them. Indirect sources include pollutants that infuse in the water bodies via groundwater or soil or via the atmosphere through acidic rain.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Effects of Pollution of Water

The effects of Water Pollution are:

Diseases: In humans, drinking or consuming polluted water in any way has many disastrous effects on our health. It causes typhoid, cholera, hepatitis and various other diseases.

Eradication of Ecosystem: Ecosystem is extremely dynamic and responds to even small changes in the environment. Increasing water pollution can cause an entire ecosystem to collapse if left unchecked.

Eutrophication: Chemicals accumulation and infusion in a water body, encourages the growth of algae. The algae form a layer on top of the pond or lake. Bacteria feed on this algae and this event decreases the amount of oxygen in the water body, severely affecting the aquatic life there

Effects of the food chain: Turmoil in food chain happens when the aquatic animals (fish, prawns, seahorse, etc) consume the toxins and pollutants in the water,  and then the humans consume them.

Prevention of Water Pollution

The best way to prevent large-scale water pollution is to try and reduce its harmful effects. There are numerous small changes we can make to protect ourselves from a future where water is scarce.

Conserve Water: Conserving water should be our first aim. Water wastage is a major problem globally and we are only now waking up to the issue. Simple small changes made domestically will make a huge difference.

Treatment of sewage: Treating waste products before disposing of it in water bodies helps reduce water pollution on a large scale. Agriculture or other industries can reuse this wastewater by reducing its toxic contents.

Use of environment-friendly products: By using soluble products that do not go on to become pollutants, we can reduce the amount of water pollution caused by a household.

Life is ultimately about choices and so is water pollution. We cannot live with sewage-strewn beaches, contaminated rivers , and fish that are poisonous to drink and eat. To avoid these scenarios,  we can work together to keep the environment clean so the water bodies, plants, animals, and people who depend on it remain healthy. We can take individual or teamed action to help reduce water pollution. As an example, by using environmentally friendly detergents, not pouring oil down the drains, reducing the usage of pesticides, and so on. We can take community action too to keep our rivers and seas cleaner. And we can take action as countries and continents to pass laws against water pollution. Working together, we can make water pollution less of a problem—and the world a better place.

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Essay on Water Pollution for Children and Students

introduction for water pollution essay

Table of Contents

Essay on Water Pollution: Water pollution is a topic of great environmental concern in today’s context. Water is a rare resource, much essential for life on earth. It is not only water that is essential but it also must be clean and safe to use. Polluted and contaminated water is good for nothing and is also hazardous to use or consume. The main causes of water are human-induced and include activities like industrialization, agricultural activities, improper waste disposal, etc.

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Short and Long Essay on Water Pollution

We have provided below short and long essays on water pollution in English for your knowledge and information. After going through the essays, you will know what water pollution is and what are its main causes; how to stop water pollution; water pollution prevention etc. These essays will be helpful in your school/college assignments of essay writing, speech giving or paragraph writing, etc.

Water Pollution Essay 100 Words – Sample 1

Water Pollution refers to the contamination of water bodies and underground resources of water by any of the several human activities or natural causes. Human activities like, urbanization, industrialization, deforestation, waste disposal, landfills are primarily responsible for water pollution.

Some of the natural causes responsible for water pollution are volcanoes and debris from floods. Another natural cause of water pollution is algae bloom. The term “algae” is used to refer to a large and diverse group of photosynthetic organisms. Algae bloom means an increase in the population of algae in a water body, consequently resulting in its discoloration and contamination.

Water Pollution Essay 150 Words – Sample 2

The term “Water Pollution” is used when a water body like a river, lake, ocean, etc is polluted due to human activity or a natural cause. Today, water pollution has become a major environmental concern and needs to be responsibly dealt with.

Fresh water is very scarce on the planet and pollution is making it even scarcer. Every year we lose millions of liters of freshwater to industrial and other types of pollution. Pollutants consist of visible small and big pieces of garbage as well as invisible, harmful and toxic chemicals.

The visible impurities can be easily removed from a water body by manual cleaning or filtration, but the chemical pollutants are more hazardous and difficult to remove. Chemicals get mixed into water and change its properties, making it harmful to use and life-threatening.

It is only through sincere individual and collective efforts, that we can overcome the problem of water pollution and prevent a severe water crisis in future.

Water Pollution Essay 200 Words – Sample 3

Water Pollution is a matter of environmental concern as well as life and health of all living species. For a population of 7.8 billion growing at a rate of 82 million every year we have very little freshwater.

Only 2.5% of all the water available on earth is freshwater that we use for our daily needs. But, human’s desire to expand boundaries and explore commercial avenues have put stress on our freshwater resources, making them polluted as never before.

Many industries are set up near water bodies and use freshwater to carry industrial waste to the nearby water bodies. This industrial waste is toxic in nature and poses a health hazard to the flora and fauna. People in the settlements in the vicinity of polluted water bodies are observed to be suffering from serious skin, respiratory and sometimes even life-threatening other ailments.

Other the main cause of water pollution is urban waste and sewage. Every household produces tons of waste annually, consisting of plastic, wood, chemicals, and other compounds. In the absence of a proper waste disposal mechanism, this waste reaches our water bodies like rivers, lakes, streams and pollutes them. Water pollution must be prevented if we want the earth to be green, healthy and filled with life.

Water Pollution Essay 250 Words – Sample 4

Water is an essential resource for life on earth. Without water, or to be more specific, without clean and safe water, life on earth would be unimaginable. You may think that we still have plenty of water with it constituting 97.5% of the total volume of earth. But, there is a catch – that 97.5% is salt water that is found mainly in oceans; the water we do not use for our daily needs.

The remaining percentage, that is, only 2.5% is freshwater what we use. Moreover, only 0.3% of that 2.5% is the water found on the surface of the earth. To be more specific, the total volume of water on earth is 1,386,000,000 Km 3 , out of which only 10,633,450 Km 3 is freshwater. Leaving very less freshwater for a population of 7.8 billion as on December 2019 and every year 82 million people are being added to that figure. On the other hand, the volume of freshwater used by the world population took centuries to be produced and thus it can’t be afforded to be polluted at any cost.

If the pollution of water continues as it is today, within a couple of decades we could face an acute water crisis. Then we might be left with no option but only to regret what we have done. There is still time and things can be normalized if we take action today. Whether it is an individual action or a collective one, an action to conserve water and prevent its pollution is the need of the day.

Water Pollution Essay 300 Words – Sample 5

Introduction

Water Pollution occurs when external pollutants enter the otherwise clean and safe natural water resources. Due to the growing human intervention and expansion of urban settlements, water pollution has become a painful reality today.

Water Pollution Sources

The sources of water pollution are many and almost all of them are generated due to human activities. Industries emit millions of gallons of toxic smoke and material waste which is left directly into the air, water bodies and natural resources. Most of such waste from the industries are left directly into the water bodies without any kind of treatment. Most of the industrial waste is toxic in nature and in turn, increases the toxicity of the water it reaches.

Also, the domestic waste that is generated every day in the millions of households around the world contains waste plastic materials, chemicals, oils, metals, etc. Most of the households lack a proper waste disposal mechanism and mostly the waste is directly dumped into the environment.

How to Stop Water Pollution

Water pollution could be prevented considerably by making people aware of its causes and its effects on life and the planet. People must take part in cleaning campaigns wherein a group or community takes up the task of cleaning the water bodies every weekend or at least once in a month.

Moreover, strict laws need to be formed and strictly implemented with the objective of eliminating water pollution. Strict monitoring could prevent people and organizations from polluting and will improve accountability as well.

Water pollution today has become a topic of hot debate and concern for environmentalists and scientists. It threatens the future of all the living species on the planet earth. Water is an essential commodity to live added by the fact that only 2% of the water on earth is fresh water that we use. We can’t afford to pollute it further and must take steps for the reversal of the damage that we have already done.

Water Pollution Essay 350 Words – Sample 6

Water Pollution refers to the introduction of pollutants into our water bodies. These pollutants are primarily generated by human-induced activities and pose a threat to our natural water resources.

Water Pollution Prevention

There are several things one could do to prevent water pollution. Some of them are simple enough to be taken by an individual while some require collective efforts. However, the efforts need to be repeatedly done in order to preserve our natural water resources. Some of the implementable ways to prevent water pollution are given below-

Keep your drain free of Contaminants and Chemicals.

An average household generates all kinds of waste including chemicals, disposed medicines, and other hazardous compounds. We must take care while disposing of our household waste and ensure that any such waste didn’t reach the sewage system.

Prevent use of Polythene

Polythene bags are widely used today in every household. They are light, could carry heavyweight, and easy to store. But polythene bags constitute a major threat to water resources. The polythene that we dispose of our houses, finds its way into the water bodies. Being non-biodegradable, it just lays there, polluting water and making it toxic.

Conserve Water

Always try to conserve water while doing your daily activities, whether it’s cooking, shaving, bathing, gardening or cleaning, etc. Water conservation can also be achieved by repairing all the faulty taps in your house and locality as well.

Reuse and Recycle

Much of the waste that we generate in houses could be reused and recycled if only we make a little effort for it. Wastes like automobile oil are disposed into the drain and easily reach into rivers and streams. This is really hazardous to the purity of water and also to the life of organisms that live in water. On the other hand, automobile oil can be reused for several other lubrication purposes.

Water pollution today has become a cause of great concern for human health as well as the environment. Water is an essential commodity without which life can’t be imagined. It is the duty of all to take steps for keeping water pollution-free and also to conserve it, for a healthy future of the planet.

Water Pollution Essay 400 Words – Sample 7

Water Pollution refers to the contamination of water bodies like rivers, lakes, ponds and oceans. It is caused when the pollutants generated by human activities like industrialization, urban waste, littering, etc., enter our water bodies and pollute them.

Types of Water Pollution

As water comes from many sources, there are many types of water pollution. The most common types of water pollution are described below.

  • Agricultural/Nutrients Pollution

Some of the waste water and agricultural waste contain high nutrients levels. These nutrient-rich contaminants cause algae growth, making the water unfit for drinking and other purposes. Algae use the oxygen content in water making oxygen scarce for other organisms, resulting in their death.

  • Sewage and Waste Water

Sewage and waste water from urban settlements is rich in various soluble and non-soluble impurities like mercury, plastic, rotten food, debris, chemicals etc. When these pollutants reach water bodies, some of them float over the surface while some sink at the bottom. The soluble impurities change the composition of water as well. This is a dangerous situation for all the living organisms in the water body.

  • Oxygen Depletion

Any water body contains several microorganisms including aerobic and anaerobic organisms. When the biodegradable waste reaches into the water bodies and decays, it encourages the growth of more microorganisms, consequently using more oxygen, in turn, depleting the oxygen level.

  • Pollution of Ground Water

Use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers pollute the groundwater resources. The chemicals get mixed with soil and are soaked into the ground with rain, reaching the underground water reserve. This contaminated water reaches our wells and other sources of water, making its consumption harmful.

Prevention of Water Pollution

Water Pollution can be prevented by taking these simple steps –

  • Don’t pour down fat or oil in your kitchen sink.
  • Avoid improper disposing of harmful chemicals and other contaminants.
  • Never let unused or expired medicines reach the house drainage system.
  • Segregate the waste as solid, liquid, degradable and non-degradable and ensure its proper disposal.
  • Avoid using pesticides and chemical fertilizers as much as you can.

Water pollution is a growing environmental concern which depletes one of our very essential natural resources. It is only through great determination and political will that we can succeed in saving water from getting contaminated.

Water Pollution Essay 500 Words – Sample 8

Water Pollution refers to the contamination of water bodies, primarily due to human activities. Water bodies include lakes, rivers, ponds, oceans and underground water resources. Water Pollution occurs when waste from industrial and other sources enter into the water bodies, resulting in the contamination of water, moreover, it is also harmful to aquatic life as well as to humans.

Causes of Water Pollution

Water is an essential natural resource and very useful for life on earth. Causes of water pollution are many and always include human activities. The various causes of water pollution are given below-

  • Urban Sewage: The sewage from urban settlements is usually treated with chemicals and then released into the water bodies after mixing with fresh water. Most of the time, the sewage is not treated and is left into the water bodies. It contains harmful, bacteria and pathogens, which is extremely harmful to aquatic life and to humans as well.
  • Industrial Waste: Large amount of toxic waste is produced by the industries. Industrial waste includes pollutants such as mercury, lead, sulfur, asbestos, and nitrates. These chemicals are not only harmful to flora and fauna but also render the water unfit to use. Due to the absence of a proper waste management system, many industries still dump harmful waste in natural water resources.
  • Garbage Dumping: Common household garbage contains plastic, food, wood, paper, rubber, aluminum, etc. This garbage is directly dumped into oceans and rivers or else reaches them indirectly and takes a couple of years to centuries to degrade. In both cases, it pollutes the water bodies and threatens marine life as well as the life of flora and fauna over the adjoining lands.
  • Oil Spills: Oil is non-soluble in water and being lighter in density, floats over it. Though the oil spills have been considerably reduced in the past decades, the incidents of oil spills still happen. For instance, in 2018, there were 137 oil spills in the United States alone. Out of 137 spills, 65 were reported as the maximum potential spills, releasing gallons of oil into the water.
  • Landfills Leakage: Landfills are the huge piles of garbage usually found on the outskirts of a city or urban settlement. The garbage from the landfills leaks into the water bodies with rain or reaches with the wind, resulting in their contamination. They contain a large amount of several contaminants harmful for aquatic life.

Effects of Water Pollution

The most immediate effect of water pollution is on the organisms that live in water. Moreover, it is also harmful to the surrounding plants, animals and humans those use or consume water in some form or the other.

Chemical pollutants are most harmful in this regard as they are difficult to separate physically and alter the properties of water. They get mixed with the water alter its chemical properties, making it harmful to consume or use.

Use of contaminated water causes several serious diseases in humans like – diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, dysentery, etc and could be life-threatening.

Water Pollution today has become a serious issue that concerns the health of the planet and its inhabitants. Water is a very useful resource, much needed for drinking and other essential activities by humans and animals alike. If the already scarce freshwater is made contaminated then the chances of life on the planet are considerably reduced. To save life on earth we must first save the water by keeping our water bodies clean.

Frequently Asked Questions on Water Pollution

What are the objectives of water pollution.

Water pollution is not the objective but the result of contaminants entering water bodies, harming aquatic life and ecosystems.

How do we detect water pollution?

Water pollution can be detected through various tests and measurements of water quality, including chemical analysis and biological monitoring.

What is the effects of water pollution?

The effects of water pollution include harm to aquatic life, ecosystem disruption, health risks for humans, and damage to the environment.

Why do we stop water pollution?

We aim to stop water pollution to protect aquatic ecosystems, ensure safe drinking water, and safeguard public health.

How can we protect water?

We can protect water by reducing pollutant discharge, conserving water resources, and adopting eco-friendly practices.

What is the main source of pollution?

The main sources of water pollution are industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, sewage, and improper waste disposal.

How to prevent water pollution?

Preventing water pollution involves regulating pollution sources, promoting eco-friendly practices, and raising awareness about water conservation.

What's the cause of water pollution?

The causes of water pollution include chemical pollutants, sewage, oil spills, and excessive nutrient runoff from agriculture and urban areas.

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Essay on Pollution: Samples in 100, 150 and 200 Words

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  • Updated on  
  • Nov 23, 2023

Essay on Pollution

As the world embraced urbanization, mother nature witnessed the greener lands getting transformed into modern cities and metropolises. What followed is a trail of natural disasters signalling that something is wrong with the planet earth. Pollution is increasingly asked under the writing section in school and college tests as well as competitive exams . This is because it is a relevant environmental issue today. This blog aims to help you with the necessary knowledge as well as tips and tricks to draft a well-written essay on pollution.

Related Read: Women Empowerment Essay

What is Pollution?

Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These materials are called pollutants. They can be created by human activity like trash and natural like volcanic ash. Pollutants damage the quality of water, air and land. Pollution is a global problem. Air and water carry pollution into the ocean currents and migrating fish. Pollution is among the many things that harm our planet- once greener and healthier than it is now. Pollution is a dangerous phenomenon that is contributing to an array of health issues.

Essay on Pollution

Types of Pollution

In simple terms, pollution is defined as the contamination of the physical and biological constituents in the earth’s atmosphere. It affects human life and the natural environment to a very great extent. It degrades our natural resources, from the water we drink to the air we breathe. While writing an essay on Pollution, you must mention the major four types of pollution which are as follows:

  • Air Pollution : Air pollution is the contamination of air in the atmosphere when harmful or excessive quantities of substances such as smoke and harmful gases from industries, CFCs and oxides produced by automobiles, the burning of solid wastes, etc. are introduced into the environment.
  • Water Pollution : This refers to the contamination of natural resources of water, due to the addition of harmful chemical, biological or physical materials, which includes industrial wastes, oil spills, domestic and farm wastes, pesticides, as well as mining and agricultural wastes, to water resource which make it unusable.
  • Soil Pollution : Land/Soil Pollution occurs due to the degradation of the earth’s surface by different commercial, industrial, agricultural and domestic activities. Causes of soil pollution also include mining, deforestation, dumping of e-waste and other industrial wastes, usage of harmful chemicals such as insecticides, pesticides, etc.
  • Noise Pollution : Excess noise due to sounds created by machines, loudspeakers, microphones, loud music, noise from industries, construction and civil engineering works etc. lead to noise pollution.

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Causes and Health Effects of Pollution

You can include various causes and health effects in your essay on Pollution from the following table:-

Add the causes and effects in your essay on Pollution depending upon the word limit allowed to you.

essay on pollution

Format for Essay on Pollution

Before writing an essay on Pollution, students must be familiarised with the format of essay writing. The key elements of the essay format are Introduction, Body of Content and Conclusion. Take a look at the following paragraphs which delve deeper into the details of these features as per a 200-250 word essay:

  • Introduction – The introduction of the essay must be on providing an overview of the given topic. For an essay on Pollution, you can begin with a simple definition or thought-provoking sentence and complete it in about around 60 words. Since, it is the first thing the reader looks at, try to make it interesting by adding recent instances and impactful questions.
  • Body of Content – This area of the content comes after the introduction and can be explained in around 100-120 words, describing the given topic in detail. So, in writing about pollution, you can describe how the atmosphere and the environment are getting affected due to Pollution and list down various ways to prevent pollution.
  • Conclusion – Wrapping up your essay, this part comprises around 50 words. Try to bring a positive outlook on the issue you are discussing or conclude by summing up in a concise way.

Also Read: Essay on Pollution in Hindi

introduction for water pollution essay

Sample Essay on Pollution in 100 Words

Polllution is the addition of unwanted susbstances which are incorporated into the environment that can damage our Earth. There are mainly four tyoes of pollutions, these inlcude water pollution, air pollution, soil pollution, and noise pollution. One should note that any form of pollution is the result of careless activity carried out by man. We, humans on a daily basis dump waste directly into water bodies which leads to water pollution. Vehicle emissions of smoke into the atmosphere impede the ability of all living things to breathe, leading to air pollution. Our garbage is dumped into landfills directly, which results in soil pollution. Although it cannot be seen, noise pollution is a severe type of pollution that can harm our ears.

Sample Essay on Pollution in 250- 300 Words

The biggest threat planet earth is facing is pollution. Unwanted substances leave a negative impact once released into an environment. There are four types of pollution air, water, land, and noise. Pollution affects the quality of life more than any human can imagine. Due to air pollution, even teenage kids have developed various respiratory diseases. Water pollution has led to diseases in children. The waste we humans dump on the land or chemical fertilisers which are put on the land for agricultural purposes causes land/ soil pollution. If the soil quality deteriorates due to such practices, the soil will become infertile and no crops could be grown in future. The government has launched various schemes over the years to fight pollution but individual efforts can also play a vital role. Start by replacing plastic bags for shopping with cloth bags, stopping littering on roads and stop wasting water are some of the basic things to start with that can lead to big changes in the environment.

Sample Essay on Pollution in 300-350 Words

One of the most critical threats faced by our planet in the present day scenario. Environmental pollution is a global issue affecting people around the world. It is occurring in different forms, whether by affecting the air we breathe or the water resources we utilise for several purposes. Air pollution came into being with an increase in the level of carbon dioxide, with the increase in pollutants which are contaminating the air and causing breathing discomfort as well as skin diseases to human beings. Talking about the other aspect, there is no life without water. The water bodies are polluting and becoming unsafe for drinking or any other use because of industrial development, rapid urbanisation and various other reasons. Due to air pollution, diseases that can occur to human beings are asthma, various skin diseases, cancer, etc. Therefore, it is the essential need of the hour to take serious steps to reduce pollution to its core. At a personal level, we can minimise environmental pollution by taking public transport or carpools to reduce vehicular smoke, avoiding firecrackers at festivals and celebrations can also cut down on air and noise pollution, and not using fertilisers and pesticides which can cause both water and soil pollution, and switching over to organic farming. The government can also bring strict rules and regulations to lessen industrial pollution.  To sum up, any type of pollution is harmful to the environment with serious consequences like global warming, uneven climatic changes, etc. Due to our greediness and illegal human activities, the innocent lives of animals are lost. The time has come to join our hands and work towards preserving and protecting the environment for the present as well as future generations.

Also Read: Essay on Environment: Examples and Tips

introduction for water pollution essay

Tips on How to Write an Essay on Pollution

Before you start writing your essay on Pollution, make a note of the following things:-

  • Make points of what types of pollution and compulsorily add air, water and noise pollution
  • Make a list of what causes and effects do you want to write about
  • Ensure that everything you want to write about is factually correct
  • Try to write shorter and readable sentences. There should be a connection amongst all 3 parts of the essay on Pollution- introduction, body and conclusion

How to Reduce or Prevent Pollution?

Everyone has a responsibility to take action to prevent pollution after learning about its negative impacts. Every preventive measure that can be taken to lessen pollution should be known to us. For example, to reduce air pollution, we should refrain from lighting fireworks during festivals, take public transportation or carpool, limit the use of loudspeakers, and reduce noise pollution by honking in public. This circumstance should always be on our minds so that we can respond appropriately. In the beginning, it is up to us to exercise caution and to raise awareness among those around us. We should take environmentally beneficial measures, such as increasing tree planting, lowering plastic usage, utilising more sustainable household products, etc. Always keep in mind that every tiny action now will have a greater effect tomorrow when discussing global pollution.

Tips on Reducing Pollution

introduction for water pollution essay

  • Say NO to Crackers
  • Use Public Transportation
  • Turn off the lights, fans and water taps when not in use
  • Recycle and Reuse
  • Segregate your waste
  • Say NO to Plastic
  • Plant more trees
  • Use of fans instead of ACs

How Often Does an Essay on Pollution Come in School Exams?

In your school exams, an essay on Pollution will come in your English language paper. Environmental Science is a subject every school teaches so you can pick up some points from the chapters on Pollution and add them to your essay. An essay on Pollution is asked very often if not every year (with one or two other choices of topic) because of its significance in today’s world.

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Nikita is a creative writer and editor, who is always ready to learn new skills. She has great knowledge about study abroad universities, researching and writing blogs about them. Being a perfectionist, she has a habit of keeping her tasks complete on time before the OCD hits her. When Nikita is not busy working, you can find her eating while binge-watching The office. Also, she breathes music. She has done her bachelor's from Delhi University and her master's from Jamia Millia Islamia.

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Water pollution essay

Water pollution essay | Write an engaging essay with these facts!

Water pollution is an extensive topic just as vast as the oceans. if you are confused about how to write a compelling and fact-filled essay, take a look at this blog to write a stellar water pollution essay, table of contents, how to write an essay on water pollution, introduction to water pollution, water pollution facts, causes of water pollution essay, types of water pollutants, water pollution affects essay, how to reduce water pollution essay, what we have to say.

Water is one of the most critical elements in existence. Natural and artificial activity both degrade water. Water contamination has become a severe environmental issue and a danger to human survival. That ‌ makes it a subject worth writing about. Check out the blog to know more about the contents and structure of a water pollution essay.

To ensure that the readers stick to the essay till the end, it needs to have a good flow. The first step is to determine the structure of your essay. Your essay can be bifurcated into sub-headings such as – 

  • The introduction
  • Causes of water pollution
  • Water pollution affects
  • How to reduce water pollution

Yet another factor that can ensure the essay continues to be interesting to the readers is to include authentic facts regarding the current state of water pollution.

As water pollution is a vast topic, it is important to ensure to not beat around the bush throughout your essay. Stick to the concrete points that keep the reader engaged while reading the essay. 

We’ve listed all the above points ‌below and expanded on what you should cover in your essay.

Water pollution

About 71% of the world’s surface is covered with water.

Surface water often contains a modest quantity of suspended organic and inorganic particles, as well as a variety of microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, viruses, protozoans, and even higher species. As a matter of fact, water becomes contaminated when the concentration of these compounds rises.

Even at low concentrations, several toxins and diseases harm the water. All in all, silt, clay, animal feces, minerals, and other contaminants pollute natural water. 

All these reasons make it crucial for every individual and government to understand the importance of keeping water pollution at bay.

Water pollution facts

You can add the below-mentioned facts to your water pollution essay  

  • Around 70% of all industrial waste is thrown into water bodies
  • Domestic sewage is responsible for over 80% of water contamination.
  • As a matter of fact, contaminated water can cause dangerous illnesses including cholera and diarrhea.
  • Every year, billions of pounds of plastic waste are dumped into the oceans.
  • Around 15 million children worldwide die as a result of water contamination.
  • A total of 2.5 billion people lack access to safe drinking water.
  • Asia has the most polluted rivers compared to any other continent.
  • Plastic is a major contributor to the extinction of some aquatic species.

Here’s how to write an essay on the causes of water pollution – 

Various human activities and developmental factors contribute to water contamination. The release of untreated waste into water, which affects both surface and groundwater, is one of the human activities that pollute water bodies. Agricultural chemicals that end up spilling into water sources are another human activity that contributes to water pollution. The majority of the causes of water contamination are due to uncontrolled enterprises whose operations and waste management techniques are left unmonitored.

#1. Groundwater pollution

Pollutants in water can disrupt ecosystems and harm plants and animals that live there. Groundwater pollution occurs because of a lack of environmental awareness.

In addition, water pollution has been linked to an increased risk of cancer, respiratory and skin disorders, impairments, and heart disease.

#2. Microbiological pollution

Unlike the majority of the others on this list, Microbiological pollution is a naturally occurring water contamination. Bacteria, protozoa, and viruses can contaminate water sources, resulting in illnesses like bilharzia and cholera. Humans are particularly vulnerable to this type of contamination in areas where proper water treatment facilities are lacking.

#3. Chemical pollution

The most prevalent form of water pollution is chemicals. Both surface and subsurface water bodies are affected. The major cause is industrial and agricultural operations.

As a matter of fact, industrial solvents and metals can contaminate rivers and lakes. The use of pesticides to manage weeds, insects, and fungus on farms is another source of soil pollution. Petroleum spills also cause chemical pollution.

Here’s how to write an essay on the effects of water pollution – 

Water contamination has a wide range of consequences. The most typical outcome is a decrease in the water’s natural oxygen concentration, making it more difficult for aquatic species to thrive. Because fish and coral demand high amounts of oxygen, their populations may fall.

Water contamination is a significant environmental issue with several consequences. Plants , animals, humans, and all other living things die as a result of water pollution. Toxins may also result in killing fish and animals, making it more difficult for species to live.

Pollutants in water may sometimes cause an ecosystem to become unbalanced, severely impacting the plants and animals that live there. This occurs as a result of a lack of environmental awareness.

Here’s how to write an essay on reducing water pollution – 

Water contamination is a serious hazard to the environment and life itself. The dumping of industrial pollutants directly into water bodies and watershed regions without sufficient treatment is the leading source of water pollution. These hazardous substances are consumed by aquatic organisms, posing a serious threat to the ecology. 

In addition, the indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture contributes to water pollution. The health of humans and animals who drink water from these contaminated rivers and lakes is harmed.

All in all, contaminated water resources serve as a breeding ground for bacteria and a source of waterborne illnesses and epidemics, including typhoid, diarrhea, and cholera.

Water contamination is a significant hazard to both the ecosystem and the survival of species. As a matter of fact, it impacts everyone and has a significant negative impact on ecological equilibrium.

It is high time for the world to take action on the issue and eliminate the threat of water contamination by adopting the required precautions. Such dire circumstances require us to act now and address the lingering issues at hand.

We hope that the above-mentioned contents have helped draft your water pollution essay. You can start working by creating a structure and the contents of the blog.

If you want more information or want to share your thoughts with us , comment below!

Liked this blog? Then read our blog on Global warming essay | Create the best essay with these 10 pointers!

Q1. What is a water cycle?

Answer – In nature, the water cycle is a constant natural activity. It is the process through which water from oceans, seas, and lakes evaporates and becomes vapor. It then proceeds through the condensation process before becoming precipitation and falling back to Earth as rain or snow.

Q2. Name one of the few organizations that work to protect and eliminate water pollution.

Answer – The Nature Conservancy is an organization that works towards protecting rivers, lakes, and natural lands in 30 countries.

Q3. How is water pollution a breach of human rights?

Answer – Filthy water is certainly a human rights violation because it is generating severe problems for the inhabitants. Human waste is another cause of pollution that makes it impossible for humans to use these resources for water. 

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Water Pollution: Causes, Effects and Possible Solutions Expository Essay

Introduction, causes and effects of water pollution, possible solutions for water pollution.

Water pollution is any form of activity that may lead to contamination or addition of pollutants into water body. It is an important issue to the world to put into consideration because human beings need clean water. Other living creatures need good water as well.

Therefore, water is a very important requirement in the daily activities of people, and it is a very useful resource in industries, hospitals, schools and even in food manufacturing companies. This is why clean water is required in all the places to make sure the people and all the living creatures in the planet live a good and healthy life.

Water pollution cases have been increasing in the contemporary world, despite all the efforts to reduce it. Despite all these efforts, the question remains as to what steps the world should take to end this problem of water pollution.

Harmful and toxic pollutants cause most cases of water pollution. The pollutants may cause the water to change both its physical or chemical nature by causing mixed reactions with its contents. One of the major pollutants is waste chemicals from manufacturing industries or factories.

Most of these institutions are careless with this matter of water pollution. This is actually a very serious matter because most of the people concerned know the effects of this activity but they end up ignoring it. Moreover, these wastes contain very harmful and toxic chemicals that may cause health problems to human beings and other living creatures in the water body.

Another major pollutant is sewage. Sewage dumped to various water bodies such as rivers, lakes or sea is a direct harm to the nearby occupants, given that it is there main source of water. This will mean that these people will lack clean water and will have one option of drinking the dirty water. The toxic contents of the sewage may also harm or kill aquatic animals present in that particular water body. Indeed, this is a government concern, though it seems that it is being neglected all the time.

Oil spillage to water bodies is another cause of water pollution, as it leads to more harmful effects to the living creatures and human beings around. Oil spillage will definitely affect the health of aquatic organisms, as well as other living things dependent on the water body being polluted. Garbage and other toxic substances are also the other causes of water pollution. All these directly affect human health and the natural environment in the surrounding areas. It is therefore up to the government to put more efforts to reduce these problems.

One of the best solutions to water pollution is the enactment and implementation of rules against those industries and institutions that carelessly dump waste chemicals, garbage, and other toxic pollutants to the water bodies without considering human life and the natural habitat around. The government would need to be very strict on this matter.

People should also avoid dumping litter, household waste, or garbage to water bodies. Individuals should also avoid throwing dirty and harmful substances to their water lines that drain to sewage. Individual farmers must try to use the right amount of fertilizer when applying chemicals, as excess amount of fertilizer may drain to the nearby water body.

Water pollution issues are currently increasing in the world because of neglect of the governments and ignorance of the people. Water pollution issue should not only be issue to the government, but also all the people in the society. Therefore, people should join hands together with the government to reduce this world’s major problem. Nevertheless, water is a very important resource in the world, and it should therefore be kept clean and safe.

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Essay on Water Pollution

essay on water pollution

Here we have shared the Essay on Water Pollution in detail so you can use it in your exam or assignment of 150, 250, 400, 500, or 1000 words.

You can use this Essay on Water Pollution in any assignment or project whether you are in school (class 10th or 12th), college, or preparing for answer writing in competitive exams. 

Topics covered in this article.

Essay on Water Pollution in 150-250 words

Essay on water pollution in 300-400 words, essay on water pollution in 500-1000 words.

Water pollution is a pressing environmental issue that poses a significant threat to ecosystems and human health. It occurs when harmful substances, such as chemicals, industrial waste, or sewage, contaminate water bodies, including rivers, lakes, oceans, and groundwater sources.

Water pollution has devastating consequences on aquatic life. Toxic pollutants can disrupt the balance of ecosystems, leading to the decline of fish and other marine species. Additionally, contaminated water can spread diseases to animals and humans who depend on these water sources for drinking, irrigation, and recreation.

Industrial activities, improper waste disposal, agricultural runoff, and urbanization contribute to water pollution. Efforts to reduce water pollution include stricter regulations on waste disposal, the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, and the development of advanced wastewater treatment technologies.

Awareness and individual responsibility are crucial in combating water pollution. Simple actions like properly disposing of waste, conserving water, and avoiding the use of harmful chemicals can make a significant difference. Education and advocacy are essential to raising public awareness about the importance of protecting water resources and implementing sustainable practices.

In conclusion, water pollution is a grave environmental issue that threatens aquatic ecosystems and human well-being. It is a global challenge that requires collective action and responsible behavior. By implementing effective regulations, adopting sustainable practices, and promoting awareness, we can safeguard our water resources and ensure a healthier and more sustainable future for all.

Title: Water Pollution – A Growing Threat to Ecosystems and Human Well-being

Introduction :

Water pollution is a grave environmental issue that arises from the contamination of water bodies by harmful substances. It poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. This essay explores the causes and consequences of water pollution, as well as the measures required to address and prevent it.

Causes of Water Pollution

Water pollution can be attributed to various human activities and natural factors. Industrial discharge, improper waste disposal, agricultural runoff, oil spills, sewage, and chemical pollutants are among the leading causes. Rapid urbanization, population growth, and inadequate infrastructure for waste management contribute to the problem. Additionally, natural phenomena like sedimentation and erosion can exacerbate water pollution.

Consequences of Water Pollution

Water pollution has far-reaching ecological and human health implications. Contaminated water disrupts aquatic ecosystems, leading to the decline of fish and other marine species. It affects biodiversity, disrupts food chains, and damages habitats. Moreover, polluted water sources pose significant health risks to humans. Consuming or coming into contact with contaminated water can lead to waterborne diseases, gastrointestinal issues, skin problems, and even long-term health impacts.

Prevention and Remediation

Addressing water pollution requires a multi-faceted approach. Stricter regulations and enforcement regarding industrial discharge and waste management are essential. Promoting sustainable agricultural practices, such as reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and implementing proper irrigation techniques, can minimize agricultural runoff. Developing and implementing advanced wastewater treatment technologies is crucial to ensure that domestic and industrial effluents are properly treated before being discharged into water bodies.

Individual and Collective Responsibility:

Preventing water pollution is a shared responsibility. Individuals can contribute by practicing responsible waste disposal, conserving water, and avoiding the use of harmful chemicals. Public awareness campaigns and education programs play a vital role in promoting responsible behavior and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship.

Conclusion :

Water pollution is a critical environmental issue that jeopardizes the health of ecosystems and humans. It demands collective action and responsible behavior. By addressing the root causes of water pollution, implementing effective regulations, and promoting individual and collective responsibility, we can safeguard water resources and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

Title: Water Pollution – A Looming Crisis Threatening Ecosystems and Human Well-being

Water pollution is a pressing environmental issue that poses a significant threat to ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health. It occurs when harmful substances contaminate water bodies, making them unfit for their intended uses. This essay delves into the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to water pollution, emphasizing the urgent need for collective action to address this global crisis.

Water pollution arises from various sources, both human-induced and natural. Human activities play a significant role in polluting water bodies. Industrial discharge, untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, oil spills, mining activities, and improper waste disposal are among the leading causes. Industrial wastewater often contains heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and organic pollutants, which can have devastating effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health. Agricultural runoff, laden with pesticides, fertilizers, and animal waste, contaminates water bodies and contributes to eutrophication, depleting oxygen levels and harming aquatic life.

The consequences of water pollution are far-reaching and encompass ecological, economic, and health impacts. Aquatic ecosystems bear the brunt of pollution, with devastating consequences for biodiversity and food chains. Pollutants disrupt aquatic habitats, decrease water quality, and lead to the decline of fish and other marine species. This ecological imbalance has ripple effects throughout the ecosystem, affecting the entire food web.

Water pollution also has severe implications for human health. Contaminated water sources pose significant risks, as they can transmit waterborne diseases, including cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and hepatitis. Communities that rely on polluted water for drinking, cooking, and bathing are particularly vulnerable. Prolonged exposure to polluted water can lead to various health issues, such as gastrointestinal problems, skin irritations, respiratory illnesses, and even long-term health effects like cancer.

Furthermore, water pollution has economic ramifications. Polluted water bodies reduce the availability of clean water for agriculture, industry, and domestic use. This leads to increased costs for water treatment, agricultural productivity losses, and economic disruptions in sectors that rely heavily on water resources, such as fisheries and tourism.

Solutions and Mitigation Strategies

Addressing water pollution requires comprehensive strategies and collaborative efforts. Governments, industries, communities, and individuals all have a role to play in mitigating pollution and safeguarding water resources.

a. Regulatory Measures

B. wastewater treatment, c. sustainable agriculture, d. waste management, e. education and awareness.

Effective regulations and enforcement mechanisms are essential to control and prevent water pollution. Governments should establish stringent standards for industrial effluents and enforce penalties for non-compliance. Laws should be enacted to ensure proper waste disposal and treatment practices. Additionally, zoning regulations can help prevent pollution by restricting industrial activities near sensitive water bodies.

Investing in advanced wastewater treatment infrastructure is crucial. Industries should implement appropriate treatment technologies to remove pollutants from their effluents before discharge. Municipalities must prioritize the treatment of domestic sewage to prevent contamination of water bodies. Developing countries, in particular, need support and resources to build and upgrade their wastewater treatment facilities.

Adopting sustainable agricultural practices can significantly reduce pollution from agricultural activities. Encouraging the use of organic farming methods, integrated pest management, and precision irrigation can minimize the reliance on harmful pesticides and fertilizers. Proper manure management and implementing buffer zones along water bodies can also mitigate nutrient runoff and protect water quality.

Improper waste disposal is a major contributor to water pollution. Implementing comprehensive waste management systems that include recycling, proper landfill management, and promotion of waste reduction strategies is crucial. Communities should have access to adequate waste collection services, and educational campaigns can raise awareness about the importance of responsible waste disposal.

Public education and awareness programs play a vital role in addressing water pollution. Promoting water conservation practices, encouraging responsible behavior, and highlighting the link between water pollution and human health can empower individuals to take action. Educational campaigns should target schools, communities, and industries to foster a culture of environmental stewardship.

Water pollution is a critical global issue that poses severe threats to ecosystems, biodiversity, and human well-being. It demands collective action and sustainable practices to safeguard water resources. Through stringent regulations, advanced wastewater treatment, sustainable agriculture, proper waste management, and education, we can mitigate water pollution and preserve this vital resource for future generations. By recognizing the urgency of this crisis and working collaboratively, we can ensure a healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable water future.

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Essay on Water Pollution

List of essays on water pollution in english, essay on water pollution – essay 1 (150 words), essay on water pollution – essay 2 (250 words), essay on water pollution – essay 3 (300 words), essay on water pollution: causes and impact – essay 4 (500 words), essay on water pollution: causes and effects – essay 5 (500 words), essay on water pollution – essay 6 (750 words), essay on water pollution with conclusion – essay 7 (1000 words), essay on water pollution: sources and effects – essay 8 (1500 words).

Water pollution is a serious environmental issue. Water is said to be polluted if its physical, biological, and chemical properties are deteriorated via anthropogenic and natural activities. Water pollution has affected the lives of humans and animals in all aspects. Water pollution is very hazardous to the environment.

The water we drink daily looks clean; however, it is contaminated with microscopic pollutants. Many families have installed water purifiers at home to ensure that their family members get to drink healthy water. However, this will not help curb the water pollution problem on the global level. We should pledge not to pollute the water and preserve the natural reservoirs in order to curb water pollution. A number of campaigns such as ‘clean Ganga’ are run by the government and NGOs that have helped enlighten the population about the issue. More steps are required to be taken to ensure an adequate level of clean and pollution-free water for the survival of life on the planet.

Introduction:

The consumption of water forms a large part of our physical health. Aside from this obvious fact, water is an important aspect of our ecosystem. However, for water to perform its various functions, it has to be kept pure as contaminated water would lead to adverse environmental and health consequences.

Water pollution is the introduction of foreign material into our water bodies like lakes, streams, rivers or groundwater. This introduction, 9 times out of 10 is usually a result of human interference. Through various activities, sometimes inadvertently, we pollute our ecosystem with toxic materials dumped into our water.

Causes of Water Pollution:

One of the most popular features of water is also the cause of water pollution. Water is a “Universal Solvent” which simply means that it can dissolve almost any substance. Consequently, it is also why toxic substance mixes with water effortlessly. These toxic materials could be from traceable sources such as factories, farms, sewage etc. They are sometimes less traceable sources such as pollution in the air.

Water Pollution Effect on our Environment:

The first organisms that come in contact with polluted water are creatures living in the water. The effect of water pollution on aquatic animals depends on the kind of material introduced into the water. In extreme cases, it can lead to death of aqua species. It can also lead to a serious disrupting of the food chain. Finally, water pollution can lead to serious diseases in humans such as cholera and hepatitis.

Preventive Measures:

While the obvious way to reduce or eliminate water pollution is to stop industrial waste, doing just that and nothing more would not be enough. Preventive measures such as reduction in plastic consumption, controlling leaks in cars, using fewer pesticides or efficient disposal of chemicals would help us go the extra mile.

Clean environment is the basic life supporting system and pure water plays a prominent role in balancing the ecosystem. The environment provides us with the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and a shelter to protect ourselves. Access to fresh and clean water is a basic necessity of any living being for existence. But now it is least available. The adage, “Water, water everywhere, not a drop to drink,” rightly fits the current scenario.

No human activity can be possible without pure water. We face an acute shortage of clean drinking water and millions of people have been suffering from the shortage of pure drinking water. Despite knowing all these facts, people continue to contaminate water bodies recklessly exploiting the natural source of drinking water and risking the lives of millions of aquatic species.

Address the issues:

Water pollution poses a significant threat to the ecology and sustenance of life. The first and foremost cause of water pollution is the dumping of industrial wastes directly into the water bodies, and catchment areas without proper treatment. Aquatic species consume these harmful chemicals and become a huge menace to the ecosystem. It also leads to the reduction of oxygen content in the rivers and lakes.

Also, ruthless usage of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture, are a reason to pollute water bodies. Uncontrolled discharge of wastes and improper sanitation also contribute to water pollution. When humans and animals intake water from these polluted rivers and lakes, it affects the health adversely. You can easily identify impure water from its color.

Moreover, such polluted water bodies become the breeding center of microbes and a reason to spread waterborne diseases and epidemics such as typhoid, diarrhea, cholera, etc. The underground water resources also get polluted when the contaminated water seeps through the soil.

The most critical step to prevent water pollution is to adopt appropriate waste management policies. Setting up of wastewater treatment plants can resolve this issue and hence we can protect our natural water resources from contamination and embrace an eco-friendly life.

Water pollution is the contamination of water by pollutants. World has faced an environmental challenge as a result of water pollution. In the whole of India, most of the water sources are polluted, about 80 percent of the total water surface. The country has made headlines in global environmental pollution statistics, which includes rain water that is being harnessed. The highest sources of pollutants are the manufacturing and processing industries that release sewerage directly into water bodies without treating it and domestic sewerage. Water pollution is so adverse that there is insecurity of water yet the population is continuously increasing. As a third world country, the pollution rate is high and since it is still growing, there are limited resources that can be used to curb the damage and the situation remains the same over the years.

Causes of water pollution:

Water pollution results from a various human activities and developmental factors. One of the human activities that pollute water bodies is the release of untreated wastes into water, which affects both surface and ground water. In the rural parts, liquid waste disposal has not been developed and in urban areas, only 56.4 percent of sewage systems have been developed. The lack of sewage systems result in about 80 percent of the wastes directed to water bodies. Another human activities that contribute to water pollution are agricultural chemicals that end up flowing to water sources. Developmental factors causing water pollution in India are mostly the unregulated industries. The large scale industries are usually regulated by the government in terms of waste management but some small industries have do not have regulations and they tend to discharge industrial effluents that are untreated into water bodies.

The impacts of water pollution in India:

Water pollution affects the quality of life in more ways than one. The living component of the environment is adversely affected especially aquatic animals. The untreated sewage contains harmful chemicals that cause death in aquatic animals. The chemicals in water disrupt the nature of soil by altering the pH and reducing the fertility thus adversely affecting agricultural activities. When humans consume water that is polluted, they suffer from illnesses. Waterborne diseases like cholera are life threatening. Water pollution has also resulted in scarcity of safe water for consumption by people and the government is currently battling water insecurity.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, water pollution has effects on the general economy and prevention methods should be initiated. Prevention strategies should involve strict policies that govern the discharge of untreated wastes into water bodies and the development of adequate sewage systems. The government should also look into the issue of water security and ensure that there is adequate water for all citizens through effective planning and management.

India is a country enriched by majestic Ocean bodies, gigantic rivers, mammoth waterfalls and beautiful lakes. Unfortunately, these beautiful water bodies are getting polluted due to heavy industrialization and urbanization in India. Water pollution in the country is resulting a havoc in the lives of common people.

Causes & Effects of Water Pollution:

Fresh water scarcity is a growing problem faced by Indian cities. Due to less rainfall places like Marathwada region in Maharashtra face severe drought conditions. At the time of such calamitous conditions India must focus on saving the natural sources of water and especially fresh water from getting polluted. Let us discuss some the primary causes and effects of water pollution.

1. Sewage Water:

A huge amount of garbage from households, agricultural lands and other commercial places is dumped into lakes and rivers. These wastes contain harmful chemicals and toxins which creates poisonous water and damages the aquatic flora and fauna.

2. Polluted river banks:

In the villages people go for defecation near the river bank. They wash clothes and cattle and pollute the rivers and lakes. Every year massive piles of litter and solid waste are accumulated at the banks of the rivers and lakes during various festivals and celebrations.

3. Industrial Waste:

The Industries hugely contribute to the pollution of water bodies. The industries at Mathura have caused nearly irreversible damage to the condition of river Yamuna. A huge amount of industrial waste is also dumped in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal which has impaired the marine life.

4. Oil Pollution:

Oil spilled from ships and tankers is hugely responsible for polluting the sea water. As the oil floats on the water surface, it prevents the flow of oxygen into the water and thus sabotages the life expectancy of marine animals and plants.

5. Eutrophication:

Eutrophication is a process where an increased level of nutrients in water bodies results in growth of algae in water. It depletes the oxygen in water. This destructively affects water quality, fish and other aquatic inhabitants.

Preventive Actions Taken:

The Indian Government has undertaken strict regulatory action against industries who are responsible for polluting water bodies. It has implemented National Water Quality Maintenance Program (NWQMP) which keeps check on the water pollution level in the water bodies. Programs like ‘Namami Gange’ and ‘Yamuna Action Plan’ are implemented on a large scale. The Government is providing funds to build toilets in every household of the villages and remote areas in the country. Movies, advertisements, and skits are predominantly playing a big role in educating the people about the hazards of water pollution and ways to prevent it. Water treatment plants and Septic tanks are built to treat the sewage water.

Water pollution is also posing a real time threat to the health condition of the Indian people who consume contaminated water. To curb water pollution all the laws and regulations implemented by the government will be a futile practice without active participation of the local people. It is the responsibility of every citizen to contribute in conserving water bodies and keep them pollution free.

Water is the most important resource on earth on which all the living and non-living beings depend on. On a serious note, a countless litre of water is needed for running a day’s chore, across the globe from drinking, farming activities, industrial activities, household chores, and not to forget, the entertainment and leisure activities like water game theme park, swimming pool etc. Regardless of our dependence on this precocious commodity, we have a tendency to use it very carelessly, causing pollution and water scarcity.

Almost over two-thirds of Earth’s surface is filled by water. But, as the population explodes, the human race is giving an ever-increasing pressure to the planet’s water resources. To put it in an understandable way, the inland and underground water are being squeezed from Mother Earth due to the irresponsible activities of humans which depleted the quality of good water drastically. Poorer water quality can otherwise be said as, “Polluted Water”.

Although we have various definitions for water pollution, the essence of it is that the amount of pollutant present in water over a period of time, making water unfit for use. Upon the introduction of harmful materials, water loses its natural qualities and is transformed to contaminate one, which we call it as polluted water. Additionally, the offensive smell, unbearable taste or sight makes water a polluted commodity.

One of the most common reasons for water pollution is the direct disposal of human and industrial waste into the water bodies. Another reason that needs to be mentioned on a highly worried note is the oil spill occurring in the oceans. Ever since the industrial revolution occurred, we have got factories that discharge high amounts of toxic chemicals, metallic compounds, sulphites and many other toxins that poison the water bodies. Even in the process of waste disposal by dumping, the industrial waste has toxins that can penetrate and contaminate the underground water table, thus contaminating the whole resource of water.

Other notable causes of water pollution include improper sewage or the seepage of sewage into the underground water table, misuse of the wastewater, marine dumping and the radioactive waste, atmospheric deposition, eutrophication, etc.

Effects of Water Pollution:

The first and foremost effect of water pollution is water scarcity. The polluted water is highly unfit for the use of humans and will need processing. Some toxins in the water can enhance the growth of aquatic weeds while killing the major aquatic life. This causes an ecological niche and imbalance in the ecosystem. When the aquatic weeds grow in excess, they can clog the water canals, quickly dissolve oxygen, and can also block the light rays into deep water. As a result, this process kills almost all the aquatic animals. The introduction of toxins in the food chain of the aquatic ecosystem can also affect the humans who consume the fish and other animals.

Some of us believe pollution is an inevitable result of human activity: we also tend to argue that if we opt for urbanization with ultra-modern resorts and cities, some extent of pollution is sort of sure to result. In alternate words, pollution could be a necessary evil that we all should place up with if we need to form progress. As luck would have it, not everybody agrees with this point of view. One reason individuals have woken up to the matter of pollution is that it brings prices of its own that undermine any economic edges that crop up by polluting. Water Pollution is now an important trouble that needs an immediate solution as it affects the ecosystem that we depend on. This can never be distanced as we are a part of the environment.

We know that pollution is a human problem because it is a comparatively a recent happening in the Earth’s history. As such, before the 19 th century Industrial Revolution, humans used to live in harmony with their immediate habitat. As industrialization expanded around the world, so the use of pollution has also expanded with it. When the population on Earth was much smaller, no one though pollution would ever become such a serious issue. It was once widely believed that the water bodies, such as oceans were too huge to get polluted. But now, with almost seven billion people on Earth, it is now very evident that we have limits and water pollution is one big sign that we have crossed those already.

To conclude, water pollution is majorly the result of those oil spills and industrial, as well as human waste disposal. This gravely affects our environment and eventually, the life of humans and animals. The deterioration of drinking water requires a prevention method on an urgent basis, which is possible only by the proper understanding, as well as support from each and every one of us.

Water pollution can be said to mean the contamination of bodies of water largely due to human activities. Examples of water bodies include rivers, lakes, groundwater, aquifers and oceans. Water pollution occurs when contaminants are added to the water bodies. In other words, water is said to be polluted when it is adulterated due to anthropogenic contaminants. Water that is polluted due to contaminants is not fit for human use like drinking.

Water pollution is a worldwide problem that requires serious evaluation of various policies in water resources. Water pollution can be classified into marine pollution, surface water pollution and also nutrient pollution. Water pollution sources can either be non-point sources or point sources. Point source as the name indicates has just one cause of pollution that is identifiable such as wastewater treatment facility, storm drain, or stream. Non- point pollution sources are quite diffuse and an example is the runoff from agriculture. Pollution is a result of a cumulative effect with respect to time.

Types of water pollution:

Surface water pollution has pollution of lakes, rivers and oceans as examples and is basically of water bodies that are open. Marine pollution is a sub-category of surface water pollution. It is the introduction of contaminants or their entry into large water bodies. Rivers are means by which seas are polluted due to rivers emptying into seas. A typical example is the discharge of industrial waste and sewage into the ocean and this is very common in nations that are just developing.

Groundwater pollution is also known as groundwater contamination and there are slight relationships between surface water and groundwater. Groundwater is quite exposed to contamination from some sources that are not contaminants for surface water. It is important to note that the difference between point and non-point sources is quite irrelevant.

Classification of pollution sources:

Surface water and groundwater, even though they are separate resources are interrelated. It is surface water that percolates into the soil and it becomes groundwater. Also, groundwater can become surface water by feeding water bodies. Sources of water pollution are classified into two categories based on the origin.

Point source water pollution is contaminants that enter a water body through an identifiable and single source like a ditch or a pipe. A point source includes industrial storm water, storm sewer systems of municipals, and discharge from a sewage treatment facility, a factory or even a storm drain in the city.

Non-point source pollution is contamination that is not originated from just one single source. This form of pollution occurs from the agglomeration of little quantity of contaminants collected from a huge area. A typical example is the process of leaching of compounds of nitrogen from agricultural fields that are fertilised.

Sources of contaminants:

The particular type of contaminants that lead to pollution of water includes quite a wide range of pathogens, chemical and physical changes including discoloration and temperature elevation. Even though a number of the substances and chemicals that go under regulation occur naturally (calcium, manganese, iron, sodium, etc.) it is the concentration that determines what level is contamination and what level is a natural water component. It should be noted that negative impacts can arise from a high concentration of substances that occur naturally.

Substances that deplete oxygen can be materials that occur naturally like plant matter (e.g., grass and leaves) and also chemicals that are man-made. Other anthropogenic and natural substances may lead to turbidity which disrupts growth of plants by blocking light and blocks the gills of a few fish species. The alteration of the physical chemistry of water includes electrical conductivity, acidity (pH change), eutrophication and temperature. Eutrophication is basically the concentration increase of chemical nutrients of an ecosystem to a level that causes an increase in the primary productivity in the ecosystem.

Pathogens are microorganisms that cause diseases. Waterborne diseases can be produced by pathogens in either animal or human hosts. A popular indicator of water pollution is Coliform bacteria; it does not cause any disease but is a good bacterial indicator. Poor onsite systems of sanitation (pit latrines, septic tanks) or insufficiently treated sewage can result in high pathogens levels. Older cities have ageing infrastructures that may include sewage collection systems (valves, pumps, pipes) that are leaky and can lead to overflow of sanitary sewers. There are also combined sewers that sometimes discharge sewage that is untreated during storms. Poor management of livestock operations is also a major cause of pathogen discharges.

Inorganic and organic substances:

Inorganic and organic matter can also be contaminants. A lot of chemical substances are very toxic. Examples of water pollutants that are organic include: waste from food processing, detergents, herbicides and insecticides, by-products of disinfection, petroleum hydrocarbons, drug pollution, etc. examples of water pollutants that are inorganic on the other hand include: ammonia, fertilizers, acidity, chemical waste, heavy metals and silt.

Pollution Control:

Municipal waste water treatment:

Sewage is basically treated by sewage treatment plants that are centralised.

Safely managed and on-site sanitations:

If a household or business is not covered by a municipal waste treatment facility, there may be need for separate septic tanks that gives first treatment to the wastewater and infiltrates the wastewater into the ground. If this is not carefully and properly done, it can cause groundwater pollution.

Industrial wastewater treatment:

Most industrial facilities churn out a lot of wastewater that is quite like domestic wastewater and can also be treated by wastewater treatment plants. Some industries generate wastewater with very high concentration of nutrients like ammonia, toxic pollutants (e.g., organic compounds that are volatile, heavy metals), organic matter (e.g., grease and oil), need extra and well suited treatment systems.

Water is a very important resource to the survival of human race and covers more than 70% of the surface of the earth so it is crucial that we look into the study of water. Water pollution harms this important resource by making it unfit for human use and invariably causes harm to human health and the environment if proper measures are not taken to battle water pollution.

The presence of such substances in the environment which can be harmful to the various forms of life on the earth is what we term as pollution. Under this category, the contamination of water bodies is specifically referred to as water pollution. Lakes, oceans, rivers and groundwater mainly constitute the water bodies on the earth. However, due to various activities, especially of the human beings, this water has been contaminated to such an extent that researches have been forced to study the effect of this phenomenon on the life on earth.

Types of Water Pollution:

The contamination of water bodies can be classified into three types, mainly, groundwater pollution, marine pollution and surface water pollution. Contaminated water from drains and industries which flows above the topmost layer of the soil usually creeps into the soil and gets mixed with the groundwater, thereby polluting it. This contaminated water then interacts with the nutrients present in the soil and alters their quality. This is termed as groundwater pollution.

Similarly, the wastewater released from the industries flows into the river and thereby reaches the seas and oceans. This is termed as marine pollution. It only affects humans but has an adverse effect on marine life as well.

In the case of surface water pollution, the wastewater remains on the surface of the earth and polluted it. This leads to the deficiency of nutrients in the soil as nutrients from other sources are not able to penetrate in the soil due to the presence of this contaminated water.

Sources and Effects of Water Pollution:

Different activities of humans have led to the contamination of the water bodies. For instance-

Industrial Waste – Pollutants such as mercury, asbestos, lead and petrochemicals which are released as industrial waste, find their way in the water bodies and contaminate them. Often this makes the water unfit not only for drinking but also for domestic use and survival of marine life as well. There have been numerous occasions where groups of dead fish have swept ashore at a given time due to the sudden increase of such chemicals in the water. Moreover, the spillage of oil from the ships often creates a hindrance for the oxygen in the air to get dissolved in water, thereby making it difficult for the marine animals to breathe.

Sewage and Waste Water – Another instance where the water bodies get contaminated is due to the release of sewage and wastewater directly into the bodies without being treated. Untreated wastewater can at times pose to be very poisonous not only for human life but for fishes as well.

Global Warming – Global warming is another phenomenon which has been often credited with the cause of increasing water pollution. There has been a rise in water temperature levels due to global warming which has even led to the death of water animals as well as plants as they were not able to survive in the increased temperatures.

Radioactive Waste – Radioactive waste is another major cause of water pollution. Radioactive substances are utilized in atomic power plants, mechanical, medicinal and other logical procedures. They can be found in watches, glowing timekeepers, TVs and x-beam apparatus. There are likewise normally occurring radioisotopes from creatures and inside the earth. If not appropriately discarded, radioactive waste can result in genuine water contamination episodes.

Dumping – Dumping of strong squanders and litters in water bodies cause water pollution. Litters incorporate glass, plastic, aluminium, Styrofoam and so on. They influence amphibian plants and creatures.

Measures to Control Water Pollution:

It has become utmost importance for all of us that we must seriously think over executing some strong steps so as to decrease, if not stop, this ever growing menace of water pollution. Some of the measures which can be incorporated are –

Educating People – First and above all measure, we ought to teach individuals on the harmful impacts of water pollution. In cities where lack of education is high among the rustic individuals, there ought to be state-funded training from those talented in these fields to assist the provincial individuals with stopping the release of waste in the water bodies. Moreover, open defecation and wrong fishing practices should be controlled.

Fines and Laws – In the urban zones, Industries and production lines let out a considerable measure of their waste into the water bodies. An appropriate fine forced on them and in addition publication on their wrongdoing will enable them to stop these practices. Laws ought to be likewise authorized to guarantee that such industries stop from rough spillage strategies which wreck water assets like fish, lobsters and so on.

Media contribution – Using radio and TV with adverts on the impacts of water contamination additionally ought to be urged to get the message crosswise over and also Public Service Announcements. The more developments there are to lessen water pollution, the more secure the water bodies will be.

Appropriate transfer of waste – There ought to be legitimate transfer of both strong and fluid waste. Experts in charge of waste administration in the nation must give territories to discard waste so that waste is not spilt all around. Businesses ought to be set up to reuse waste materials.

Appropriate utilization of chemicals on farms – Water pollution can be controlled if agriculturists are made to apply agro-synthetic concoctions legitimately on their farms through state-provided instructions. This will reduce the spillage of such synthetic compounds into waterways, lakes, tidal ponds and streams when rain falls. Farmers ought to be warned not to wash the compartments of the synthetics into water bodies.

Cleaning of Drains – To avoid water pollution, the drains are required to be cleaned all the time. In the provincial territories, pucca channels are required to be made, on the grounds that the water is going wherever in a proper way and not just reaching the rives and seas straightaway without being properly treated. We ought to build up an innovation to repel the channels from the water sources.

The inclusion of cleaning water bodies in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan – Here is the need to actually implement the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in totality and make India open defecation free. By and by, the issue of open poo and the dumping of rubbish out in the open places still exist. When it rains, all the earth, trash and excreta get into streams or lakes, dirtying water sources. Generally, individuals themselves stream squander materials into waterways or lakes without legitimate seepage framework. Lakes and streams are additionally utilized for showering and washing purposes because of which gigantic amount of soil and contaminations get gathered into the water bodies. Additionally, because of these exercises, trash, excreta, fiery remains of the dead old garments and ruined materials are released into waterways and even at times, dead bodies are likewise tossed into the streams and water bodies. There are for all intents and purposes no toilets in the ghetto settlements situated close city-residences, or regardless of whether there is one, it can’t work easily. This calls for rehearsing great cleanliness in the genuine soul of Swachh Bharat.

Everyday Steps for all to Curb Water Pollution –

i. Keep your vehicle all around kept up and promptly benefit it on the off chance that you see any oil spilling from the vehicle.

ii. Buy ecologically friendly cleaning items that don’t hurt the land in the event they happen to be flushed or purged into a water body.

iii. Moderate your water use and don’t leave the water running when you are not utilizing it.

iv. Use, reuse and recycle everything you can. Plastics and papers might be sent to the reusing canister while a portion of your glass materials might have the capacity to be reused or re-purposed so that they don’t pollute the water.

v. Ensure non-recyclable waste is contained legitimately with the goal that it doesn’t spill into the land or road and contaminate it.

Water has played a pretty much noticeable role is the sustenance of life on the earth. Present-day practices have regularly disregarded the old practices of saving water leading to undesired results in the form of increasing water pollution.

In any case, in the present social orders, we frequently observe a recovery of old conventions and a more normal and manageable utilization of water. Finding the correct blend among ‘old’ and ‘present day’ rehearses finds practical answers for adapt to environmental change.

Water pollution has turned into a consistent expanding issue on the earth which is influencing human and creature lives in all viewpoints. Water contamination is tainting the drinking water by the harmful toxins produced by the human exercises. The entire water is getting dirtied through numerous sources, for example, urban spill over, rural, mechanical, sedimentary, syphoning from landfills, creature squanders, and other human exercises. Each one of the toxins is exceptionally destructive to nature. Human populace is expanding step by step and in this way their requirements and rivalry driving contamination to the best dimension. We have to pursue some extreme changes in our propensities to spare the water on earth and also proceed with the likelihood of life here. Or else, the day is not far off when life would not be able to survive on earth to the enormous levels of water pollution.

Pollution , Water Pollution

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Essay on Water Pollution

Audience and Purpose

Water pollution is a matter that impacts many lives within the population, and there is an urgent need to put the practice under control. Contamination of water can attract diseases within a population, which derails the general well-being of the society as it leads to diseases. The target audience of the project includes all stakeholders who have the goodwill to maintain sustainable population health. Water is essential, and any level of miscalculations can lead to shortages. Stakeholders include companies, people, the government, NGOs, environmental activists, and any other party that has an interest in the environment. The purpose of the research is to establish possible ways that water pollution can be reduced to promote proper sanitation. It is vital to promote practices that ensure that water pollution is reduced in a bid to conserve the environment.

Introduction

The contamination of water bodies as a result of human activities is on the rise in the recent past. There is a need to implement strategic policies aimed at reducing water pollution globally. A population that dwells on water sources that are contaminated is at more risk of contracting diseases. Equally, organisms that depend on water bodies for survival are endangered with high levels of water pollution (Kneese, 2015). As such, research that focuses on a possible way to reduce water pollution can help avert the impact of the phenomenon. The research aims to answer the question, “how can water pollution be controlled?” to answer the question, the study identifies three strategic approaches that can reduce water pollution.

The first strategic approach to the reduction of water pollution is reducing and avoiding the release of contaminated liquid substances and other solid waste down the drain. For instance, liquid substances such as cooking oil contaminate water and can affect organisms in the water bodies (Zhu, Lei, Zheng, Liang & Quan, 2018). Fat and grease melts and flows down the drain to cause severe problems for organisms that depend on the water for survival when consumed, water with liquids such as cooking oil can cause serious health conditions in a population. As such, water pollution can result from the release of liquids down the drain or solid substances that are harmful and contaminate water. Chemicals that are used for water treatment such as chlorine result in water pollution to some extent. This is because when the substances are used excessively, they are harmful to other organisms that are dependent on the water bodies. Detergents used for purposes such as the washing of clothes also cause water pollution. There is a need to avoid releasing such elements to water bodies to ensure that water sustainability is achieved. Manufacturing industries that release heavy metals such as lead to water bodies significantly increase the possibility of health problems within a population. Therefore, there is a need to implement policies that promote practices that reduce the release of contaminated substances such as oil to water bodies.

Reducing the use of agrochemicals in farms can help reduce the high levels of pollution in water bodies. Agrochemicals include substances that are used by farmers for farming, such as pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides (Kyei & Hassan, 2018). Runoff and infiltration of chemicals involved lead to water contamination that can kill or affect the health of organisms. Fertilizers that are essential for the growth of farm crops cause water pollution and can affect productivity. As such, there is a need to reduce use of agrochemicals with a view of controlling the high levels of water pollution. Excessive application of chemicals in the firm can lead to water contamination, which is a threat to living organisms in the environment. Notably, it is difficult to avoid the use of such chemicals as they play a crucial role in promoting food security in the world. As such, the most important thing is to reduce the use of agrochemicals in the farm. Also, the chemicals applied in the farms should be standardized to avoid any further effect on living organisms. An example of an approach that can reduce the use of such chemicals is the application of organic manure in the farms. The use of organic manure reduces the chances of polluting water through fertilizers, which is infiltrated to the soil to join underground water (Kyei & Hassan, 2018). Insecticides also increase water pollution when applied in the farms. Stakeholders need to implement strategies that can reduce the use of agrochemicals in a bid to ensure a reduction in water pollution.

Proper sewerage treatment and sanitation management contribute significantly to a reduction in the level of water pollution. Sewerage is the most common contributor to water pollution as much wastewater is released into water bodies (Mininni, Blanch, Lucena & Berselli, 2015). Sewage water should be treated before being released to water bodies to avoid contaminating the water. For instance, waste from suburbs of cities is released to water bodies, risking the lives of organisms within the water bodies. To reduce water pollution as a result of sewerage, all stakeholders have to take responsibility and ensure the matter is put under control. Taking charge means ensuring that wastewater is treated before releasing it to water bodies. Equally, water pollution can be avoided by reducing the dumping of solid products to the drain such substances can dissolve in the water forming acidic compounds that can be harmful to organisms. As such, ensuring that sewage is treated before releasing it to water bodies reduces pollution. Proper sanitation ensures that water used for drinking and cooking is safe to avoid the increased spread of diseases related to sanitation (Cieślik, Namieśnik & Konieczka, 2015). As such, ensuring the treatment of wastewater and sewerage before directing it to water bodies proves to help reduce pollution as a significant problem in the 21 st  century. To promote practices that lead to reduced pollution, legal authorities should implement hefty fines for defiant companies as a way of discouraging the act.

Water pollution is the release of substances to water bodies, which result in contamination of water there is a need to address the issue and ensure that water pollution has been put under control. For instance, avoiding the release of contaminated liquids to water bodies can reduce unnecessary pollution. Equally, chemicals applied in the farms contribute to pollution to a large extent. Reducing the use of agrochemicals in farms can help reduce water pollution. Examples of farm chemicals that result in contamination of water include pesticides, fungicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, among others. Sewage plays a significant part in contaminating water bodies, especially those near cities with large populations. To reduce water pollution, sewerage companies should ensure that they treat the wastewater before directing it into other bodies. Legislation from authorities can shape the matter and ensure that those found guilty of water pollution pay for their deeds. Water pollution should be avoided to foster sustainability within the environment.

Cieślik, B. M., Namieśnik, J., & Konieczka, P. (2015). Review of sewage sludge management: standards, regulations and analytical methods.  Journal of Cleaner Production ,  90 , 1-15.

Kneese, A. V. (2015).  Water pollution: economics aspects and research needs . Routledge.

Kyei, C., & Hassan, R. (2018). The economy-wide implications of a tax policy to reduce water pollution: a case of the Olifants river basin, South Africa.

Mekonnen, M. M., & Hoekstra, A. Y. (2018). Global anthropogenic phosphorus loads to freshwater and associated grey water footprints and water pollution levels: A high‐resolution global study.  Water resources research ,  54 (1), 345-358.

Mininni, G., Blanch, A. R., Lucena, F., & Berselli, S. (2015). EU policy on sewage sludge utilization and perspectives on new approaches of sludge management.  Environmental Science and Pollution Research ,  22 (10), 7361-7374.

Zhu, J., Lei, X., Zheng, H., Liang, J., & Quan, J. (2018). Risk analysis and emergency countermeasures for oil pollution in main channel of South to North Water Transfer Project. In  MATEC Web of Conferences  (Vol. 246, p. 02020). EDP Sciences.

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Essay on Water Pollution

Students are often asked to write an essay on Water Pollution in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Water Pollution

Introduction.

Water pollution is a major issue in today’s world. It involves the contamination of water bodies such as rivers, oceans, lakes, and groundwater.

Water pollution is primarily caused by human activities. Industrial waste, sewage, oil spills, and littering are common causes.

Water pollution harms aquatic life and disrupts ecosystems. It also poses health risks to humans who consume contaminated water.

Preventing water pollution requires collective efforts. We need to reduce waste, recycle, and enforce stricter pollution laws.

In conclusion, water pollution is a serious issue that needs immediate attention for the health of our planet.

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250 Words Essay on Water Pollution

Water pollution is an escalating problem with far-reaching implications for the health of both ecosystems and human populations. It involves the contamination of water bodies such as rivers, oceans, lakes, and groundwater due to human activities, leading to a deterioration in water quality.

The Causes of Water Pollution

Water pollution arises from various sources, including industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and domestic sewage. Industrial waste often contains harmful chemicals and heavy metals, while agricultural runoff is replete with pesticides and fertilizers. Domestic sewage, on the other hand, is a source of pathogens and organic pollutants.

Impacts of Water Pollution

The effects of water pollution are manifold and severe. It disrupts ecosystems, leading to the loss of biodiversity and the death of aquatic species. Moreover, it poses significant health risks to humans, causing diseases like cholera and dysentery. Polluted water also affects agriculture, reducing crop yield and quality.

Solutions to Water Pollution

Addressing water pollution requires a multi-pronged approach. Legislation and enforcement are necessary to regulate waste discharge from industries and agriculture. Technological solutions, such as wastewater treatment and recycling, can also play a pivotal role. Additionally, public awareness and education about water conservation and pollution prevention are essential.

In conclusion, water pollution is a pressing issue that warrants urgent attention. By understanding its causes and impacts, and by implementing effective solutions, we can safeguard our water resources for future generations. The responsibility lies with each one of us to ensure the purity and sustainability of this vital resource.

500 Words Essay on Water Pollution

Water pollution is an escalating global concern that threatens the health of our planet and its inhabitants. It refers to the contamination of water bodies such as rivers, oceans, lakes, and groundwater, caused by human activities. This pollution affects not only the quality of water but also the broader ecosystem, impacting both aquatic and terrestrial life forms.

Water pollution can be attributed to a myriad of sources, broadly categorized into point sources and non-point sources. Point sources relate to pollutants directly discharged into water bodies from identifiable locations such as factories, sewage treatment plants, and oil spills. Non-point sources, on the other hand, are diffuse and harder to control, including agricultural runoff, urban runoff, and atmospheric deposition.

Industrial activities are a significant contributor to water pollution. The unchecked dumping of toxic waste materials into water bodies leads to a drastic degradation in water quality. Similarly, agricultural practices contribute significantly to water pollution through the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. These chemicals leach into groundwater or are washed into rivers and lakes, leading to nutrient pollution.

The Consequences of Water Pollution

The effects of water pollution are devastating and far-reaching. It disrupts ecosystems, affecting both flora and fauna. Polluted water can lead to the extinction of aquatic species and destruction of aquatic habitats. Moreover, the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of pollutants in the food chain can have severe health effects on all organisms, including humans.

Water pollution also poses a significant threat to public health. Contaminated water is a breeding ground for waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. With over 780 million people lacking access to clean water, the health impact is substantial and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations.

Addressing Water Pollution

Addressing water pollution requires a multi-faceted approach. Strict enforcement of environmental regulations is crucial to curb industrial discharge of pollutants. Additionally, promoting sustainable agricultural practices can reduce the amount of chemical runoff entering our water bodies.

Technological innovation also plays a vital role in combating water pollution. Advanced wastewater treatment methods can effectively remove pollutants, while technologies such as remote sensing can help monitor water quality in real-time.

Public awareness and education are also key in addressing this issue. By understanding the causes and effects of water pollution, individuals can make informed decisions and contribute to the solution, whether through responsible consumption, waste disposal, or advocacy.

Water pollution is a pressing issue that requires immediate and sustained attention. While the situation is dire, it is not insurmountable. Through collective action, stringent regulations, technological advancements, and increased awareness, we can mitigate water pollution and safeguard our water resources for future generations. The fight against water pollution is not just an environmental obligation, but also a prerequisite for our survival and well-being.

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Best Water pollution essay in English for students & kids | 100-1000 words

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Are you confused about how to write an essay on water pollution ? The best Water Pollution essay in English is here. Day by day our society is improving and pollution is increasing. And water pollution is one of them. here you can know the causes of water pollution essay in English & how to prevent water pollution essay in English. Below are some of the best samples of water pollution essay in English for kids and students. We discussed various formats of water pollution essay in English like- 100 words, 150 words, 500 words, and 1000 words, & for class 5 and class 10. Make sure to read the whole article carefully and find your ideal one.

Water pollution essay in English 150 words:

Water pollution short essay in English: Water pollution is the degradation of the quality of water. It occurs when pollutants are discharged into water bodies without any treatment. Or when untreated waste waters enter the water bodies.

Water pollution can lead to the spread of diseases, such as cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery. In extreme cases, it can also cause epidemics due to contamination of drinking water sources. The occurrence of such events is also sometimes referred to as a “water-borne disease” or “water-related illness”.

Water pollution has a significant impact on our environment and ecosystem. It leads to the depletion of oxygen, loss of biodiversity, and a decline in aquatic life.

There are different ways to prevent water pollution from occurring. These include filtration systems, recycling, reuse or reclamation systems, and waste-water treatment plants.

Water pollution essay 500 words:

This is the section for the water pollution essay in English 500 words.

What is Water Pollution?

Water pollution is water contamination by chemicals, sediment, or other substances. These substances may be natural (such as silt or clay) or man-made. It is a major cause of death around the world. It also causes serious health issues like cancer and asthma.

Water pollution is water contamination by chemical, physical, biological, or radiological agents. It can also refer to the process of water becoming polluted.

Water Pollution is a major environmental problem in many countries around the world. It affects our health, food supply, and economy. There are various types of water pollution such as physical, chemical, and biological.

There are many ways to prevent or control water pollution such as reducing population growth, limiting waste production, and increasing recycling rates.

What are the Effects of Water Pollution on the Environment:

Water pollution is a major concern for the environment. The effects of water pollution can be seen in many ways such as the depletion of natural resources, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and loss of biodiversity.

Water pollution is a big problem that affects people’s health and the environment. It causes death to animals and plants, as well as harm to human health by releasing toxic substances into the air and water.

The main source of water pollution is agricultural runoff from farms, which contains fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, animal waste products, and other chemicals that pollute our waterways.

What are the Effects of Water Pollution on Human Health:

Water pollution is a significant problem that affects the health of humans. It can be caused by industrialization, sewage, agricultural runoff, and chemical waste.

Water pollution can lead to several health problems and illnesses such as skin diseases, eye infections, respiratory diseases, and gastrointestinal disorders. The effects of water pollution on human health are wide-ranging.

Conclusion: How can you make your environment greener and help prevent water pollution?

I will conclude with how you can make your environment greener and help prevent water pollution.

The first thing to do is to try to reduce the amount of plastic that you use. This is an excellent place to start because it has a huge impact on the environment. You can also try recycling or composting plastics, but if you are not sure where it goes, then I would recommend looking into recycling centers near your home.

You should also think about ways to help prevent water pollution by reducing waste in your community. One way I would recommend is by signing up for a community composting program so that people in your area can access free compost for their gardens and animals.

Water pollution essay 1000 words:

The best water pollution essay in English is mentioned below.

Introduction:

Pollution is a process that changes the composition, structure, or other properties of natural media. It can be natural or man-made.

Water pollution is a major issue in the world today. There are many causes of water pollution ranging from industrial and agricultural waste to untreated sewage and chemicals. The effects of water pollution are seen in the ecosystem, human health, and quality of life.

The most common cause of water pollution is industrial waste that gets into rivers, lakes, and oceans through a storm drain or untreated sewage. This type of pollution has led to some aquatic species becoming extinct because they were unable to adapt quickly enough to their changing environment.

What are the Main Types of Water Pollution?

Water pollution is a widespread and growing problem in the world. It is caused by the release of toxic substances into water bodies.

Types of Water Pollution:

  • – Agricultural runoff: The runoff from farmlands, including fertilizers and pesticides, can pollute water bodies. This can cause oxygen depletion in water bodies, which leads to algae blooms and fish kills.
  • – Industrial effluents: Industrial effluents are discharged into waters that contain high concentrations of heavy metals, organic chemicals, and other pollutants. These chemicals can cause health problems for plant life and animals living in the area.
  • – Urban runoff: Urban runoff contains sewage from urban areas that is not properly treated before being released into waterways. This causes contamination of water with bacteria and viruses that can lead to human illness or death
  • – Mining effluents: Mining waste contains toxic substances such as arsenic, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, and zinc which are harmful to humans who consume them.

Why is Polluted Water Bad for Your Health?

Polluted water is a serious public health issue. It can contain a wide range of toxins, which are harmful to your health and the environment.

The most common contaminants found in polluted water are chemicals that cause cancer, such as benzene and chloroform. These chemicals are directly linked to the occurrence of cancer in humans.

Toxins like benzene and chloroform can be found in drinking water sources all over the world. The United States has high levels of these chemicals in its drinking water supply, with some areas having up to 50 times more than what is recommended for safe consumption by the World Health Organization (WHO).

How to Reduce and Prevent Water Pollution with 10 Easy Tips:

Water pollution is a serious problem that affects the world’s ecosystems and aquatic life. It is caused by several factors including industrial activity, agricultural runoff, and construction. To reduce water pollution, we need to know how to prevent it.

10 ways to reduce water pollution:

  • Use less water in your home.
  • Collect rainwater for use in your home and garden.
  • Install a low-flow showerhead or faucet aerator.
  • Install a low-flow toilet or dual-flush toilet.
  • Install a low-flow washing machine or dishwasher.
  • Reduce lawn watering by half of what you normally do (prefer native plants).
  • Use rain barrels (or other alternatives such as cisterns).
  • Keep the grass short to reduce soil erosion and runoff from the property’s surface.
  • Plant native plants in your yard.
  • Avoid fertilizing.

How to Prevent Water Pollution at Home:

There are many ways to prevent your family from getting contaminated water. One of the most effective ways is by having a home water treatment system.

A home water treatment system filters the tap water and makes it safe for drinking and cooking. It also removes contaminants such as lead, chlorine, and other harmful chemicals that can be found in tap water.

This article will teach you how to purify your drinking water so that you can safely consume it.

There are many types of home water treatment systems out there, but some of the most popular ones include reverse osmosis systems and distillers.

How Technology Has Made Water a Safer Resource Than Ever Before:

Technology has made water a safer resource than ever before. With the introduction of chlorine, chloramine, and ozone systems, we can now enjoy clean drinking tap water.

The technology that has made clean drinking tap water safer than ever before is a combination of science and engineering. This includes the introduction of chlorine, chloramine, and ozone systems to disinfect our drinking water.

Conclusion: Take action now to keep our drinks fresh:

Drinking fresh is the most important part of our life. They are a time to relax and unwind from the stress of the day and enjoy a drink with friends or family. However, we should take action now to protect our drinking freshers by ensuring a safe environment.

Essay on water pollution for class 5:

This section is for the Water pollution essay in English for the students of class 5.

What is Water Pollution and Why is it a Problem?

Water pollution is defined as the contamination of water sources by human activities. It is a serious problem that affects the lives of people all over the world. It can cause health problems and death.

Water pollution can be broadly classified into two types: point source and non-point source. Point source water pollution occurs when pollutants enter surface water bodies such as rivers, lakes, or streams. Non-point source water pollution refers to any type of pollutant entering surface water that comes from a diffuse or diffuse source, such as agricultural runoff or stormwater runoff. Also, there are two types of non-point source water pollution: chemical and physical.

What Causes Water Pollution?

Water pollution is a serious problem that can affect our health and the environment. While there are many causes of water pollution, some of the most common ones include agricultural runoff, industrial waste, and sewage.

How to Protect Yourself from Harmful Contaminants in Your Drinking Water and What You Can Do To Avoid Them:

Many different factors can contribute to the contamination of your drinking water. The most common contaminant is lead, which is a toxic metal.

Some of the ways you can protect yourself from harmful contaminants in your drinking water are by installing a filter, boiling the water for at least one minute before you drink it, and using a pitcher with a built-in filter.

If you have concerns about how safe your drinking water is, there are some things you can do to test it yourself and get more information about what contaminants may be present.

Water Treatment Technologies That Are Treating Our Waters Better & Improving Your Well-Being

The world is changing and the changes are not always for the better. In the last few decades, we have seen an increase in pollution, water scarcity, and other environmental issues. However, there is a solution to all of these problems – technology.

Ai treatment systems are getting more popular because they can treat contaminated wells without any human interference. They can also be used to treat wastewater from industries and can even be used in homes for filtering tap water.

What Can Be Done About This Issue? How Can We Protect Ourselves as Consumers? Is There Any Hope for Tomorrow’s Future?

The future is uncertain, but there is hope for the future. A lot of the issues that we face today are due to the rapid advancements in technology. The time has come for us to decide what we want our society to look like.

We have to be careful when it comes to using AI and automation because it can lead us down a slippery slope where humans lose their jobs and eventually their livelihoods.

The first step in protecting ourselves as consumers is being aware of what we are buying and how it’s made. We need to make sure that we know how AI works so that we can understand if it’s a good fit for our needs or not.

The second step in protecting ourselves as consumers is taking action against companies who are trying to sell us something that doesn’t work well with our needs or interests.

Water pollution essay for class 10:

This is the section Water pollution essay in English for class 10. You can add or alter the content from the whole article. There are more than 5 samples in the water pollution essay.

Water pollution is the contamination of water sources by pollutants. Water pollution is a serious problem in most parts of the world, and it can cause a variety of health problems for humans, animals, and plants. In some cases, it can lead to death if left untreated.

Water pollution is caused by many things including industrial waste, sewer overflows, deforestation and soil erosion, agricultural practices, and fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus.

Is there a difference between clean and hazardous water?

Clean water is a word we hear often. Indeed, clean water has become an essential part of our daily lives. But what does it mean to be clean? We all know that there are two types of water – clean and dirty. But what is the difference between the two? And how to understand whether our water is clean?

In recent years, there has been debate as to whether or not there is a difference between clean and hazardous water. Some people argue that our bodies cannot tell the difference between these types of water, regardless of whether you are drinking safe or unsafe water.

How does water pollution occur?

Pollution is a term that refers to the contamination of water, air, or land with unwanted substances. Pollution is caused by human activities such as industrial production, agriculture, and mining.

Water pollution can be caused by a variety of factors, including population growth, agricultural runoff, industrial waste, and mining.

What are the main types of water pollution?

Water is an essential resource that is consumed by all living things. It is vital to our survival and some people take it for granted that the water they drink is safe. This was before the 2016 water pollution crisis.

When it comes to drinking water, there are two main types of contamination: organic and inorganic. Organic pollution comes from materials such as bacteria, algae, and fungi; While inorganic pollution comes from metals like lead or mercury.

The most common sources of pollution are industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and stormwater runoff from urban areas.

How do you know if your drinking water is safe?

When you’re not sure if your drinking water is safe, there are a few ways to test it. The most common methods are:

  • Check the color of the water. If it is cloudy or brown, it is contaminated with sediment.
  • Taste the water. If it tastes like chlorine or rust, your water may be unsafe due to chemicals at the source.
  • Examine the water for bacteria or other organic matter using a microscope and a UV light

How can I reduce my risk for contamination and harmful effects from my drinking water?

Drinking water is important for most people. It is essential for our health and well-being. But it can also be contaminated with harmful chemicals or bacteria that can cause disease.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed drinking water guidelines to help protect public health from these risks. The guidelines are simple, easy to follow, and provide lots of information on how to stay safe when drinking water from your tap or other sources.

The EPA provides a list of ways to reduce your risk for contamination and harmful effects from your drinking water:

  • Use a filter certified to remove pollutants on the EPA’s list
  • Install an in-home device that reduces lead and copper
  • Follow local rules on how to use tap water
  • Keep your home’s plumbing system in good condition
  • Reduce the amount of time you spend outdoors during activities like gardening, sports, etc.

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Introduction of Water Pollution

Water pollution is a major global problem which requires ongoing evaluation and revision of water resource policy at all levels (international down to individual aquifers and wells). It has been suggested that it is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily. [J An estimated 700 million Indians have no access to a proper toilet, and 1,000 Indian children die of diarrhea sickness every day. 3] Some 90% of China’s cities suffer from some degree of water and nearly 500 million people lack access to safe drinking water.

5] In addition to the acute problems of water pollution in developing countries, developed countries continue to struggle with pollution problems as well.

In the most recent national report on water quality in the United States, 45 percent Of assessed stream miles, 47 percent of assessed lake acres, and 32 percent of assessed bays and estuarine square miles were classified as polluted. 6] Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is impaired by anthropogenic contaminants and either does not support a human use, such as drinking water, and/or undergoes a marked haft in its ability to support its constituent biotic communities, such as fish.

Natural phenomena such as volcanoes, algae blooms, storms, and earthquakes also cause major changes in water quality and the ecological status of water. In this folio , I will touch on the issues of the effects of water pollution on living things , ways to control water pollution and how to conserve and preserve water quality .

introduction for water pollution essay

Proficient in: Environmental Science

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Effects of water pollution on the living things and water quality Water pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems we, as a planet, face today.

It occurs when substances such as human and other animal sates, toxic chemicals, metals, and oils contaminate water. This contamination can affect rain, rivers, lakes, oceans, and the water beneath the surface of the earth, ground water (Lana. )Water polluted with human and animal wastes can spread typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery, and other diseases. About 80 percent of the U. S.

Immunity water supplies are disinfected with chlorine to kill disease-causing germs. However, disinfection does not remove harmful chemical compounds, such as polycarbonate phenols (PC’s) and chloroform, or harmful metals, such as arsenic, lead, and mercury. The careless release of such toxic wastes, primarily into waste dumps, threatens ground water supplies. PC’s, chloroform, and pesticides have been found in some municipal drinking water. Scientists are concerned that drinking even small quantities of these substances over many years may have harmful effects (Battlefield.

Reduced recreational use. Pollution prevents people from enjoying some bodies fatter for recreation. For example, odors and floating debris make boating and swimming unpleasant, and the risk of disease makes polluted water unsafe. Oil spilled from ships or offshore wells may float to shore. It can kill water birds, shellfish, and other wildlife.

Water pollution also affects commercial and sport fishing. Fish can be killed by oil or by a lack of oxygen in the water, or they may die because of a reduction in the quantity and quality of their food supply. Industrial wastes, particularly PC’s, also harm fish (Gunning. ) Environmental water quality, also called ambient water quality, relates to water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and oceans. Water quality standards for surface waters vary significantly due to different environmental conditions, ecosystems, and intended human uses.

Toxic substances and high populations of certain microorganisms can present a health hazard for non-drinking purposes such as irrigation, swimming, fishing, rafting, boating, and industrial uses. These conditions may also affect wildlife, which use the water for drinking or as a habitat. Modern water quality laws generally specify protection of fisheries and recreational use and require, as a minimum, retention of current quality standards. There is some desire among the public to return water bodies to pristine, or pre-industrial conditions. Most current environmental laws focus on the designation of reticular uses Of a Water body.

In some countries these designations allow for some water contamination as long as the particular type of contamination is not harmful to the designated uses. Given the landscape changes (e. G land development , arbitration, accelerating in forested areas) in the watersheds of many freshwater bodies, returning to pristine conditions would be a significant challenge. In these cases, environmental scientists focus on achieving goals for maintaining healthy ecosystems and may concentrate on the protection of populations of endangered species and protecting human health.

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Introduction of Water Pollution

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    An illustrated introduction to air and water pollution for ages 9-11. What a Waste: Rubbish, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet by Jess French. DK, 2019. A simple, colorful overview that puts pollution into a much broader context for, for younger readers aged 7-9. ... 1995, which collected 25 papers from an ASTM symposium in April 1993.

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    Water contamination occurs when pollutants pollute water sources and make the water unfit for use in drinking, cooking, cleaning, swimming, and other activities. Chemicals, garbage, bacteria, and parasites are examples of pollutants. Water is eventually damaged by all types of pollution. Lakes and oceans become contaminated by air pollution.

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    Essay grade: Good. 1 page / 749 words. Addressing the pressing issue of water pollution is essential in today's world, and finding a viable solution to water pollution is a matter of utmost significance, given its pervasive impact on humanity. Water, the essence of life itself, becomes a dire threat when tainted.

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    Water pollution damages the plants and aquatic animals present in the river by reducing the oxygen content of the water. You can add the below-mentioned facts to your water pollution essay. Around 70% of all industrial waste is thrown into water bodies. Domestic sewage is responsible for over 80% of water contamination.

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  20. Best Water pollution essay in English for students & kids

    There are more than 5 samples in the water pollution essay. Introduction: Water pollution is the contamination of water sources by pollutants. Water pollution is a serious problem in most parts of the world, and it can cause a variety of health problems for humans, animals, and plants. In some cases, it can lead to death if left untreated.

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  23. Introduction of Water Pollution Free Essay Example

    Pollution prevents people from enjoying some bodies fatter for recreation. For example, odors and floating debris make boating and swimming unpleasant, and the risk of disease makes polluted water unsafe. Oil spilled from ships or offshore wells may float to shore. It can kill water birds, shellfish, and other wildlife.

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    Introduction Most households in low- and middle-income countries still cook using solid fuels in poorly ventilated dwellings. Indoor air pollution causes various health problems, like pneumonia, lung cancer, stillbirth, low birth weight, impaired cognitive development, and cataracts. Nevertheless, a few evidences are available in Africa, including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to ...