WATER POLLUTION
WHAT IS WATER
POLLUTION?
Water pollution is the contamination of water
bodies, usually as a result of human activities,
so that it negatively affects its uses.
TYPES OF WATER
POLLUTION
GROUNDWATER
-Groundwater gets polluted when
contaminants—from pesticides and fertilizers
to waste leached from landfills and septic
systems—make their way into an aquifer,
rendering it unsafe for human use.
OCEAN WATER
-Contaminants such as chemicals, nutrients,
and heavy metals are carried from farms,
factories, and cities by streams and rivers
into our bays and estuaries; from there they
travel out to sea.
POINT SOURCE
- When contamination originates from a
single source, it’s called point source
pollution.
NON- POINT SOURCE
- A non point pollution is contamination
derived from diffuse sources. These may
include agricultural or stormwater runoff or
debris blown into waterways from land.
TRANSBOUNDARY
- It goes without saying that water pollution
can’t be contained by a line on a map.
Transboundary pollution is the result of
contaminated water from one country spilling
into the waters of another.
CAUSES OF WATER
POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL WASTE
- Many industrial sites produce waste in
the form of toxic chemicals and
pollutants, and though regulated, some
still do not have proper waste
management systems in place.
MARINE DUMPING
-The process of marine dumping is
exactly what it sounds like, dumping
garbage into any water bodies.
SEWAGE AND
WASTEWATER
-Harmful chemicals, bacteria and
pathogens can be found in sewage and
wastewater. Which can result disease,
and other health-related issues in
humans and animals alike.
OIL LEAKS AND SPILL
- Large oil spills and oil leaks, while
often accidental, which are also major
cause of water pollution.
AGRICULTURE
-In order to protect their crops from
bacteria and insects, farmers often use
chemicals and pesticides.
GLOBAL WARMING
-Rising temperatures due to global
warming are a major concern in terms of
water pollution. Global warming causes
water temperatures to rise, which can kill
water-dwelling animals.
RADIOACTIVE WASTE
- Radioactive waste from facilities that
create nuclear energy can be extremely
hazardous to the environment and must
be disposed of properly.
NATURAL EVENTS THAT CAUSE
WATER POLLUTION
Volcanic Eruption
Tsunami
Earthquake
EFFECTS OF WATER
POLLUTION
ILLNESS AND DISEASES
-Water pollution can cause Diarrhea, Skin
Diseases, Malnutrition, heart and
respiratory diseaseand even Cancer.
DESTRUCTION OF BIODIVERSITY
-In order to thrive, healthy ecosystems
rely on a complex web of animals, plants,
bacteria, and fungi—all of which interact,
directly or indirectly, with each other.
Harm to any of these organisms can
create a chain effect, imperiling entire
aquatic environments.
CONTAMINATION OF THE
FOOD CHAIN
-Fishing in polluted waters and the use
of waste water for livestock farming and
agriculture can introduce toxins into
foods which are harmful to our health
when eaten.
LACK OF PORTABLE
WATER
-Billions of people around the world
have no access to clean water to drink or
sanitation, particularly in rural areas.
HOW CAN WE
PREVENT WATER
POLLUTION?
• Reduce your plastic
consumption and reuse
or recycle plastic when
you can.
• Properly dispose of chemical
cleaners, oils, and
nonbiodegradable items to
keep them from going down
the drain.
• Don’t flush your old
medications! Dispose of
them in the trash to prevent
them from entering local
waterways.
• If you notice a storm sewer
blocked by litter, clean it up
to keep that trash out of the
water.
• Encourage sustainable
fishing to ensure the
survival of species and avoid
depletion of the seas.
• Reduce the use of chemical
pesticides and nutrients on
crops.
REFERENCE
▪ https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/water-pollution
▪ https://www.nrdc.org/stories/water-pollution-everything-
you-need-know
▪ https://raleighnc.gov/water-and-sewer/6-ways-prevent-
water-pollution
▪ https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/sources-and-
causes-of-water-pollution.php
▪ https://online.ecok.edu/articles/causes-of-water-pollution/
THANK YOU!
