OBJEC

TIVE

Systems designed to remove waterborne wastes from communities, industries, and

so on while protecting the health of people and the environment.
(1) to collect wastewater from residences, industries, institutions, and so on,
(2) to find a place to discharge the wastewate (usually the nearest water course is
chosen, but wastewater could also be used for groundwater recharge or even
recycled to water supply),
(3) to remove water polluants that would produce adverse impacts to the receiving
water or adversely affect the health of people subsequently using the water and
(4) to do all the above in a cost

TYPE
OF
WATER
POLLU
TANTS

Biological Water Pollution

Some viruses and bacteria are water born. These can cause serious diseases in
people in direct contact with this contaminated water. This might include people
drinking, swimming or washing in the contaminated water and extremely serious
and contagious diseases such as cholera and typhoid are spread in this manner.
Oxygen Depletion
Oxygen depletion destroys the natural balance of the water and ultimately bacteria
thrive and fish and other wildlife die. Oxygen depletion is caused by the release of
biodegradable matter into the water, such as sewage and the natural process of
breaking this down uses the oxygen in the water. Once all the oxygen has been
depleted, bacteria are able to take over making the water polluted.
Nutrients
Nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen are essential to plant growth. Fertilizers
contain many nutrients and when these enter the water supply, perhaps due to
water running off a field into a river, the nutrients cause an imbalance in the make
up of the water. As nutrients are important to plant growth on land, the same
applies to plants in the water. Therefore, too many nutrients in the water encourage

the growth of weeds and algae. This can make the water highly polluted and result
in oxygen depletion as mentioned above.The growth of algae is also known as a
bloom, and the bright green spread of an algae bloom in fresh water is easily
recognizable.
Chemical
Chemical water pollution is perhaps the type of water pollution that we are most
familiar with. This term is used to describe the act of adding unwanted chemicals
to the water and is done through the accidental spillage of substances into water,
waste from factories or industry and through pesticides running off fields into
water.
Chemicals in water are poisonous and harmful to wildlife as well as making the
water too polluted to drink. The effects of chemical pollution are wide reaching.
Chemical water pollution is also used to describe the pollution of water by oil, for
instance when an oil tank ruptures or a ship sinks. The photographs and images we
see on the television of oil covered birds and dying wildlife gives some indication
of the serious nature of this and other types of pollution.
Suspended Matter
Not all chemicals and pollutants are water soluble, and those that aren't are called
suspended matter. The tiny particles of matter stay in the water and eventually fall
to the bottom, forming a layer of silt on the floor of the lake or river. This is
harmful to wildlife and causes long term problems due to an imbalance in the
natural infrastructure of the water.
In addition to the problems caused by the suspended matter, the problem caused by
pollution due to suspended matter is compounded by dead fish and wildlife
decomposing in the water.
The effects of water pollution could be classified into:
effects on ecosystem
effects on animal health
effects on human health

Effects on Ecosystem
Ecosystems can be severely affected or damaged by water pollution.
Contamination of groundwater from pesticides causes damage to the
reproductive system in the wildlife ecosystem.
When sewage water, agricultural run-off that contain organic materials are
discharged into fresh water, causes increase in the growth of algae in turn
causing oxygen depletion.
Low levels of oxygen in rivers and lakes due to water pollution are a major
cause for extinction of indigenous organisms.
Destruction in ecosystem is caused due to the rise in temperature in water
like the coral reefs are affected by the bleaching effect due to warmer
temperatures.
Water pollution may also cause flooding due to accumulation of solid waste
and soil erosion in streams and rivers.
Ground water and surface water are contaminated with heavy metals,
persistent organic pollutants and nutrients.
Water pollution kills life that inhabits the water-based ecosystem, disrupting
the natural food chain.
Due to water pollution other than inorganic nutrient input and inflow of
waste water; organic wastes and plant nutrients like nitrates and phosphates
are decomposed. This promotes algal bloom especially blue-green algae.
These algae grow fast consuming all the dissolved oxygen, killing the water
animals. This is known as eutrophication.
The non-biodegradable pesticides and chemicals cause mass destruction of
aquatic life.

 Steep increase in the BOD[Biological Oxygen Demand] levels of water.

Imbalance in host-parasite relations in the ecosystem, changing the food
webs and food chain.
Affects microbial population.
Deposition of hazardous chemicals in soil leads to soil infertility.
Effects on Animal Health
Water pollution kills life that depends on these water bodies.
Fishes and the aquatic organisms are poisoned due to industrial chemicals
and agricultural pesticides.
Human litter let into water system gets the aquatic animals caught and can
get killed due to suffocation.
Oil spills in water causes animals to die as they ingest it or come across it.
Oil cannot be dissolved in water so it causes suffocation in fish and birds.
Oil-contaminated water causes water birds to die from exposure to cold
water and air due to feather damage.
Animals that eat dead fish from contaminated streams are affected.
Fish, birds, dolphins and many other animals are killed by pollutants in their
habitat.
Reproduction rate in reduced in aquatic organisms.
Incidences of diseases increase.
Bioaccumulative and non-biodegradable pesticides are accumulated in
animal bodies.
Biomagnification of hazards chemicals like organochlorine pesticides like
DDT, BHC, Endrin.

Bioaccumulation
Bioaccumulation is the accumulation of harmful substances like pesticides,
organic chemicals in an organism.
Bioaccumulation happens when an organism absorbs substances that are
toxic at a greater rate than at which the substance is lost.
The longer the half-life of the substance the greater is the risk of poisoning
though levels of toxins are not very high in the environment.
Bioconcentration is the uptake and accumulation of toxic substances from
water alone.
Biomagnification
Biomagnification
bioamplification.

is

also known

biological

magnification

or

Biomagnification is a process where substances like pesticides or heavy

metals move up the food chain.
When chemicals or pesticides are let into rivers or lakes they are consumed
by aquatic organisms like fish, which in turn are consumed by large birds,
animals or humans.
These harmful substances become concentrated in tissues, internal organs as
it moves up the food chain.
These are substances that increase in concentration in living organisms as
they are taken in due to contaminated air, water or food as these substances
are metabolized or excreted very slowly.
Effects on Human Health
Humans are affected by water pollution. Diseases like hepatitis are caused
by eating seafood that is poisoned or contaminated.

 In developing nations, there are frequent outbreaks of cholera and diseases

due to poor drinking water quality from contaminated waters.
Swimming and drinking in contaminated water can causes skin diseases and
also can lead to cancer, reproductive problems, typhoid fever and stomach
ailments in humans.
heavy metals poisoning due to consumption of contaminated fish. For
example : Mercury poisoning interferes with the nervous system
development in foetuses and young children.
Polluted drinking water can causes cholera or typhoid infections and also
diarrhea.
Highly polluted water can harm internal organs like heart and kidneys.
Pesticide contamination of ground water can
reproductive problems to animals and humans.

cause

endocrine

and

Sewage contamination carries harmful pathogens and causes disease

outbreak.
Synthetic organics cause serious damage to human health.
Chemicals like fluoride, arsenic, lead, chlorine and petrochemicals in water
can causes adverse effect on human health.
Water borne diseases like hepatitis, cholera, dysentry and typhoid are
common and affect large populations in the tropical regions.
Pesticides like organophosphates and carbonates affect and damage the
nervous system and are carcinogenic.
Lead accumulation in the body can affect the central nervous system,putting
children and pregnant women at high risk.
Excess of fluorides causes yellowing of teeth and damage to spinal cord and
other crippling diseases.

 Nitrate contamination can prove fatal for infants as it can restrict the oxygen
to the reach the brain causing the 'blue-baby' syndrome. It can also cause
digestive tract cancers and eutrophication in water bodies.
Arsenic poisoning cause serious liver and nervous system damage, vascular
disease and skin cancer.
Tips on Preventing Water Pollution
The best solution for water pollution is prevention. While pollution that has already
occurred is a current threat to all life on Earth, attempts to clean it up may cause
even more harm. There are several steps that can be taken to help prevent water
pollution from getting worse.
Conserve Soil
The link between soil and water is absolutely intrinsic. The link is so integral that
in the United States, water conservation districts are classified as "Soil and Water
Conservation Districts" with names based upon where they exist within their
specific watershed. One of the most important ways in which soil conservation
directly impacts water pollution is through erosion.
As soil is eroded by water, it transfers sediment from the land to the eroding body
of water. Along with this sediment comes a number of nutrients and chemicals that
exist within the soil, which are then transferred to the water. Naturally-occurring
chemicals like phosphorus and industrial chemicals likeglyphosate are just two of
the many foreign molecules that can be dragged into water through soil erosion.
When phosphorus levels in water become too great, they can lead to algae blooms
that can cause massive fish deaths and make waterways unsafe for human use.
The best way to combat soil erosion is to keep the banks of waterways wellcovered with soil-retaining plants. Planting trees and certain herbaceous plants can
have a significantly positive impact on the mitigation of soil erosion. Some great
plants to use when trying to control soil erosion are sage, buckwheat, Apache
plume, oak trees and holly.
Dispose of Toxic Chemicals Properly

The average person would likely be shocked to learn just how many toxic
chemicals they use around their home on a daily basis. These chemicals can be bad
enough when used all over your home, but they can also wreak havoc on
waterways when they are not disposed of properly. Chemicals such as ammonia,
bleach, paint and many other cleaning products belong to a series of compounds
known as "Volatile Organic Compounds" (VOCs). These chemicals are a major
danger to waterways when they are not disposed of properly.
When you need to get rid of these chemicals or the containers that house the
chemicals, it's smart to look into local chemical recycling resources around your
area. In some states, you are legally required to properly dispose of these
chemicals. However, a lack of laws does not relinquish the impetus on responsible
individuals to dispose of these chemicals in an ethical, safe way. There are
many local resources you can use to discover local disposal facilities, and you can
learn more about the disposal requirements through the EPA.
Keep Machinery in Good Working Order

The oil used to lubricate engines in all types of machines needs to be changed
regularly. When the oil is changed, it presents a number of environmental hazards
if not disposed of properly. As oil moves throughout the crankcase of an engine, it
breaks down into many different types ofcarcinogenic and even
mutagenic compounds. When a leaky engine releases this oil into the street, it runs
to the sewer and from there it becomes part of a laundry-list of contaminants that
makes its way into waterways. Even a small drip of oil can turn into a disaster
when you consider the fact that there are more than 250 million cars on the road in
the United States alone. Even if all of these vehicles were in perfect working order,
the disposal of the used oil would still be a huge issue.
When it comes time to ethically dispose of used oil, Mobil has an excellent online
resource for finding disposal facilities near you. The EPA and The Water
Consortium have also come up with a very handy guide to keeping your vehicle
and other machines in good working order to help lower the risk of recurring oil
leaks.

Clean Up Beaches and Waterways

Wherever you have waterways that see a lot of human recreation, you will almost
always see lots of evidence of human use. Wrappers, bottles and other trash are
unfortunately a common site at many well-used beaches and rivers around the
world. It should be fairly obvious that the trash from these places often ends up in
waterways and can cause pollution. Plastics are an especially big issue when it
comes to water contamination at beaches and waterways.

Pick Up Litter
Picking up litter wherever you find it is honestly the best, fastest way to do your
part to stop this type of water pollution. While it may not sound very extravagant,
the simple act of not passing by this pollution is a pretty powerful one.

Organize Cleaning Parties

Organize cleaning parties with local people to make the reach larger. Get
businesses involved as sponsors who will donate prizes to the person who collects
the most trash if you're having a hard time finding people to sign up to help. Once
you get the ball rolling, you might be surprised at just how many people are willing
to step up to help you clean up your local waterways.
Avoid Plastics When Possible
Many estimates place the consumption of plastic by humans to be somewhere
between 250 and 300 million tons a year. About 80% of the plastic in the oceans
came from the land. The ubiquitous nature of plastic in modern society could be
attributed to a number of causes, but their versatility and affordability make them
obvious choices for many. Using alternatives to plastics or using "less disposable"
plastics whenever possible can have a surprising impact on ocean pollution.

Use Reusable Bags

Plastic bags in the ocean is a well documented water pollutant. Keep this problem
from getting worse by changing to reusable grocery bags whenever possible.

Opt for Glass Over Plastic

Instead of using plastic bins to store food, try opting for glass alternatives. Glass is
not only more sustainable of an option than plastic, but it also doesn't retain food
smells and is easier to clean.
Eat Sustainable Meat if You Eat Meat

Large commercial factory farms have an enormously negative impact on water

quality. In "factory farm" livestock operations, livestock is kept close together in
very cramped conditions. As the animals produce waste in high concentration, they
produce a number of toxins that can overwhelm water purification systems
and leech into local waterways or aquifers. The antibiotics and hormones being put
into these animals also comes out in the animal waste, which then contaminates the
water further.
This doesn't mean that you can't eat meat without contributing to this problem. You
can purchase meat from sustainable grass-fed livestock operations that have a
manageable amount of livestock on a reasonably large tract of land. The fact that
the animals are not so spread out and are allowed to roam means that the waste is
not concentrated to one area where it can cause massive damage.
Dispose of Prescription Drugs Properly
One major problem facing waterways throughout the world is the improper
disposal of prescription drugs. Many people feel like they can simply dump old
drugs down the toilet and flush them away as a safe method of disposal. However,
the truth is that these chemicals have a major impact on water health and they can
be terrible for the environment.
Disposing of prescription drugs or other personal care products is different for
people in different parts of the world.

In some places, these products can simply be dropped off at the local
police station.

In other places, they are disposed of at the fire department or at the

local Soil and Water Conservation District office.

Look at the local government website for your town or city and look up
water quality to discover how to properly dispose of the drugs.

Get Active and Get Involved

Is there a company near your home that releases heat, coolants or chemicals into a
nearby waterway? Do you know of a large area of land where soil erosion has been
spotted? Have you noticed an oil leak or spill? There are always ways for you to
get involved and do something about it.

Contact the EPA, local authorities or write letters to the heads of

companies.

Joining local conservation organizations is also a great way to get

involved with solving these issues. National organizations like the Sierra
Club have very active local chapters that you can get involved with.

Spreading an awareness of problems is a big first step toward

combating them. Thanks to the organizational power provided by the
Internet and social networking, the biggest obstacle toward getting
involved with these issues is your own desire to do it.
Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth this can save 6 litres of water
per minute.
Place a cistern displacement device in your toilet cistern to reduce the
volume of water used in each flush. You can get one of these from your
water provider.
Take a shorter shower. Shower can use anything between 6 and 45 litres per
minute.
Always use full loads in your washing machine and dishwasher this cuts
out unnecessary washes in between.

 Fix a dripping tap. A dripping tap can waste 15 litres of water a day, or 5,500
litres of water a year.
Install a water butt to your drainpipe and use the water collected to water
your plants, clean your car and wash your windows.
Water your garden with a watering can rather than a hosepipe. A hosepipe
uses 1,000 litres of water an hour. Mulching your plants (with bark
chippings, heavy compost or straw) and watering in the early morning and
late afternoon will reduce evaporation and also save water.
Fill a jug with tap water and place this in your fridge. This will mean you do
not have to leave the cold tap running for the water to run cold before you
fill your glass.
Install a water meter. When you're paying your utility provider for exactly
how much water you use, laid out in an itemised bill, there's an incentive to
waste less of the stuff.
Invest in water-efficient goods when you need to replace household
products. You can now buy water-efficient showerheads, taps, toilets,
washing machines, dishwashers and many other water-saving products.
CONCLUSION
Water pollution is bad and its not good for people to drink the water thats
polluted and for all organisms that need water to survive. There are millions of
people that dont have good clean access to water and that they even have to drink
the bad polluted water for them it survive, Sewage can cause water pollution along
with the toxic chemicals from Industrial business. There are a bunch of water
pollutions like toxic and organic and thermal water. And solutions to stop the water
pollution are to clean up the garbage and keep your yard clean. To try to stop the
water pollution clean-up your yard and make sure there is no garbage left
anywhere around in the area you live like the streets and neighborhood.

http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/How_to_Stop_Water_Pollution
http://www.waterfiltering.com/conservation/water-pollution-control.html
http://www.open.edu/openlearnworks/mod/oucontent/view.php?
id=204&printable=1
http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Types_of_Water_Pollution
http://www.edenproject.com/learn/for-everyone/water-saving-tips