Preservation of Water Quality

Water Pollution

Water pollutants come from industrial waste, domestic waste,

chemicals, agricultural activities, mining activities, siltation and oil

spillage from tankers.
Industrial waste
i. Factory waste includes inorganic solids and toxic chemicals.
Examples of such chemicals are alkalis, acids, mercury, lead,
crynide and radioactive substances.
ii.
Factory waste is discharged into rivers and seas, polluting the
water and poisoning aquatic life.
Domestic waste
i. Domestic waste which is thrown into drains results in water
pollution.
ii.
Pollutants from homes include garbage, untreated sewage and
detergents.
iii.
Non-biodegradable detergents, plastic bags ad styrofoam
articles which cannot be broken down into harmless substances
that can pollute water for many years. They are harmful to plants
and small animals.
iv.
Sewage is waste matter that is dissolved or suspended in water.
It has a high content of human faeces and urine.
v. Domestic rubbish includes leftover food and wastes such as
paper, plastic, glass and metal.
Agricultural waste
i.
In agriculture, the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides,
insecticides, herbicides and fungicides can pollute water.
ii.
These substances leach into the ground and enter the water
source which later flows into rivers, ponds and lakes.
Siltation
When forests are cut down and construction activities are carried
out, the mud and silt flow into rivers and lakes.

Oil spills
i. Oil spils occur when oil tankers are involved in accidents with
other ships in the sea.
ii.
The seas are also polluted with oil that comes from the illegal
cleaning of the tankers while at sea.
iii.
The layer of soil that forms on the surface of the sea does not
dissolve in water. The oil spreads quickly and soon forms a large
area on the surface of the sea. This layer of oil kills animals in the
sea and ruins beaches when it turns the shores black and sticky.

Effects of Water Pollution in Living Things

By products, toxic substances and radioactive substances from

factories:
i. Radioactive waste substances can cause cancer.
ii.
Mercury, lead and heavy metals from the water will accumulate
in the tissues and organs of animals through the food chain.
iii.
These harmful metals may end up being consumed by humans
when they eat these animals.
Domestic waste
i. People who drink water that has been polluted by domestic
waste can be infected with diseases such as cholera, dysentery
and typhoid.
ii.
This polluted water can also cause skin diseases if it is used for
washing clothes and bathing.
iii.
As bacteria and algae grow in polluted water, they use up
oxygen. The decaying organic substances also reduces the
dissolved oxygen supply in the water. As a result , many aquatic
living things will die. The decaying matter will emit a ad smell.
Chemical substances from the agricultural sector:
i. Fertilise that flow into rivers will cause algae to grow fast. Their
growh prevents sunlight from reaching the plants in the water.
ii.
The aquatic plants die. The river ecosystem will be affected.
Many aquatic animals will also die as a result of a lack of oxygen
in the water.
iii.
Most pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides are not
easily broken down. These toxic substances leach into the soil.
From the soil they are transferred through the food chain to
animals and humans.
Siltation
i. Mud pollutes rivers and lakes.
ii.
Mud prevents sunlight from entering the water. As a result, plants
cannot carry out photosyntesis and die.
Oil spills
i. The layer of oil that forms on the surface of the sea prevents
sunlight and air from entering the water. The plants and animals
in the water will die.
ii.
Seabirds, fish and other aquatic organisms are killed because the
oil is toxic.
iii.
Polluted beaches endanger the organisms which lives along the
beach areas.
iv.
Fisherman depend on the sea for their livelihood. So they suffer
economic hardship.

Ways to control water pollution

 Prevention
- New industrial and residential development should be properly
planned.Residential areas should have proper sewage disposal system.
Industrial wastewater should be treated before being discharged into the
public sewerage system. The public should not dump rubbish or waste into
the water.
Enforcement
-Strict action by authorities is necessary to reduce pollution effectively.
People who dump untreated water, rubbish and chemical wastes into river
should be punished.
Monitoring
-The sewerage department should build enough public sewerage system
so that raw sewage is treated and turned into safe effluent before being
discharged.

Conservation and preservation of water

Dont allow water to run while you wash dishes by hand. Fill up one
side of the sink to wash all the dishes and another to rinse them.
Youll save several gallons each time you practice this conservation
technique.
Dont run the water while you are brushing your teeth. Brush, then
rinse with the faucet on.
Shortening your shower by just a minute or more can save up to 150
gallons of water a month. If you take showers that are less then five
minutes, you will save as much as 5000 gallons of water per month.
Holding campaigns to educate the people on the importance of
preserving the quality of water.