Sources of Water Pollution

There are many causes for water pollution but two general categories exist: direct and indirect
contaminant sources.
Direct sources include effluent outfalls from factories, refineries, waste treatment plants etc..
that emit fluids of varying quality directly into urban water supplies. In the United States and
other countries, these practices are regulated, although this doesn't mean that pollutants can't be
found in these waters.
Indirect sources include contaminants that enter the water supply from soils/groundwater
systems and from the atmosphere via rain water. Soils and groundwaters contain the residue of
human agricultural practices (fertilizers, pesticides, etc..) and improperly disposed of industrial
wastes. Atmospheric contaminants are also derived from human practices (such as gaseous
emissions from automobiles, factories and even bakeries).
Domestic Waste
The domestic waste water and sewage is the main source of the water pollution. This is the
inevitable result of urbanisation. This organic waste depletes the oxygen from water and upsets
the natural balance of the aquatic ecosystem.

Industrial Waste

Industries produce large amounts of waste which contains toxic chemicals and pollutants

which can cause air pollution and damage to us and our environment. They contain pollutants

such as lead, mercury, sulphur, asbestos, nitrates and many other harmful chemicals. Many

industries do not have proper waste management system and drain the waste in the fresh water

which goes into rivers, canals and later in to sea. The toxic chemicals have the capability to

change the color of water, increase the amount of minerals, also known as Eutrophication,

change the temperature of water and pose serious hazard to water organisms.

Agricultural Waste

Agricultural water pollution is caused by the use of pesticides, fertilizers, insecticides which

are used by the farmers to protect crops from insects and bacteria. The chemicals enter
underground water by leaching or when it rains, the chemicals mix up with rainwater and flow

down into the rivers and canals which can pose a serious threaten to aquatic life. In lakes or any

other body of water an excess of nutrients (nitrates and phosphorous) from the fertilisers can

cause the rapid and explosive growth of algae. The algae may use up all the oxygen in the water,

leaving none for other marine life. This results in the death of many aquatic organisms such as

fish, which need the oxygen in the water to live. The bloom of algae may also block sunlight

from photosynthetic marine plants under the water surface.

Thermo-Pollution

The thermal and electric power plants also discharge considerable quantities of hot

effluent/water into nearby streams or rivers. This has resulted in thermal pollution of the water

courses. Thermal pollution is undesirable for several reasons. Warm water does not have the

same oxygen holding capacity as cold water. Therefore, fish like black bass, trout and walleyes,

etc., which require a minimal oxygen concentration of about 4 ppm, would either have to

emigrate from the polluted area or die in large numbers.

Oil Pollution
 Oil is transported across oceans through tankers and either due to some accident or leakage

oil spills onto the water and does not dissolve thus causing degradation of aquatic and marine

environment.

Radioactive Wastes

Radioactive elements, such as uranium and radium, possess highly unstable atomic nuclei.

This disintegration results in radiation emission which may be highly injurious. During nuclear

tests, radioactive dust may encircle the globe at altitudes of 3,000 metres or more, which often

comes down to the earth as rain. Eventually, some of the radioactive material, such as Strontium

90 which can cause bone cancer, travels down through the soil into groundwater reservoirs or is

carried out into streams and rivers. This can public water supplies to be contaminated.

Mining activities

Mining is the process of crushing the rock and extracting coal and other minerals from

underground. These elements when extracted in the raw form contains harmful chemicals and

can increase the amount of toxic elements when mixed up with water which may result in health

problems. Mining activities emit several metal waste and sulphides from the rocks and is harmful

for the water.

Ways of conserving water