All About Effects of Water Pollution

The introduction of foreign pollutants into a body of water is known as water pollution. These pollutants can make organisms that rely on the waterbody sick or even die. Water contamination often has serious consequences. This is due to the fact that water may dissolve a wide range of compounds. If polluted water is ingested, these toxins quickly penetrate the human body.

Water Pollution’s Consequences

Water pollution has enormous consequences – Water contamination has an impact on everything from human health to the ecosystem.

Water contamination has the potential to harm human health as well as biodiversity. Eutrophication is a condition that occurs when high amounts of nutrients are injected into a waterbody. This can cause dissolved oxygen levels in the afflicted water body to drop, thereby killing fish and other aquatic species.

Short and Long-Term Effects of Water Pollution

• Water pollution can have severe repercussions – for example, a plant that dumped a highly hazardous waste product into the sea is linked directly to decades of neurological sickness in an entire town (The Minamata Incident). Water contamination has the following effects:
• Water contamination has a significant impact on human health, and it can even be fatal. A study found that waterborne diseases killed 1.8 million people worldwide in 2015.It has the potential to contaminate drinking water, contributing to waterborne infections.
• Water pollution has an impact on the ecology, as it can lead to eutrophication. Fish and other aquatic species may perish as a result of this.
• Toxic substances dissolved in water can pass from fish and other aquatic species to people.
• Water contamination also leeches pollutants into the soil, which can affect plant or food crop growth.

Ganges River Pollution

Some rivers, lakes, and groundwater have become unsafe for human consumption. The Ganges River in India is the world’s sixth most polluted river. Hundreds of surrounding enterprises discharge their effluents into the river, so this is unsurprising. Furthermore, religious activities near the shore, such as burials and cremations, contribute to pollution. Apart from the environmental consequences, this river offers a severe health danger, as it can spread diseases such as typhoid and cholera.

The Ganges’ pollution is also driving some of the river’s unique biodiversity to extinction. The Ganges River shark, which belongs to the Carcharhiniformes group, is a severely endangered species. Another endangered dolphin species found in the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers’ tributaries is the Ganges River dolphin.

According to a survey, over 4 billion people will be without water by the end of 2026. Approximately 1.2 billion people globally do not have access to safe drinking water or adequate sanitation. Water-related difficulties are also estimated to kill about 1000 youngsters in India each year. Although groundwater is a vital supply of water, it is also subject to pollution. As a result, water pollution is a critical social issue that must be addressed immediately.

Household Waste

Household detergents and sewage are the two main sources of home waste. It is produced by household activities such as laundry, food waste, and a variety of other domestic goods. Sewage pollutes water bodies if it is not treated before being discharged.

Waste from Industry

Water is used in industries for a variety of functions, including material processing, cooling, and purification at various phases of production.

Pollution of Nutrients

This is one of the most common causes of water contamination. Some wastewater, fertilizers, and sewage contain significant levels of nutrients. If they end up in bodies of water, they encourage algae and weed growth. When there are a lot of algae in the water, all of the oxygen is used up, and the species in the water die.

Natural water located on the earth’s surface, such as rivers, lakes, lagoons, and the ocean, is referred to as surface water contamination. Natural water located on the earth’s surface, such as rivers, lakes, lagoons, and the ocean, is referred to as surface water contamination. The causes of surface water pollution are as follows: Surface water contamination is caused by hazardous substances coming into touch with this surface water, dissolving or mixing physically with the water. This is one of the primary sources of water contamination.

Chemical Pollution of Water

Chemical water contamination occurs when many industries and farmers use chemicals that end up in the water. Chemicals used to manage weeds, insects, and pests are among them. Industries can pollute water bodies with metals and solvents. These are harmful to many types of aquatic life and can cause them to slow down, become sterile, or die.

Depletion of Oxygen

Microorganisms live in water bodies. When there is too much biodegradable matter (stuff that degrades quickly) in the water, microorganism activity increases, requiring more oxygen. Aerobic species die when oxygen is scarce, whereas anaerobic organisms thrive, producing harmful poisons such as ammonia and sulfides.

Conclusion

A variety of strategies can be used to control water pollution to a greater extent. Rather than dumping sewage waste into bodies of water, it is preferable to treat it first. By doing so, the original toxicity can be reduced, and the leftover compounds can be destroyed and rendered harmless by the water body itself. Water that has undergone secondary treatment can then be reused in sanitary systems and agricultural fields.

The Water Hyacinth is a unique plant that can absorb dissolved hazardous substances like cadmium and other metals. Establishing them in areas prone to such pollution will greatly lessen the negative consequences.