WATER CONTAMINATION
Water is one of the most important element in our
life. Water is your body's most important nutrient, is involved in every bodily
function, and makes up 70- 75% of your total body weight. Our planet (the Earth) also contains 71% of water. Life without water is
impossible.
The first source of water pollution comes from the
wastes of the streets, soils, mountains etc., on its travels to the rivers and
seas. Only by studying causes and the pollutants effects we can avoid a serious
environmental problem.
The main phase changes
of the water are: condensation, evaporation, melting, and deposition. All of
them are involved in the pollution process.
CAUSES:
INDUSTRIAL EFLUENT POLLUTION
This is the one
of the most important reason of the river pollution because companies indiscriminately
flow the waste water of their manufacturing process on rivers without any previous
treatment. Oil and chemistry industries produce some of the most dangerous
pollutants in the water such as metal components: copper, silver, chromium,
mercury and lead.
AGRICULTURAL AND LIVESTOCK POLLUTION
This is because
a misuse of weed-killer, pesticidal and chemical fertilizers because these products
get into the groundwater. Agricultural activities generate large amounts of
biomass residues and the oxygen content
of the water is depleted or reduced to zero.
POLLUTION BY DUMPING OR URBAN HOUSEHOLD
This occurs
mainly because of the dumping of water household. They contain organic material
also called black or sewage wastes from toilets, washing machines or kitchen sinks.
EFFECTS:
·
Physical effects: bad smell, darkening colour, cloudly, temperature rise.
·
Chemical effects. Decrease of oxygen quantity necessary for aquatic life.
·
Biological effects: death of plants and animals, as well as the production of human diseases.
SOLUTIONS:
·
Preserve natural vegetation avoiding the felling of forests.
·
Protect water sources; do not throw any litter, soap or fecal waste without a previous treatment.
·
Build latrines and septic tanks.
·
Build wastewater treatment plants.
·
Educational and awareness-raising campaigns to create a culture on
environmental protection.
