The causes of water pollution may be due to direct and indirect contaminant sources. The former are effluent outputs from refineries, factories, waste treatment plants. Fluids of differing qualities are emitted to the urban water supplies. In the United States and some other countries, these methods are controlled. However, still pollutants can be found in the water bodies. The latter are the water supply from soils/groundwater systems that have fertilizers, pesticides and industrial wastes. Also those through the atmosphere like bakeries, factories emission and automobile discharge. Contaminants can also be divided into inorganic, organic, acid/base and radioactive.
Organic water pollutants are:
The major sources of water pollution are as described below. Discharge of contaminated and/or heated water that has been used for industrial purposes. The surface runoff that contains spilled petroleum products. The surface runoff from farms, construction sites or other impervious surfaces. The improper disposal of solid wastes like littering on a localized scale. Addition of excessive nutrients by runoff containing detergents or fertilizers called as eutrophication. The geology of aquifers where groundwater is abstracted. Maltreated sewage discharged in a wrong manner. Slash and burn farming practice is a component in shifting cultivation agricultural systems. Radioactive substances from nuclear power plants and industrial, medical and scientific use are also contributive. Uranium and thorium mining and refining are some of the examples. Heat is a leading cause as it results in the death of several aquatic organisms. A discharge of cooling water by factories and power plants lowers the temperature of the water bodies. Oil pollution is very harmful for coastal wildlife. Oil spreads on huge areas to form oil slicks. If there are trials to sink the oil or chemically treat it, the marine and beach ecosystems may be further disrupted.
Classification of the causes of water pollution
Municipal, industrial and agricultural are the different categories of the causes of water pollution. Municipal causes are related to waste water from homes and commercial establishments. The main aim of handling municipal wastewater was to decrease the harmful bacteria, oxygen requiring materials, mixed inorganic compounds and suspended solids. Industrial causes vary as per the biochemical demand, suspended solids, inorganic and organic substances. Agricultural causes include commercial livestock and poultry farming. These lead to organic and inorganic pollutants in surface waters and groundwater.
Other agents
Organic water pollutants are:
- Food processing waste, including pathogens
- Insecticides and herbicides, a huge range of organohalide and other chemicals
- Tree and brush debris from logging operations
- Bacteria from sewage or livestock operations
- Petroleum hydrocarbons like diesel, gasoline, jet fuels, fuel oils, motor oils
- Volatile organic compounds like industrial solvents
- pre-production industrial raw resin pellets
- heavy metals including acid mine drainage
- chemical waste as industrial by-products
- acidity due to industrial discharges like sulphur dioxide
- silt in surface runoff due to logging, slash and burn practices, construction sites or land clearing sites
- fertilizers in runoff from agriculture including nitrates and phosphates
The major sources of water pollution are as described below. Discharge of contaminated and/or heated water that has been used for industrial purposes. The surface runoff that contains spilled petroleum products. The surface runoff from farms, construction sites or other impervious surfaces. The improper disposal of solid wastes like littering on a localized scale. Addition of excessive nutrients by runoff containing detergents or fertilizers called as eutrophication. The geology of aquifers where groundwater is abstracted. Maltreated sewage discharged in a wrong manner. Slash and burn farming practice is a component in shifting cultivation agricultural systems. Radioactive substances from nuclear power plants and industrial, medical and scientific use are also contributive. Uranium and thorium mining and refining are some of the examples. Heat is a leading cause as it results in the death of several aquatic organisms. A discharge of cooling water by factories and power plants lowers the temperature of the water bodies. Oil pollution is very harmful for coastal wildlife. Oil spreads on huge areas to form oil slicks. If there are trials to sink the oil or chemically treat it, the marine and beach ecosystems may be further disrupted.
Classification of the causes of water pollution
Municipal, industrial and agricultural are the different categories of the causes of water pollution. Municipal causes are related to waste water from homes and commercial establishments. The main aim of handling municipal wastewater was to decrease the harmful bacteria, oxygen requiring materials, mixed inorganic compounds and suspended solids. Industrial causes vary as per the biochemical demand, suspended solids, inorganic and organic substances. Agricultural causes include commercial livestock and poultry farming. These lead to organic and inorganic pollutants in surface waters and groundwater.
Other agents
- The combustion of coal leads to the release of mercury in the atmosphere. This enters the rivers, lakes and groundwater. This is very hazardous for pregnant women and infants.
- Cattle and pig rearing causes a significant amount of nutrient-filled waste. Virulent pfiesteria toxin collects in the water masses.
- Fertilizers having a large quantity of nitrogen and phosphorus cause a high biological oxygen demand in the water. As oxygen is depleted, only anaerobic life-forms prosper.
- Human settlement along the banks of rivers causes human, animal and industrial waste to be discharged into it. In the developed world, sewage treatment plants are used to treat waste. However, in developing nations, the rivers are similar to open sewers.
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