INTRODUCTION/CAUSES/EFFECTS/WAYS TO REDUCE

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater). This form of environmental degradation occurs when pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.Water pollution is a major global problem which requires ongoing evaluation and revision of water resource policy at all levels (international down to individual aquifers and wells). It has been suggested that water pollution is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and diseases,and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily. An estimated 580 people in India die of water pollution related illness every day.Around 90% the water in the cities of China is polluted, and as of 2007, half a billion Chinese had no access to safe drinking water.In addition to the acute problems of water pollution in developing countries, developed countries also continue to struggle with pollution problems. For example, in the most recent national report on water quality in the United States, 45 percent of assessed stream miles, 47% of assessed lake acres, and 32 percent of assessed bays and estuarine square miles were classified as polluted.The head of China's national development agency said in 2007 that one quarter the length of China's seven main rivers were so poisoned the water harmed the skin.Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is impaired by anthropogenic contaminants and either does not support a human use, such as drinking water, or undergoes a marked shift in its ability to support its constituent biotic communities, such as fish. Natural phenomena such as volcanoes, algae blooms, storms, and earthquakes also cause major changes in water quality and the ecological status of water.

Let us now study the causes of water pollution.

1. Industrial waste: Industries produce huge amount of waste which contains toxic chemicals and pollutants which can cause air pollution and damage to us and our environment.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.

2. Marine dumping: The garbage produce by each household in the form of paper, aluminum, rubber, glass, plastic, food if collected and deposited into the sea in some countries. These items take from 2 weeks to 200 years to decompose. When such items enters the sea, they not only cause water pollution but also harm animals in the sea.

3. Accidental Oil leakage: Oil spill pose a huge concern as large amount of oil enters into the sea and does not dissolve with water; For e.g.: a ship carrying large quantity of oil may spill oil if met with an accident and can cause varying damage to species in the ocean depending on the quantity of oil spill, size of ocean, toxicity of pollutant.

3. Mining activities: Mining is the process of crushing the rock and extracting coal and other minerals from underground. Mining activities emit several metal waste and sulphides from the rocks and is harmful for the water.

The effects of water pollution depend on what chemicals are dumped and in which locations.Many water bodies near urban areas(cities and towns)are highly polluted.This is the result of both garbage dumped by individuals and dangerous chemicals legally or illegally dumped by manufacturing industries,health centers,schools and market places.

THE MAIN PROBELEM CAUSED BY WATER POLLUTION IS THAT IT KILLS LIFE THAT DEPENDS ON THESE WATER BODIES.DEAD FISH,CRABS,BIRDS,AND SEA GULLS,DOLPHINS,AND MANY MORE OTHER ANIMALS OFTEN WIND UP ON BEACHES,KILLED BY POLLUTANTS IN THEIR HABITAT.

Pollution disrupts the natural food chain as well.Pollutants such as lead and cadcium are eaten by tiny animals.Later these animals are consumed by fish and shellfish,and the food chain continues to be disrupted at all higher levels.

Eventually,humans are affected by this process as well.People can get diseases such as hepatis by eating seafood that has been poisened.In many poor nations,there is always outbreak of cholera and diseases as a result of poor drinking water treatment from contaminated waters.

1.  Don’t leave the tap running needlessly. If you are washing your face and you need to get the tap warm, use that initial cooler water to brush your teeth, and then wash your face afterwards when the hot water starts coming out.

2. Never throw water away. If you pour too much out or have some left in your glass, use it. Pour the surplus into your dog’s water dish, water a plant, or add it to your water kettle.3. Set up a rain barrel this summer. You can collect rain water from your eaves to water your garden.4. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet.5. When washing dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing.If your have a double-basin, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water.