Causes And Effects Of Water Pollution

Water pollution has been seriously affecting the life of humans, plants as well as animals. The eco-
system of rivers, streams, lakes, seas and oceans is also getting deteriorated due to the contamination
of water, through various sources. This condition also leads to the outbreak of numerous diseases,
majority of them being lethal and contagious. However, before going about finding a solution to the
problem, we need to look into its underlying causes. In the following lines, we have provided information
on the causes and harmful effects of water pollution. Go through them and then decide on your course
of action.

Sources Of Water Pollution

• Dumping of industrial wastes, containing heavy metals, harmful chemicals, by-products,

organic toxins and oils, into the nearby source of water is one of the visible causes of water
pollution.
• Another cause for the contamination of water is the improper disposal of human and animal
wastes.
• Effluents from factories, refineries, injection wells and sewage treatment plants are dumped
into urban water supplies, leading to water pollution.
• A number of pollutants, both harmful and poisonous, enter the groundwater systems through
rain water.
• The residue of agricultural practices, including fertilizers and pesticides, are some of the major
sources of water pollution.
• Untreated pollutants are drained into the nearest water body, such as stream, lake or harbor,
causing water pollution.
• Another major source of water pollution comprises of organic farm wastes. When farm land,
treated with pesticides and fertilizers, is irrigated, the excess nitrogen and poisons get mixed
into the water supply, thereby contaminating it.
• Pathogens, sediments and chemical pollutants are other sources of water pollution.
• The corporeal wastes produced by humans and farmed organisms pollute rivers, lakes, oceans
and other surface waters.

Effects Of Water Pollution

Water is important for the existence of life on earth. All organisms require it and aquatic plants and
animals live their life in water. Water pollution occurs when you have toxins and pathogens present in
water in dangerous amounts than permissible. One of the worst forms of pollution in the ecosystem is
water pollution. When you hold a glass of water it may appear to be clean and clear. But the fact is there
are millions of microscopic pollutants suspended in it. Water is a very vibrant system and any change
would cause a greater damage to the marine biology at large. The effects of water system are far
reaching and affect human beings, plants, and animals directly or indirectly. Water pollution affects
lakes, oceans, rivers, bays and drinking water making it a global crisis. This condition also leads to the
eruption of various diseases and most of them being transmittable and fatal. Water is known be polluted
when there are chemicals, contaminants or pathogens detected that are harmful to living things. Given
below are the effects of water pollution that can have detrimental effects to the existence of life on earth.

Harmful Effects of Water Pollution

• A number of waterborne diseases are produced by the pathogens present in polluted water,
affecting humans and animals alike.
• Pollution affects the chemistry of water. The pollutants, including toxic chemicals, can alter the
acidity, conductivity and temperature of water.
• Polluted municipal water supplies are found to pose a threat to the health of people using
them.
• As per the records, about 14000 people perish or incur various communicable diseases due to
the consumption of contaminated drinking water.
• The concentration of bacteria and viruses in polluted water causes increase in solids
suspended in the water body, which, in turn, leads to health problems.
• Marine life becomes deteriorated due to water pollution. Lethal killing of fish and aquatic plants
in rivers, oceans and seas is an aftereffect of water contamination only.
• Diseases affecting the heart, poor circulation of blood and the nervous system and ailments
like skin lesion, cholera and diarrhea are often linked to the harmful effects of water pollution.
• Carcinogenic pollutants found in polluted water might cause cancer.
• Alteration in the chromosomal makeup of the future generation is foreseen, as a result of water
pollution.
• Discharges from power stations reduce the availability of oxygen in the water body, in which
they are dumped.
• The flora and fauna of rivers, sea and oceans is adversely affected by water pollution.

• One of the major effects of water pollution is the damage to the food chain. When harmful
toxins are present in water they are transferred to higher level organisms through the food
chain. These toxins are passed on to humans and animals as well. Dangerous pollutants such
as lead and cadmium are eaten by tiny animals and these are then consumed by fishes and
larger sea animals. This food chain is distributed to the higher levels.
• Heavy metals like lead, mercury, iron, cadmium, aluminum, and magnesium are present in
water sources. If these metals are present in the sediment, these reach the food chain through
plants and aquatic animals. This causes heavy metal poisoning in the water.
• Polluted water is a hot bed for diseases. Microbial water pollution can spread infectious
diseases such as typhoid and cholera from drinking contaminated water. The human heart and
kidneys can be badly affected if polluted water is consumed regularly. Many other health
problems related to polluted water are poor blood circulation, vomiting, skin lesions and
damage to the nervous system. Water pollution is considered to be a major cause of death of
the population across the globe.
• Water pollutants alter the overall chemistry of the water, causing changes in acidity,
conductivity and temperature. These in turn have an effect on the marine life. Acid rain
contains sulfate particles, which can harm fishes, sea organisms, and plant life in lakes and
rivers. Marine food sources are contaminated or eliminated by water pollution and disturb the
delicate ecological balance of marine life. Dead fish, birds, dolphins, and many other animals
often wind up on beaches, killed by pollutants in their habitat.
• Heavy rain carries up dirt and silt and deposit them into the water. If the dirt and silt settle in the
water body, then these sediments prevent sunlight from reaching aquatic plants. If the sunlight
can’t reach the plants, they perish. These sediments also clog up fish gills and suffocate
organisms that live on the bottom of the body of the water.
• If oil is spilled on the water due to accidents, the effects on the ecosystem and the components
are harmful. Many animals can get destroyed in case they swallow oil. Oil contaminated prey
may be a reason of death for many. If the oil coats the feathers of birds, they may die. Oil and
antifreeze makes the water develop sticky film and bad odor on the surface of water that kills
animals. Oil is the most damaging pollutant in the water.
• The rain water and irrigation water wear out cultivated land that has been fertilized and treated
with pesticides. This contains a larger amount of nitrogen and toxic chemicals that get mixed
with it into the water supply. These pesticides are poisonous and pollute the water. Aquatic
plants growth is stunted and cause de-oxygenation of water and annihilate flora and fauna in a
stream, lakes and rivers. Fertilizers increase the growth of bacteria in water and raise the
concentration of bacteria to hazardous levels.
Causes of Water Pollution

Dr. Rubin says that there are two general categories for sources of water pollution,
“direct and indirect contaminant sources.” He lists direct sources of water pollution as
discharge from industry such as factories, refineries, and other production sources. Dr.
Rubin lists indirect sources of water pollution as agricultural products, contaminants
in the air, and “...gaseous emissions from automobiles, factories and even bakeries.”

Effects of Water Pollution

Dr. Rubin informs that the environmental effects “...unbalanced river and lake
ecosystems that can no longer support full biological diversity (due to contamination),
deforestation from acid rain...effects are specific to the various contaminants.” The
medical effects are specific to the various contaminants, according to Dr. Rubin. The
long term effects are described as “...organisms having bio-accumulated toxins from
the environment over their life spans...”

Effects of Water Pollution

The effects of water pollution are seen in Thermal, Heavy Metal, Agricultural regions
and due to fertilizers, chemicals, oil and contaminated ground water.
Effects of Run-off Pollution
Rain picks up dirt and silt and carries it into the water. If the dirt and silt settle in the water
body, then these sediments prevent sunlight from reaching aquatic plants. If the Sun can't
reach the plants, these perish. These sediments also clog fish gills and smother organisms
that live on the bottom of the body of the water.

Effects of Oil Pollution and Antifreeze

If oil is spilled on the water, the effects on the ecosystem and the components are harmful.
Many animals can be annihilated in case they ingest oil. Oil contaminated prey may be a
reason of death for many. If the oil coats the feathers of birds, these may die. Oil and
antifreeze makes the water have a foul odor and there is a sticky film on the surface of water
that kills animals. Oil is the most harmful pollutant in the water.

Contaminated Ground Water Effects

If contaminated water enters the ground, there may be serious effects. People may become
very sick and there is a probability of developing liver or kidney problems and cancer or other
illnesses.

Fertilizers and other chemicals

Nitrates in drinking water leads to diseases of infants that may lead to their death. Cadmium
is a metal in sludge-derived fertilizer. This can be absorbed by crops. When people ingest
this, they may cause diarrheal disorders, liver and kidney damage. The inorganic substances
like mercury, arsenic and lead are the causes of pollution. Other chemicals can also lead to
problems concerning the taste, smell and color of water. Pesticides, PCBs and PCPs are all
poisonous to all sorts of life. Pesticides are used in farming, homes and forestry. PCBs are
found as insulators in old electrical transformers. PCPs are found in products like wood
preservatives.

Effects of Agricultural Water Pollution

Rain and irrigation water drains off cultivated land that has been fertilized and treated with
pesticides, the excess nitrogen and poisons are mixed with it into the water supply. These
pesticides are toxic and pollute the water in a different mode. Aquatic plants growth cause de-
oxygenation of water and annihilate flora and fauna in a stream, lake and river. Fertilizers
enhance the growth of bacteria that are in water and increase the concentration of bacteria to
hazardous levels.

Effects of Thermal Water Pollution

Machinery in the industries are cooled with water from lakes and rivers. This water reaches
the river in a heated state. This water decreases the ability of the aquatic system to hold
oxygen and raises the growth of warm water species.

Effects of Heavy Metal Water Pollution

Heavy metals like lead, mercury, iron, cadmium, aluminum and magnesium are present in
water sources. If these metals are present in the sediment, these reach the food chain
through plants and aquatic animals. This causes heavy metal poisoning in case the level in
the water is very high.

Some other effects of water pollution

In rivers, oceans and seas, water pollution effects flora and fauna in them. Further, the birds
and animals that consume this contaminated food supply can perish. Blood diseases, nervous
system disorders and heart diseases are some of the effects of water pollution. Many toxins in
polluted water lead to cancer. Rarely, the body's chromosomal makeup can be altered. Some
of the less potent effects are skin lesions, vomiting and diarrhea.
Effects of Water Pollution

The effects of water pollution are far-reaching and affect not only the environment,
but human beings and animals as well.

Water pollution affects our oceans, lakes, rivers, and drinking water, making it a
widespread and global concern. Numerous diseases, health problems, and even
fatalities have been associated with water pollution.

Water is considered polluted when chemicals, pathogens, or contaminants are

detected. Human beings have the most crucial impact on our water resources. They
also have the ability to control or eliminate water pollution.