Water Pollution

Water Pollutants

Effect on living things

Domestic waste
- Rubbish, garbage

Choke up streams and rivers, causing

flash floods during heavy rain
Non-biodegradable materials such as
plastics cannot be broken down by
microorganisms. They remain in water
for a long time. Many seabirds and
aquatic animals are drowned or
wounded when they swallow or get
entangled in the materials

- Untreated sewage

Eventually reduces the dissolved oxygen

in water to a dangerously low level,
killing many aquatic organisms. For
example,
Phosphate from detergents are nutrients
for algae and awuatic
plants. This
causes rapid growth and multiplication of
algae and aquatic plants. Submerged
algae and plants die due to lack of
sunlight. Large populations of bacteria
decompose the dead bodies, using up
the oxygen in the water.
Feeding on the human waste, bacteria
grow and multiplyrapidly, thus using up
the oxygen in the water

(wastewater
from
drains or toilets. It
contains substances
such as human waste
and detergents)

Agricultural waste
-Pesticides
(including insecticides,
herbicidesand
fungicides

In high concentrations, they may poison

fish, animals or human beings that drink
the polluted water.
Non-degradable pesticides remain in the
water for a long time. These substances
are passed along in food chains and
becomes concentrated in the bodies of
the final consumers.

Fertilisers

Fertilisers containing
nitrates and
phosphates are nutrients to algae and
plants. The algae bloom that occurs will
eventually cause the oxygen supply in
the water to be greatly reduced, killing
other aquatic organisms.

-Animals waste
(from farma)

Feeding on the waste , the population of

bacteria increases. This reduces the
oxygen level in the water

Industrial waste
-Toxic chemicals
-Acidic and alkaline
substances

Poison aquatic life

-Heavy metals such as

cooper,
lead
and
mercury

Become accumulated and are passed

along
food
chains.
In
high
concentrations, they are poisonous to
our body

-Radioactive residues

Carcinogenic (can cause cancer)

Siltation
-Mud and sand (from
deforestation
and
construction sites)

Water becomes muddy and brown,

preventing sunlight from penetrating the
water.
Submerged
plants
cannot
photosynthesize and die
Cause rivers to become shallow and
thus causing flash floods during heavy
rain

Oil Spillage
(from oil regs, oil
tankers and illegal
cleaning of vessels)

The layer of oil that forms on the surface

of the sea kills marine life and seabirds

Change the acidity of water, causing

death to sensitive aquatic organisms

Conservation and preservation of water quality

1. Cleaning up polluted river.
This is an expensive and tedious effort. Therefore, it requires the
commitment of both the government and non-government
organizations
2. Promoting public awareness through education, seminars, media
campaigns, exhibitions and talks
3. Proper disposal of waste. For this purpose, a national centrlised
toxic waste treatment and disposal centre in Bukit Nanas, Negeri
Sembilan has been set up.
4. Strict enforcement of laws in pollution control. Those who dump
rubbish, untreated waste and hazardous waste into rivers should be
punished
5. Imposing higher tariffs of water. This may done as a last resort to
encourage the public to conserve water.

6. Devising new methods or devices that is water saving. For

example, in drip or trickle irrigation, pipes with tiny holes send water
directly to each plant.
7. Resettling squatters to new residential areas where facilities for
disposing domestics waste and proper sewerage are provided for.