Talking about our most crucial resource “Water”, our rivers, lakes, seas are flooding with chemicals, waste, plastic, and other pollutants. Every living being's life has become nothing but a threat. Yet we trash water anyway. A British poet named W.H Auden once said “Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” Polluted water takes away more life than any war/form of violence. With access to less than 1℅ of freshwater resources, it is estimated that by 2050 demand for freshwater will increase by 1/3 than it is today.
In this article, you'll know:-
★What is water pollution?
★What are the causes?
★What are the ways to prevent water pollution?
What is water pollution?
Water pollution is caused when water bodies
are contaminated with chemicals, wastes,
or microorganisms, that end up turning water bodies toxic to humans and the environment.
Causes of Water Pollution:-
Water is a Universal Solvent, and it can dissolve more substances than any other liquid on earth. That's why water is easily polluted. Toxic Substances from factories, farms, and towns mix with it and make it polluted.
I) Groundwater Pollution- Groundwater gets polluted when pollutants like pesticides, fertilizer runoff, waste are leached from the trash yard and septic systems.
II) Surface Water Pollution- Surface water gets polluted by fertilizer runoff, farm waste, municipal and industrial waste, dumping garbage directly, etc.
III) Ocean water Pollution- Chemicals, nutrients, and many toxic substances from farms, industries, cities are carried by streams and rivers to the sea. Hence, ocean water gets polluted. It is also polluted because of oil spills and leaks.
IV) Radioactive Pollution- Radio Active wastes are generated by uranium mining, nuclear power plants, and by universities and hospitals using radioactive material for research. Unknowingly released or improper disposal of these pollutants can threaten groundwater, surface water, and marine resources.
What are the ways to prevent water pollution?
The ways by which one can prevent water pollution are:-
I) Reduce, reuse and recycle plastic.
II) Maintenance of vehicles(especially checking oil leakage or coolant leakage.
III) Proper disposal of chemicals, factory waste, oils, and non-biodegradable substance.
IV) By avoiding the usage of pesticides and herbicides.
V) By considering landscaping to reduce runoff.
VI) By spreading awareness.
