Effects of Water Pollution

The effects of water pollution strongly impact the balance of nature, which ultimately impacts all humans. With proper care and consideration, many of the situations that cause water pollution can be stopped or decreased.

Types of Water Pollution Without getting too technical, water pollution is a result of various things, but usually leads back to these sources:
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Industry Agriculture Homes

Man-made situations are typically the causes of water pollution. Often, its unintended and unknown that actions are contributing to water pollution. Many times its the last thought on someones mind that their actions could significantly impact the environment locally and beyond. Ways Water is Polluted Industry There are three main ways that industries contribute to water pollution. They pollute by disposing of waste directly into waterways, emitting toxic gases that cause acid rain and changing the temperature of water with their disposals into waterways.
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Direct disposal of waste into natural waterways causes waste to build up within the water. A pungent odor is the result. Additionally, this waste decreases the amount of oxygen in water, causing the death of aquatic animals or other organisms.

The emission of toxic fumes into the air causes acid rain. When the acid rain falls, it contaminates local natural waterways including streams, rivers and lakes. This causes the death of many aquatic animals. Other animals drinking the water may become ill and die, too.

Thermal pollution occurs when water used to cool hot machinery is released into waterways and the temperature of the water is drastically increased. This temperature change may cause aquatic life to die and numbers to be reduced. Additionally, such a temperature increase decreases the amount of oxygen in water, causing more of a chance of death to organisms.

Agriculture Its common for farmers to use fertilizers and other chemicals on their crops to help them grow. However, these chemicals and nutrients added to the soil can soak into the underground water supplies. Additionally, when it rains, these chemicals join the run-off water and flow into streams, rivers and lakes, thus polluting them. Even just the

sediments of dirt, without any chemicals, are pollutants in the fact that they cause the waterways to become cloudy and muddy. Homes Households are a leading cause of water pollution by the trash they create. Even if taken to landfills, often this trash finds its way to natural waterways. Human waste, disposed of typically by sewers, pollute water. Any time a septic system is not installed properly or bursts beneath the ground, the underground water supply may be polluted. Oils and antifreeze leaked from vehicles pollute water. Effects of Water Pollution There are various effects of water pollution.
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Spread of disease: Drinking polluted water can cause cholera or typhoid infections, along with diarrhea.

Affects body organs: The consumption of highly contaminated water can cause injury to the heart and kidneys.

Harms the food chain: Toxins within water can harm aquatic organisms, thus breaking a link in the food chain.

Causes algae in water: Urea, animal manure and vegetable peelings are food for algae. Algae grow according to how much waste is in a water source. Bacteria feed off the algae, decreasing the amount of oxygen in the water. The decreased oxygen causes harm to other organisms living in the water.

Flooding: The erosion of soil into waterways causes flooding, especially with heavy rainfall.

Harms animals: Birds that get into oil-contaminated water die from exposure to cold water and air due to feather damage. Other animals are affected when they eat dead fish in contaminated streams.

The effects of water pollution are not always immediate. They are not always seen at the point of contamination. They are sometimes never known by the person responsible for

the pollution. However, water pollution has a huge impact on our lives. With knowledge, consideration and preparation, water pollution can be decreased. It doesnt take much effort just a little thought. Water Pollution Solutions Water pollution is growing daily around the world, but so are water pollution solutions. Find out what you can do to combat water pollution in your area.

Water Pollution Water covers more than 70 percent of the Earths surface. While less than 3 percent of this water is drinkable, all of it is necessary for supporting life on Earth. Water pollution is one of the biggest threats to the environment today. There are several types of water pollution ranging from sewage and fertilizers to soil erosion. The impact of water pollution on aquatic life and land life can be devastating. Effects of water pollution can include:

Overgrowth of algae and surface life, leading to loss of light and nutrients to deep aquatic life

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Suffocation of aquatic life through sediment and loss of water depth Disruption of the food chain Spread of water-borne illnesses such as dysentery or typhoid

Water Pollution Solutions The best solution for water pollution is prevention. While pollution that has already occurred is a current threat to all life on Earth, attempts to clean it up may cause even more harm. Chemicals used to treat or clean up oil spills may further contaminate water supplies. Adjustments in temperature to counteract heat or cooling pollution may not achieve proper balance, leading to more loss of aquatic life. Preventing water pollution does more for the environment by halting the level of pollutants where they are. This gives the environment needed time to begin to correct itself, and time for scientists to determine the best way to combat existing problems. Water Pollution Preventions There are several steps that can be taken to help prevent water pollution from getting worse. Conserve Soil Erosion is one of the biggest causes of water pollution today. When you take steps to conserve soil, you are also conserving water and water life. Planting vegetative covers, strict erosion management and implementing beneficial farming methods are just a few of the many possible approaches to soil conservation. Dispose of Toxic Chemicals Properly

Its always a good idea to use lower VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) products in your home whenever possible. If you do use toxic chemicals, such as paints, stains or cleaning supplies, dispose of them properly. Paints can be recycled and oils can be reused after treatment. Proper disposal keeps these substances out of storm drains, water ways and septic tanks. Keep Machinery in Good Working Order Oil is one of the largest polluters of water in the world. Its estimated that just the transportation of oil is responsible for .0001 percent of oil contamination in water. Take steps to ensure you arent adding to this problem by repairing oil leaks in cars and machinery as soon as they are spotted. Clean up the residue and dispose of the used oils properly. Clean Up Beaches and Waterways Just picking up waste and litter wherever it is spotted can go a long way to keeping debris and pollutants out of the water. Do your part by taking your own trash, other wastes and any you see to a nearby disposal facility. Avoid Plastics When Possible Plastic bags in the ocean is a well documented water pollutant. Keep this problem from getting worse by changing to reusable grocery bags whenever possible. Get Active and Get Involved Is there a company near your home that releases heat, coolants or chemicals into a nearby waterway? You can get involved. Contact the EPA, local authorities or write letters to the heads of companies. Spreading an awareness of problems is a big first step toward combating them. While water pollution solutions may seem like too little, too late when viewed in the light of major oil spills and floating plastic bag islands they are necessary to prevent these

problems from growing worse. Simply slowing down the rate of pollution can give the environment and scientists time to find long-term solutions to the very real problems of water pollution. If you do your part to prevent pollution in your area, then youll be helping to protect aquatic life. Water Pollution - Case study PesticidepollutioninIndia. One of the most terrifying effects of pesticide contamination of groundwater came to light when pesticide residues were found in bottled water. Between July and December 2002, the Pollution Monitoring Laboratory of the New Delhi-based Center for Science and Environment (CSE) analyzed 17 brands of bottled water, both packaged drinking water and packaged natural mineral water, commonly sold in areas that fall within the national capital region of Delhi. Pesticide residues of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides, which are most commonly used in India, were found in all the samples. Among the organochlorines, gamma-

hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane) and DDT were prevalent, while among organophosphorus pesticides, Malathion and Chlorpyrifos were the most common. All these were present above the permissible limits specified by the European Economic Community (EEC), which is the norm, used all over Europe.

One may wonder as to how these pesticide residues get into bottled water that is manufactured by several big companies. This can be traced to several facts. There is no regulation that the bottled water industry must be located in 'clean' zones. Currently, the manufacturing plants of most brands are situated in the dirtiest industrial estates or in the midst of agricultural fields. Most companies use bore-wells to pump out water from the ground from depths varying from 24-152 m below the ground. The raw water samples collected from the plants also revealed the presence of pesticide residues. This clearly indicated that the sources of pesticide residues in the polluted groundwater are used to manufacture the bottled water. This is despite the fact that all bottled water plants use a range of purification methods. Thus, the fault obviously lies in the treatment methods used.

These plants use membrane technology, where the water is filtered using membranes with ultrasmall pores to remove fine suspended solids and all bacteria and protozoa and even viruses. While nanofiltration can remove insecticides and herbicides, it is expensive and thus rarely used.

Most industries also use an activated charcoal adsorption process, which is effective in removing organic pesticides but not heavy metals. To remove pesticides, the plants use reverse osmosis and granular activated charcoal methods. So even though the manufacturers claim to use these processes, the presence of pesticide residues points to the fact that either the manufacturers do not use the treatment process effectively or only treat a part of the raw water. The low concentrations of pesticide residues in bottled water do not cause acute or immediate effects. However, repeated exposure even to extremely miniscule amounts can result in chronic effects like cancer, liver and kidney damage, disorders of the nervous system, damage to the immune system and birth defects.

Similarly, six months after CSE reported pesticide residues in bottled water it also found these pesticides in popular cold drink brands sold across the country. This is because the main ingredient in a cold drink or a carbonated non-alcoholic beverage is water and there are no standards specified for water to be used in these beverages in India.

There were no standards for bottled water in India till September 29, 2000, when the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a notification (no. 759(E)) amending the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1954. The BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification mark became mandatory for bottled water from March 29, 2001. However, the parameters for pesticide residues remained ambiguous. Following the report published by CSE in Down to Earth (Vol 11, no. 18), a series of Committees were established and eventually on 18th July 2003, amendments were made in the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules stating that pesticide residues considered individually should not exceed 0.0001 mg/l and that the total pesticide residues should not be more than 0.0005 mg/l and that the analysis shall be conducted by using internationally established test methods meeting the residue limits specified herein. This notification came into force from January 1, 2004.

River

pollution

in

India

Almost all the rivers in India are polluted. The causes of pollution may also be more or less similar. This is a case study of the River Damodar as reported in Down to Earth. The 563-km long Damodar River originates near Chandwa village in the Chhotanagpur hills in Bihar's Palamau district. It flows through one of the richest mineral belts in the world before draining into the Hooghly, about 50 km south of Kolkota. Indian industry depends heavily on this region

as 60% of the coal consumed in our country comes from the Chhotanagpur belt. Coal-based industries of all types dot the area because of locational advantages and the easy availability of water and power. In addition, various industries such as steel, cement, fertilizer and explosive plants are also located here. The River Damodar is polluted with minerals, mine rejects and toxic effluents. Both its water and its sand are infested by coal dust and waste from these industries. There are seven thermal power plants in the Damodar valley. The states of Bihar and West Bengal depend almost entirely on this area for their power requirements. These power plants not only consume a lot of water but also dump ash in the valley.

Mining As underground mines cannot keep pace with the rising demand, 60% of the coal extracted from the area comes from open-cast mines, which are responsible for serious land degradation. The disposal of rock and soil extracted along with the coal only adds to the problem.

Industries The industries in the area do not have proper effluent treatment plants. Among the big coal-based industries, the washeries account for the bulk of the pollution in terms of the total suspended solids (TSS), oil and grease. About 20% of the coal handled goes out in the form of slurry, which is deposited in the ponds outside. After the slurry settles, coalfine (the sediment) is collected manually. Due to inadequate retrieval methods very often the water discharges into the river from the pond carries high amounts of fine coal particles and oil, thus polluting the river. The other major coal-based polluters are the coke oven plants that heat co?1 to temperatures as high as 1100C in the absence of oxygen to prepare it for use in blast furnaces and foundries. The volatile components in the coal are removed, leaving hot, non-volatile coke in the oven, which is washed with huge quantities of water. This water that contains oil and suspended particles is then discharged into the river.

Fly-ash

from

the

thermal

power

plants

Only one of the thermal power plants has an electrostatic precipitator to collect the fly-ash, while the other just make do with mechanical dust collectors. As most of these plants are located on the banks of the river, the fly-ash eventually finds its way into the river. The bottom-ash from the

boilers is mixed with water to form a slurry, which is then drained into ash ponds. Most of the ponds are full and in several cases the drainage pipes are choked. The slurry is, therefore, directly discharged into the river.

Effects The river and its tributaries are the largest source of drinking water for the huge population that lives in the valley. On April 2, 1990, about 200,000 litres of furnace oil spilled into the river from the Bokaro Steel Plant. This oil traveled 150 km downstream to Durgapur. For a week after the incident, five million people drank contaminated water in which the oil levels were 40 to 80 times higher than the permissible value of 0.03 mg/l.

The Damodar Action Plan, an end-of-the pipe pollution treatment scheme, seeks to tackle effluents. One viable option could be to switch to less polluting industries and cleaner technology. This would need strong Government initiative and also a mass movement by people.