Water Pollution Facts

A simple definition of water pollution can be presented as "contamination of water which makes it unfit for use". Most of the water resources on earth are polluted. Even though our planet is covered with 70% water, not all of it is suitable for human use. Rapid industrialization, misuse of the scarce water resources and many other factors play a role in the process of water pollution. Every year around 400 billion tons of waste is generated the world over. Most of this waste is dumped in water bodies. Out of the total water on earth just 3% is freshwater. If this freshwater is polluted repeatedly, water crisis would turn grave in the near future. It is therefore, necessary to take proper care of our water resources. The facts about water pollution presented in the article should help in understanding the gravity of this problem. Let us understand more about water pollution through details presented below.

Facts and Figures on Water Pollution

Sewage Water Pollution

Improper Waste Disposal

Loss of Biodiversity

Water pollution is a problem that affects almost all nations of the world. If proper steps are not taken to control this menace, it would lead to disastrous consequences in the near future. The facts pertaining to water pollution are presented with the help of following points.

• Rivers in the continent of Asia are the most polluted. These rivers contain 20 times as much lead found in water bodies of industrialized nations of other continents. The bacteria (from human waste) found in these rivers are 3 times greater than that of the global average.
• In Ireland, fertilizers and sewage are the main pollutants of water. About 30% rivers in this country have these pollutants.
• Contamination of groundwater is a major problem in Bangladesh. Arsenic is a major pollutant which affects water quality in this country. About 85% of the total area of Bangladesh has contaminated groundwater. It means, over 1.2 million citizens of this nation are exposed to the hazardous effects of arsenic-contaminated water.
• The King river in Australia is amongst the most polluted rivers of the world. Around 1 million sea birds, 100,000 marine mammals and several other creatures have been killed due to the effects of acidic water present in this river.
• The situation in America with respect to water pollution is not very different from that in the rest of the world. It is observed that around 40% rivers in the US are polluted. One cannot use water from these rivers for drinking, swimming or any such activity. These rivers are not capable of sustaining aquatic life. Forty-six percent of lakes in USA are unfit for supporting aquatic life.
• Pollutants released in water by the construction industry includes cement, gypsum, metals, abrasives, etc. These materials are far more harmful than biological wastes - which can at least be diluted easily.
• Thermal pollution of water is caused by disposal of hot water by industries. Rise in water temperature is a threat to the ecological balance. Many aquatic creatures lose their lives because of thermal pollution.
• Drainage caused by rain is one of the major causes of water pollution. Waste materials like oils, chemicals released from automobiles, household chemicals, etc. are the major pollutants from urban areas. Chemical fertilizers and remains of pesticides form the main pollutants that are drained by rain.
• Oil spills in oceans is one of the global problems responsible for water pollution on a large-scale. Thousands of fish and other aquatic creatures are killed by oil spills every year. Apart from oil, non-degradable waste materials like plastic are also found in oceans. The article on ocean pollution facts should help gain a greater understanding of the subject matter.
• The process of eutrophication is one in which nutrients present in water bodies increase to a great extent. This leads to increase in the primary productivity of that water body. The result of eutrophication is excessive growth of phytoplankton. Level of oxygen in water reduces to a great extent and thereby, the lives of fish and other water creatures come under threat.

Controlling Water Pollution
It is necessary to understand that the water we pollute can harm us in the long run. Once the toxic chemicals enter the food chain, people have no option but, to live with and carry them in body systems. Reducing the use of chemical fertilizers is one of the best ways to clear water pollutants from our environment. Otherwise, these washed-out chemicals would continuously pollute the water bodies on earth. Efforts are being made to alleviate the problem of water pollution. However, the problem can't be solved completely; effective steps need to be taken for its mitigation. Considering the pace at which we are disturbing the ecosystem, it has becomes necessary to follow strict guidelines in reducing water pollution.

The water pollution facts discussed in this article should be useful for raising concerns regarding this problem. Lakes and rivers of the planet earth are becoming increasingly polluted. Concentrated and organized efforts by people and governments of all nations of the world should help in minimizing the problem.