Water Pollution: Causes, Effects, and Solutions

Our planet is comprised primarily of water. Aquatic ecosystems cover more than two-thirds of the Earth's surface. And all life on Earth as we know it relies on water to survive.

Yet water pollution is a very real threat to our survival. It is considered the world's biggest health risk, threatening not only humans, but also the myriad other plants and animals that rely on water to live. According to the World Wildlife Fund:

"Pollution from toxic chemicals threatens life on this planet. Every ocean and every continent, from the tropics to the once-pristine polar regions, is contaminated."

So what is water pollution? What causes it and what effects is it having on the world's aquatic ecosystems? And most importantly - what can we do to fix it?

Water Pollution Definition

Water pollution occurs when a body of water becomes contaminated. The contamination could be caused by physical debris such as plastic water bottles or rubber tires, or it could be chemical such as the runoff that finds its way into waterways from factories, cars, sewage treatment facilities, and air pollution.
Water pollution any time that contaminants are discharged into aquatic ecosystems that do not have the capacity to remove them.

Water Sources

When we think about the causes of water, we have to think about the two different sources of water on our planet. First, there is surface water - that's the water that we see in oceans, rivers, lakes, and ponds. This water is home to many plant and animal species that rely not only on the quantity but also the quality of that water to survive.

No less important is groundwater - the is the water stored within the Earth's aquifers. This water source feeds our rivers and oceans and forms much of the world's supply of drinking water.

Both of these water sources are critical to life on Earth. And both can become polluted in different ways.

Surface Water Pollution Causes

Bodies of water can become polluted in a number of ways. Point source pollution refers to contaminants that enter a waterway via a single, identifiable source - show as a waste water treatment pipe or a factory chimney. Non-point source pollution is when the contamination is coming from many scattered locations. And example of non-point source pollution is the nitrogen runoff that leaches into waterways via nearby agricultural fields.

Groundwater Pollution Causes

Groundwater can also be affectd by point and non-point source pollution. A chemical spill can seep directly into the ground, polluting the water below. But more often than not, groundwater becomes polluted when non-point sources of contamination such as agricultural runoff or prescription medications find their way into the water within the Earth.

How Does Water Pollution Affect The Environment?

If you do not live near water, you may not think that you are affecting by pollution in the world's waters. But water pollution affects every single living thing on this planet. From the tiniest plant to the largest mammal and yes, even humans in between, we all rely on water to survive.

Fish that live in polluted waters become polluted themselves. Fishing is already restricted or prohibited in many of the world's waterways due to contaminants. When a waterway becomes polluted - either with trash or with toxins - it diminishes its capacity to support and sustain life.

Water Pollutions: What Are The Solutions?

By it's very nature, water is a very fluid thing. It flows throughout the world without regard for borders or bourndaries. It crosses state lines and ebbs and flows between countries. That means that pollution caused in one part of the world could affect a community in another. This makes it difficult to impose any one set standard on the ways we use and protect the world's water.

There are a number of international laws that aim to prevent dangerous levels of water polution. These include the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1978 MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. In the U.S., the 1972 Clean Water Act and the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act help to protect both surface and ground water supplies.

How Can You Prevent Water Pollution?

The best things that you can do to prevent water pollution are to educate yourself about the world's water supply and support conservation projects both locally and around the world.

Learn about the choices that you make that affect the world water, from spilling gas at the station to spraying chemicals on your lawn and look for ways to reduce the number of chemicals you use each day. Sign up to help clean litter off of beaches or rivers. And support laws that make it harder for polluters to pollute.

Water is the world's most vital resource. It belongs to all of us and its up to everyone to do their part to protect it.

source :about.com