Different types of polluted water
Water is a universal solvent. This is the main reason why it is easily contaminated. Potentially harmful substances such as lead, copper, arsenic, farm runoff, plastics and numerous materials have been found to dissolve and increase the amount of contaminants in water. Here, we're going to take a look at all types of polluted water that's currently degrading drinking water quality around the world.
The type of contaminant that enters a body of water determines how useless it will be. As the list continues to grow, it's important to keep it updated so you can be guided accordingly.
Depending on the source of the water and the type of contaminants, there are different levels of water pollution. This allows us to:
Groundwater pollution
Many households rely on groundwater pumped to the surface and stored in overhead tanks for domestic use. For some people living in rural areas, this form of water may even be the only source of fresh water. Groundwater pollution occurs when pollutants from landfills, septic systems, pesticides, and fertilizers run off into aquifers, making the water unsafe and unhealthy to drink. Contaminated lakes, streams, and oceans are examples of groundwater contamination after water seeps into these bodies of water from its source When an aquifer is contaminated with toxins, it can be unusable for a long time—even decades! Other groundwater pollution includes acid rain and the seepage of farm waste into the ground.
Chemical pollution
Here, chemical elements, which may be organic or man-made, reduce the quality of the water when in contact with the body of water. These substances include salts, metals, bleach, pesticides, nitrogen, toxins produced by bacteria, drugs used by humans or animals, etc. Chemical pollution hinders the activities of many animals that live in the water. It even led to their death. Insecticides used to control weeds, fungi and insects on farms can poison fish in the water. Eating infected fish is harmful to human health as it can lead to chemical water pollution. Oil spills from wrecked ships release oil, another water pollutant. The product can travel for miles in water, shortening the lives of many fish. When the oil sticks to the feathers of seabirds, they may not be able to fly. The main cause of chemical pollution of the oceans Many chemical plants and other industrial companies bring waste into these bodies of water and dump them there. This infects surrounding rivers and other forms of surface water. While it may be true that the disposal of chemical waste is now regulated - they are treated before disposal, the impact of this pollution still exists.
Surface water pollution
As we said before, surface water exists above the Earth's surface, including lakes, rivers, and oceans. Most surface water is in the form of fresh water. When this water becomes unfit for human consumption, it is described as surface water pollution. Nutrient contamination is a major cause of contamination of freshwater sources. Surface water pollution is caused by the runoff of agricultural waste and fertilizer waste from industry and cities, as well as the direct discharge of waste into waterways by individuals.
Water pollution is posing a huge threat to life. Different studies show that millions of people die every year from polluted water. Contaminated water can also make you sick. Every year, about 1 billion people get sick from contaminated water. All these types of polluted water affect life in some way.
Radioactive contamination
This type of contaminated water occurs when toxic radioactive substances enter the water supply. These substances are also called radionuclides. Radiation can occur naturally and is everywhere - on the sun's rays, food, human DNA and the earth's crust. Examples of free elements found in drinking water are isotopes of radon, uranium and radium. Other Sources of Radioactive Pollution Human Activities Oil and Gas Production; Metal Mining and Smelting; Recycling, Fertilizer Production. Waste from medical facilities and nuclear power plants also releases radioactive material. These substances can travel through porous soil, or stick to dust particles in the air, and move to other areas before entering streams, lakes and other surface water sources that people use.
Microbial contamination
Microorganisms such as protozoa, viruses and bacteria that live in water bodies can become contaminants in water. This is a natural form of water pollution. Fish, animals and humans who drink this water can get sick. Serious diseases like cholera are microbial contamination. The health of poorer communities is at risk for this type of water pollution because there are no facilities to treat the water. Generally speaking, contamination also occurs when microbial water contamination comes into contact with systems, drugs, or equipment. For example, if a tool used in surgery becomes infected with a pathogen, it can lead to an infection in the surgical wound.
Nutrient pollution
This type of polluted water, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, can act as fertilizer and cause excessive algal growth. Another name for this process is eutrophication. Nutrient contamination can lead to reduced oxygen levels in water. Due to the overgrowth of algae, photosynthesis is inhibited because light can no longer reach the plant. As the plants and algae die, decay begins. When this decay occurs, the process consumes the available oxygen in the water. As a result, the dissolved oxygen in the water becomes very low. This can no longer sustain aquatic animals; they die. If humans use this water, it will be very harmful. The above situation is one of many examples of nutritional pollution. There are several sources of nutrition. They can occur naturally in rock and soil weathering in watersheds. The mixing of seawater currents is also a source of nutrients. People living in coastal areas can also produce nutrients. This leads to more human-related sources of nutrient pollution, such as by-products of wastewater treatment, runoff from farms and land in urban centers during rainfall.
Oxygen depletion pollution
Water contains oxygen. Microbes in water bodies engulf biodegradable substances present in the water. Increased levels of biodegradable substances in the water will cause more microorganisms to thrive and consume the oxygen present. This will greatly reduce the oxygen level in the water. The whole process is called oxygen depletion pollution. Another important point to mention is that low levels of oxygen cause the death of aerobic microbes while giving life to anoxic microbes. Dangerous toxins such as sulfide and ammonia are produced by anoxic microorganisms that are detrimental to animals, humans and the surrounding environment. When oxygen-deficient water is polluted, the natural balance of water is disturbed.
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