CHAPTER FIVE

MAJOR FORMS OF WATER POLLUTION

5.1.Major Types and sources of water pollutants

Water pollutants is the contamination of water bodies (e.g lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and
groundwater), very often by human activities. Water pollution occurs when pollutants
(particles, chemicals or substances that make water contaminated) are discharged directly or
indirectly in to water bodies without enough treatment to get rid of the harmful compounds.
Pollutants get into water mainly by human causes or factors. Water pollution can be a point
source, non-point source, or trans boundary in nature.

 If pollutants come from one source into that water body, (such as a factory disposal) it
is called a point source pollution

 If the pollution comes from many sources, it is called nonpoint-source pollution.

 Pollution can also affect only one area in which the pollution happened. But in many
cases, especially for flowing water, the contamination spreads to many other places.
This is called trans boundary pollution.

Types of water pollution

There are many types of water pollution because water comes from many sources. Here are a
few types of water pollution:

Nutrients Pollution: Some wastewater, fertilizers and sewage contain high levels of
nutrients. If they end up in water bodies, they encourage algae and weed growth in the water.
This will make the water undrinkable, and even clog filters. Too much algae will also use up
all the oxygen in the water and other water organisms in the water will die out of oxygen
starvation.

Surface water pollution: Surface water includes natural water found on the earth's surface,
like rivers, lakes, lagoons and oceans. Hazardous substances coming into contact with this
surface water, dissolving or mixing physically with the water can be called surface water
pollution.
Oxygen Depleting: Water bodies have micro-organisms. These include aerobic and
anaerobic organisms. When to much biodegradable matter (things that easily decay) end up in
water, it encourages more microorganism growth, and they use up more oxygen in the water.
If oxygen is depleted, aerobic organisms die, and anaerobic organism grow more to produce
harmful toxins such as ammonia and sulfides.
Ground water pollution: When humans apply pesticides and chemicals to soils, they are
washed deep into the ground by rain water. This gets to underground water, causing pollution
underground.

This means when we dig wells and bore holes to get water from underground, it needs to be
checked for ground water pollution.

Microbiological: In many communities in the world, people drink untreated water (straight
from a river or stream). Sometimes there is natural pollution caused by micro-organisms like
viruses, bacteria and protozoa. This natural pollution can cause fishes and other water life to
die. They can also cause serious illness to humans who drink from such waters.

Suspended Matter: Some pollutants (substances, particles and chemicals) do not easily
dissolve in water. This kind of material is called particulate matter. Some suspended
pollutants later settle under the water body. This can harm and even kill aquatic life that live
at the floor of water bodies.

Chemical Water Pollution: Many industries and farmers work with chemicals that end up in
water. This is common with Point-source Pollution. These include chemicals that are used to
control weeds, insects and pests. Metals and solvents from industries can pollute water
bodies. These are poisonous to many forms of aquatic life and may slow their development,
make them infertile and kill them.

Oil Spillage: Oil spills usually have only a localized effect on wildlife but can spread for
miles. The oil can cause the death to many fish and get stuck to the feathers of seabirds
causing them to lose their ability to fly.

Sewage and waste water: Everyday, we cook, do laundry, flush the toilet, wash our cars,
shower and do many things that use water. Think about how we use water in schools,
hospitals and public places. Where do you think all the water, liquid waste, toilet and urine
ends up? In many developed communities, this waste water and soluble waste (called
sewage) is treated, cleaned and dumped into the sea or river. Even though they are treated,
they are never the same as fresh water. In some not-so-developed countries, the sewage is not
treated, but quickly dumped into the sea or water bodies. This is very dangerous because they
contaminate the environment and water bodies and bring many deadly diseases to us.

Septic Tanks: Every domestic (home) toilet is connected to septic tank usually located
outside the house. Each time poop is flushed down the toilet, it goes into this tank, where the
solid part is separated from the liquid part. Biological processes are used to break down the
solids and the liquid is usually drained out into a land drainage system. From this stage, it can
escape into the soil and nearby water bodies.

Ocean and marine dumping: Again, think of the rubbish we all make each day. Paper
waste, food waste, plastic, rubber, metallic and aluminum waste. In some countries, they are
deposited into the sea. All these waste types take time to decompose. For example, it is know
that paper takes about 6 weeks, aluminum takes about 200 years and glass takes even more
years. When these end up in the sea, they harm sea animals and cause a lot of water animal
deaths.

Underground storage and tube leakages: Many liquid products (petroleum products) are
stored in metal and steel tubes underground. Other sewage systems run in underground tubes.
Overtime, they rust and begin to leak. If that happens, they contaminate the soils, and the
liquids in them end up in many nearby water bodies.

Atmospheric: Atmospheric deposition is the pollution of water bodies caused by air

pollution. Each time the air is polluted with sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, they mix
with water particles in the air and form a toxic substance. This falls as acid rain to the ground,
and gets washed into water bodies. The result is that, water bodies also get contaminated and
this affects animals and water organisms.

1.2.Effects of water pollution.

Water pollution is very harmful to humans, animals and water life. The effects can be
catastrophic, depending on the kind of chemicals, concentrations of the pollutants and where
there are polluted. The effects of water pollution are varied and depend on what chemicals are
dumped and in which locations.
Many water bodies near urban areas (cities and towns) are highly polluted. This is the result
of both garbage dumped by individuals and dangerous chemicals legally or illegally dumped
by manufacturing industries, health centers, schools and market places.

Death of aquatic (water) animals: The main problem caused by water pollution is that it
kills life that depends on these water bodies. Dead fish, crabs, birds and sea gulls, dolphins,
and many other animals often wind up on beaches, killed by pollutants in their habitat (living
environment).

Disruption of food-chains: Pollution disrupts the natural food chain as well. Pollutants such
as lead and cadmium are eaten by tiny animals. Later, these animals are consumed by fish
and shellfish, and the food chain continues to be disrupted at all higher levels.

Diseases: Eventually, humans are affected by this process as well. People can get diseases
such as hepatitis by eating seafood that has been poisoned. In many poor nations, there is
always outbreak of cholera and diseases as a result of poor drinking water treatment from
contaminated waters.

Destruction of ecosystems: Ecosystems (the interaction of living things in a place,

depending on each other for life) can be severely changed or destroyed by water pollution.
Many areas are now being affected by careless human pollution, and this pollution is coming
back to hurt humans in many ways.

1.3.Prevention of water pollution.

Dealing with water pollution is something that everyone (including governments and local
councils) needs to get involved with. Here are a few things you can do to help. Learning
about the issue (like you are doing) is the greatest and most important step to take. Here are a
few more:

Use water wisely. Do not keep the tap running when not in use. Also, you can reduce the
amount of water you use in washing and bathing. If we all do this, we can significantly
prevent water shortages and reduce the amount of dirty water that needs treatment.

Do not throw chemicals, oils, paints and medicines down the sink drain, or the toilet. In
many cities, your local environment office can help with the disposal of medicines and
chemicals. Check with your local authorities if there is a chemical disposal plan for local
residents.

Buy more environmentally safe cleaning liquids for use at home and other public places.
They are less dangerous to the environment.

If you use chemicals and pesticides for your gardens and farms, be mindful not to overuse
pesticides and fertilizers. This will reduce runoffs of the chemical into nearby water sources.
Start looking at options of composting and using organic manure instead.

If you live close to a water body, try to plant lots of trees and flowers around your home, so
that when it rains, chemicals from your home does not easily drain into the water.

Governments, local councils and laws

Many governments have very strict laws that help minimize water pollution. These laws are
usually directed at industries, hospitals, schools and market areas on how to dispose, treat and
manage sewage. Do you know the laws in your country? This is the time to find out.

In many developed cities, waste or sewage treatment is very efficient, and designed to
minimise pollution of water bodies. (The next page explains that process)

There are also lots of organizations and groups that help educate people on the dangers of
water pollution. It is always great to join these groups, because they regularly encourage
other members of their communities to have a better attitude towards water.

Liquid Waste (Sewage/Wastewater) Treatment

Wastewater (liquid waste) from flushing the toilet, bathing, washing sinks and general cleaning goes
down the drain and into a pipe, which joins a larger sewer pipe under the road. The larger pipe also
joins a major pipe that leads to the treatment center.
STAGE ONE: SCREENING
Screening is first stage of the wastewater treatment process. Screening removes large objects like,
diapers, nappies, sanitary items, cotton buds, face wipes and even broken bottles, bottle tops, plastics
and rags that may block or damage equipment.
Special equipment is also used to remove grit that gets washed into the sewer.

STAGE TWO: PRIMARY TREATMENT

This involve the separation of organic solid matter (or human waste) from the wastewater. This is
done by putting the wastewater into large settlement tanks for the solids to sink to the bottom of the
tank. The settled solids are called ‘sludge’. At the bottom of these circular tanks, large scrappers
continuously scrape the floor of the tank and push the sludge towards the center where it is pumped
away for further treatment. The rest of the water is then moved to the Secondary treatment.
STAGE THREE: SECONDARY TREATMENT
The water, at this stage is put into large rectangular tanks. These are called aeration lanes. Air is
pumped into the water to encourage bacteria to breakdown the tiny bits of sludge that escaped the
sludge scrapping process.
STAGE FOUR: FINAL TREATMENT
Next the ‘almost’ treated wastewater is passed through a settlement tank. Here, more sludge is formed
at the bottom of the tank from the settling of the bacterial action. Again, the sludge is scrapped and
collected for treatment. The water at this stage is almost free from harmless substances and chemicals.
The water is allowed to flow over a wall where it is filtered through a bed of sand to remove any
additional particles.
The filtered water is then released into the river.
*This description is not a standard for all treatment plants, but the principle is similar.

Now let us see some stunning facts and disasters from water pollution in recent time.