Aquatic Pollutants

and

Freshwater
Pollution

Aquatic Pollutants

Types of
Pollutants

Physical
Chemical
Biological

Physical
Physical pollutants to lakes and
streams include materials such as
particles of soil that areerodedfrom
the landscape or washed from paved
areas by flowing water.
Another type of physical pollutant is
heat that may be discharged from an
industrial source, or runoff from hot
surfaces in warm weather.

Chemical
Fresh waters naturally contain chemicals dissolved from
the soils and rocks over which they flow. The
majorinorganicelements include calcium, magnesium,
sodium, potassium, carbon, chlorine, andsulfuras well
as plantnutrients, such asnitrogen, silicon, and
phosphorus.
Chemicals resulting from human activities that increase
the concentration of specific compounds above natural
levels may cause pollution problems. Too much of a
plant nutrient may lead to excessive plant growth, while
synthetic organic compounds may cause physiological
changes in aquatic organisms, or may become lethal at
high concentrations.

Biological
The accidental release ofcyanidefrom a precious
metals recovery facility in Romania contaminated
the Tisza River in 2000, killing aquatic and
terrestrial animals, such as this horse who drank the
poisoned waters 3 weeks after the spill.
Problems often arise when the plants die and decay,
which is when bacterialdecompositionconsumes
oxygen needed by aerobic aquatic organisms.
Anoverabundanceof algae or other plants provides
more decaying material, and hence a greater
reduction in oxygen as the material decomposes.

Water pollutants:
Chemical water pollutants
Chemical water pollutants are
generallyatomsormolecules, which have been
discharged into natural water bodies, usually by
activities of humans.
Common examples of such chemical water pollutants
are;
mercury emanating from mining activity,
certainnitrogencompounds used inagriculture,
chlorinatedorganic molecules arising from sewage or water
treatment plantsor various acids which are
theexternalitiesof various manufacturing activities.

Water pollutants:
physical water pollutants
Physical water pollutants are either much larger
particles or physical factors such as temperature
change, both of which while not typically toxic, cause a
variety of harmful effects.
The most obvious of physical pollutants are;
excessive sediment load, mostly arising from overintense land use practices and;
rubbish discarded from human manufacturing
activity (e.g. plastic bags, bottles).
While these materials are not so harmful to human
health as chemicals or pathogens, they comprise the
majority of visual impact of water pollution. In the case
ofthermal pollution, these point source discharges

Water pollutants

There are several classes of water pollutants. The first are disease-causing
agents. These are bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasitic worms that
enter sewage systems and untreated waste.
A second category of water pollutants is oxygen-demanding wastes;
wastes that can be decomposed by oxygen-requiring bacteria. When large
populations of decomposing bacteria are converting these wastes it can
deplete oxygen levels in the water. This causes other organisms in the
water, such as fish, to die.
A third class of water pollutants is water-soluble inorganic pollutants, such
as acids, salts and toxic metals. Large quantities of these compounds will
make water unfit to drink and will cause the death of aquatic life.
Another class of water pollutants are nutrients; they are water-soluble
nitrates and phosphates that cause excessive growth of algae and other
water plants, which deplete the water's oxygen supply. This kills fish and,
when found in drinking water, can kill young children.

 Water can also be polluted by a number of

organic compounds such as oil, plastics and
pesticides, which are harmful to humans and all
plants and animals in the water.
A very dangerous category is suspended
sediment, because it causes depletion in the
water's light absorption and the particles spread
dangerous compounds such as pesticides through
the water.
Finally, water-soluble radioactive compounds can
cause cancer, birth defects and genetic damage
and are thus very dangerouswater pollutants.

Freshwater
Pollution

What is Water Pollution?

contamination ofwaterbodies
(lakes,rivers,oceans,aquifersandgroun
dwater)
affects the entire biosphere plants and
organisms living in thesebodies of water.
occurs when pollutants (particles,
chemicals or substances that make water
contaminated) are discharged directly or
indirectly into water bodies without
enough treatment to get rid of harmful
compounds.

Types of water pollution

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Nutrients Pollution
Surface water pollution
Oxygen Depleting
Ground water pollution
Microbiological
Suspended Matter
Chemical Water Pollution
Oil Spillage

Types of water pollution

1. Nutrients Pollution
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.

2. Surface water pollution

Hazardous substances coming into contact
with this surface water, dissolving or
mixing physically with the water can be
called surface water pollution.

Types of water pollution

3. Oxygen Depleting
When too 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.

4. 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.

Types of water pollution

5.Microbiological
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.

6. Suspended 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.

Types of water pollution

7. Chemical Water Pollution
These include chemicals that are used
to control weeds, insects and pests.
Metals and solvents from industries can
pollute water bodies.

8. Oil Spillage
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.

Freshwater
is naturally occurring water on
Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps,
glaciers, icebergs, bogs, ponds, lakes,
rivers and streams, and underground
as groundwater in aquifers and
underground streams.

Freshwater
-About 97.4% by volume is found in the
oceans and is too salty for drinking,
irrigation, or industry (except as a coolant).
Most of the remaining 2.6% water is
freshwater and locked up in ice layers or
glaciers or its too deep underground to be
reached or too salty to be used.

Freshwater
The types of species that could become
affected bywater pollutionin freshwater
ecosystems are:
-insects
-crustaceans
-fish
-amphibians
-arthropods

Effects of Freshwater pollution

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.

Effects of Freshwater pollution

1. Death of aquatic (water)
animals
The main problem caused by water
pollution is that it kills life that
depends on these water bodies.
2. Disruption of food-chains
Pollution disrupts the naturalfood
chainas well. Pollutants such as lead
and cadmium are eaten by tiny
animals.

Effects of Freshwater pollution

3. Diseases
Eventually, humans are affected by
this process as well. People can get
diseases such as hepatitis by eating
seafood that has been poisoned.
4. Destruction of ecosystems
Ecosystemscan be severely changed
or destroyed by water pollution.

Sources of FreshWater
Pollution
Point Sources
this is pollution from a discrete
location. This discrete location could
be a factory, a sewer pipe or a runoff
from a single farm.
Non-point source
which is when several points of
contamination over a large area
contribute to the pollution of a water
body.

Prevention of Freshwater
pollution
Never throw rubbish away anyhow.
Use water wisely.
Do not throw chemicals, oils, paints
and medicines down the sink drain,
or the toilet.
Buy more environmentally safe
cleaning liquids for use at home and
other public places.

Prevention of Freshwater
pollution
If you use chemicals and pesticides
for your gardens and farms, be
mindful not to overuse pesticides and
fertilizers.
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.