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It is important to know the causes of water pollution because in knowing the causes we should be able to find the solutions. Water pollution affects every living thing on earth, from plants to animals to human beings. Without water there can be no life.
Water is our most precious resource. It is essential to all life on this planet. 71% of the Earth's surface is water and the human body is made up of anywhere from 55% to 78% water depending on body size. Our bodies require between one and seven liters of water per day to avoid dehydration, the exact amount depends on factors like the level of activity, temperature and humidity. Most experts say that drinking 8 to10 glasses of water a day is the minimum to maintain proper hydration.
So, what are the causes of water pollution? Well, there are two categories of water pollution. Point source pollution, which is pollution cause by harmful substances being dumped directly into a body of water. Like from sewage pipes or industrial waste. Non-point source, which is pollution caused by environmental changes like landslides or rain-washing pollutants into a body of water.
The biggest the causes of water pollution is mankind of course. The shampoos, detergents, hair dyes, bleaches and other household material we use daily help to cause the pollution of our water. Biggest among the man caused pollution of water is industrial and radioactive waste.
Many industrial facilities use freshwater to carry away waste from the plant and into rivers, lakes and oceans. Some of the elements in the waste that is carried into the water are lead, cadmium, mercury and dioxins, which accumulate in the water supply causing health problems. You also have acid rain caused by industrial air pollution. Radioactive waste from nuclear pants is cause of water pollution also because of unsafe storage and runoff.
Although people maybe the biggest causes of water pollution, there are other cause too. Mother Nature plays a part in the pollution of our water by washing animal waste as well as animal carcasses into our waters. Animals themselves use rivers and lakes as their toilets. There are some toxic algae that grow in some bodies of water that can cause illness.
The effects that water pollution has on our life are infectious diseases like hepatitis, which is among the most serious. Polluted water kills off animal life like fish, dolphins, birds and other animals, all of which are needed to keep the cycle of life going. The food chain is affect water pollution when fish are poisoned by it and eating the fish in turn poisons us.
We can and must do our part to control water pollution. Using more eco-friendly household products is something every individual can do. Industries need to use processes that clean waste before dumping it. Safer forms of radioactive waste storage need to be used.
By ending careless water pollution we can save or eco-system and ourselves.
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