By Staff
waterhead.com
October 14, 2011

As more and more people are becoming concerned with the state of the environment, it is important to understand what causes water pollution. Once people start to do this, they will be able to make changes which will improve the overall quality of the water in their town. 

Firstly it is important to understand that water pollution can be caused by both natural events and through the actions of mankind. An example of natural pollution is when a volcano eruption pollutes the water by releasing mineral deposits into it. This will contaminate the fresh water and the effects of this will be felt by sea life. There are also several ways that the actions of mankind have effected the overall quality of water.

One cause of pollution that does not get much press is the nitrates that come from agriculture. These nitrates run off into fresh surface water. They then go into underground aquifers which take them into the ocean. There are many dead zone areas all over the world due to pollution caused by nitrates. Dead zone areas are places where the oxygen in the water has depleted. Due to the lack of oxygen in the water it is impossible for fish and aquatic life to survive in this environment.

Mother nature is a big contributor to water pollution through acidification. Natural events such as volcanoes can have a big impact on the water. Air that is polluted can also cause acid rain to occur. Due to this it is important that humans make an effort to keep both air and water clean.

Human and animal waste also contribute to water pollution.  Non-treated biological waste can kill sea life and destroy the quality of fresh water. This type of pollution sometimes occurs from sewage plants that overflow. However it is important to note that some areas do not use sewage treatment plants at all. Both sewage and garbage needs to be properly treated in order to prevent further pollution of the ocean.

Lastly industrial waste is serious problem that needs to be dealt with. Thankfully many countries are aware of this and have strict environment laws in place. These were created to prevent companies from dumping waste unethically. Today more businesses are aware of how their business practices may affect the environment. For example there are better safety procedures on boats so that there is a smaller likelihood of an oil spill occurring. This is a move in the right direction and it will help keep the water in a good condition for many years to come.

The above causes of pollution must be managed in order for mankind to maintain the quality of water in the oceans, lakes and rivers. As people need water in order to survive it is essential that it is taken care of. This can be done by minimizing the level of untreated waste, garbage and chemicals that go into the water. Thankfully countries all over the world have recognized this and are actively looking for ways to reduce water pollution.

Others who read this, also read Water And Your Health Are Connected, Top Reasons to Conserve Drinking Water, Tap Water Can Be Controversial, The Biggest Causes of Water Pollution, Top Reasons to Carry a Water Bottle, Water Nutrition Benefits of Drinking Water or The Untold Truth On Bottle Water.