Water pollution is a very serious matter! Water around the world is being polluted, but there are ways we can stop it.

Here is a video that we made to inform you all about water pollution!

Attention!

Attention everyone! Stop whatever you’re doing at once and read this Public Service Announcement! This article is to inform you all about water pollution. Now, some may be wondering, “What is water pollution, exactly?” Well, now you can stop wondering. There are 7 types of water pollution. Surface Water Pollution, Oxygen Depleting, Groundwater, Nutrients, Microbiological, Suspended Matter, and Chemicals.

Surface Water Pollution is when surface waters (Surface waters include oceans, lakes, and rivers) become polluted. This can happen in various ways.

There are microorganisms in water that eat biodegradable substances. When there is too much biodegradable material, there are more microorganisms, and they use up all of the oxygen in the water. When this happens, it is called Oxygen Depleting water pollution.

The next type of pollution is called Groundwater pollution. When there is water found under soil or rock, it is called an aquifer. People depend on aquifers for water to drink, and they build wells to get to the water. When this water is polluted, it is known as groundwater pollution. It is typically polluted from pesticide contamination from the soil.

Water pollution from Nutrients is the next type. Nutrients are very important for plant growth and development. Nutrients can be found in things like wastewater and fertilizers, but these can cause extra weeds and algae to grow in the water. This can be an issue for other animals/organisms living in the water if they use up all of the oxygen. It can also contaminate our drinking water and clog filters.

The 5th pollution is called Microbiological water pollution. This is most often pollution caused by microorganisms living in the water. Bacteria, viruses, and protozoa in the water can make fish, animals, and people become sick. Usually in poorer countries, people can get diseases like cholera from the microorganisms in the water.

The next pollution is Suspended Matter water pollution. Some pollutants will not dissolve in water because their molecules are too large to mix between the water molecules. Particulate matter can be a cause of water pollution. The extra particles fall to the bottom of the water, creating a thick silt that is harmful to the animals. It can cause issues because the amount of anaerobic microorganisms increases. Lastly, the toxic chemicals in the water can cause harm to marine life.

The final type of pollution is Chemical water pollution. Chemicals from industrial and agricultural work can get into water and cause pollution. The metals and solvents are poisonous to many creatures living in the water. Pesticides used for farming are also poisonous to a lot of animals, and birds or people can get poisoned by eating the fish.

Now, you must be wondering what the sources of water pollution are! There are 9 sources. Sewage and Wastewater, Marine Dumping, Industrial Waste, Radioactive Waste, Oil Pollution, Underground Storage Leakages, Atmospheric Deposition, Global Warming, and Eutrophication.

Sewage and Wastewater is the first source. Places like domestic households, industrial work, and agricultural work create wastewater that may pollute water. Wastewater is called sewage if it has urine, feces, and/or waste from laundry in it.

The next source is called Marine Dumping. This is caused by people throwing their trash in the water or littering.

The 3rd is Industrial Waste. Industries put a lot of harmful waste into the water, and this causes pollution.

Radioactive Waste is the next source. Industrial, medical and scientific things that use radioactive materials create nuclear waste. The nuclear waste is very harmful to animals in the water.

This next source of water pollution is called Oil Pollution. Oil spills are the main cause of oil pollution, but it can also come from routine shipping, run-offs and waste being dumped.

Underground Storage Leakages are the 6th source. tanks or piping networks that have 10% or more of their volume underground are called underground storage tanks. When they leak, the chemicals inside of them leak out, polluting surrounding areas.

#7 is Atmospheric Deposition. This is when water is polluted by the polluted air. Acid rain is when it rains and the gases in the air get into rainwater and pollute it.

Next is Global Warming. When the water gets warmer, many animals die and some habitats in the water are disrupted. the cause of the rise in temperature is global warming.

The last source is called Eutrophication. This is when the environment gets enriched with nutrients, and this is an issue because it causes algae to grow. One way this can happen is if any fertilizers get into the water.

Two common point sources of pollution are sewage treatment plants and factories, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA also says that point source pollution is “Any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are discharged, such as a pipe, ditch, ship, or factory smokestack.”

A Nonpoint source (known as an NPS) pollution is pollution that comes from simple things like rain or snow melting, much unlike a point source that comes from things like industrial work.

Now, for the consequences of water pollution. Pretty much all of the types of water pollution are harmful to people and animals, healthwise. Pollution may not harm us right away, but it will after too much exposure to it. As for animals, it can cause harm to them in many different ways.

A way to improve the quality of polluted water is ozone wastewater treatment. It can be used to break down the pollutants in in the water that is affected. An ozone generator is used to do this. This method has been getting more and more popular.

There are several ways that we can help prevent water pollution.

1. Be careful about what you put down your sink or toilet.

2. Don’t use too many pesticides or fertilizers.

3.Don’t litter or throw trash in the water.

And many more things! Now you know more about water pollution, thank you for reading!

-By Solana Gonzalez

Warning: Water around the world has been contaminated by us putting trash in it. That is more commonly known as pollution. The statement you are about to read concerns this matter.

There are seven types of water pollution. I'm only going to focus on two of them. They are oxygen depletion and surface water. Oxygen Depletion is when there is a lack of oxygen in the water. The lack of oxygen kills fish, shellfish, and underwater vegetation. This is hazardous to both us and the water Ecosystem it happens in. Surface water pollution happens when we put trash in our oceans. The Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch, for example, is a big garbage dump in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Many marine mammals die from consuming the trash each year. The 'Island of Trash' is three times the size of Texas!

What causes this? Marine dumping, oil pollution,and Eutrophication. Marine dumping is when we dump trash in our ocean. But, it isn't always that easy. If you live in Colorado, you don't have saltwater at your backdoor. You do, however, have rivers and lakes. They all flow into into a ocean eventually. Oil pollution is 12% oil spills, and 88% ships,drains, and, once again, dumping. Eutrophication. That is when there are extra nutrients from things like fertilizer that you put in your garden. It goes into the ground water that will one day end up in a ocean.

Non-point source(s):Us because we put stuff like trash, oil, and much more that are poisonous to both us and marine animals as well in they're habitats.

Point source: Pipes we put under ground can crack and leak. By the time we find the leak, a large portion of ground water has been contaminated.

What are the overall consequences? Polluted water is very harmful to our health. It may not kill us immediately, but after long period of time, it will.

How can we treat it? One way is Ozone treatment. Ozone treatment is when generators convert oxygen by using ultra violet radiation or by an electric discharge field.

What can I do to improve or prevent water quality failure? Follow these simple rules: The 5 R's

1)Rethink. Rethink how much water your family uses on a daily basis.

2)Replace. Replace plastic water bottles with reusable ones.

3)Reduce. Try to reduce the amount of trash you family produces.

4)Reuse. Reuse plastic containers to reduce air pollution from having to make more.

5)Recycle. You can recycle most metals, some plastics, and all papers.

If you have more information or questions on water pollution, please leave a comment below. Thank You!

-By Adria Crandall