Water Pollution

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities. Water bodies
include for example lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater. Water pollution results
when contaminants are introduced into the natural environment. The causes of water pollution include a wide
range of chemicals and pathogens as well as physical parameters. Contaminants may
include organic and inorganic substances. Elevated temperatures can also lead to polluted water.

Sources Of Water Pollution

A 2007 study found that discharge of untreated sewage is the single most important source of pollution of
surface and ground water in India. There is a large gap between generation and treatment of domestic waste
water in India. The problem is not only that India lacks sufficient treatment capacity but also that the sewage
treatment plants that exist do not operate and are not maintained. The majority of the government-owned
sewage treatment plants remain closed most of the time due to improper design or poor maintenance or lack of
reliable electricity supply to operate the plants, together with absentee employees and poor management. The
waste water generated in these areas normally percolates into the soil or evaporates. The uncollected waste
accumulates in the urban areas causing unhygienic conditions and releasing pollutants that leach into surface
and groundwater. A joint study by PGIMER and Punjab Pollution Control Board in 2008, revealed that in
villages along the Nullah, fluoride, mercury, beta-endosulphan and heptachlor pesticide were more than
permissible limit (MPL) in ground and tap water. Plus the water had high concentration of COD and BOD
(chemical and biochemical oxygen demand), ammonia, phosphate, chloride, chromium, arsenic
and chlorpyrifos pesticide. The ground water also contains nickel and selenium, while the tap water has high
concentration of lead, nickel and cadmium.

The major sources of these pollution are :-

 Sewage And Waste Water: Sewage, garbage and liquid waste of households, agricultural lands and
factories are discharged into lakes and rivers. These wastes contain harmful chemicals and toxins
which make the water poisonous for aquatic animals and plants.
 Dumping: Dumping of solid wastes and litters in water bodies causes huge problems. Litters include
glass, plastic, aluminum, styrofoam etc. Different things take different amount of time to degrade in
water. They affect aquatic plants and animals.
 Industrial Waste: Industrial waste contains pollutants like asbestos, lead, mercury and petrochemicals
which are extremely harmful to both people and environment. Industrial waste is discharged into lakes
and rivers by using fresh water making the water contaminated.
 Oil Pollution: Sea water gets polluted due to oil spilled from ships and tankers while traveling. The
spilled oil does not dissolve in water and forms a thick sludge polluting the water.
 Global Warming: Due to global warming, there is an increase in water temperature. This increase in
temperature results in death of aquatic plants and animals. This also results in bleaching of coral reefs
in water.
 Eutrophication: Eutrophication is an increased level of nutrients in water bodies. This results in bloom
of algae in water. It also depletes the oxygen in water, which negatively affects fish and other aquatic
animal population.
 Acid Rain: Acid rain is pollution of water caused by air pollution. When the acidic particles caused by
air pollution in the atmosphere mix with water vapor, it results in acid rain.
 Some Major Accidents Due To Water Pollution Around The Globe:-

1. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill:- An oil tanker called Exxon Valdez accidentally struck the Bligh Reef off of
Prince William Sound and wrecked, spilling oil into the surrounding ocean.Up to 38 million gallons of
crude oil were spilled over the course of a few days following this accident.The incident was purely
accidental but may have been avoidable. The ship’s collision avoidance radar was not well-maintained
and the crew was not rested, both of which contributed to the crash.The spill occurred on March 24,
1989, but as recently as 2015 it was determined that oil is still present in the ocean from this spill. The
crew of the Exxon Valdez, owned by the Exxon Shipping Company, were directly involved. The captain
of the ship, Joseph Hazelwood, took most of the blame for the disaster.Crude oil spilled into the ocean
for days and has still not been able to be completely cleaned up. Many groups of animals were
seriously affected, and some pods of orca whales never recovered and will eventually die off
completely.The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 was enacted after the disaster. This permitted vessels that
have caused spills in the past from operating in Prince William Sound, to reduce the risk of further
pollution to the area.The environment is still suffering from this spill. The oil that entered the ocean may
never be completely cleaned up.

2. Lanzhou, China:- In Lanzhou, China, over 20 times the legally safe amount of benzene has been
detected in water sources.Benzene, a carcinogenic chemical involved in the process of plastic making.
When this chemical is breathed, ingested, or otherwise contacted by humans for an extended period of
time, it can cause cancer and damage the hematopoietic system, which produces blood.Some time
ago, explosions occurred at a plant that used benzene in its processes. It’s believed that this led to 34
tons of benzene being absorbed into the groundwater in the area.Initial blasts that may have led to this
toxic buildup occurred as long ago as 1987 and as recently as 2002. The toxicity itself was detected in
2014. China National Petroleum Corp is believed to be responsible for the initial explosions. Individuals
have gotten sick from this exposure, and it’s believed that extended contact with the chemical will lead
to environmental issues. The Chinese government has not enacted any new policies or protections in
light of this disaster. The government has done very little to clean up the water supply. Water was cut
temporarily but has since been restored.

3. Minamata, Japan:- Minamata disease , sometimes referred to as Chisso-Minamata disease , is

a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. Signs and symptoms
include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, loss of peripheral vision,
and damage to hearing and speech. In extreme cases, insanity, paralysis, coma, and death follow
within weeks of the onset of symptoms. A congenital form of the disease can also affect fetuses in the
womb.Minamata disease was first discovered in Minamata city in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan, in
1956. It was caused by the release of methylmercury in the industrial wastewater from the
Chisso Corporation's chemical factory, which continued from 1932 to 1968. It has also been suggested
that some of the mercury sulfate in the wastewater was also metabolized to methylmercury by bacteria
in the sediment. This highly toxic chemical bioaccumulated and biomagnified in shellfish and fish
in Minamata Bay and the Shiranui Sea, which, when eaten by the local population, resulted in mercury
poisoning. While cat, dog, pig, and human deaths continued for 36 years, the government and
company did little to prevent the pollution. The animal effects were severe enough in cats that they
came to be named as having "dancing cat fever".As of March 2001, 2,265 victims had been officially
recognised as having Minamata disease (1,784 of whom had died) and over 10,000 had received
financial compensation from Chisso, By 2004, Chisso Corporation had paid $86 million in
compensation, and in the same year was ordered to clean up its contamination. On March 29, 2010, a
settlement was reached to compensate as-yet uncertified victims.
Some Major Rivers:-
1. River Ganga:- There is a universal reverence to water in almost all of the major religions of the
world. Most religious beliefs involve some ceremonial use of "holy" water. The purity of such water,
the belief in its known historical and unknown mythological origins, and the inaccessibility of remote
sources, elevate its importance even further. In India, the water of the river Ganga is treated with
such reverence. The Ganges is one of the most polluted rivers in India in which level of pollutants is
more than 3000 times than the permissible limit defined by the WHO as ‘safe’. The principal
sources of pollution of the Ganga river can be characterised as follows :
 Solid garbage thrown directly into the river.
 Non-point sources of pollution from agricultural run-off containing residues of harmful
pesticides and fertilisers.
 Animal carcasses and half-burned and unburned human corpses thrown into the river.
 Defecation on the banks by the low-income people.
 Mass bathing and ritualistic practices

2. River Yamuna :- The Yamuna River once had ‘clear blue’ water but now the river is one of the most
polluted rivers in the world especially around New Delhi. The capital dumps 58% of its waste into
the river. Pollutants are increasing at an alarming rate in the river water. Days are not far when
Delhi homes will have polluted water than ever before. Presently 70% of Delhi is drinking treated
water of the Yamuna River. To support aquatic life, water should have 4.0 mg/ l dissolved Oxygen.

Its range in the Yamuna from Wazirabad Barrage in Delhi to Agra is 0.0 mg/ l and 3.7 mg/ l. Water

pollution is measured by measuring its biochemical oxygen demand BOD) levels and the

permissible range is 3 mg/ l or less. Whereas the most polluted stretch of the Yamuna has 14 – 28

mg/ l BOD concentration. BOD is increasing because there are numerous untreated sewage drains

which dump drains to the river.