Water Pollution

1. What is water pollution?

Water pollution is the contamination of bodies of water such as oceans, seas,

lakes, rivers, aquifers and groundwater which are usually caused by harmful
human activities. Water pollution is any change in the physical, chemical or
biological properties of water that will have a detrimental consequence or any
living organism. It is the presence in water of harmful or objectionable material in
sufficient quantity to measurably degrade water quality.

2. Sources of water pollution.

There are many causes for water pollution but two general categories exist:
direct and indirect contaminant sources. Direct sources include effluent outfalls
from factories, refineries, waste treatment plants etc. that emit fluids of varying
quality directly into urban water supplies. In the United States and other
countries, these practices are regulated, although this doesn't mean that
pollutants can't be found in these waters. Indirect sources include contaminants
that enter the water supply from soils/groundwater systems and from the
atmosphere via rain water. Soils and ground waters contain the residue of human
agricultural practices (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) and improperly disposed of
industrial wastes. Atmospheric contaminants are also derived from human
practices (such as gaseous emissions from automobiles, factories and even
bakeries). Contaminants can be broadly classified into organic, inorganic,
radioactive and acid/base.

3. Common types of water pollutants.

The common types of water pollutants are Pathogens, Organic Material,

Inorganic Material and Macroscopic Pollutants. Pathogens can be bacteria,
protozoa or viruses. When they start to increase in numbers that are above safe
levels, it is when water contamination occurs. For example, coliforms, these are
normally present in the environment in safe levels and can actually be used to
detect other pathogens in water. However, if coliforms increase in number, they
can be dangerous for the health of the environment. Organic Materials contain
molecules that have carbon in their makeup. One of the most frequently detected
volatile organic chemicals is methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). MTBE was formerly
used as an air-cleaning gas additive. Water contaminated with this organic
chemical can cause leukemia, lymphoma and tumors in the testicles, thyroid
glands and kidneys. Inorganic materials — in particular heavy metals like
arsenic, mercury, copper, chromium, zinc and barium — though harmless in very
small concentrations, act as pollutants when they end up concentrated in water.
This can be due to leaching from waste disposal, increased human activity or
industrial accidents. This kind of water pollution, especially in higher
concentrations, can cause severe health problems in humans and other
organisms, up to and including death. Macroscopic pollutants are large, visible
items in waterways or bodies of water. The first common pollutant is trash:
especially plastic waste. Plastic waste is often thrown directly into large bodies of
water illegally, but can also end up collecting in oceans and lakes after being
deposited in streams and rivers by accident.
4. Extent of water pollution in the Philippines.

The Philippines a country surrounded by various water such as the Luzon Strait,
the South China Sea, the Sulu Sea, the Celebes Sea and the Philippine Sea.
According to the United Nations, uncontrolled, rapid population growth has
contributed to extreme poverty, environmental degradation and pollution in
the Philippines. According to WEPA, water pollution’s effects cost the Philippines
approximately $1.3 billion annually. The government continues to try to clean up
the problem, implementing fines to polluters as well as environmental taxes, but
many problems have not been addressed. According to government monitoring
data, up to 58 percent of the groundwater tested was contaminated with coliform,
and approximately one third of illnesses monitored during a five-year period were
caused by water-borne sources. On its website, Greenpeace reports the water
pollution in the Philippines is mostly wastewater from the following sources:

1.  Industrial: The metal varies according to industry — lead, mercury, chromium,

cadmium and cyanide.

2.  Agricultural: Organic: decayed plants, dead animals, livestock manure, soil

runoff; and non-organic — pesticides and fertilizers.

3.  Domestic sewage: Contains pathogens that threaten human health and life.

4.  Other sources: Oil, mine or chemical spills and illegal dumping in or near
water.

One of the most alarming things Greenpeace reports is that out of the
Philippines’ 421 rivers, as many as 50 are considered dead and unable to
support any but the most robust life.

The Philippines needs to increase the awareness regarding the improvement of

sanitation and water pollution to reduce illnesses caused by water-born sources,
and act upon implementing these solutions (such as expanding sewerage
collection and treatment) since 31% of illnesses are caused by water borne
diseases.

5. What are the effects of water pollution on the human health and
environment?

Water pollution can have disastrous consequences for humans. This is especially
true for those living in disadvantaged and undeveloped environments, where the
struggle to access clean, healthy water is a daily ordeal. There are a number of
methods of disinfecting water so that it is drinkable, including a whole host of
chemical-based disinfection techniques. While these can yield positive results,
it’s only half the battle. Water pollution can cause diseases which can cause the
danger on human health as well. Infectious diseases can be spread through
contaminated water. Some of these water-borne diseases are Typhoid, Cholera,
Paratyphoid Fever, Dysentery, Jaundice, Amoebiasis and Malaria. On the
environment, the effects of water pollution are far-reaching. Our ecosystem is
affected on every level by water contamination. Not only do we have to worry
about unhealthy particles reaching our drinking water, but also crops, animals,
and our oceans are greatly harmed by this. When polluted water is found in our
ecosystem, it leaves a trail of destruction. Polluted water that ends up in local
streams and rivers will damage the life in and surrounding it. Vegetation that
feeds on this water for survival can be damaged and killed from polluted streams.
This will then affect the animal life in that area that depend on the vegetation for
their survival. As the stream or river water dumps into larger bodies, such as the
 ocean, we will see ocean life suffering. This all has an effect on the entire
ecosystem. It isn't limited to just one area or another.

6. Ways on purifying water.

There are a lot of ways on purifying water, some of these are the following: Using
iodine-based methods, using chlorine-based methods, using a water filter, Boiling
water and Distillation.

7. Sources:

What is water pollution? Definition and meaning -

BusinessDictionary.comwww.businessdictionary.com › definition

Sources of Water Pollutionhttps://www.soest.hawaii.edu › waterpol3

List of Water Pollutants | Sciencinghttps://sciencing.com › Nature

http://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/how-does-water-pollution-affect-humans

https://www.doityourself.com/stry/what-are-the-effects-of-water-pollution-on-the-
environment

https://sciencing.com/different-methods-purifying-water-5194243.html

Marrone, R. (2018, February 28). Water Pollution in the Philippines: Causes and
Solutions. Retrieved from http://www.borgenmagazine.com/water-pollution-in-
the-philippines/