Human activities can significantly impact evaporation, runoff and infiltration.

•When water is used for cooling in power plants or to irrigate crops, the rate of
evaporation is increased.
• Water impounded in reservoirs also evaporated rapidly.
• This rapid evaporation can affect local atmospheric conditions, runoffs and the rate
of infiltration by human activity.
• Removing the vegetation by logging or agriculture increases in runoff and decreases
in infiltration. Because there is more runoff, there is more erosion of soil.

Human activities can influence the hydrologic cycle in many other ways.
• The volumes and timing of river flows can be greatly affected by channeling to
decrease the impediments to flow, and by changing the character of the watershed by
paving, compacting soils, and altering the nature of the vegetation. Urban complexes
with a high percentage of impervious, paved surfaces have increased runoff and
reduced infiltration major concern in urban areas is providing ways to carry, storm
water away rapidly. This involves designing and constructing surface waterways and
storm sewers.

Kinds of Water Use

 Domestic Water Use

The use of water for domestic purposes means the utilization of water for drinking,
washing, bathing, cooking, or other household needs, home gardens and watering of
lawns and domestic animals.

Here in our country, Philippines 17% (4.85 billion cubic meters) is for domestic
consumption. Treatment of raw water before distribution: – Water is FILTERED –
CHEMICALLY treated – DISINFECTED

In the Metro Manila it shows that the daily consumption of water ranges from a low
of 20 liters up to a high of 400 liters (80–100 gallons) of water per day for indoor
home uses. • Domestic use of water is relatively small component of the total water
use.

URBAN GROWTH has created problems in the development, transportation and

maintenance of quality water supplies.
Causes of Water Loss: – Municipalities do not pay attention to losses that occur –
Leaking – Panic water storing – Public attitude.
‘The Philippines rivers, lakes, river basins and groundwater reservoir are the main
sources of water. CAGAYAN RIVER– longest and largest river, discharges
approximately 53, 943 million cubic meters of water annually.
• In the Philippines overall there is sufficient water but not enough in highly
populated areas, especially during dry season– EL NIÑO.

• Agricultural Use of Water

• The Agriculture Industry is a major water consumer in the economy,

accounting for 70% of the worlds water consumption. The majority of water is used
for irrigation of crops and pastures. • Irrigation is a vital part of the economy as
without an efficient water supply for irrigation, farmers could not grow crops and
provide foods for the large world population.

- supplying water to plants through underground pipes. Construction and Maintenance

of Irrigation structures. Ex. * Dams * Canals * Pipes * Pumps • Just like humans,
crops need water to survive and grow

• Industrial Use of Water

Manufacturing and other industries use water during the production process for either
creating their products or cooling equipment used in creating their products. Water is
also used by smelting facilities, petroleum refineries, and industries producing
chemical products, food, and paper products Manufacturing and other industries use
water during the production process for either creating their products or cooling
equipment used in creating their products.
Industrial Pollution does not happen overnight. It is a slow poison, bleaching our
water of its minerals, and life forms. According to the United States Geological
Survey (USGS), industrial water is used for: • Fabricating • Processing • Washing •
Diluting • Cooling
• Industry also uses water to dissipate and transport waste materials. The use of
watercourses for waste dispersal degrades the quality of the water and may reduce its
usefulness for other purposes. Especially if industrial wastes are toxic.

AGRICULTURAL WATER POLLUTION • Agricultural activities are the

primary cause of WATER POLLUTION problems. The growth in crop production
has been achieved mainly through the intensive use of inputs such as pesticides and
chemical fertilizers that contribute such pollution.

CAUSES OF AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION: Pesticides and Fertilizers– once they

have been sprayed, it does not disappear completely. Some of it mixes with the water
and seep into the ground, the rest is absorbed by the plant itself.
Contaminated Water– use for irrigation. Much of the water use comes from
groundwater reservoirs, canals and through the rains. While plenty of it is clean and
pure water, other sources– polluted.
Soil Erosion and Sedimentation– the soil is comprised with many layers and it is only
the topmost layer that can support farming and grazing. Due to inefficient farming
practices, the soil is left open for erosion. The resulting sedimentation causes the soil
to build up in areas such as rivers, streams and surrounding fields.
EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION:
Health Related Issues– chemicals from fertilizers and pesticides make their way into
the groundwater that ends up in drinking water. Effect on Aquatic Animals–
fertilizers, manure, waste and ammonia turns into nitrate that reduces the amount of
oxygen present in water which results in the death of many aquatic animals. • In the
Philippines, the excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides affect the quality of the soil
and water that cause to reduce the quality and safety of food produced. One of the
largest water pollution is "AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF" from large expanses of open
fields.

AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF – is water from farm fields due to irrigation, rain or

melted snow that flowed over the earth that can absorb in the ground, enter bodies of
water or evaporate. • We need to have a good quality of water for the success of
agriculture but for it to happen we need to have proper agriculture management
practices that is necessary:

– Fertilizing soils and protecting crops – Stop promoting harmful system – Managing
water wisely – Planting crops – Minimizing air, water and climate pollution

o INDUSTRIAL WATER POLLUTION

Industry is a huge source of water pollution, it produces pollutants that are extremely
harmful to people and the environment. Since industries are point sources of
pollution, they have been relatively easy to identify as pollution sources, have been
vigorously regulated , and have responded to mandates that they can clean up their
effluent. Industrial Water Pollution is the admission of industrial waste which could
be a multitoxic chemicals as well as Untreated by-products manufacturing into water
bodies affecting living organisms and the whole environment.
It has negative impacts on Health and Diseases such as cancer, cholera, typhoid,
anemia, dysentery and legionaries (a very form of pneumonia from cooling tower)
pollutants from industrial sources include: • Asbestos - This pollutant is a serious
health hazard and carcinogenic.
• Lead - It is harmful to the health of many animals, including humans, as it can
inhibit the action of bodily enzymes.
• Mercury - It is also harmful to animal health as it can cause illness through mercury
poisoning.
• Nitrates and Phosphates–The increased use of fertilizers means that nitrates and
phosphates are more often being washed from the soil and into rivers and lakes.
• Oils – Oil does not dissolve in water, instead it forms a thick layer on the water
surface. It is also harmful for fish and marine birds.
• Petrochemicals – This is formed from gas or petrol and can be toxic to marine life.

Causes of Industrial Water Pollution • Outdated manufacturing technology. Since

manufacturing technology costs a lot, most industries uses old, rusty and outdated
technologies. These are less efficient and produce a greater amount of pollutants
compared to modern technologies.
• Unplanned Industrial growth. Industrial growth boosts the economy of a country,
but without planning, it can lead to degradation of the environment.
• Lack of effective government control policies and measures. Without strict policies,
some industries abuses and disregards the laws in protecting the environment.
Effects of Industrial Water Pollution On the Environment: • When such polluted
water, is thrown into the ocean or other water bodies without any treatment, it leads to
a number of a very serious problems, and Thermal pollution is being one of them.
And thermal pollution refers to an increase in the ambient water temperature, that can
have an adverse effect on sensitive aquatic life. It will kill aquatic lives specially the
sensitive one.
• Radioactive sludge from industries, wastes from power plants and nuclear reactors
can cause thermal pollution when released into water bodies. When industrial run offs
end up in water bodies, the nutrient content of water increases, leading to
eutrophication and algal blooms. Eutrophication is when the environment becomes
enriched with nutrients and it can cause growth of microscopic algae or cyanobacteria
in water or algal bloom.
• Increase in a murkiness of water. Excessive murkiness of water can also block the
gills of fish, making it difficult for them to take up dissolved oxygen from the
surrounding water. Murkiness of water is a problem as it will block the sunlight from
reaching the bottom-dwelling plant that will them to photosynthesize.
• Direct contamination of fresh water resources with toxic chemical pollutant. Like
sulfur and asbestos.

On Humans • High levels of carbon tetrachloride in drinking water can cause liver
problems.
• Benzene is suspected to be associated with diseases like anemia and low blood
platelets, and poses an increased risk of cancer.

o MARINE OIL POLLUTION

• Marine Oil Pollution has many sources. One source is accidents such as oil drilling
blowouts or oil tanker accidents. An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum
hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human
activity, and is a form of pollution. The term is usually given to marine oil spills,
where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters, but spills may also occur on
land. Oil spills may be due to releases of crude oil from tankers, offshore platforms,
drilling rigs and wells, as well as spills of refined petroleum products (such as
gasoline, diesel) and their by-products, heavier fuels used by large ships such as
bunker fuel, or the spill of any oily refuse or waste oil

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_spill

Minamata Convention - Database UN Conventions - DENR Int'l ENR Agreements

https://aboutphilippines.org/files/Philippine-Laws-on-Environmental-Pollution.pdf
Minamata convention
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human
health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. It was agreed
at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on
mercury in Geneva, Switzerland on, 19 January 2013 and adopted later that
year on 10 October 2013 at a Diplomatic Conference (Conference of
Plenipotentiaries), held in Kumamoto, Japan. The Minamata Convention
entered into force on 16 August 2017, on the 90th day after the date of deposit
of the 50th of ratification, acceptance, approval or instrument accession.
The Convention wakes up and draws attention to a global and ubiquitous
mercury metal that, while it occurs in nature, has broad uses in everyday
objects and is released to the atmosphere, soil and water from a variety of
sources. The problem lies on how effectively humanity can control the
anthropogenic releases of mercury throughout its lifecycle and this has been a
key factor in shaping the obligations under the Convention.
Major highlights of the Minamata Convention include a ban on new mercury
mines, the phase-out of existing ones, the phase out and phase down of
mercury use in a number of products and processes, control measures on
emissions to air and on releases to land and water, and the regulation of the
informal sector of artisanal and small- scale gold mining. 

Convention on the prevention of marine pollution

The "Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes
and Other Matter 1972, the "London Convention', is one of the first global
conventions to protect the marine environment from human activities and has
been in force since 1975. Its objective is to promote the effective control of all
sources of marine pollution and to take all practicable steps to prevent pollution
of the sea by dumping of wastes and other matter.
Currently, 87 nations are parties to this convention. In 1996, the "London
Protocol" the "London Convention". Under the Protocol all forms of dumping
is prohibited, except for those acceptable wastes on the "reverse list". The
Protocol entered into force on 24 March 2006 and there are currently 50 Parties
to the Protocol.
The objective of the London Convention and Protocol is to promote the
effective control of all sources of marine pollution. Contracting parties shall
take effective measures to prevent pollution of the marine environment caused
by dumping at sea. Its purpose is to control all sources of marine pollution and
prevent pollution of the sea through regulation of dumping into the sea of waste
materials.

On the other hand, the purpose of the Protocol is similar to that of the
Convention, but the Protocol is more restrictive: application of a "precautionary
approach" is included as a general obligation and adapted a "reverse list"
approach which implies that all dumping is prohibited unless explicitly
permitted; incineration of wastes at sea is prohibited, it has to be done only on
land; export of wastes for the purpose of dumping or incineration at sea is
prohibited Each party must incinerate the waste instead of marine dumping.