Hello everyone,it’s my pleasure to be here to talk with you guys about a

hot topic of environment.Nowadays, our living environment is becoming

more and more polluted.It has been caused by many factors such as soil
pollution, air pollution ,noise pollution, etc.One of them is water pollution
which affects many aspects of life on Earth. Water pollution or aquatic
pollution is the contamination of water bodies like oceans, rivers, ponds,
lakes etc with pollutants. These pollutants enter the water bodies and
contaminate as a result of human activities like industrialization,
urbanization, oil spills etc. Water is one of the most important resources
that makes the earth a perfect place to sustain life. Once it’s contaminated,
it negatively affects and reduces the ability of water to provide the
ecosystem services it usually provides. Two thirds of the earth’s surface is
covered by water and humans have managed to pollute it. Water pollution
poses a serious threat to the existence of life on this planet. It can lead to
water-borne diseases, degrade the quality of water and the soil in the
surroundings, damage aquatic ecosystems etc. Since water is one of the most
important resources for sustaining life, we should prevent and put a stop to
water pollution. Changing the properties of water, whether it’s biological,
chemical or physical and reducing the quality of water is called water pollution.
Water pollution is mainly caused due to human activities. Here is a list of
causes for water pollution:

1. Domestic waste: Domestic waste is one of the primary causes of

water pollution. Sewage from cities and towns are released
directly into water bodies without any treatment. Even treated
sewage is not completely safe and still pollutes the water.
2. Industrial waste: Waste from factories, refineries and other
industrial operations are also a major source of water pollution.
Some industries release toxic waste like poisonous, radioactive,
explosive, carcinogenic (causing cancer) etc into water bodies.
These toxic chemicals are very difficult to get rid of and cause
severe damage to the ecosystem.

3. Chemicals: Industrial waste is not the only source of water

pollution. Pesticides, insecticides and other chemical fertilizers
used in agriculture also cause water pollution. Even soaps and
detergents are contaminants that cause water pollution. Oil spills,
plastic and solid waste are also another major source of water
pollution.
Effects of water pollution

1. Water-borne diseases: Polluted water is not fit for consumption

or any kind of use. It could spread water-borne diseases like
typhoid, cholera, hepatitis etc.
2. Damage to the ecosystem: Contaminated water can destroy
ecosystems and affect the ecological balance. It could lead to the
death and extinction of several aquatic animals and plants.
Contaminated water can also lead to soil infertility.

3. Eutrophication: Water pollution also leads to eutrophication. The

increased amounts of chemicals in the water leads to the growth
of algae. The algal layer encourages bacterial growth and reduces
the oxygen level. This harms aquatic life adversely.

4. Adverse effects of the food chain: Several humans and animals

consume aquatic animals and plants. The aquatic life in a
contaminated water source carries the toxins and pollutants.
Consuming aquatic life from a contaminated water source can
indirectly cause the humans and animals to ingest the toxins and
pollutants. This could have adverse effects on their health.

Ways to prevent water pollution

1. Sewage Treatment: Sewage treatment removes pathogens and

toxins to a large extent. Additionally, finding more environment-
friendly solutions to dispose of waste also reduces water pollution.
2. Use environment-friendly products: Most products used today
are laden with harmful chemicals. Shifting to more environment-
friendly products like detergents, organic farming methods etc
reduces water pollution.

3. Water conservation: Water pollution is fast leading to water

scarcity. Conserving water helps reduce water shortages and
water pollution. 

4. Waste management: Irresponsible waste management is one of

the major causes of water pollution. Proper waste disposal and
reduced use of plastics and not littering reduces water pollution.