Introduction:

The consumption of water forms a large part of our physical health. Aside from this
obvious fact, water is an important aspect of our ecosystem. However, for water to
perform its various functions, it has to be kept pure as contaminated water would
lead to adverse environmental and health consequences.

Water pollution is the introduction of foreign material into our water bodies like
lakes, streams, rivers or groundwater. This introduction, 9 times out of 10 is
usually a result of human interference. Through various activities, sometimes
inadvertently, we pollute our ecosystem with toxic materials dumped into our water.

Causes of Water Pollution:

One of the most popular features of water is also the cause of water pollution.
Water is a “Universal Solvent” which simply means that it can dissolve almost any
substance. Consequently, it is also why toxic substance mixes with water
effortlessly. These toxic materials could be from traceable sources such as
factories, farms, sewage etc. They are sometimes less traceable sources such as
pollution in the air.

Water Pollution Effect on our Environment:

The first organisms that come in contact with polluted water are creatures living
in the water. The effect of water pollution on aquatic animals depends on the kind
of material introduced into the water. In extreme cases, it can lead to death of
aqua species. It can also lead to a serious disrupting of the food chain. Finally,
water pollution can lead to serious diseases in humans such as cholera and
hepatitis.

Preventive Measures:

While the obvious way to reduce or eliminate water pollution is to stop industrial
waste, doing just that and nothing more would not be enough. Preventive measures
such as reduction in plastic consumption, controlling leaks in cars, using fewer
pesticides or efficient disposal of chemicals would help us go the extra mile.