WATER POLLUTION

CAUSES
POINT SOURCES
• Pathogens (disease causing organisms) like bacteria, viruses, fungi,
etc.
• Oxygen depleting waste (agricultural fertilizers) causes
eutrophication due to oxygen demand and death of fish
• Inorganic plant nutrients (Nitrates, phosphates, etc.) cause
eutrophication
• Water soluble inorganic chemicals like lead, mercury, etc. makes
water unfit
• Sediment and suspended matter blocks light from reaching the
bottom of waterbodies, interferes with primary productivity and it’s
settlement destroys bottom dwellers
• Radioactive wastes causes genetic damage
• Hot water from industries causes thermal pollution, decreases
oxygen solubility and death of aquatic life
• Organic wastes like oil, gasoline, petrol, detergents, pesticides and
plastics
 NON-POINT SOURCES

Any agricultural or stormwater runoff that are difficult to monitor or

regulate. It may contain various types of pollutants.
 GROUNDWATER POLLUTION CAUSES
• Garbage
• Wastes (industrial) near groundwater table
• Fertilizer use
• Landfill leachate
• Poorly designed septic tanks
• Mining waste
• Leaks from petrol tanks
Effluent discharge
Landfill leachate
RIVER POLUTION- due to sewage and effluent discharge

CONTROL:

• Effluent treatment
• Sewage treatment plant
• Construction of wetlands to treat wastewater
• Planting of water purifying plants like reeds
Constructed wetland for wastewater treatment
 MARINE POLLUTION
CAUSES

• Sewage discharge
• Pesticide and fertilizer runoff from agricultural lands
• Oil and petroleum washed from roads
• Oil-spills from ships and oil explorations
• Dredging (scooping of mud)
 IMPACTS

• Eutrophication (excess nutrients in water causing algal blooms,

depleting oxygen availability in water thereby causing death of fishes)
• Oil spills clogs the gills of marine organisms
• Oil slicks destroy birds’ plumage as its water repellent properties are
lost and provides no thermal insulation.
Marine pollution An oil spill