WATER POLLUTION

What is water pollution?

•Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes,
rivers, oceans and groundwater), very often by human activities.
•Any change or modification in the physical, chemical and biological
properties of water that will have a detrimental consequence on living things is
water pollution.
• It occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into
water bodies without enough treatment to get rid of harmful compounds.
•Pollutants get into water mainly by human causes or factors.

•Water pollution is the second most imperative environmental concern

along with air pollution.
•
 Sources of Water Pollution

There are various classifications of water pollution.

The two chief sources of water pollution can be seen as
•Point source
•Non-Point source
Point source

Those sources which discharge water pollutants directly into the water are

known as point sources of water pollution.

Oil wells situated near water bodies, factories, power plants, underground

coal mines, etc. are point sources of water pollution.

Non-Point source

Those sources which do not have any specific location for discharging

pollutants, in the water body are known as non-point sources of water

pollution.

Run-offs from agricultural fields, lawns, gardens, construction sites, roads

and streets are some non-point sources of water pollution.

What are the types of water pollution
1. Nutrients Pollution
•Some wastewater, fertilizers and sewage contain high levels
of nutrients.
•If they end up in water bodies, they encourage algae and
weed growth in the water.
•This will make the water undrinkable, and even clog filters.
•Too much algae will also use up all the oxygen in the water,
and other water organisms in the water will die out of oxygen
starvation.
2. Surface water pollution

•Surface water includes natural water found on the earth's

surface, like rivers, lakes, lagoons and oceans.

•Hazardous substances coming into contact with this surface

water, dissolving or mixing physically with the water can be

called surface water pollution.

3. Oxygen Depleting
•Water bodies have micro-organisms including aerobic and
anaerobic organisms.
•When to much biodegradable matter end up in water, it
encourages more microorganism growth, and they use up more
oxygen in the water.
•If oxygen is depleted, aerobic organisms die, and anaerobic
organism grow more to produce harmful toxins such as
ammonia and sulfides.
4. Ground water pollution

•When humans apply pesticides and chemicals to soils, they

are washed deep into the ground by rain water.

•This gets to underground water, causing pollution

underground.

•This means when we dig wells and bore holes to get water
from underground, it needs to be checked for water pollution.
5. Suspended Matter

•Some pollutants (substances, particles and chemicals) do not

easily dissolve in water.

•This kind of material is called particulate matter.

•Some suspended pollutants later settle under the water body.

•This can harm and even kill aquatic life that live at the floor of

water bodies.
6. Chemical Water Pollution
•Many industries and farmers work with chemicals that end
up in water.
•These include chemicals that are used to control weeds,
insects and pests.
•Metals and solvents from industries can pollute water
bodies.
•These are poisonous to many forms of aquatic life and may
slow their development, make them infertile and kill them.
7. Oil Spillage

•Oil spills usually have only a localized effect on

wildlife but can spread for miles.

•The oil can cause the death to many fish and get
stuck to the feathers of seabirds causing them to lose
their ability to fly.
 Chemical Indicators:

•pH: The measure of the acidity or alkalinity of water. It

influences the solubility of minerals and nutrients.
•Dissolved Oxygen (DO): The amount of oxygen dissolved in
water, crucial for the survival of aquatic organisms.
•Nutrients: Levels of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus,
which can lead to eutrophication if present in excess.
•Heavy Metals: Such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can
be toxic to both aquatic life and humans.
• Regular monitoring of these indicators is essential for maintaining water
quality, preventing pollution, and safeguarding human and environmental
health. Different organizations, including environmental agencies and water
utilities, often conduct water quality assessments using a combination of
these indicators.
In January 2022, the water quality standards in India were primarily regulated by the
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Water (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Act, 1974. These standards are outlined in the "Indian National Water
Quality Standards" (INWQS) document.
• The INWQS sets limits for various physical, chemical, and
biological parameters in water bodies to ensure their quality.
Some of the key parameters include:
1. Physical Parameters:
1. Temperature
2. Color
3. Odor
4. Taste
5. Turbidity
6. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
1. Chemical Parameters:
1. pH
2. Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
3. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
4. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
5. Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
6. Nitrate-N
7. Nitrite-N
8. Ammonia-N
9. Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN)
10.Fluoride
11.Chlorides
12.Sulfates
13.Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, etc.
2. Biological Parameters:
1. Total Coliform
2. Faecal Coliform
• These standards are specified differently for various classes of
water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, based
on their designated best uses. For instance, water designated
for drinking purposes will have stricter standards compared to
water designated for industrial use.
• It's important to note that water quality standards may be
subject to updates and revisions by regulatory bodies.
Therefore, it's recommended to check the latest official
documents and guidelines from the Central Pollution Control
Board or other relevant authorities for the most current
information.
• Please verify from official sources or recent documents for
any changes or updates since my last knowledge update in
January 2022.
 Waste water treatment
• Wastewater treatment is a process designed to
remove contaminants and pollutants from
water that has been used in various human
activities, such as domestic, industrial, or
agricultural processes. The goal is to treat the
wastewater and return it to the environment in
a way that minimizes its impact on ecosystems
and human health. The process typically
involves several stages:
1.Preliminary Treatment:
1.Screening: Large objects like sticks, leaves, and
plastic are removed.
2.Grit Removal: Sand and other heavy particles are
settled out.
2.Primary Treatment:
1.The wastewater is allowed to settle, and suspended
solids, as well as some organic matter, settle to the
bottom forming sludge.
2.The clarified water, called effluent, is then separated
from the sludge.
3. Tertiary Treatment (Advanced Treatment):
1. This stage is employed when additional treatment is
required to meet specific discharge standards.
2. It may include processes like filtration, chemical treatment,
or advanced biological treatment.
4. Disinfection:
1. Pathogenic microorganisms are killed or deactivated to
ensure that the treated water is safe for discharge or reuse.
2. Common disinfection methods include chlorination,
ultraviolet (UV) radiation, or ozonation.
5. Sludge Treatment and Disposal:
1. The sludge produced during the treatment process is usually treated separately.
2. Techniques include anaerobic digestion, aerobic digestion, dewatering, and
sometimes incineration.
3. The treated sludge may be used as fertilizer or disposed of in a landfill.
6. Reuse and Effluent Disposal:
1. Treated water (effluent) can be released into rivers, lakes, or oceans, depending
on the discharge standards and environmental regulations.
2. In some cases, treated water is reused for non-potable purposes like irrigation
or industrial processes.
• Wastewater treatment plays a crucial role in
environmental protection, public health, and
sustainable water management. It helps
prevent the pollution of natural water bodies
and ensures that water resources are used
responsibly. Additionally, with the increasing
water demand, the concept of water reuse is
gaining importance to maximize the utilization
of treated wastewater.
 Water pollutants
River, lake and sea water may be polluted in many ways:

• Domestic sewage discharged into rivers from areas located on its banks.

• Industrial wastes effluents from urban areas containing high concentration of oil,

heavy metals and detergents.

• Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and plant remains.

• Radioactive waste from nuclear reactor.

• Excretory wastes of humans and animals in water bodies.

 Effects of Water Pollution
•The effects of water pollution are varied and depend on
what chemicals are dumped and in which locations.
•Many water bodies near urban areas are highly polluted.
•This is the result of both garbage dumped by individuals
and dangerous chemicals legally or illegally dumped by
manufacturing industries, health centers, schools and market
places.
 Health Effects

• Consumption of polluted water is a major cause of

ill health in India.
• Polluted water causes some of the deadly diseases
like cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, tuberculosis,
jaundice, etc.
• About 80 per cent of stomach diseases in India are
caused by polluted water.
Effect of Nutrients- Eutrophication
• Water supports aquatic life because of the presence of nutrients in it.

• Excess fertilizers from agricultural fields may mix with surface water and
may get drained into water bodies (surface runoff).
• The enrichment of water with nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates that
triggers the growth of green algae is called eutrophication.
• This fast growth of algae followed by decomposition depletes the water
body of its dissolved oxygen.
• As a result aquatic animals die of oxygen shortage.
 Sewage and/or fertilizer run off from fields
↓
Enriched nutrient content in lakes (Eutrophication)
↓
Algae multiply to produce an ‘algal bloom’
↓
Algae use up oxygen and begin to die
↓
Decomposers (bacteria) multiply and use more oxygen
↓
Organisms (such as fish) die due to lack of oxygen
 Effect of Toxic Pollutants
• Toxic pollutants mainly consist of heavy metals, pesticides and other

individual xenobiotic pollutants.

• Some metals e.g., Mn, Zn and Cu present in trace quantity are important for

life as they help and regulate many physiological functions of the body.

• Some metals, however, cause severe toxicological effects on human health

and the aquatic ecosystem.

• Biomagnification

• Non-biodegradable pesticides, such as DDT are widely used for crop protection.

• Once they enter the food chain, their concentration keeps on increasing with each trophic level

(steps of a food chain).

• As a result, accumulation of these compounds takes place in the body of top consumers over a

period of time.

• Entry of harmful non-biodegradable chemicals in small concentrations and their accumulation

in greater concentrations in the various levels of food chain is called biomagnification.

• Water → Algae → Fish → Pelican bird (top consumer)
• DDT used in small quantities to kill mosquitoes can enter the food chain and may get
concentrated in large concentration due to its non-biodegradable nature in the body of birds
(top) consumer.
• This causes adverse effects, such as weak egg shells, resulting in decreased population.

0.2 ppm 77 ppm 500-600 ppm 1700

ppm
 Control of water pollution

• Recycling and Reuse of water

• Treating industrial effluents before discharging into rivers, separate

channels for river and sewage water

• Avoid contamination of rivers, lakes and ponds by washing clothes,

bathing. etc.

• Not throwing waste, food materials, paper, biodegradable vegetables and

plastic into open drains.

• Qualified and experienced people must be consulted from time to

time for effective control of water pollution.

• Public awareness must be initiated regarding adverse effects of

water pollution using the media.

• Laws, standards and practices should be established to prevent water

pollution and these laws should be modified from time to time based

on current requirements and technological advancements.

 Minamata disease
• Minamata disease was first discovered in the city
of Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, in 1956,
hence its name.
• Minamata Disease is a poisoning disease that nervous
system, mainly central nervous system, is damaged
by methylmercury. It is established that the disease
differs from inorganic mercury poisoning which
damages kidneys, etc., and also, it isn't confirmed
that it damages organs other than nervous system.
• Clinically diverse signs and symptoms are manifested; the
main signs and symptoms are sensory disturbance in the distal
portions of four extremities, cerebellar ataxia, bilateral
concentric contraction of the visual field, disturbed ocular
movement caused by central nervous system (CNS),
impairment of hearing caused by CNS, and equilibrium
disturbance caused by CNS, etc. Also, fetal Minamata Disease
is reported, that shows impairments similar to cerebral
infantile paralysis because mother is exposed to
methylmercury during pregnancy.
 NMCG
• The National Mission for Clean Ganga
(NMCG) was implemented by the National
Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and
Management of River Ganga also known as
the National Ganga Council.
• This mission was established in 12th August 2011
under the Societies Registration Act,1860 as a
registered society.
• The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
under National Ganga Council is supported by the
State level Programme Management Groups
(SPMGs) in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
• It is an initiative taken by the Government of
India to address the pollution of the river
Ganga by providing financial and technical
assistance.
• National Clean Ganga Mission – Latest
Update
• 5th India Water Impact Summit 2020 was organized from 10th to 15th December
virtually.
• The IWIS Summit 2020 aims to emphasize on holistic management of rivers and water
bodies and synchronizing development with river conservation.
• It focuses on adopting the principle of Arth Ganga in India’s developmental strategy.
• The World Bank has approved a five-year loan (for the second phase) to the National
Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) or Namami Gange Project worth Rs. 3,000 crore
to help stem pollution in the Ganga river basin. So far, 313 projects worth Rs. 25,000
crore have been sanctioned under the mission.
Objectives of National Mission for
Clean Ganga

•The Government of India organised the National Mission for

Clean Ganga (NMCG) at Delhi’s Vigyan Bhavan. NMCG
focuses on pollution reduction interventions including
interception, diversion and the treatment of wastewater that flows
through the open drains.
•It aims to reduce pollution through bioremediation, apt in-situ
treatment, pioneering technology, sewage treatment plants (STP)
and effluent treatment plants (ETP).
 Some of the major objectives of the Nation
Mission for Clean Ganga are:

• The mission incorporates rehabilitating and boosting the existing STPs and instant
short-term steps to curb pollution at exit points on the riverfront in order to check
the inflow of sewage.
• To maintain the continuity of the water flow without changing the natural season
variations.
• To restore and maintain the surface flow and groundwater.
• To regenerate and maintain the natural vegetation of the area.
• To conserve and regenerate the aquatic biodiversity as well as the riparian
biodiversity of the river Ganga basin.
• To allow participation of the public in the process of protection, rejuvenation and
management of the river.
• Some of the major initiatives taken by the Government of
India before the implementation of this mission are discussed
below:
• Ganga Action Plan: It was announced in 1985 by the
Ministry of Environment & Forests. This was the first River
Action Plan that was introduced for the improvement of water
quality through interception, diversion and treatment of
domestic sewage. The plan aimed in preventing the entry of
toxic and industrial chemical wastes to the river.
• National River Conservation Plan: This conservation plan was
developed as an extension for the Ganga Action Plan with an aim to cover
all the major rivers of India.
• National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA): Controlled by the
Prime Minister of India, the National River Ganga Basin Authority was
formed under Section-3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 by the
Central Government in 2009. It declared the Ganga as ‘the National River’
of India.
• A Government clean-up campaign was started in 2010 to prevent the
entry of untreated municipal sewage or industrial runoff into the river.
 Challenges Faced by NMCG
•Poor Governance: due to lack of proper monitoring and supervision there is less utilization of
funds allotted under the programs.
•Violation of e-Flow Norms: According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), 4 of the 11
hydropower projects on the upper reaches of the river Ganga’s tributaries are violating Ganga
ecological flow (e-flow) norms which is further interrupting the natural flow of the river.
•Pollution:
• Due to the presence of five states (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, and
West Bengal) on the river’s mainstream, most of the Ganga is polluted.
• Industrial pollution from tanneries in Kanpur, distilleries, paper, and sugar mills in the
Kosi, Ramganga and Kali river catchments are major contributors.
•Illegal Construction: The problem of illegal and rampant construction near river beds has
become a major hurdle in cleaning the river.
 Pacific gyre garbage patch
• Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a zone in the Pacific
Ocean between Hawaii and California that has a high concentration of plastic
waste.
• The extent of the patch has been compared to the U.S. state
of Texas or Alaska or even to the country of Afghanistan.
• Garbage that reaches the ocean from the west coast of the United States and
the east coast of Japan is carried by currents—including the California
Current, the North Equatorial Current, the North Pacific Current, and
the Kuroshio—into the North Pacific subtropical gyre, the clockwise rotation
of which draws in and traps solid matter such as plastics. Some 80 percent of
the plastics in the garbage patch come from the land. It takes years
for debris to travel from the coasts to the gyre, and, as it is carried along,
photodegradation causes the plastics to break down into tiny, nearly invisible
bits. While some larger objects come from ships and offshore oil rigs, the
garbage patch could more accurately be described as a soup of microplastics.
The dimensions and depth of the patch are continuously changing.
• Scientists have been aware of the growing problem of plastic debris in the
world’s oceans since the late 1980s. However, the Great Pacific Garbage
Patch came to public attention only after 1997, when yachtsman Charles
Moore, returning home after participating in the biennial Transpacific Race,
chose a route that took him through the North Pacific subtropical gyre. He
found himself traversing a sea of plastics.
• When he returned to the area the following year, he discovered that the
patch had grown in both extent and density. Moore began making speeches
and writing articles—notably a 2003 essay in Natural History magazine—
and he changed the mission of the Algalita research foundation, which he
had founded in 1994 to improve water quality along California’s coast. The
organization now focuses on studying and publicizing the problem of
plastics in oceans, in particular in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. A 2006
series of articles in the Los Angeles Times about the garbage patch won
a Pulitzer Prize and raised general awareness of the problem.
• In 2015 and 2016 the Dutch-based
organization Ocean Cleanup found that
the density of the debris in the garbage
patch was much greater than expected and
that the plastics absorbed pollutants,
making them poisonous to marine life.
 Exxon valdez oil spill
• The Exxon Valdez oil spill was a
manmade disaster that occurred
when Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker owned
by the Exxon Shipping Company, spilled
11 million gallons of crude oil into
Alaska’s Prince William Sound on March
24, 1989. It was the worst oil spill in U.S.
history until the Deepwater Horizon oil
spill in 2010.
• The Exxon Valdez oil slick covered 1,300
miles of coastline and killed hundreds of
thousands of seabirds, otters, seals and
whales. Nearly 30 years later, pockets of
crude oil remained in some locations.
After the spill, Exxon Valdez returned to
service under a different name,
operating for more than two decades as
an oil tanker and ore carrier.
 Oil clean up
• In the months after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Exxon employees,
federal responders and more than 11,000 Alaska residents
worked to clean up the oil spill.
• Exxon payed about $2 billion in cleanup costs and $1.8 billion for
habitat restoration and personal damages related to the spill.
• Cleanup workers skimmed oil from the water’s surface, sprayed
oil dispersant chemicals in the water and on shore, washed oiled
beaches with hot water and rescued and cleaned animals
trapped in oil.
• Environmental officials purposefully left some areas of shoreline
untreated so they could study the effect of cleanup measures, some of
which were unproven at the time. They later found that aggressive
washing with high-pressure, hot water hoses was effective in removing
oil, but did even more ecological damage by killing the remaining plants
and animals in the process.
Noise Pollution
 Sound
 Sound is a vibration that propagates as a
mechanical wave of pressure and displacement,
through some medium (i.e. air or water).
 Sound refers to only those vibrations with
frequencies that are within the range of hearing for
human.
Noise
 Noise is basically any unwanted sound.
 It is measured in dB units.

Sound Noise
Noise Pollution
•Noise pollution refers to a type of energy pollution in which

distracting, irritating or damaging sounds are freely audible.

•In this type of pollution contaminants are not physical

particles, but waves which interfere with the naturally occurring

waves of a similar type in the same environment.

 Noise pollution
• It is generally higher in urban and industrial areas than in rural

areas.

• Workers using heavy machinery are exposed to high noise

levels for long period of work hours every day.

• The lowest intensity of sound that human ear can hear is 20

dB.
 Sources of Noise Pollution
 The major sources of noise pollution are :
 Household Sources - Food Mixer, Grinder, TV, Vacuum Cleaner
 Social Events - Use of loud speakers, loud music system and
television at public places.
 Commercial and Industrial Activities - Heavy machines in
industries fireworks
 Transportation - Means of transport i.e. automobiles, railways,
aircrafts, etc.
 Effects of noise pollution
• Inability to sleep, slow recovery from sickness.

• Irritability and interference in communication.

• Temporary loss of hearing, earache, sometimes even leading

to permanent deafness.
• Inability to concentrate, headache.

• Ringing of ears (a feeling, sound coming from within the ear

in a very quiet environment).
• Increased blood pressure, irregular heart beat.
Prevention and control of noise pollution
Following steps can be taken to control or minimize noise pollution :
• Control the noise emitting from radio and television.

• Use automobile horn only in case of emergency.

• Do not burn fire crackers as they are noisy and also cause air pollution.

• Get all machinery and engines properly tuned and serviced at regular intervals
and by the use of silencers.
• Use of sound proof cabins and sound-absorbing materials in the walls.

• A green belt of vegetation is an efficient absorber of noise.

• Not playing loudspeakers during odd hours.