Water Pollution

What is water pollution? Water covers 70% of the earth and only 3% of fresh water. 1% of fresh water and 2% of frozen fresh water. Pollution is a major cause to life. It impacts on marine life and is a major impact to life in the whole world. Subsequently, we are slowly but surely harming our planet to the point where organisms are dying at a very alarming rate. In addition to innocent organisms dying off, our drinking water has become greatly affected as is our ability to use water for recreational purposes. In order to combat water pollution, we must understand the problems and become part of the solution. Causes of water pollution Many causes of water pollution including sewage and fertilizers contain nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates. In excess levels, nutrients over stimulate the growth of aquatic plants and algae. Excessive growth of these types of organisms consequently clogs our waterways, use up dissolved oxygen as they decompose, and block light to deeper waters. The pollution is also caused when silt and other suspended solids, such as soil, wash off plowed fields, construction and logging sites, urban areas, and eroded river banks when it rains. Under natural conditions, lakes, rivers, and other water bodies undergo Eutrophication, an aging process that slowly fills in the water body with sediment and organic matter. When the sediments various bodies of water, fish and other marine life respiration becomes impaired. Pollution in the form of organic material enters waterways in many different forms as sewage, as leaves and grass clippings, or as runoff from livestock feedlots and pastures. When natural bacteria and protozoan in the water break down this organic material, they begin to use up the oxygen dissolved in the water. Many fish or other marine life can not survive when oxygen levels drop below two to five parts per million. When this occurs, the fish will gradually die and the food chain will get disrupted meaning the marine life will gradually disappear.