�ݺ�ߣ

WATER POLLUTION
Water is one of the most abundant compounds on
Earth. About 75% of the Earth’s surface is covered
with water.The three main types of water sources
are -:
 Surface water
 Ground water
 Salty water
Unfortunately, we have been constantly polluting
our rivers, seas, and other water bodies.

Causes of Water Pollution
The main causes of water pollution are -:
 Discharge of untreated industrial and domestic sewage
in to water bodies.
 Bathing animals, washing clothes, etc., in or near lakes,
rivers, etc., dirties these water bodies.
 Oil leaks from ferry boats and ships leave a trail of oil on
the water surface and pollute rivers and oceans.
 Inorganic pesticides and chemical fertilizers used by
farmers drain into water bodies by a process called
leaching. As a result, certain pesticides such as DDT can
enter the bodies of aquatic animals and eventually
reach human beings by the way of food chains.

Effects of Water Pollution
- 1
 Industrial wastes discharged into the waters contain a lot
of toxic substances that make water unfit for drinking and
bathing.
 Untreated domestic sewage, when released into water
bodies, becomes a breeding ground for a number of
organisms that cause water-borne diseases.
 Oil spills are very harmful to aquatic animals, and lead to
destruction of marine life. The cleaning up process also
causes a lot of damage to marine habitat.
 Pollution of water also leads to a reduction in the
number of aquatic plants and animals due to
destruction of habitat and nesting places.

Effects of Water Pollution
- 2
 Ignition of arms and weapons releases large amounts of
mercury. When water contaminated with mercury is used
for drinking by animals and human beings, it causes
numbness of limbs, lips, and tongue. It can also lead to
blurred vision and mental disorders.
 The waste water released by factories and industries and
the fertilizer-rich runoffs from agricultural fields is rich in
organic matter. The process of washing away of fertilizers
into water bodies is called leaching. The entry of nutrient-
rich water results in a thick growth of algae, called algal
bloom, and many other weeds. Soon these plants cover
the entire surface of water. This is called eutrophication.
The algae use up so much oxygen that the aquatic
animals and other plants die due to lack of it.

Prevention of Water
Pollution
Some steps to prevent water pollution are-:
1.) Bathing and washing clothes near water bodies such
as lakes, ponds, and rivers should be avoided.
2.) Domestic and industrial sewage wastes should be
treated to remove toxic substances before being
released into water bodies.
3.) Pollution-control rules enforced by the government
should be followed strictly.
4.) Use of eco-friendly fertilizers and herbicides should
be encouraged.

Potable Water
 The water suitable for drinking by human beings is
called potable water. To be considered fit for
human consumption, a sample of water should
 Be transparent, colourless, and odourless;
 Contain sufficient amount of dissolved oxygen and
salts; and
 Be free from harmful chemicals and
microorganisms.

Purification of Water - 1
Water supplied in our homes generally comes from
rivers and is contaminated with suspended
impurities like sand, silt, and clay; soluble
impurities like salts; and also microorganisms.
Water, therefore, has to be cleaned in big
purification plants before it reaches our homes.
The three main processes that water undergoes
during purification are sedimentation, filtration,
and chlorination .

Purification of Water - 2
The various processes employed in purification of water are -:
 Water collected from river is made free of large pieces of
dirt and pumped into reservoirs.
 Water is allowed to stand in large tanks so that suspended
impurities settle down. This process is called
sedimentation.
 Water is passed through filter beds to remove all other
insoluble impurities. This process is called filtration.
 Water is chlorinated (by addition of chlorine) to kill any
harmful microbes that may be present in at this stage.
 Water is supplied to homes and factories by huge water
mains.

Various methods to purify
water
Filtration – The process of removal of insoluble impurities by
passing impure water through a filter paper is called
filtration.
Sedimentation and decantation – In this method, impure
water is allowed to stand undisturbed in a container, which
allows insoluble impurities such as mud to settle to the
bottom as sediments. This process is called sedimentation.
Clean water can thereafter be transferred into a clean
container by the process of decantation.
Distillation – In this method, impure water is first heated to
its boiling point to convert water into steam. The impurities
are left behind in the container. The steam is then passed
through a condenser, where it cools and changes back into
liquid water.

Various methods to purify
water

�ݺ�ߣ

Water pollution

More Related Content

Water pollution