Water Pollution
Types, Causes and Effects
Water pollution occurs when harmful substances like chemicals, minerals, and bacteria dissolve into a water source, contaminating it and often making it both unsafe for humans and ecosystems. Contaminants can make their way into waterways through groundwater, surface water, and ocean water. The most common types of water contamination are from agricultural sources, sewage/wastewater overflow, as well as oils, chemical and radioactive materials.
In terms of human health, water contaminants can cause various illnesses some of which might be life threatening. This largely depends on the type of contaminant, as well as the level present in the water. Low-income communities are at higher risk, as their homes are often closer to the facilities producing/releasing the most pollution. Water contaminants that most directly affects human health are waterborne pathogens like bacteria, viruses, or chemical pollutants. Many people each year have health issues after swimming in coastal areas polluted with sewage runoff. For example: beaches in Ottawa, such as Britannia Beach, often have advisories on E. coli levels that are related to high levels of sewage present in the water system. In response, when these levels get too high and it becomes a public health risk, they routinely shut down the beach until the levels drop.
In regards to the environment, there are a variety of effects that can be observed when water is contaminated. Ecosystems have many organisms that work together to create a healthy environment. When harm is done to any part of this system, it can create a chain reaction taking down the entire system. When pollution is added to a marine environment, the water can become overly nutrient rich creating the perfect environment for algae to form. When an algae bloom occurs, it reduces the oxygen levels in the water causing eutrophication. When eutrophication occurs, it can lead to dead zones where all marine life dies. Chemical and heavy metal contaminants can also be toxic to aquatic life, affecting reproductive health and overall lifespan. These toxins make their way up the food chain, resulting in higher contaminant levels in larger fish and mammals. Marine debris is another factor impacting marine habitat function. Garbage (often plastics and other small items) find their way into sewers making their way into lakes and rivers. This debris can have devastating effects on aquatic life, often strangling, or suffocating organisms, or resulting in death by starvation due to entanglement. Fishing gear has been identified as a large contributor to ocean debris as fishing line, nets and hooks are discarded in waterways. Ocean acidification is another issue marine ecosystem are facing. As water quality changes and acidity increases, it has a negative effect on corals and shellfish dissolving calcium rich organisms.
As observed water pollution has a huge impact on both human and environmental health as it makes its way from one system to another, through a chain reaction. The pollutants that industries and individuals release into nature does indeed find its way back to us. Whether in the form of pollution in local waterways or with heavy metal levels in the fish we eat, it does impact us in some way. These examples are a few reasons why sustainable waste solutions like sea bins are so important. They help us to preserve nature and ensure our water is clean and safe for future generations!
References
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/water-pollution-everything-you-need-know#whatis
https://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/teacher_resources/webfieldtrips/water_pollution/
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/10-ways-reduce-plastic-pollution/