Water Pollution
By: Nick Ashton
Definition
The presence in water of enough harmful or objectionable material to damage the water's quality.
Affect on People and Other Life
It can endanger wildlife, make our drinking water unsafe and threaten the waters where we swim and fish. Water pollution can affect just about any source of life, humans animals, and plants. Life forms need clean water to live. Dirty water is the world's biggest health risk, and continues to threaten both quality of life and public health in the United States. When water from rain and melting snow runs off roofs and roads into our rivers, it picks up toxic chemicals, dirt, trash and disease-carrying organisms along the way. Many of our water resources also lack basic protections, making them vulnerable to pollution from factory farms, industrial plants, and activities like fracking. This can lead to drinking water contamination, habitat degradation and beach closures. We rely on clean water to survive, yet right now we are heading towards a water crisis. Changing climate patterns are threatening lakes and rivers, and key sources that we tap for drinking water are being overdrawn or tainted with pollution.
Prevention
LID- Manages storm water as close to its source as possible, stopping pollution before it starts.
Clean Water Act- Controls maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still safely meet water quality standards, preventing bad pollution. Also controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States, making sure that our waters dont become poisoned and disgusting.