Water Pollution
Put a Foot Down; End the Fight.
Water pollution is the contamination of bodies of water; such as rivers, lakes, oceans, aquifers & groundwater (etc.)
There are seven different types of water pollution:
- Surface Water Pollution affects the oceans, rivers, and lakes.
- Oxygen Depleting is when microorganisms that live in the water increase because biodegradable material is added, so these microorganisms use up all the available oxygen. When these oxygen levels are depleted, the harmless microorganisms die, and the harmful ones live. These harmful ones produce toxins such as ammonia and sulfides.
- Groundwater is found under soil, or under rock structures that are called aquifers. Humans use aquifers to receive drinking water. Ground water pollution is often caused by Pesticide Contamination.
- Nutrients are found in a lot of waste water and fertilizers. These can cause large weed and algae growth if they end up in water for long periods of time.
- Microbiological water pollution is caused by microorganisms that live in different bodies of water. These microorganisms are bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.
- Suspended matter are things such as particulate objects that do not dissolve in water, because they are too big to mix between the water molecules.
- Chemical water pollution is normally caused by industrial and agricultural work. These two categories of work cause this by different chemicals that run off into water and pollute it.
Point Source- Occurs when harmful substances are emitted directly into a body of water.
- Such as an oil spill.
Non-point Source- Delivers pollutants indirectly through transport or environmental change.
- This way come from many sources, like chemical run off, or sewage treatment plants.
There are several sources of water pollution...
- Sewage & Waste Water; household, domestic, industrial, and agricultural waste.
- Marine Dumping; Dumping of litter into the sea, like 6 pack soda rings that can get caught around marine animals necks.
- Industrial Waste; Industries are probably one of the largest sources of pollution. Industries produce waste such as asbestos, lead, mercury, nitrates, phosphates, sulfur, oils, petrochemicals, that all can cause major harm to humans and animals if they ingest them.
- Radioactive Waste; Medical & scientific processes that use radioactive materials, and dump into near by bodies of water, and have detrimental affects on marine habitats.
- Oil Pollution; A result of large ocean liners exporting/importing oil that spills, or even run off from oil in cars. (When you change your oil in your driveway, and just dump it in the grass or driveway.) Oil cannot dissolve in water, and when it comes into contact with water, it becomes a thick sludge.
- Underground Storage Leaks; Petroleum stored in underground steel pipes and tanks, that later, the pipes and tanks erode, and the petroleum harms the surrounding environment.
- Atmospheric Deposition; In the air, water particles mix with sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxide and these together form a weak acidic water. Thus, when it rains, the rain is now contaminated with this weak acid, and it may rain onto or into the bodies of water, and the inhabitants that live in these bodies of water can and will be harmed.
- Global Warming; A rise in the air around the bodies of water, then the water heats up, and water evaporates. Also, with global warming, the carbon dioxide in the air, infects the bodies of water, making the bodies of water more acidic, causing the animals in these bodies of water to either adapt, or die. ):
- Eutrophication; When fertilizers run off into nearby bodies of waters, and cause an increase in nutrient levels, which causes phytoplankton to reproduce rapidly, causing an algal bloom that can use up all the oxygen in the water. This results in death of the fish that need oxygen to live. Also, these blooms may block the sun from the fish that live completely underwater, but need photosynthesis to make food and energy.
Be A Part of the Solution; Not the Pollution!
Consequences of Our Actions...
- Extinction of Marine Life; Once the species is extinct, it is extinct.
- Water is NON-RENEWABLE!; Once we pollute/use all our precious Earth's water, we can not get it back. We used to think that water was renewable, we have learned in recent years, that this is not true.
- Acid Rain; Acid rain has become a big problem, because of erosion, acidity in water, and other things. Some of the worlds finest sculptures and even natural landmarks have been destroyed by acid rain and erosion.
Improve the Quality of Our Water...
- Keep All Paved Surfaces Clean; Clean up grass, leaves, and dirt from the sidewalks.
- Turn your downspout onto your lawn; Oil, and everything else can be picked up by water, so instead of turning your downspout into your driveway, where it can pick up oil, turn it into the grass, where it shouldn't pick up bad things.
- Reduce Fertilizer; Have your lawn tested before applying any chemicals to your lawn.
- Wash Your Car On Lawn; Soaps and detergents used to wash your car may benefit your lawn, but harm our water resources.
- Capture Runoff; Stop the runoff of fertilizers into the street drains or lakes or rivers nearby by adding rain barriers near your sidewalk.
Prevent Water Pollution...
- Don't Dump; Do not dump your oil in the driveway, do not dump your trash by near by lakes or rivers.
- No Littering; When you throw something out the window, do you ever think, "that may be picked up by the wind and taken to a body of water?". Well, it happens. And this KILLS precious animals.
- Turn It Off; Turn off the water when you are brushing your teeth, or shaving. Don't wash your car everyday. Trust me, it doesn't need it.
- Go Green; By environmentally safe toiletries, household cleaning products, and body wash.
One Billion People Don't Have Access to Clean Water...
Want to Stop This?
Become a part of the team trying to help everyone in the world have access to clean water. Go green, and don't pollute and litter.
Also, let's stop killing and harming precious marine life, that don't have any way to escape what we are doing to them.
Leah BreAnne Angelo
Age: 17 years old
School: Franklin Jr. Sr. High.
Mother & Father: Louis & Darla Angelo
Activities: FFA
Future Activities: Quincy University for Elementary Education & Special Education.
Email: leahangelo@live.franklinhigh.com
Location: Franklin, IL, United States