Water Pollution

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Ξ April 19th, 2008 | → | ∇ Rivers, Water Pollution |

Water Pollution

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater caused by human activities, which can be harmful to organisms and plants which live in these water bodies.

Natural phenomena such as volcanoes, storms, earthquakes, and algae blooms, also cause major changes in water quality and the ecological status of water. However, water is only considered polluted when it is not able to be used for the purpose one wants it to be used for. Water pollution has many causes and characteristics.

Pollution in water include a wide spectrum of chemicals and pathogens. Many of the chemical substances are toxic. Pathogens can produce waterborne diseases in either human or animals.

Polluted New River in Calexico, CA

Industrial waste and raw sewage flows into the U.S. from Mexico as the New River flows into Calexico, California, shown above.

When considered globally, water pollution is a major problem. According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, it has been suggested that water pollution is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and diseases, and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily.

We normally think of water pollution as water outside being polluted, but indoor water can be polluted too, and it may not be from outside sources.