Question

What are the different ways in which water gets contaminated?

Answer 1

Water contamination is the pollution of water. This happens due to the toxic chemicals entering the water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans and so on. These chemicals lie suspended in the water and affect the quality of water.

Complete answer:
Water gets contaminated because of the following reasons:
a) Untreated Sewage: Sometimes untreated sewage is thrown directly into rivers. It contains food wastes, detergents, microorganisms, etc.
b) Discharging Chemical Waste Into Water Bodies: Many industries discharge harmful chemicals into rivers and streams, causing the pollution of water. For example oil refineries, paper factories, textile and sugar mills, and chemical factories discharge very toxic and dangerous chemicals which endangers aquatic life.
c) Dumping Agricultural Waste: Pesticides and weedicides these chemicals dissolve in water and are washed into water bodies from the fields. They also seep into the ground to pollute groundwater. They make water toxic.
d) Practice of bathing and washing clothes near water bodies pollute water.
e) Household Waste: Cities throw garbage into water bodies. Polythene is among the most dangerous pollutants which takes thousands of years to decompose.
f) Festivals: During festival season people immerse idols of god and goddess which are made up of POP and painted with toxic chemicals which contaminate water.
g) Industries: Hot water thrown by some industries increases the temperature of water bodies leading to extinction of aquatic plants and animals.

Additional Information: Things we can do to control water pollution:
- Minimize the use of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers.
- During festivals we can make idols of clay and paint it with natural colors rather than chemicals.
- Do Not Pour Fat and Grease Down the Drain.
- Try to avoid using things made up of plastic.

Note: Water pollution can cause many health issues. It can cause typhoid, cholera, jaundice and many more such dangerous diseases. Pesticides present in water bodies can damage our nervous system. So it is really very important for all of us to not pollute water bodies.