Water

Pollution

Renata Lizano, Ernesto Quirós,

Diego Vishnia 5-D
 Table Of Contents

Introduction. Page .1
What Pollutes Water? Page .2
How Does Water Pollution Affect
Humans? Page .3
Nature and Water Pollution Page .4
Animals. Page .5
Conclusion. Page .6
Video Page .7
Glossary. Page 8-9
References. Page .10
Picture References. Page .11
What Is Water Pollution?
Water pollution is the release of
substances in the surface of water,
groundwater, in lakes, streams, rivers,
estuaries, and oceans. Water pollution
exists at the point where substances
interfere with the beneficial uses of water.
It is also where it has a lot of waste,
including chemical waste, and plastic bags.
Some bodies of water have turned into
pools of poison. The abuse of lakes, ponds,
oceans, and rivers is water pollution.

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What Pollutes Water?

Water is necessary for people to live. People are

contaminating the water. Not only humans pollute water, nature
does too. Some of the water pollutants people create are:
pathogenic microorganisms (disease causing microorganisms),
putrescible organic waste (organic matter able to decompose
and have obnoxious odors), toxic chemicals, sediments,
abnormal temperature rises, oil, and radioactive substances.
Domestic sewage (anything that goes down the drain) is the
primary source of pathogens. Also domestic sewage is the major
source of nitrates (found in fertilizers) Putrescible organic waste
is a threat to water quality. All sewage from cities and towns are
most likely to have pathogens. Oil pollution can happen when oil
from roads or parking lots gets carried into bodies of water.
Accidental oil spills are also oil pollution for example the really
bad spill from the tanker Exxon Valdez that happened on the
coast of Alaska in 1989. Oil slicks sadly move toward shore,
harm marine life, and damage recreation areas.

Here you can

see Natalie
Phobes
cleaning up an
oil spill.

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How does Water Pollution Affect Humans?

In Costa Rica water problems aren’t getting much better. So

water pollution has been affecting humans. These are some
things that may be in polluted water. Some rivers are so
contaminated that they have cancer causing pollutants, coffee
plantations pour pollutants that may cause DNA mutations. For
example the Rio Virilla has contaminants that pass the maximum
limits recommended by health authorities. People cannot survive
several days without water, it’s sad knowing that people are dying
because of water pollution. We are not only managing poorly
(wasting it) our resources we are also polluting them. Water
pollution may have a major affect on your health. When humans
are unable to drink fresh water the chance of getting a disease or
dying grows higher. If we don’t do something about it now, water
consumption may not be available any more very soon!

This picture
shows some
health
problems
caused by
water
pollution.
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Nature and Water Pollution

Nature is affected in many ways by water pollution. Nature also

pollutes water. Humans pollute water by spilling oil, toxic runoffs and
sewage from cities. Nature pollutes differently from animal waste,
leaves, and polluted soil (mostly organic material).

Polluted soil pollutes water. This happens with the process of

erosion which eventually makes it to bodies of water. Animals might do
their necessities in the river and pollute it unintentionally. Dead fish
pollute water because the fish might have died because of harmful
chemicals released in the water.

Nature is affected by water pollution in three main ways. First, the

animals that drink the water may become intoxicated, they usually die.
Second, animals and humans that eat fish get poisoned by the poison
infected fish. Third, if the plants take in contaminated water they may
also die. Let’s take care of nature and water!

This photo shows

water that is
contaminated being
dumped into a river.

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Animals

Not only humans are affected by water pollution

also animals are affected by it. In the oceans the
pollution problem is becoming bigger, one of the most
harmed animal is the coral polyps. Coral reefs are the
most sensitive to water pollution. Boat pollution
happens when some boats leave chemicals in the
water that may harm animals. Oil spills may kill
animals. They may also make birds heavier because as
they dive to get fish they swallow oil at the same time,
this makes it harder for them to fly.

The Hawaiian monk seal is affected in two ways

by water pollution. First, marine debris or trash
affects these seals especially the pieces of trash that These photos show
are floating around in the ocean. Pups are the ones that
are most affected because they swim around and animals trapped in
eventually get their heads caught in a lost fishing nets
and die slowly and painfully. Second, humans are a
ocean debris.
big problem because they are the ones that leave the
fishing nets that they won’t use anymore drifting in
the ocean. They also give food and swim with seals
and that makes seals feel that they can approach boats
and that may hurt the seals.

Sea turtles are sensitive to the ocean pollution all

their lives. Pollutants may cause instant damage to
them. Sea turtles are also affected by eating food that
is contaminated by garbage or get caught in plastic
trash.

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Conclusion
As you can see water pollution is a big
problem in our world. Also many people die or
get sick by drinking water that is contaminated
by garbage amongst other contaminants.
Water is used in many ways like cooking,
cleaning, and most importantly for the survival
of all living organisms. We all know that water
is important for all living things, so let’s take
care of it!

This photo
shows a boat
floating around
polluted water.

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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp572udnPVg

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 Glossary
chemicals: related to chemistry

consumption: using up a resource

contaminated: to be dirty/dangerous/impure

domestic sewage: sewage that contains soap,

food, or anything that goes down the drain

intoxicated: affected by something consumed

nitrates: are used in fertilizers in agriculture

oil slicks: layers of oil in lakes or seas that where

accidentally spilled

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 Glossary

organic: grown without chemicals

pathogenic microorganisms: Any microorganism

capable of hurting its host, disease causing bacteria

pathogens: disease causing microorganisms

pollution: the action of making land water or air dirty

and not safe to use

putrescible organic waste: solid waste that contains

organic matter capable of being decomposed, able to
cause obnoxious odors

sewage: waste water and excrement (poop) from sewers

toxic runoff: the action of pouring toxic waste into a

river
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Reference

http://all-about-water-filters.com/effects-of-water-pollution-on-our-health/
http://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/how-does-water-pollution-affect-humans
https://www.scidev.net/global/pollution/news/scientists-warn-of-toxins-in-costa-rican-
drinking.html

https://school.eb.co.uk/levels/advanced/article/water-pollution/473593
https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/sources-and-causes-of-water-pollution.php
https://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/water/

https://sites.google.com/site/waterpollutionsolutioncrew/animals-affected-by-water-
pollution

https://prezi.com/m/rdqpcfbog9ks/water-pollution-is-a-big-problem-in-our-world-many-
people/
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/nov/10/water.environment

http://www.whalefacts.org/water-pollution-facts-causes-effects-solutions/
http://www.indiacelebrating.com/environmental-issues/sources-and-causes-of-water-
pollution/
http://all-about-water-filters.com/13-ways-water-pollution-is-killing-the-environment/

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Picture reference

Seal:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/radical-conservation/2015/aug/31/five-near-blind-
monk-seals-become-ambassadors-for-vanishing-species

Dolphin:
http://insel-rodrigues.blogspot.com/2012/04/plastik-im-magen-und-um-den-hals.html?m=1

Nature:
http://goastreets.com/goas-dirty-water/

Humans:
https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/abhishekbhandary1/water-pollution-ppt-for-class-9th

What pollutes water:

https://school.eb.co.uk/levels/advanced/article/water-pollution/473593http://www.gov.je/
Government/JerseyInFigures/Environment/Pages/Water.aspx
https://school.eb.co.uk/levels/advanced/article/water-pollution/473593

Introduction:
http://www.xmeeting-com-com.com/oil-and-gas-companies-continue-to-ignore-regulations-
by-dumping-fracking-waste-into-local-rivers/

Conclusion:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7PsfhWSO0Xk

Cover page:
http://www.indiacelebrating.com/environmental-issues/water-pollution/

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