CASALJAY, ALDRIN P.

BSCE-2A

I. SHORT INTRODUCTION
Water pollution can be defined as the contamination of a stream, river, lake, ocean or
any other stretch of water, depleting water quality and making it toxic for the environment
and humans.

II. CLASSIFICATION OF POLLUTANTS

• Chemical Pollutants
Chemical pollutants include heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium,
etc., solvents from industries, pesticide run-offs, oil spills from ships, etc. They are
poisonous to aquatic life forms and cause infertility and death. The metal wastes are
dangerous to humans as well when they get absorbed in our body. They can damage
the nervous system, kidneys, etc.
• Organic Wastes
Organic water pollutants include food waste, detergents, leaves, grass, etc.
They originate from domestic sewage, discharge from food processing factories and
farm wastes that reach the water sources through runoff and pollute them. It is a fact
that bacteria decompose complex organic matter into the simple organic matter.
They consume oxygen which is dissolved in water. As the organic waste
content in the water increases, so does the count of decomposers. They use up a lot of
oxygen which results in the depletion of oxygen content in water. This adversely
affects aquatic life.
• Pathogens
One of the most severe pollutants is the disease-causing microorganisms
called pathogens. Pathogens are mostly bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Although
bacteria are considered harmless if not beneficial, there are a few pathogenic bacteria
as well, which enter the water bodies through sewers and sanitation systems. The
water-borne pathogens cause several diseases such as diarrhoea, gastrointestinal
illness, etc.

III. TYPES OF POLLUTANT

1. GROUNDWATER POLLUTION

Groundwater comes from below the Earth’s surface, found in stores called
aquifers. A key source of water pollution that ends up in groundwater resources
comes from agriculture. Fertilizers and pesticides applied to farmland are easily
absorbed into the ground, or they can be transported as runoff during rainfall.

2. SURFACE WATER POLLUTION

Surface water refers to all bodies of water above the Earth’s surface, such as
oceans, lakes, and rivers. Any hazardous substance that comes into contact with
surface water is called surface water pollution.

3. SUSPENDED MATTER
 Waste such as plastics, rubber, and other man-made materials that are
improperly disposed of and cannot be broken down easily in water is called
particulate or suspended matter.

4. OIL SPILLAGE

Water can be polluted from accidental oil spills, transportation, runoff, and
intentionally dumping. Oil spillage can have devastating effects on water
environments, and they are extremely difficult to remove; just one liter of oil can
pollute one million liters of water.

5. MICROBIOLOGICAL POLLUTION

Microbiological pollution is a type of naturally occurring water pollution. It

comes from microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa that can cause
waterborne diseases such as cholera. This type of water pollution is common in areas
where people drink untreated water.

6. CHEMICAL WATER POLLUTION

Chemicals are the most common type of water pollution, and many industries
use chemicals that can end up in water systems. These chemicals can be anything
from metals and solvents in industrial operations, fertilizers and pesticides in the
agricultural industry to chemicals used in pest control companies. When the chemicals
enter the soil and water systems, it has negative impacts on humans, livestock, and
fish that utilize these environments.

7. THERMAL POLLUTION

Heat is also considered a type of water pollution, as it reduces the ability of

water to hold dissolved oxygen (DO); as the temperature of water increases, the level
of DO decreases. Thermal pollution also increases the rate of metabolism in fish and
damages larvae and eggs in rivers. The main source of thermal pollution comes from
power plants discharging cooling water into rivers. The raising of temperatures due to
global warming is also thought to be a type of thermal water pollution.

8. OXYGEN-DEPLETION POLLUTION

Another consequence of nutrient water pollution is oxygen depletion. When

oxygen levels are too low, any life that relies on oxygen for respiration will be killed
off, and anaerobic organisms will survive.

IV. SOURCES
• Wastewater and sewage
Untreated sewage and wastewater has been a leading cause of water pollution
for millennia. In the U.S. alone, over 1 trillion gallons of untreated wastewater is
dumped into lakes, rivers and oceans each year. In developing countries, the problem
is exacerbated. According to UNESCO, upwards of 80% of the sewage from
developing countries is returned to the environment untreated.
 In urban and industrial areas of developed countries, stormwater runoff that
contains oily pollutants is a major problem. Outdated or undersized wastewater
treatment facilities also contribute to water pollution problems.

• Water pollution from industrial waste

The Industrial Revolution, which began in the mid-seventeen hundreds,
brought new pollutants into the water stream. Early on, ambitious titans of industry
who were ignorant of the long-term effects, dumped industrial waste directly into the
natural water supplies. Today, water pollution from industrial waste is still a great
cause for concern. The Citarum River in Indonesia is considered to be the most
polluted river in the world. Over 500 factories still dump their waste directly into this
river.
Of the industrial facilities which are required to report their data to the
European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR), a full 10% reported
pollutant emissions to water. Furthermore, facilities are only required to report to the
E-PRTR if they exceed a pollutant threshold. Some experts have expressed concern
about the untrackable and potentially significant accumulation of emissions from
many smaller facilities which fall below the threshold.

• Agricultural pollution, chemical fertilisers and pesticides

PAN Europe reports that 7% of groundwater stations are contaminated with
excess levels of pesticides. These polluted water sources are located in agricultural
areas. In the U.S., agricultural pollution is the top contaminator of rivers and lakes.
Pesticides and fertilisers enter the water supply from farm runoff. Chemical
fertilisers often contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. When these chemicals
enter the water, they cause algae blooms which harm delicate ecosystems. Pesticides
that runoff into rivers and streams destroy vegetation and are poisonous to fish.
Animal waste is another significant source of water pollution. Improper
management of manure results in runoff that seeps into groundwater, streams and
lakes. The contaminated water breeds pathogens and bacteria.

V. EFFECTS IN ENVIRONMENT
• Destruction of biodiversity. Water pollution depletes aquatic ecosystems and triggers
unbridled proliferation of phytoplankton in lakes.
• Contamination of the food chain. Fishing in polluted waters and the use of waste
water for livestock farming and agriculture can introduce toxins into foods which are
harmful to our health when eaten.
• Lack of potable water. The UN says that billions of people around the world have no
access to clean water to drink or sanitation, particularly in rural areas.
• Disease. The WHO estimates that about 2 billion people have no option but to drink
water contaminated by excrement, exposing them to diseases such as cholera,
hepatitis A and dysentery.
• Infant mortality. According to the UN, diarrhoeal diseases linked to lack of hygiene
cause the death of about 1,000 children a day worldwide.

VI. CONTROL MEASURES

• Use less plastic. Plastic pollution is one of the greatest environmental problems of our
time, particularly with water. Depending on the material, exposure to sunlight, and
other environmental conditions, plastic can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to
decompose. As it weathers, plastic breaks down into smaller pieces. Once these
fragments reach below five millimeters long, they are labeled as microplastics.
Microplastics are present practically everywhere on Earth, from water supplies to
arctic ice. The effects of microplastics on humans are largely unknown, as exposure to
them is a new trend where there has not been enough time to collect data on the
consequences of ingestion. Presently, microplastics are believed to cause harm to the
 human reproductive system, stunt growth, disrupt the immune system, and lead to
oxidative stress. Microplastics are particularly harmful because most homeowners do
not have a water filtration system in place to remove them. This leads to high levels of
microplastic consumption, which causes unpleasant symptoms and threatens unknown
long-term effects.
• Conserve water. A simple way to reduce water pollution at home is by using less
water. When water is wasted, it must enter a sewer line and be treated. The treatment
process uses fuel and chemicals to eliminate contaminants in water. As a result, using
less water means using less fuel and subjecting the water to fewer treatment
chemicals.
• Cut down on pesticides and herbicides. While pesticides and herbicides are
excellent at doing their job, they can pollute water supplies with toxic chemicals.
Often used for crops, lawns, and gardens, pesticides and herbicides can wash off
plants and enter groundwater via rainwater. Once in rainwater, the chemicals in these
products are difficult to treat, leading to more energy being consumed during the
treatment process. Alternatives to pesticides and herbicides include diatomaceous
earth, natural pesticides, neem oil, and organic weed killers.
• Pick up pet waste. Pet waste may seem like it does not harm water supplies. After all,
human waste enters sewer lines, where it must be treated before making water suitable
for use. However, pet waste can contaminate the water that fish live in and that other
animals drink. This leads to an unhealthy ecosystem for the fish, which, in turn, can
impact the environment outside of the water. The nutrients and pathogens in animal
waste increase algae growth. This turns the water green and cloudy, making it
unsuitable for drinking and any water-related activities. To prevent these effects, pet
waste should be scooped up, placed in a biodegradable bag or container, and
discarded in the trash.

VII. RELATED LAWS IN THE PHILIPPINES

• Clean Water Act (Republic Act No. 9275)
This Act provides for the abatement and control of pollution from land based
sources, and lays down water quality standards and regulations. The Act shall apply to
water quality management in all water bodies: fresh, brackish and marine waters.
• Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990
(Republic Act No. 6969)

This Act makes provisions in order to regulate, restrict and/or prohibit the
importation, manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical
substances and mixtures presenting risk and/or injury to human and animal health or
to the environment; it provides for the prohibition of entry and transit.

VIII. RECOMMENDATION.

1. Upgrade Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Ensuring that our wastewater treatment

plants are equipped with modern technologies is crucial. For instance, in 2024, Lake
Windermere in the UK experienced over 6,000 hours of raw sewage discharge, averaging
17 hours daily. This led to harmful algae blooms, impacting both the ecosystem and local
tourism. Investments in infrastructure can prevent such incidents.
2. Implement Biofiltration Systems: Using natural methods to filter pollutants, such as
biofilters, can effectively clean water. These systems utilize living materials to capture
and break down contaminants, offering an eco-friendly solution to water purification.
3. Enforce Environmental Regulations: Strong and clear regulations are essential. Recent
legal decisions have highlighted challenges in enforcing water quality standards. For
example, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling limited the Environmental Protection Agency's
 authority to impose certain pollution discharge limits, emphasizing the need for precise
and enforceable regulations.
4. Promote Community Awareness and Engagement: Educating the public about the
sources and impacts of water pollution empowers individuals to take action. Community
involvement can lead to better monitoring and protection of local water bodies.