National Seminar on Introduction to Green

Chemistry Education : Theory and Practice

Topic : Water Pollution: An Overview

Shashi Kiran Misra

Lecturer
University Institute of Pharmacy
C.S.J.M.U, Kanpur
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 TYPES OF WATER POLLUTION
 Water pollution can come from a number of different sources. If
the pollution comes from a single source, such as an oil spill, it is
called point-source pollution. If the pollution comes from many
sources, it is called nonpoint-source pollution.
 Most types of pollution affect the immediate area surrounding the
source. Sometimes the pollution may affect the environment
hundreds of miles away from the source, such as nuclear waste,
this is called transboundary pollution.

 Metals and solvents from industrial work can pollute rivers and
lakes. These are poisonous to many forms of aquatic life and may
slow their development, make them infertile or even result in death.

 Some pollutants do not dissolve in water as their molecules are

too big to mix between the water molecules. This material is
called particulate matter and can often be a cause of water
pollution.
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Earth. They are found on the exterior of the Earth's
crust and include: Oceans, Rivers, Lakes Surface waters
are the natural water resources of the water pollution

A lot of the Earth's water is found underground in soil or

under rock structures called aquifers.

Many types of microorganisms live in water and cause fish,

land animals and humans to become ill. Microorganisms such
as: Bacteria,Viruses, Protozoa

When too much biodegradable material is added to water,

the number of microorganisms increase and use up the
available oxygen. This is called oxygen depletion.

Nutrients are essential for plant growth and development.

Many nutrients are found in wastewater and fertilisers, and
these can cause excess weed and algae growth if large
concentrations end up in water.
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CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION

Domestic households, industrial and agricultural practices

produce wastewater that can cause pollution of many lakes
and rivers. Sewage is the term used for wastewater that often
contains faeces, urine and laundry waste.

Industry is a huge source of water pollution, it produces

pollutants that are extremely harmful to people and the
environment. Pollutants from industrial sources include:
asbestos, lead, mercury and nitrates.

Oil cannot dissolve in water and forms a thick sludge in the

water. This suffocates fish, gets caught in the feathers of
marine birds stopping them from flying and blocks light from
photosynthetic aquatic plants.

Atmospheric deposition is the pollution of water caused by

air pollution. In the atmosphere, water particles mix with
carbon dioxide sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, this
forms a weak acid and acid rains. 4
Dumping of litter in the sea can cause huge problems. Litter
items such as 6-pack ring packaging can get caught in marine
animals and may result in death. Different items take different
lengths of time to degrade in water:

Nuclear waste is produced from industrial, medical and scientific

processes that use radioactive material. Nuclear waste can have
detrimental effects on marine habitats.

A tank or piping network that has at least 10 percent of its

volume underground is known as an underground storage tank
(UST). They often store substances such as petroleum, that are
harmful to the surrounding environment should it become
contaminated.

An increase in water temperature can result in the death of many

aquatic organisms and disrupt many marine habitats. This can
result in great damage to coral reefs and subsequently, all the
marine life that depends on it. The rise in water temperatures
causes coral bleaching of reefs around the world.
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 WATER POLLUTION EFFECTS
 Waterborne Infectious Diseases the most serious effects of water pollution,
especially in developing countries, where sanitation may be inadequate or non-existent.

 Waterborne diseases occur when parasites or other disease-causing microorganisms

are transmitted via contaminated water, particularly water contaminated by pathogens
originating from excreta.

 These include typhoid, intestinal parasites, and most of the enteric and diarrheal
diseases caused by bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Among the most serious parasitic
diseases are amoebiasis, giardiasis, ascariasis, and hookworm.

Water pollution caused by sewage and chemical fertilizers leads to eutrophication and
deoxygenation of water bodies killing the aquatic animals.

Water pollution caused by sewage and chemical fertilizers leads to eutrophication and
deoxygenation of water bodies killing the aquatic animals.

 Water pollution caused by toxic industrial wastes kills fish and other aquatic animals

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General methods of treatment of water pollution
Before raw sewage can be safely released back into the
environment, it needs to be treated correctly in a water treatment
plant. Where sewage goes through a number of chambers and
chemical processes to reduce the amount and toxicity of the waste.

Denitrification is an ecological approach that can be used to

prevent the leaching of nitrates in soil, this in turn stops any
ground water from being contaminated with nutrients.

Septic tanks treat sewage at the place where it is located, rather

than transporting the waste through a treatment plant or
sewage system. Septic tanks are usually used to treat sewage
from an individual building.

Ozone wastewater treatment is a method that is increasing in

popularity. An ozone generator is used to break down pollutants
in the water source. The generators convert oxygen into ozone
by using ultraviolet radiation or by an electric discharge field. 7
 Dangers of water pollution
 Virtually all types of water pollution are harmful to the health of humans and
animals. Water pollution may not damage our health immediately but can be
harmful after long term exposure.

 Heavy metals from industrial processes can accumulate in nearby lakes and
rivers. These are toxic to marine life and subsequently to the humans who eat
them. It can slow development; result in birth defects and are carcinogenic.

 Microbial water pollution is a major problem in the developing world, with

diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever being the primary cause of infant
mortality.

 Organic matter and nutrients causes an increase in aerobic algae and depletes
oxygen from the water column. This causes the suffocation of fish and other
aquatic organisms.

 Sulfate particles from acid rain can cause harm the health of marine life in the
rivers and lakes it contaminates, and can result in mortality.

 Suspended particles in freshwater reduces the quality of drinking water for

humans and the aquatic environment for marine life. Suspended particles can
often reduce the amount of sunlight penetrating the water, disrupting the
growth of photosynthetic plants and micro-organisms.

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 WHAT CAN WE DO

If we want to help keep our waters clean, there are many things we can do to
help. We can prevent water pollution of nearby rivers and lakes as well as
groundwater and drinking water by following some simple guidelines in our
everyday life.
 Conserve water by turning off the tap when running water is not necessary. This
helps prevent water shortages and reduces the amount f contaminated water that
needs treatment.
 Be careful about what we throw down our sink or toilet. Don't throw paints, oils or
other forms of litter down the drain.
 Use environmentally household products, such as washing powder, household
cleaning agents and toiletries.
 Take great care not to overuse pesticides and fertilisers. This will prevent runoffs
of the material into nearby water sources.
 By having more plants in your garden we are preventing fertilizer, pesticides and
contaminated water from running off into nearby water sources.
 Don't throw litter into rivers, lakes or oceans. Help clean up any litter you see on
beaches or in rivers and lakes, make sure it is safe to collect the litter and put it in
a nearby dustbin.

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 CONCLUSION
Water covers over 70% of the Earth's surface and is a very important resource for
people and the environment. Water pollution affects drinking water, rivers, lakes
and oceans all over the world. This consequently harms human health and the
natural environment. Holy Ganga is suffering from most by oil refineries,
distilleries, and tanneries beside sewage. Unfortunately the Government control
the pollution during “KUMBH”. Animals exhibit by showing their dead bodies on
surface of water and poor phytodiversity appear due to polluted oil in water.
Whereas acid rains over water create aquatic deserts by lowering pH and adding
poisonous compounds to the ecosystem and killing all the biodiversity lakes, gulfs
and sea coasts. Unfortunately Indian ocean and Arabic ocean have become
garbage box for radioactive wastes which dissolves in water and contaminate it
resulting carcinogenic effects. Lets start making people aware of this problem and
preventive measures. If we still concern about our environment, it is better for us
to do some good things that will help us in reducing the water pollution so we can
keep our future better for our coming generation.

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