Most people have some idea of what the term water pollution means. The most obvious definition is anything that makes water unsuitable to drink or negatively impacts the marine life that lives in it. In more scientific terms, water pollutants can be put into a few basic categories.

One of the categories, or classes of water pollutants are wastes that enter a water source a deplete it of oxygen. Some compounds naturally bond with oxygen and other wastes foster the growth of bacteria that consume oxygen. When bacteria build up in the water they use up the waters oxygen supply and all other animals that rely on the waters oxygen supply die.

When sewage waste is spilled into a water source the water becomes polluted because of the introduction of illness causing bacteria. Parasitic worms have also been found in waters where waste had been released. In some countries across the globe waste being dumped into clean water sources is a serious problem. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency has passed regulations and monitors waste treatment companies to make sure they are properly treating all waste and not allowing any contaminants to spill into water sources. Occasionally, accidents will occur at these treatment plants and waste will spill into a river or lake. When that happens, extensive clean up is required.

One of the largest threats to the health of the United States water is the introduction of organic compounds. Oil spills account for a number of water pollution disasters throughout history. Oil is just one of the dangerous organic compounds that can affect the eco systems that call rivers, oceans, and lakes home. The chemicals used in farming can also be harmful and cause massive water pollution. While these chemicals are not usually introduced into the water intentionally they often are carried from farms by rain into our ground water or near by lakes and rivers.

Radioactive compounds are probably something you have heard of and you should take any threat of their presence in your water very seriously. They are some of the most dangerous to humans when they are introduced into our groundwater. These compounds have been linked to cancer in humans, and also sever genetic mutation and birth defects. These chemicals sometimes make their way into groundwater as a result of a corporate accident or irresponsible business practices.

The treat of any of these is the water you drink at home is rather low because in the United States the EPA in conjunction with local government agencies monitors the safety of the water consumed by all Americans. Lab tests are preformed on samples of water sources that are thought to be contaminated. Many scientists search for signs of water pollution by simply observing the marine life in a certain area. Increased algae populations and other small eco system changes can be indicators that something has altered the natural state of a given body of water.

Water pollution affects the lives of both animals and humans world wide. The first step to preventing water pollution is understanding what it is and what causes it.

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