WATER POLLUTION

Uses of water
Water is used in the following ways:

Crop and livestock

farming

Domestic
uses
Drinking
Cleaning
Cooking

Industrial
processes

How does water get contaminated?

When water is consumed

it gets contaminated.

Water quality is not good

enough for certain uses.

When water is polluted can cause

damage to living organisms.

Water pollution coming from agriculture

1. Farmers use:
Fertilisers
Pesticides

2. Organic waste
from farms: Animal
excrements.

3. Water containing concentrations of theses products

returns to rivers and lakes by rainwater and irrigation.

Water pollution coming from domestic uses

Urban waste water contains:

Faecal waste
Detergents

Rivers and lakes pollution

Organic matter in
faecal waste enhances
the growth of bacteria.

These bacteria consume all the oxygen dissolved in

water, avoiding the survival of other forms of life.
These bacteria can cause diseases.

Water pollution coming from industry

The primary chemical pollutants

are the ones containing:
Lead

Mercury

Other pollutants
come from oil spill.

WATER EUTROPHICATION
Water pollution: PHOSPHATES and NITRATES from detergents, fertilisers, organic waste, etc.

DEATH OF THE ECOSYSTEM

Wastewater treatment
1. SCREENING STAGE
Screening removes large
objects.

2. PRIMARY TREATMENT
Organic solid matter is
separated from the
wastewater

3. SECONDARY TREATMENT
Air is pumped into the
water to allow bacteria to
breakdown the tiny bits of
sludge that escaped the
sludge scrapping process.

4. FINAL TREATMENT
Finally, it is filtered
through a bed of sand
to remove any
additional particles.

Drinking water treatment

4. DISINFECTION
Different
disinfection
methods are
applied to kill any
bacteria and other
organisms that
may be in water.

1. COAGULATION
Chemicals are
added to the water,
to trap suspended
particles to form
floc.

2. SEDIMENTATION
These heavier particles are
stuck to form sediments,
sinking to the bottom.

3. FILTRATION
Water passes slowly through
this chamber, and sediments
are filtered out over layers
of sand, charcoal and gravel.

This process takes place at water purification plants

5. STORAGE
The water is passed
into large storage
tanks, from which
huge pipes are
connected to
transport water to our
homes.

Effects of water pollution

DEATH OF AQUATIC
ANIMALS

DISRUPTION OF
FOOD CHAINS

Little fish eat

pollutants (lead
and cadmium)

DESTRUCTION
OF ECOSYSTEMS

Interaction of living organisms in ecosystems can be severely

damaged or destroyed.

DISEASES

Big fish eat

tiny fish.

Humans
also eat fish.

People can get diseases by eating seafood that has been

poisoned.
In many poor nations, there is outbreak of cholera as a result
of poor drinking water treatment from contaminated waters.

Water preservation
Water is a renewable
resource

Use water wisely:

Turn off the tap
when brushing
your teeth.

But only if it isnt

polluted faster than
it gets purified!

If you have plants,

take care not to
overuse pesticides
and fertilisers.

Be careful about what

you throw down your
sink or toilet (it is not
a wastebasket!).

Dont throw
litter into rivers,
lakes or oceans.