Causes and Solutions of Water Pollution PHYSICSBY JULIET OWUSU MAY 2007

OUR EARTH WHICH IS MADE UP OF 70% OF WATER

Water which is a fluid, is the most precious natural resource on earth. It takes up over 70% of the earth’s surface. Our bodies are made up of 81% of. The bodies of water help the solar system to go on. So it is no wonder that it has come to the attention of many when our waters are being polluted. Although people are aware of this danger of pollution they are not doing any thing about it. Here are some of the causes of water pollution: FERTILIZER Contains nitrates and phosphates. When fertilizer is washed off into drains, rivers and streams the nitrate and phosphate causes the algae and aquatic plants to grow excessively. When these plants grow they clog up pipes, block water ways and prevent water from going where it is supposed to go. This causes the aquatic organisms to not receive any oxygen which causes them to die off. INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES Hazardous wastes such as heavy metals and radioactive materials are thrown into underground water when it is not needed anymore. These wastes are showing up in places such as Florida and Ohio. These things are dangerous because it is coming into contact with our drinking water. SEWAGE Waste water is discharged into rivers and streams without being treated. These rivers and streams are the drinking water for many small countries. They are also the homes for many water creatures such as fishes and frogs. AIR POLLUTION Mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitric oxides and ammonia deposits out of the air and causes problems such as mercury contamination in fish and acidification of lakes.

A SEWER SYSTEM

HEAT When water temperature increases the aquatic organisms die off because their bodies are not used to that kind of temperature. When water temperature increases it is usually caused by factories and power plants which are cooling discharges of water. There is 97.2% of ocean water available which is salt water. The other 2.8% is fresh water. (In terms of 100%) if 82% of the fresh water is ice caps and glaciers, 14.3% is groundwater, 2.4 % is surface water and 1.2% is air and soil then what are we left with? Almost nothing. Polluting the little bit of fresh water that we have will result in dehydration. The 97. 2% of ocean water that is left is salt water. We cannot depend on this water because salt water is not suitable for drinking. If the salt was to be rid off it will be a very expensive project. Even then ocean water is also being polluted by discharged used water, melted snow and, agricultural fields and many others. Fresh water is not going to be around always. Some people might not believe this but it is possible. If our water was to be a target and contaminated during a war or by American enemies or by terrorists we won’t have any source of water.

Smoke from Pipes which are Helping to Cause more Pollution

Some might say that when this incident occurs or when it is about to occur we can reserve water in water bottles. This is not such a great idea because bottles water can be very harmful to us. It doesn’t have fluoride so our teeth can be ruined. And there’s only so many months that water can be preserved before going bad. Water pollution is very dangerous because it does not stay in the town or city or the country where the act was committed. Rather it travels to other places. It contaminate the waters of the places. This can be very harmful to slow economies that don’t have the tools necessary to clean their drinking waters such Mozambique which depends on their streams and rivers for water. Water pollution is also slowly killing off many species and destroying the ecosystem. When pesticides, fertilizers and hazardous chemicals come into contact with our drinking water it becomes contaminated. This will not be an easy thing to get rid of because it is a very expensive thing to deal with. The Akosombo dam which is located in Accra, Ghana has been draining out in the last couple of years. The population in Ghana has increased in the last couple of years which means more water for the peoples needs. Due to this water has been used up rapidly and contributed to the drainage of the dam. The dam provides electricity to the city of Accra and the and its surrounding cities in Ghana. This is a big issue since many people depend on electricity in this city. Ghana is not a well developed country so the little that they have they depend on it to a very high extent. During the two raining seasons in Ghana, the country receives a great amount of rainfall. Since little under developed towns depend on the rivers, the wells the ponds and the springs it is very hard for them to get water during the rain seasons because wastes are washed off into those wells, ponds, springs and rivers. People are unable to get water and it causes a lot of problems. When developed nations recycle and put things where they belong because they have the equipments to do so it helps those under developed nations because then the pollution doesn’t increase and add them to their mess. Rather it helps keep their pollution down. This then helps the Ghanaian to clean their waters faster so that they can go back to using them faster. If things don’t change the Akosombo dam would be used up adding to the dam being drained out by vaporization and cause Ghana to lose al its electricity. Solutions There are so many great ways to prevent water pollution. Reducing the amount of hair spray we use, recycling and using less water are some ways to prevent water pollution. Some other excellent ways of preventing water pollution are as follows:

Using crops that can absorb nitrogen in the air can help keep water pollution at a lower rate. There would be a lesser need for fertilizers. Using crops that can absorb nitrogen in the air can help keep water pollution at a lower rate. There would be a lesser need for fertilizers. Prevent toxic wastes from reaching sewers so that sewers would only bring good water to lakes and streams. Prevent toxic wastes from reaching sewers so that sewers would only bring good water to lakes and streams. Raw wastes usually comes from our sinks and toilets and add on to the wastes that are already in sewers. Reducing the amounts of water that we use in our homes can help reduce the amount of filth that that is distributed to the sewers. Raw wastes usually comes from our sinks and toilets and add on to the wastes that are already in sewers. Reducing the amounts of water that we use in our homes can help reduce the amount of filth that that is distributed to the sewers. Encouraging factories to use less hazardous chemicals will allow less mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitric oxides and ammonia to get into the air which will then allow fishes to breathe better. Encouraging factories to use less hazardous chemicals will allow less mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitric oxides and ammonia to get into the air which will then allow fishes to breathe better. Use less hot water. Use less hot water. Use less energy during the day time. Use less energy during the day time. Find different methods for getting rid of radioactive materials. Find different methods for getting rid of radioactive materials. Don’t let the water run while brushing your teeth. Don’t let the water run while brushing your teeth. Use non phosphate or low phosphate detergents. Use non phosphate or low phosphate detergents. Throw tissue, dead insects and other wastes into the trash can instead of the toilet. Throw tissue, dead insects and other wastes into the trash can instead of the toilet. Don’t dump used motor oil on the ground or sewers. Instead take it to services stations where they are recycled. Don’t dump used motor oil on the ground or sewers. Instead take it to services stations where they are recycled. Pick up after your dog so that it would not wash off after it rains. Pick up after your dog so that it would not wash off after it rains. Don’t dump hazardous household products such as cleaning solvents, polishes and pool chemicals Don’t dump hazardous household products such as cleaning solvents, polishes and pool chemicals

drains, sinks or toilets. Theses products contain harmful substances such as petroleum distillates, cresol and ammonia. Don’t wash paint brushes in driveways. Don’t wash paint brushes in driveways. After mowing the lawn don’t wash the clippings down the driveway. After mowing the lawn don’t wash the clippings down the driveway. Don’t change the car oil in the driveway because it runs down the sidewalk and into the drains. Don’t change the car oil in the driveway because it runs down the sidewalk and into the drains. Using these alternatives can help marine life and also help our human races to go on longer. It is not an easy thing to do but if we all come together and participate more water would be available to us. Using these techniques not only prevent water pollution but it also help to conserve water. Using these alternatives can help marine life and also help our human races to go on longer. It is not an easy thing to do but if we all come together and participate more water would be available to us. Using these techniques not only prevent water pollution but it also help to conserve water. We are so accustomed to getting clean fresh water that we do not realize the harm we are bringing to others. If we don’t take care of the water which we are not using others will be left with nothing. Many countries do not have the access to good, clean, healthy water like we do here the United State. Those countries depend solely on rivers and streams for water. Even there they are not getting the water they deserve because it is being polluted. We are so accustomed to getting clean fresh water that we do not realize the harm we are bringing to others. If we don’t take care of the water which we are not using others will be

left with nothing. Many countries do not have the access to good, clean, healthy water like we do here the United State. Those countries depend solely on rivers and streams for water. Even there they are not getting the water they deserve because it is being polluted. Global warming is a big issue right now and it is due to a combination of things. Water pollution being one of the main reasons. Temperatures are changing drastically and many are wondering why that is. It is because our world is being filled with chemicals and pollutants such as the ones mentioned above. People need to watch what they are using on a daily basis. Limiting or cutting down on some things we use such as sprays will help decrease pollution. Recycling will also help water pollution because when we leave bottles lying around they end up in the oceans, streams or rivers. Water pollution is hurting the aquatic organisms to a very high degree. When these sea creatures don’t get any oxygen and they start to dies off other sea creatures are not able to get food. They depend on one another for food. Animals such as Polar Bears depend on the cold climates to survive so global warming affects them a lot. With drastic temperature changes the ice are all melting which prevents these Polar Bears from feeding. Polar Bears are dying off due to this. Pollution is a big thing and it affects all living and non living things.

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