1. Impacts on Water How do humans use water as a resource?
How can pollution affect water quality?
What actions help prevent water pollution?

2. Water as a Resource
Most water use in the United States is by power plants to generate electricity and to cool equipment.

3. Sources of Water Pollution (cont.)
Point-source pollution is pollution from a single source that can be identified.
Pollution from several widespread sources that cannot be traced back to a single location is called nonpoint-source pollution.
Most of the water pollution in the United States comes from nonpoint sources and is therefore harder to control.

4. Sources of Water Pollution

5. Sources of Water Pollution

6. Positive Actions
Efforts to reduce water pollution focus on prevention, rather than clean-up.
The U.S. works with other countries and has its own laws to help maintain water quality.
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7. Positive Actions (cont.)
Individuals can help reduce water pollution by reducing their use of harmful chemicals, like household cleaners, and disposing of waste containing pollutants safely.