What is water pollution?
Q: What is water pollution?
A: Water pollution is the contamination of bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, seas, the oceans, as well as groundwater by pollutants from untreated waste.
Q: How does water pollution occur?
A: Water pollution occurs when pollutants from waste of homes, factories, and other buildings reach bodies of water without being treated.
Q: What are the effects of water pollution on species and ecosystems?
A: Water pollution can affect plants and organisms living in the water, damaging not only individual species and populations but also the wider biological communities.
Q: What are some sources of water pollution?
A: Agriculture is one of the major sources of water pollution, as fertilizers given to crops for better growth are washed into rivers and lakes, which in turn pollutes the water. Additionally, pollutants like nitrates, phosphates, oil, acid rain and debris such as sediment and fallen logs can pollute bodies of water.
Q: How does water pollution affect humans?
A: When people and animals consume water from polluted rivers, the poisonous chemicals may affect them. Humans who consume fish from polluted water may also have health problems.
Q: How can water pollution be prevented?
A: Water pollution can be prevented by treating waste before reaching bodies of water and by adopting environmentally friendly farming practices that reduce the amount of pollutants entering water sources.
Q: What color does polluted water typically appear as?
A: Polluted water usually appears as green or brown, but normal water can be blue.
