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WPSS
How is Water Pollution Caused?
How is Water Pollution Caused
Water pollution can actually surprisingly be caused in many different ways, not just from littering or plastic in our oceans. As human population will increase over time, more freshwater will be on demand, but if we keep trashing it, soon we will have no more water left to drink, threatening ALL human population. Other ways that our water can be polluted is from toxic waste. when water is ran through or used in nuclear plants and other plants like that, then the water that is used is waste. when the waste water is dumped back into the lakes and our drinking system, it pollutes our water.
Oil being carelessly poured into our waters
Agriculture - One of the world's largest freshwater user
Farming and livestock uses almost 70% of the entire earth's freshwater supply, which is less than 1% of all water in the world, but it is also a huge water polluter. Fertilizers and animal waste get washed into waterways when it rains, washing all sorts of bacteria, viruses, and other nasty things down back into our drinking water. So technically, we are using water, then dumping the dirty water back down into our drinking glass.
Rainfall
Normally, rainfall is associated with good. However, rainfall is actually extremely dangerous when you combine it with human activity. Rainfall carries road salts, oil, grease, and all sort of chemical that we leave on the road into waterways, and again, back into drinking water. 80% of the world's wastewater flows back into the environment without being treated, or reused.
Radioactive Waste
Radioactive waste is generated from uranium mining, nuclear power plants, the process of making military weapons, and hospitals that use radioactive materials for research and medicine. Radioactive waste is emitting radiation beyond, let's say, the power plants. They are being emitted into the environment, which is a huge contributor towards water pollution.
Toxic Algae
Every time it rains, fertilizers, animal waste, and pesticides come from farms, and wash out nutrients. These things pollute nutrients, causing toxic algae blooms that are harmful to plants, animals and humans. You can read more about this on the "How Water Pollution Affects Biodiversity" page.
