Water pollution is a large set of adverse effects upon water bodies (lakes, rivers, oceans, groundwater) caused by human activities.

Although natural phenomena such as volcanoes, storms, earthquakes etc.

also cause major changes in water quality and the ecological status of water, these are not deemed to be pollution.

Water pollution has many causes and characteristics.

Increases in nutrient loading may lead to eutrophication.

Organic wastes such as sewage and farm waste impose high oxygen demands on the receiving water leading to oxygen depletion with potentially severe impacts on the whole eco-system.

Industries discharge a variety of pollutants in their wastewater including heavy metals, organic toxins, oils, nutrients, and solids.

Discharges can also have thermal effects, especially those from power stations, and these too reduce the available oxygen.

Silt-bearing runoff from many activities including construction sites, forestry and farms can inhibit the penetration of sunlight through the water column restricting photosynthesis and causing blanketing of the lake or river bed which in turns damages the ecology..

For more information about the topic Water pollution, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:

Eutrophication — Eutrophication is the enrichment of an ecosystem with chemical nutrients, typically compounds containing nitrogen, phosphorus, or both. ...  > read more

Surface runoff — Surface runoff is water, from rain, snowmelt, or other sources, that flows over the land surface, and is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff ...  > read more

Sewage treatment — Sewage treatment is the process that removes the majority of the contaminants from waste-water or sewage and produces both a liquid effluent suitable ...  > read more

Soil contamination — Soil contamination is the presence of man-made chemicals or other alteration to the natural soil environment. This type of contamination typically ...  > read more

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