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env5, Calvary Temple A.G, Liberia Question:

 

We are concern about water pollution and its impact on the earth hydrosphere. We have join a number of environmental group on the advocacy for WATSAN(water and sanitation)program. A program highlighting the importance of water and control of water pollution from domestic sewage.Your response to the following questions will help us in our advocacy. 

1. What can we do as future citizen to help save the earth waters from pollutants that are detrimental to marine plant and animals and that may have subsequent impact one safe drinking water.

2. Do your country have a clean water act to help protect waters from pollutants?If yes,how has the clean water act been effective in mitigated water pollution control.If no,What policy or program are into place to help control water pollution.

3.What are some point source of water pollution in your country?What regulatory measures are in place to control the flow of pollutants from these source.

4What is your advised or any additional comments about water pollution and control?

 

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Answer from env1

 

1. What can we do as future citizen to help save the earth waters from pollutants that are detrimental to marine plant and animals and that may have subsequent impact one safe drinking water.

WAYS TO CONTROL WATER POLLUTION

1. By treating sewage before being released. 

Sewage should be treated being released so that incase it would be drained into water bodies it would have no effect to the aquatic life of plants and animals.

 

2. Educate people on the importance of clean water.

Citizens should be educated on the importance of taking care of the environment to avoid pollution of water and therefore make it clean for human use and survival water plants and animals.

 

3. Coming up with policies that will guard water from pollution

The government should come up with policies that would not allow disposal of untreated wastes to water bodies.

 

4. Projects of cleaning water bodies

Citizens should come up in projects that allow cleaning of polluted rivers like in Nairobi city where the people have cleaned the Nairobi river which now has clean water safe for human consumption.

 

                                             

 

5. Charging firms that pollute the water bodies

The money got from the firms should be used to support the projects setup to stop water pollution.

 

 

2. Do your country have a clean water act to help protect waters from pollutants?If yes,how has the clean water act been effective in mitigated water pollution control.If no,What policy or program are into place to help control water pollution.

WATER CONSERVATION

Our country conserves water methods.

MWETHYA CROUP CREATING FANYA-JUU TERRACES

The basis of the system is the development of bench terraces over a period of time. The main technique used is fanya-juu terracing. This means, in Kiswahili, "do-up" and it refers to the way that soil is thrown up the slope from a ditch to form an earth embankment or bund. Several of these terrace banks are made across a field, on the contour, and over time the land between the bunds levels off. The field then develops the characteristic "steps" of bench terraces (see technical section). Soil and rainwater are conserved between the fanya-juu bunds.

 

ERODED GRAZING LAND

Erosion of Grazing Land:

Although most of the cropped land is well conserved, there is a serious problem with erosion of grazing land. An appropriate approach to this problem needs to be developed.

Alternative Techniques:

Fanya-juu terracing is costly in terms of the considerable labour it requires. The project recognises this and has recently begun to work with cheaper alternatives such as vegetative strips and agro-forestry techniques. In drier areas, some sort of water harvesting system would be more appropriate.

Vegetation of Terrace Banks: 

The Ministry recommends that terrace banks should be planted with fodder species, such as bane grass. So far this has been poorly adopted by farmers, with the result that the banks are prone to erosion. Part of the problem is an inadequate supply of planting material and a lack of transport.

Shortage of Tools: 

There is a shortage of hand tools in Machakos. Tools wear out quickly in the hard soil, and some groups are hindered by a lack of implements to work with.

Monitoring: 

Although this is one of the best examples of soil conservation in sub-Saharan Africa, there is little information on the effect of conservation on crop yields or farm incomes. The project accepts that monitoring needs to be improved.

The Poorest Households: 

The poorest households, which are often headed by women, frequently miss out on the benefits of soil conservation. A way of assisting poorer households in the community needs to be found.

Other Districts: 

Machakos and neighbouring Kitui have an especially good record for soil conservation. But the programme has not yet been as effective elsewhere in Kenya. Where self-help groups are not part of the local tradition, and where returns from conservation are not so immediate, the techniques and approach need to be modified.

 

 

3.What are some point source of water pollution in your country?What regulatory measures are in place to control the flow of pollutants from these source.

SOURCES WATER POLLUTION

1. Factories

2. Homes

3. Public vehicles

4. Untreated sewage

Laws and regulations are being implemented in both sectors to ensure reduction in water pollution.

 

 

4.What is your advised or any additional comments about water pollution and control?

COMMENT

People should come up with a free water day that would involve cleaning of polluted water and teaching the public a bout water conservation.

 

 

env1, Kenya, Chavakali High School

 

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Answer from env2

 What can we do as future citizen to help save the earth waters from pollutants that are detrimental to marine plant and animals and that may have subsequent impact one safe drinking water.

If you want to help keep our waters clean, there are many things you can do to help

• Conserve water by turning off the tap when running water is not necessary. This helps prevent water shortages and reduces the amount of contaminated water that needs treatment.
•  Be careful about what you throw down your sink or toilet. Don’t throw paints, oils or other forms of litter down the drain.
•  Use environmentally friendly household products
•  Take great care not to overuse pesticides and fertilisers. This will prevent runoffs of the material into nearby water sources.
•  By having more plants in your garden you are preventing fertiliser, pesticides and contaminated water from running off into nearby water sources.
•  Don’t throw litter into rivers, lakes or oceans.

  Do your country have a clean water act to help protect waters from pollutants?If yes,how has the clean water act been effective in mitigated water pollution control.If no,What policy or program are into place to help control water pollution.

 Yes, Canada has the Canada Water Act. This act coversthe management of the water resources of Canada, including research and the planning and implementation of programs relating to the conservation, development and utilization of water resources. Pollution of the water resources in Canada is a significant threat to the health, well-being and prosperity of the people of Canada and to the quality of the Canadian environment and this concern continues to increase. As a result it has become a great concern and measures have been taken to provide for water quality management in those areas of Canada most critically affected.

 

The goals of this act are to:

• To protect and enhance the quality of the water resource
•  To promote the wise and efficient management and use of water

 

These goals are set to be achieved through:

• Water pricing
•  Science leadership
•  Integrated planning
•  Legislation
•  Public awareness

 

To find out for information about Canada’s Water Acts and various policies, go to:‪http://www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?lang=En&n=D11549FA-1 

 What are some point source of water pollution in your country? What regulatory measures are in place to control the flow of pollutants from these source.

 

Sources of Pollution in Canada

• Surface and ground water in Canada are generally clean but can become locally or regionally polluted.
•  Pollution enters water bodies in many ways, including industrial and municipal waste, runoff, spills, and deposition of airborne pollutants
•  Most often Canadian water systems are polluted by municipal, agricultural and industrial wastes, including many toxic synthetic chemicals which cannot be broken down at all by natural processes. Even in tiny amounts, some of these substances can cause serious harm.
•  Sometimes waste can come from natural sources, for example highly salty terrain that can be washed into water systems.
•  Canada has 7% of the freshwater in the world so it is even more important to protect our water systems, one of our greatest natural resources

 

Regulatory Measures in Canada

• In the 2007/2008 Action Plan for Clean Water, the Canadian government made many announcement surrounding the protection of water systems
•  The government regulates how waste is managed in specific industries like metal mines and pulp and paper
•  The government is beginning to regulate how much toxic chemicals can be produced, including BPA
•  The government is also looking to regulate phosphates in common household items like shampoo. Phosphates cause excessive blue-green algae growth in lakes and rivers
•  The government is also looking to create more regulations under the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent under the Fisheries Act for more than 4,000 wastewater facilities
•  Many specialists test water at over 3000 sites in Canada to gather information on the quality of water and water is being researched at the National Water Research Institute
•  Grants are given by the Canadian government to upgrade some wastewater treatment facilities
•  The Canadian government invested $2.5 million in the United Nations Environment Program’s GEMS

 

For more information visit: http://www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?lang=En&n=E86BC86A-1

 

 

 

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Answer from env3

 

 

1)      What can we do as future citizens to help save the earth waters from pollutants that are detrimental to marine plant and animals and that may have subsequent impact one safe drinking water?

 

As future citizens, we can help save the earth waters from pollutants by not throwing garbage into the waters, not pouring down chemicals down the drain, and pesticides should be used less so it does not go into the water. Also, we can raise awareness by holding programs to teach the public about the damage done to water because of human activity and use environmentally friendly household products often.

 

2)      Does your country have a clean water act to help protect waters from pollutants? If yes, how has the clean water act been effective in mitigated water pollution control? If no, what policy or program is into place to help control water pollution?

 

Canada’s Clean Water Act helps protect drinking water from source to tap with a multi-barrier approach that stops contaminants from entering sources of drinking water - lakes, rivers and aquifers.

Ontario's Clean Water Act:

• requires that local communities - through local Source Protection Committees - assess existing and potential threats to their water, and that they set out and implement the actions needed to reduce or eliminate these threats
• empowers communities to take action to prevent threats from becoming significant
• requires public participation on every local source protection plan - the planning process for source protection is open to anyone in the community
• Requires that all plans and actions are based on sound science.

 

3)      What are some point sources of water pollution in your country? What regulatory measures are in place to control the flow of pollutants from the sources?

 

Some point sources of water pollution in our country are gasoline, pesticides, chemicals, harmful human activity, and garbage in water. The regulatory measures we have in place to control the flow of pollutants from the sources are having a limit to the concentration of the sources, having certain places/areas to put the polluting substances in, we control the how much we import and export to and from countries of substances, and the pollutants are  labelled and packaged properly.

 

4)      What is your advice or additional comments about water pollution and control?

Our advice for water pollution and control is to use fewer chemicals, use less water, and provide more resources to teach the public about what negative effects can impact our planet when we pollute water.

 

References:

1. "What Can You Do? « Water Pollution." What Can You Do? « Water Pollution. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. <http://www.water-pollution.org.uk/preventingyou.html>.
1. "Pollution Facts." Pollution Endangers Humans Animals Plants. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. <http://www.keepbanderabeautiful.org/pollution.html?gclid=CMjUhMnUhK8CFQIBQAod5Ail0w>.
2. "Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (S.C. 1999, C. 33)." Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. <http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-15.31/page-77.html>.
3. "Clean Water Act." Ministry of the Environment. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. <http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/environment/en/legislation/clean_water_act/index.htm>.
4.  

 

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Answer from env4

 

1. There are quite a few ways we can save earth waters from pollutants that are detrimental to marine plants and animals and that may have subsequent impact on safe drinking water. I believe that the first and most beneficial way, is going green! The littlest things do make a difference. First off, you can turn off the water when you are brushing your teeth. As well, drinking bottled water is a huge contribution to water pollution. When the bottle is tossed away, the unrecyclable plastics make it's way into the lakes and oceans which would then cause our water to be polluted. Being inconsiderate about water in this century is not acceptable for our future generations. Many individuals do not know what to do with leftover paints and oils, so they drain it down the sinks. This affects water quality because those countries who do have tap water, may sometimes not be filtered thoroughly, and these are the toxins that end up in our body. This not only affects us humans, but living sea creatures as well. Mercury content would rise and affect the seafood we eat which is extremely hazardous to our health. Garbage bins and recycling bins should be placed at more locations so that it doesn't give individuals to litter. Plastics and other types of garbage should always be sorted into their specific bins so that it does not contaminate our water sources. We do not want to live in a generation where we don't have clean drinking water, so we should take action as soon as we can.




2. Canada is home to over 34 million people and contains 891,163 km2 masses of water. In order to keep all of Canadian’s safe, and provide them with clean drinking water, it is a necessity to have a Clean Water Act. Although the Water Act is deferent in each province, indeed there is one to protect Canadian’s for the present and the future. With that said, we are located in the province of Ontario, home to over 13 million people, containing 158,654 km2 masses of water. Ontario is surrounded by four of the five Great Lakes and we have more than a quarter of a million lakes, rivers, streams and rich groundwater resources. The Clean Water Act is a law enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Canada to protect drinking water from source to tap with a multi-barrier approach that stops contaminants such as from industrial sources, sewage systems, chemicals in use at farms, or any other source, even rainwater containing particulates from polluted air from entering sources of drinking water such as lakes, rivers and aquifers. The Clean Water Act, Bill 43, created on October 18, 2006,ensures that every Ontarian has access to safe drinking water and lays out how Drinking Water Source Protection will be carried out in Ontario. The Clean Water Act also includes the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program which offers financial assistance to farmers, landowners, and small or medium businesses for activities that reduce threats to local drinking water sources. Ontario Environment Minister Laurel Broten , the enforcer of this act states that "Our government is committed to protecting the environment and the health of all Ontarians," said Broten. "Today, and into the future, we all deserve to be fully confident that our drinking water is reliable and clean." The Clean Water Act has proven this statement.

Ontario's Clean Water Act:

• “requires that local communities - through local Source Protection Committees - assess existing and potential threats to their water, and that they set out and implement the actions needed to reduce or eliminate these threats”
• “empowers communities to take action to prevent threats from becoming significant”
• “requires public participation on every local source protection plan - the planning process for source protection is open to anyone in the community”
• “requires that all plans and actions are based on sound science.”

A number of actions are taken to prevent our water from becoming contaminated, including using up to date water treatment systems, ensuring that the pipes, water mains and storage towers are in good repair, water testing and training water managers. If individuals or companies aren’t respecting the Act, there are consequences. For individuals convicted under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the fines range between $20,000 and $7 million or could be imprisoned depending on the offence. For corporations convicted under the Act, the maximum fines range from $100,000 to $10 million, depending on the offence.

After years of these rules being in full tack, Ontarian’s have become more attentive of pollution of drinking water and contamination. We have come to the conclusion that our drinking water is a main source of survival and that we must follow the rules and accept the consequences of contaminating our water to keep us and future generations safe and healthy.



3. The main sources of water pollution in Canada would be the industrial, municipal and agricultural wastes. The run off from garbage disposal sites, seepage from waste treatment plants, sewage and illegal dumping which are municipal wastes, greatly contributes to polluting lakes, rivers and groundwater. Agricultural wastes, fertilizers and pesticides are also capable of polluting our water because of precipitation that causes the excess to run off of farmland and into nearby water sources. Finally, one of the most widely recognized source of pollution in general, industrial gases, are also water pollutants.The carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide from manufacturing and milling plants creates smog that mixes with rain to form acid rain. Acid rain would not only contaminate our water resources but our land as well. It could slow down tree growth, clear lakes with no fish or good vegetation. Industrial discharge from factories and production plants also contain many toxic synthetic chemicals that cannot be broken down by natural processes. Some of these substances, even in tiny amounts, can cause serious harm. These toxic elements include PCBs, mercury, iron, lead, nickel, zinc, cadmium, arsenic and dioxin. They not only pollute the location they were released in but they also affect the ecosystem of the drainage basin to all the way to the ocean.
In Canada we also have many regulatory measures in place to control the flow of pollutants from these sources. We have a significant network of specialists that collect water quality data and monitor the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of our water from more than 3,000 sites across Canada. There are also many Water Pollution Control Centres or Sewage Treatment Facilities across Canada that treat waste water coming from residential, industrial, commercial, and institutional sources. Some also use ultra violet radiation to disinfect the water instead of chlorine to treat all the sewage from the City before sending it into the Lakes. We also have the Pollution Prevention (P2) which focuses on avoiding the creation of pollutants instead of trying to manage them after they have been created. This also includes regulation of specific industries like metal mines and pulp and paper. There is also research being conducted at the National Water Research Institute for water-related issues by sharing scientific knowledge needed to resolve environmental issues and sustain our natural resources and freshwater ecosystems.




4. Some ways to prevent water pollution is conserving water, since the less you use, the less water would be running down drains and gutters, carrying pollutants with it. Keep pet litter and debris out of street gutters. Decrease your use of pesticides or just use compost to fertilize your garden. People tend to use 10 to 50 times more fertilizer than necessary on their lawns and gardens and way more than what is required for good plant health. Keep your vehicles running properly and if you have an oil leak, fix it immediately. If you change your own oil, dispose of the used oil properly. You could also use natural cleaners like baking soda, vinegar and borax, and detergents with less phosphate. Apparently sewage plants can only remove about 30 percent of the phosphates from waste. We also beleive that polluting water is the same as polluting the air. In the end, its going to be at our disadvantage so we should take care of the Earth so that it can take care of us.



References:

http://www.woodroffehs.ocdsb.ca/geomatics/en/pdf/l6b.pdf
http://www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?lang=En&n=E86BC86A-1
http://www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?lang=En&n=B1128A3D-1
http://www.safewater.org/PDFS/resourcesknowthefacts/WaterPollution.pdf
http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=...84f0cebc77
http://www.waymarking.com/cat/details.aspx?f=1&guid=064e3f68-0415-4033-a677-af93c15d86c4&st=2
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/25040437?uid=3739448&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=3737720&uid=4&sid=55979962213
http://www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?lang=En&n=083B1647-1

 

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Answer from env6

 

1. As future leaders, we can protect our water bodies from pollution by doing the following:
a. Keep our water bodies clean by refraining from dumping waste both industrial and domestic.
b. Plant trees along our water bodies to prevent them from extinction.
c. Discourage bush burning along these water bodies.
c. Avoid defecating in water bodies.

2. There is a regulatory body in charge of Water Resources in our country whose task is to ensure that there is clean water for the citizens and also water bodies are preserved. The Environmental Protection Agency in Ghana also collaborate with this outfit to ensure that our water bodies are always clean safe for consumption.

3.  WATER POLLUTION

IN GHANA

•INTRODUCTION

Comprising over 70% of the Earth’s surface, water is certainly the most precious natural resource that exists on our planet.  Without the apparently invaluable compound comprised of hydrogen and oxygen, there would be no life on Earth. Water is essential for everything on our planet to grow and prosper.  Although we as humans recognize this fact, we disregard it by polluting our rivers, lakes, and oceans.     Subsequently, we are slowly but surely harming our planet to the point where organisms are dying at a very alarming rate.

In addition to innocent organisms dying off, our drinking water has become greatly affected as is our ability to use water for recreational purposes.  In order to combat water pollution, we must understand the problems and become part of the solution.

Water pollution is any chemical, physical or biological change in the quality of water that has a harmful effect on any living thing that drinks or uses or lives (in) it. When humans drink polluted water it often has serious effects on their health. Water pollution can also make water unsuited for the desired use.

•CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION

In Ghana, water pollution is usually caused by human activities in the environment. Different human sources add to the pollution of water.

There are many causes for water pollution but two general categories exist: direct and indirect contaminant sources.

Direct sources include effluent outfalls from factories, refineries, and waste treatment plants etc. that emit fluids of varying quality directly into urban water supplies.   

Indirect sources include contaminants that enter the water supply from soils/groundwater systems and from the atmosphere via rain water. Soils and ground waters contain the residue of human agricultural practices (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) and improperly disposed of industrial wastes. Atmospheric contaminants are also derived from human practices (such as gaseous emissions from automobiles, factories and even bakeries).

Solid Wastes: The chief source of water pollution in Ghana is the careless disposal of waste materials. It is common in most coastal (Ocean) belts of Ghana, not forgetting our lagoons where you will find people dumping refuse and human excreta (faeces) into our lagoons and oceans. This practice is mostly found in the Korle Lagoon in Accra.  Also, most of the waste materials come from the industries which come in the form of chemicals and metals affects the smooth flow of rivers.

Oil Spillage: Tema being one of Ghana’s industries cities has many industries whose waste products are mainly oil. This mostly occurs during the production, distribution, and refining stages. These oil spills enter oceans and rivers from faulty and accident tankers as well as offshore oil wells. Also the oil may pollute water from our homes where we spill oil in our gutters which therefore gets into our water bodies.

Sewage: Water pollution also occurs due to untreated sewage from plants, animals, and humans. They create offensive odour, use up the oxygen in waters, and make rivers impossible for human use. A typical example is Tema - New Town, where untreated sewage, are transported into the Chemu Lagoon in the town. If too much oxygen is used, organisms in the water cannot survive. Sewage that is treated could also be harmful because they contain nitrates and phosphates that increase the growth of algae. The algae upset the natural or free flow of rivers and other water bodies.

Agriculture: Agriculture, including commercial livestock and poultry farming, is the source of many organic and inorganic (pesticides and other agro-chemicals) pollutants in surface waters and groundwater.  These contaminants include both sediment from erosion cropland and compounds of phosphorus and nitrogen that partly originate in animal wastes and commercial fertilizers.  Animal wastes are high in oxygen demanding material, nitrogen and phosphorus, and they often harbor pathogenic organisms.  Wastes from commercial feeders are contained and disposed of on land; their main threat to natural waters, therefore, is from runoff and leaching.

Acids: Because mining is one of Ghana’s major activities, there are usual discharges from mining firms in the form of acid mine-water and also acid rain contribute to water pollution.

•EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION

It is a well-known fact that clean water is absolutely essential for healthy living. Adequate supply of fresh and clean drinking water is a basic need for all human beings on the earth, yet it has been observed that millions of people worldwide are deprived of it this due to it effects on our daily activities of polluting it.

Health Problems: Water pollution poses a number of health problems. Water-borne pathogens (that is organisms that present health hazards) can cause such diseases as typhoid, fever, cholera, and hepatitis. Mostly, the point infection is through drinking or swimming the contaminated water.

CauseWater-borne diseases

Bacterial infectionsTyphoid

Cholera

Paratyphoid fever

Bacillary dysentery

Viral infectionsInfectious Hepatitis (jaundice)

Poliomyelitis

Protozoan infectionsAmoebic dysentery

•Water-Borne Diseases

Water-borne diseases are infectious diseases spread primarily through contaminated water. Though these diseases are spread either directly or through flies or filth, water is the chief medium for spread of these diseases and hence they are termed as water-borne diseases.

Most intestinal (enteric) diseases are infectious and are transmitted through faecal waste. Pathogens – which include virus, bacteria, protozoa, and parasitic worms – are disease-producing agents found in the faeces of infected persons.

These diseases are more common in areas with poor sanitary conditions. These pathogens travel through water sources and interfuses directly through persons handling food and water. Since these diseases are highly infectious, extreme care and hygiene should be maintained by people looking after an infected patient. Hepatitis, cholera, dysentery, and typhoid are the more common water-borne diseases that affect large populations in the tropical regions (especially the Northern Region in Ghana).

A large number of chemicals that either exist naturally in the land or are added due to human activity dissolve in the water, thereby contaminating the water and leading to various diseases.

Effects on Aquatic Life: The environmental effect of polluted water on aquatic life is very upsetting. It needs to be emphasized that, solid wastes and sewage create fertile grounds for the germination and growth of algae (sea plants). Algae has faster growing rate and dies at the same rate. After the algae die, they contribute in reducing the level of oxygen in a river, which threatens the habitat of certain fish of economic value. This is very serious because when oxygen levels approach zero, only sludge worms and red blood larvae can survive in rivers. Oil spilled from ships or offshore oil wells and acid rains can also cause pollution that may kill water birds and shellfish.

Destroys Water Bodies: Pollution of water with heavy metals and other toxic wastes may lead to the death of rivers, lakes, and lagoons. The situation becomes more serious when these metals are deposited at the source of these water bodies. This is because it may prevent the flow of water from its source and consequently kill the river.

Effects on the Use of Water: Polluted water also prevents people from using it for domestic purposes. The offensive odour of polluted water, such as the Korle Lagoon in Accra, reduces the amount of pure, fresh water that is available for drinking, washing and swimming.

How to minimize Water Pollution in GhanaThe solutions to these problems are that, raw sewage should be treated before discharged. Also, the Municipal Assemblies and the other assemblies should provide rubbish cans so that rubbish empty tins and plastics can properly be disposed off.

Furthermore, programmes on environmental issues must be organized to educate the public on the need for them to keep the environment clean and also the need for them to organize themselves and go for clean - up exercises. For it is when we THINK GLOBALLY that we can ACT LOCALLY. by Joachim

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Answer from env7

     There are many sources for water pollution but two general categories exist: direct and indirect contaminant sources.
     Direct sources include effluent outfalls from factories, refineries, waste treatment plants etc.. that emit fluids of varying quality directly into urban water supplies.

    Indirect sources include contaminants that enter the water supply from soils/groundwater systems and from the atmosphere via rain water. Soils and ground waters contain the residue of human agricultural practices : fertilizers, pesticides, and improperly disposed of industrial wastes. 

    Farms often use large amounts of herbicides and pesticides, both of which are toxic pollutants. These substances are particularly dangerous to life in rivers, streams and lakes, where toxic substances can build up over a period of time.

Radioactive waste is another source of water pollution. Radioactive substances are used nuclear power plants, industrial, medical and other scientific processes.

Water pollution can be caused by tourists when they go to picnic wash the car in a river.

 

 

     Many people are unaware that a large part of the water pollution problem can be traced right back to their own backyards and homes. It's almost impossible for government agencies to minimize this type of pollution, but you can help solve the problem by following a few simple steps:

1.  Conserve water. Turn off the tap when running water isn't necessary and try to take shorter showers if possible. This not only helps prevent water shortages, but reduces the amount of contaminated water that needs treatment 

2. Don't throw litter into sinks and toilets. Paints, oils and other similar items should be disposed of in the trash.

3. Help clean up litter in water-filled areas. This includes beaches, lake oceans. Make sure it is safe to collect the litter and put it in a nearby dustbin. Contain and compost yard waste. Yard waste that sits around can easily wash into storm drains when it rains. Even if the waste doesn't contain chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides, the introduction of large quantities of sticks, leaves, and grass clippings can overwhelm waterways with unhealthy quantities of nutrients.

4. Use environmentally friendly household products. There are washing powders, cleaning agents and toiletries that are either largely or complete free of chemicals and other water pollutants. 

5. Don't overuse pesticides and fertilizers. This will prevent runoffs of the material into nearby water sources.

6 .Properly store and dispose of your chemicals. Many household chemicals and automotive products are extremely toxic both to humans and other organisms. Protect water quality by making sure these chemicals are stored in tightly sealed containers and that they aren't exposed to extreme temperatures 

7. Reduce the runoff that comes from your property. 

8. Maintain your vehicle. 

9. Replace your lawn and high-maintenance plants with native plants

10. Clean up pet waste

11. Avoid using salt to de-ice walkways. 

12. Maintain your septic system. 

13. Maintain a vegetated buffer between your yard and bodies of water.

 Here are some tips:

• Household products such as electronics, batteries, and thermometers also often contain toxic substances. If you're not sure whether something is hazardous, check with your local waste management or environmental protection department, or do some research online.
• Think about the big picture. You may think that a little oil leak on your car isn't a big deal. However, the oil from thousands or millions of cars with minor oil leaks adds up quickly and soon you're looking at a cumulative oil spill far worse than any oil tanker crash. You can't fix all the oil leaks in the world, but you can fix yours. Be part of the solution.
• Educate your family, friends, and neighbors about ways to reduce their contributions to pollution. If your community doesn't already have environmental education programs, pollution control regulations or a hazardous waste recycling facility, take the initiative on this.
• In many areas, agricultural runoff is a bigger pollution problem than urban runoff. If you're involved in agriculture, contact your local extension service or environmental protection agency to find out more about ways you can reduce your environmental impact.

 

 

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Answer from env8

 

XXX

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Answer from env9

 

          Every country, big and small, is feeling the pressure of dwindling water supply.However, we shouldn`t leave the responsibility of saving water on our government agencies and policy makers alone. There are many ways wherein we can save water at home, thereby helping the environment as well as saving on utility bills. Here are my water-saving policies at home:

     *Do not leave the tap running when you are brushing your teeth. Use a glass.

     *When washing hands, do not leave the tap running while reaching for the soap or working those soap suds.

     *Fix leaks as soon as possible.

     *Run the washing machine and the dishwater only when they are full.

     *Save the water used to wash vegetables and fruit. This can be used to water the plants in and outside the house.

     *Save rain water in the summer time.

     *Do not use sprinklers on the lawn. Use water from the kitchen sink or rainwater

     *Take showers instead of baths.

          Most important, kids love playing with water. It took me months to break my boys` habit of making the bathroom (and the sink) their play area the minute my back is turned. I also taught them how to use the water-saving device on out toilets. When it comes to saving water, money, and the environment, it`s best to start them young. Remember, when it comes to water, every drop counts.

          Most people believe that water pollution is caused by pipes dumping toxic industrial waste into a river. But this type of pollution, called point source pollution, has largely been controlled by legislation such as the Clean Water Act, which was passed by Congress in 1970. In reality, a large amount of water pollution does not come from a single point. This type of pollution is called non-point source pollution.

          Point source pollution is pollution that comes from a single source, such as a factory or wastewater treatment plant. The Clean Water Act put restrictions on how much and what kind of pollutants industries can dispose of in rivers and lakes. While this has not eliminated industrial or domestic waste from entering our waters completely, it has reduced what once was our biggest source of water pollution.