WPWT - Consequences of Water Pollution (Lesson)
Consequences of Water Pollution
Eutrophication
Reducing Water Pollution
Water pollution can be reduced in two ways:
- Keep the water from becoming polluted.
- Clean water that is already polluted.
Clean Water Act
Keeping water from becoming polluted often requires laws to be sure that people and companies behave responsibly. In the United States, the Clean Water Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to set standards for water quality for industry, agriculture, and domestic uses. The law gives the EPA the authority to reduce the discharge of pollution into waterways, finance wastewater treatment plants, and manage runoff. Since its passage in 1972, more wastewater treatment plants have been constructed and the release of industrial waste into the water supply is better controlled.
The United Nations and other international groups are working to improve global water quality standards by providing the technology for treating water. These organizations also educate people on how to protect and improve the quality of the water they use (Image below).
Scientists control water pollution by sampling the water and studying the pollutants that are in the water.
What Can You Do?
What can individuals do to protect water quality?
- Find approved recycling or disposal facilities for motor oil and household chemicals.
- Use lawn, garden, and farm chemicals sparingly and wisely.
- Repair automobile or boat engine leaks immediately.
- Keep litter, pet waste, leaves, and grass clippings out of street gutters and storm drains.
How Society Can Conserve Water
Water consumption per person has been going down for the past few decades. There are many ways that water conservation can be encouraged. Charging more for water gives a financial incentive for careful water use. Water use may be restricted by time of day, season, or activity. Good behavior can be encouraged; for example, people can be given an incentive to replace grass with desert plants in arid regions.
This colorful adobe house in Tucson, Arizona is surrounded by native cactus, which needs little water to thrive.
How You Can Conserve Water
As human population growth continues, water conservation will become increasingly important globally, especially in developed countries where people use an enormous amount of water. What are some of the ways you can conserve water in and around your home?
- Avoid polluting water so that less is needed.
- Convert to more efficient irrigation methods on farms and in gardens.
- Reduce household demand by installing water-saving devices such as low-flow showerheads and toilets.
- Reduce personal demand by turning off the tap when water is not being used and taking shorter showers.
- Engage in water-saving practices: for instance, water lawns less and sweep rather than hose down sidewalks.
RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.