How does the article define water pollution?

Water pollution occurs when harmful substances—often chemicals or microorganisms—contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water, degrading water quality and rendering it toxic to humans or the environment.

What is water pollution SA?

Water pollution is the pollution of bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, seas, the oceans, as well as groundwater. It occurs when pollutants reach these bodies of water, without treatment. Waste from homes, factories and other buildings get into the water bodies and as a result water gets contaminated.

What are the causes of water pollution in Africa?

Agriculture plays a major role in water contamination. Farming results in the release of large quantities of organic matter, agrochemicals, sediments, and drug residues. The use of fertilizers and excreta at farms cause nitrates and phosphates to enter bodies of water, leading to eutrophication.

What are 3 causes of water pollution?

The Causes of Water Pollution

• Industrial Waste. Industries and industrial sites across the world are a major contributor to water pollution.
• Marine Dumping.
• Sewage and Wastewater.
• Oil Leaks and Spills.
• Agriculture.
• Global Warming.
• Radioactive Waste.

What are 5 effects of water pollution?

EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION

• Destruction of biodiversity. Water pollution depletes aquatic ecosystems and triggers unbridled proliferation of phytoplankton in lakes — eutrophication —.
• Contamination of the food chain.
• Lack of potable water.
• Disease.
• Infant mortality.

What are effects of water pollution?

Contaminated water can harbor bacteria, such as those responsible for diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis A, and polio. According to the UN, every year, approximately 297,000 children under five die from diseases linked to poor sanitation, poor hygiene, or unsafe drinking water.

What are the 3 main types of water pollution?

Types of water pollution

• Surface water pollution. Surface water includes water that is found naturally on the earth’s surface.
• Groundwater pollution.
• Chemical pollution.
• Nutrients pollution.
• Oxygen depletion pollution.
• Microbiological pollution.
• Suspended matter.
• Effects on human beings.

What are the four effects of water pollution?

In other words, it is toxic water that cannot be drunk or used for essential purposes like agriculture, and which also causes diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and poliomyelitis that kill more than 500,000 people worldwide every year.

What are the main causes of water pollution in South Africa?

In South Africa the scarce fresh water is decreasing in quality because of an increase in pollution and the destruction of river catchments, caused by urbanisation, deforestation, damming of rivers, destruction of wetlands, industry, mining, agriculture, energy use, and accidental water pollution.

What are the five causes of water pollution?

There are many causes of water pollution, some of them are:

• 1- Sewage or wastewater: The waste from households, factories, or agricultural land gets discharged into rivers or lakes.
• 2- Dumping:
• 3- Oil pollution:
• 4- Acid rain:
• 5- Industrial waste:
• 1- Diseases:
• 2- Ruination of the ecosystem:
• 3- Eutrophication:

What are the 5 effects of pollution?

High levels of air pollution can cause an increased risk of heart attack, wheezing, coughing, and breathing problems, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Air pollution can also cause worsening of existing heart problems, asthma, and other lung complications.

What causes water pollution in Africa?

Main Causes of Water Pollution in Africa. Agriculture plays a major role in water contamination. Farming results in the release of large quantities of organic matter, agrochemicals, sediments, and drug residues. The use of fertilizers and excreta at farms cause nitrates and phosphates to enter bodies of water, leading to eutrophication.

What are the water issues in Africa?

Water scarcity in Africa. Mwamanongu Village water source, Tanzania. Water scarcity or lack of safe drinking water is one of the world’s leading problems affecting more than 1.1 billion people globally, meaning that one in every six people lacks access to safe drinking water.

What is water shortage in Africa?

African cities are running out of water. African cities are experiencing devastating water shortages as their populations continue to grow. These water shortages have led to sanitation problems, which can contribute to the incidence of diseases like cholera and typhoid fever .

What is the water situation in Africa?

Africa faces a situation of economic water scarcity, and current institutional, financial and human capacities for managing water are lacking. The situation is exacerbated by competition for public funding between sectors, and heavy public debt burdens in most countries.