Water Pollution Essay

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Water Pollution When was the last time you drank a cup of water? No, when will be the last time you drink water? The rate of water pollution is increasing yearly, and soon, the 3% of fresh, drinkable water is going to run out. People cause pollution every day and they do not realize how important water is to us and how water pollution can affect everything around them. Oil leaks and faulty sewage systems cause water pollution, which causes harmful effects on food chains and the ecosystem. Oil leaks have severely damaged the ocean. The sources of oil leaks are common from industries, motor vehicles and poor disposal of domestic wastes. Oil spills have a major effect on water pollution. Due to “routine shipping, run-offs and dumping of oils on the ocean surfaces, oil spills make up about 12% of the oil that enters the ocean.”(Industrial, 2010). Factories also produce mass amounts of industrial waste. These include “Sulfur, Asbestos, Lead, Mercury, Nitrates and Phosphates” (Industrial, 2010). These chemicals are released through toxic fumes from factories, and form acidic clouds around water sources, discharging acid rain into the aquatic system. Additionally, sewage pollution also adds to the burden of water pollution. Sewage pollution sources result from sewer overflows and leakage from main and private sewer lines. Associated problems include “pathogens including bacteria and protozoa released into creeks, posing a risk to human and animal health, chemicals such as detergent and an increase in total dissolved solids, including salt”(Causes, 2001) released into the aquatic system. When toxins are released into mass bodies of water, they pollute rivers and poison animal habitats. This issue can affect not only animals, but humans who live near bodies of water. Studies show that “approximately 40% of the lakes in America are too polluted for fishing, aquatic life,

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