Facts Of Water Pollution

Water pollution is defined as a contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and groundwater. Water pollution occurs when water bodies start to degrade due to pollutants that are directly or indirectly put into these different water bodies without the proper treatment to remove any harmful or deadly compounds found within them. This type of pollution can happen for a verity of different natural and economic reasons, such as, leaking underground storage tanks, an abandoned wells, leaking sewage systems, and oil spills. Water pollution is a global issues, from first to third world countries. According to a UN report, every day 2 million tons of sewage and industrial agricultural waste are discharged into the world’s water. Each year 1.2 trillion gallons of untreated sewage, stormwater, and industrial waste are dumped into American waters. Also, about 10% of American beaches fail to meet the federal benchmark for what constitutes safe swimming water. In developing countries, it has been reported that 70% of industrial wastes are dumped untreated into waters that contain the usable water supply for that particular country. How does water pollution affect humans and animals who may be forced to consume or use polluted water on a daily bases? According to health regulations being exposed to polluted water does not immediately effect ones health but is very harmful after long term exposure. 

Sources: 

http://www.seametrics.com/blog/water-pollution-facts/

http://www.water-pollution.org.uk/health.html