PROBLEMS AND CONTROL OF WATER POLLUTION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE – – – – – – – – i
CERTIFICATION – – – – – – – ii
DEDICATION – – – – – – – – iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS – – – – – – iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS – – – – – – v-vi
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION – – – – – – 1-3
CHAPTER TWO – SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION – 4-6
2.1 Types of Water Pollution – – – – – 6
2.1.1 Surface Water Pollution – – – – – – 6-7
2.1.2 Ground Water Pollution – – – – – 7-8
2.2 Categories of Water Pollution – – – – – 8
2.2.1 Point Source – – – – – – – 8
2.2.2 Non-Point Source – – – – – – – 9
2.3 Contaminant and Their Sources – – – – 9-10
CHAPTER THREE – Control of Water Pollution – – 11-15
3.1 Effects of Water Pollution on Human Health – – 15-20
3.2 Challenges of Sustainable Policy to Control
Water Pollution – – – – – – – 21
3.2.1 Natural Environment – – – – – – 21
3.2.2 Economical Limits – – – – – – 21-22
3.2.3 Political Matters – – – – – – – 22
3.2.4 Human and Social Characters – – – – – 22-23
CHAPTER FOUR – SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
4.1 Summary – – – – – – – – 24
4.2 Conclusion – – – – – – – – 25
References
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities. Water bodies include for example lakes, oceans, aquifers and ground water. Water pollution results when contaminants are introduced into the natural environment. For example, releasing inadequately treated waste water into natural water bodies can lead to degradation of aquatic ecosystems. In turn, this can lead to public health problems for people living downstream. They may use the same polluted river water for drinking or bathing or irrigation. Water pollution is the leading worldwide cause of death and disease e.g. due to water borne diseases (Alabaster, 1982).
Water pollution can be grouped into surface water pollution. Marine pollution and natural pollution are subsets of water pollution. Source of water pollution are either point sources or non-point source. Point source have one identifiable cause pollution, such as a storm drain, waste water treatment plant or stream. Non- point sources are more diffuse, such as agricultural runoff. Pollution is the result of the cumulative effect over time. All plants and organisms living in or being exposed to polluted water bodies can be impacted. The effects can damage individual species and impact the natural biological communities they are part of the cause of water pollution include a wide range of chemicals and pathogens as well as physical parameters. Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances. Elevated temperature can also lead to polluted water. A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and alter food chain composition, reduce species biodiversity, and foster invasion by new thermophilic species. Water pollution is measured by analyzing water samples (Brink et al., 1990).
Physical, chemical and biological testes can be done. Control of water pollution requires appropriate infrastructure and management plans. The infrastructure may include waste water treatment plants. Sewage treatments plants and industrial waste water plants are usually required to protect water bodies from untreated waste water. Agricultural waste water treatment for farms, and erosion control construction sites can also help prevent water pollution. Nature-based solutions are another approach to prevent water pollution. Effective control of urban runoff include reducing speed and quantity of flow. In the United States, best management practices for water pollution include approaches to reduce the quantity of water and improve water quality (Geol, 2006)