Water pollution
Definition
Water pollution refers to the contamination of water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans, by harmful substances or pollutants. This can include chemicals, sewage, oil spills, and other waste materials that degrade water quality and harm aquatic life.
Analogy
Imagine a clear glass of water representing clean and healthy water bodies. Now imagine pouring in different colored dyes representing pollutants. As the dyes mix with the water, it becomes cloudy and polluted. This is similar to how water pollution affects natural ecosystems.
Related terms
Eutrophication: Eutrophication is the excessive growth of algae and other aquatic plants due to high nutrient levels in the water. This can lead to oxygen depletion and harm fish and other organisms.
Point source pollution: Point source pollution refers to pollution that comes from a single identifiable source, such as a factory or wastewater treatment plant.
Non-point source pollution: Non-point source pollution refers to pollution that comes from diffuse sources over a wide area, such as agricultural runoff or urban stormwater runoff.
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