Water Pollution

Causes of microbial water pollution are, improperly treated sewage, runoff from animal waste, industrial sources, and landfills.

These are identifable point sources

Effects of microbial water pollution, are people and animals getting ill with variouse diseases

11% of the world still does not have clean drinkable water

Ways to protect your drinking water. Plant a rain garden with trees, shrubs and flowers. Garden areas absorb about 90% of water pollutants. Dispose of hazardous wastes properly. Don’t pour soapy water, motor oil, and other wastes into storm sewers. This water does not get treated.

Heavy metals from industrial processes, burning coal, mining, road runoff, sewage treatment plants can accumulate in nearby lakes and rivers

Biomagnification refers to the increase in the concentration of a toxin as it moves from one trophic level to the next

These are identifiable point sources

Lead, chromium, vanadium, cobalt, copper, zinc, iron, mercury, arsenic, along with several others are classified as heavy metals, or metals that can have toxic effects on living things.

To minimize heavy-metal pollution, heavy-metal waste and solutions containing heavy metal ions are collected in special containers rather than being poured down the drain or placed in the regular garbage. The containers are then picked up by a company that disposes of these wastes in a way that’s safe for the environment.

The people effected in canada have been the First Nations people from Grassy Narrows, Ont and White Dog First Nations in northwestern Ontario. Theyre continuing to suffer the effects of mecury contamination.

These are toxic to aquatic life, such as fish and shellfish, and to the humans who eat them

Naturally occurring heavy metals also end up in the waterways since acid rain can leach (remove) the heavy metals from soils. The heavy metals are then carried into the water table or into nearby surface bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, or streams.

Nutrient pollution, means water contamination because of the inputs of nutrients. It is a primary cause of eutrophication of surface waters, in which excess nutrients, encourages algal growth.

Nutrient pollution is non point source, the pollution is caused by too much nutrients added to water from run off, rain, ect although the excact type of nutrients is not always certien or the same.

People exposed to cyanotoxins through touching or swimming in contaminated water or breathing in droplets of contaminated air may experience irritation of the:
Skin
Eyes
Nose
Throat
Lungs

People exposed to cyanotoxins by eating contaminated food or dietary supplements, or by swallowing contaminated water, may experience the following symptoms, depending on the cyanotoxin involved:
Stomach pain
Headache
Neurological symptoms (for example, muscle weakness, dizziness)
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Liver damage

Mammals (including pets, livestock, and wildlife) can be poisoned by swimming in or drinking water containing cyanotoxins or eating cyanobacteria, fish, or other animals containing cyanotoxins.