Cause Of Water Pollution

1. INTRODUCTION

Water pollution is a major problem in the global context. It has been suggested that it is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and diseases, and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily. An estimated 700 million Indians have no access to a proper toilet, and 1,000 Indian children die of diarrhoeal sickness every day. Some 90% of China's cities suffer from some degree of water pollution, and nearly 500 million people lack access to safe drinking water. In addition to the acute problems of water pollution in developing countries, industrialized countries continue to struggle with pollution problems as well. In the most recent national report on water quality in the United States, 45 percent of assessed stream miles, 47 percent of assessed lake acres, and 32 percent of assessed bay and estuarine square miles were classified as polluted.

Other than that, according to Department of Environment (DOE) research, dive two years about the level of pollution of rivers throughout the country, 91% of cases of river pollution is caused from man-made. This problem occurs because most people who use septic tanks refuse to cooperate with the parties involved to treat sewage waste. According to DOE of 16 categories as polluted rivers which are located mostly in the states of the rapidly developing as Penang, Johor and Selangor. Rivers in Selangor that have been identified pollution is Sungai Rephens, Sungai Tekala, Sungai Kundur, Sungai Gabai, Sungai Chenarek, Sungai Lepok and the Lowest is Sungai Congkak. Among these rivers, Sungai Rephens have a high number of koliform feces because there is a pen of cattle and sheep barn initiate by local residents.

That is related to our topic is Water Pollution. We choose this topic because some of the people not very concern about this issue and less of the cooperation. Besides that, the others purpose is increase the awareness to prevent the issue of the water pollution. Recently, water pollution become a big issue. In addition, we know that some of the glacier was become liquid. All of this are cause of global worming.
That’s why our group choose water pollution for our project topic. By the way, in recent years, water pollution issues felt very acute because many rivers and water catchment areas have experienced contamination. We feel necessary to increase awareness about the importance of being environmental pollution so that water does not Occur. We also feel that if this condition is not prevented from the beginning, future generations may not be able to view wildlife and river water is clear.

2. DEFINITION

Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is impaired by anthropogenic contaminants and either does not support a human use, like serving as drinking water, and/or undergoes a marked shift in its ability to support its constituent biotic communities, such as fish. Natural phenomena such as volcanoes, algae blooms, storms, and earthquakes also cause major changes in water quality and the ecological status of water. Water pollution has many causes and characteristics.

Water pollution to the addition of foreign substances (pollutants) to a water source. These impurities have a detrimental effect on water quality, and can be harmful to living organisms and aquatic life. Pollution can be introduced to water from both point sources and diffuse sources. Common sources of pollutants include man-made, industrial waste and domestic sewage and natural sources such as soil erosion and silt-bearing runoff.

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater. All water pollution affects organisms and plants that live in these water bodies and in almost all cases the effect is damaging either to individual species and populations but also to the natural biological communities. It occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful constituents.
The definition also includes any solid, liquid or gaseous waste and all other substances whose cause water pollution or a violation.

3. CAUSE OF WATER POLLUTION

The water pollution in Malaysia is originated from point sources and non-point sources. Point sources that have been identified include sewage treatment plants, manufacturing and agro-based industries and animal farms. Non-point sources are mainly diffused ones such as agricultural activities and surface runoffs. According to Malaysia Environment Quality Report 2004, the Department of Environment has recorded 17,991 water pollution point sources in 2004 comprising mainly sewage treatment plants (54%), manufacturing industries (38%), animal farms (5%) and agro-based industries (3%). The distribution of the water pollution sources is shown in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1: Composition of Water Pollution Sources by Sector, 2004

3.1. Industrial sewage

Industrial activities is a major source of increased discharge waste water containing heavy metals into the rivers. In 1995, industry contributed 65% of sewage pollution to the river in terms of BOD. Its followed by agricultural activities. Some irresponsible entrepreneur channeled the toxic waste direct to the river. They also deliberately throw the industrial like solid waste or toxic waste direct to the river. This will cause of death aquatic life. More than that, it will make healthy problem to human.

3.2. Livestock Animals

Unclean animal filth-channeled into the river without thought to the environment impact. This can be proved through the discovery TV3 journalist in the Islamic University College of Science, Kuala Sungai Baru Melaka. The pig farmers have continued to release pig droppings into the river that flows directly into the sea. This is causing water and air pollution.

3.3. Sacrificed Center

The operators also contributors to the central slaughtering of water pollution. They remove waste slaughter as blood, stool, stomach and other animals that are slaughtered in the rivers. This disrupt the ecosystem.

3.4. Restaurant and Food Outlets

Attitude of some owners restaurants and food outlets to remove the remaining food to their customers in the drains which flow directly into rivers also contribute to water pollution. This condition is mainly done by traders who trade on the sea.

3.5. Domestic Waste

There also some irresponsible resident removing trash into rivers. Rubbish such as empty bottles, plastic bags, and papers, and foods remaining, that are not used removed without thinking of the river aquatic life and the resident that use river as main source of water.

3.6. Wet Markets and Wholesale Markets.

Vendors at the wet markets and wholesale markets also contribute occurrence of water pollution. Traders remove their waste sales revenue down the drain where the duct directly into rivers. This directly led to the river became polluted.

3.7. Septic Tank Sewage

Cost saving for residential septic tanks and sewage treatment plant, there are some people who are not responsible to take the easy way with the filth of sewage into the channel rivers.

3.8. Thermal Pollution

Thermal pollution is the rise or fall in the temperature of a natural body of water caused by human influence. A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers. Elevated water temperatures decreases oxygen levels (which can kill fish) and affects ecosystem composition, such as invasion by new thermophilic species. Urban runoff may also elevate temperature in surface waters.
Thermal pollution can also be caused by the release of very cold water from the base of reservoirs into warmer rivers.

3.9. Soil Erosion

Water pollution can also occur naturally from the effects of soil erosion and sediment plants that have died and decay.

3.10. Sedimentation

Water pollution occur as a result of land development for housing exploration activities, industry, agriculture, logging, sand mining and others.

As a conclusion, the main causes of water pollution is man-made. Some greedy man only concerned about profit without thinking about the effects of environmental damage.