WATER POLLUTION  HOTSPOTS

Pollution can be in many forms: toxic substances, organic substances, thermal, and ecological. It comes from primarily three sources: businesses, homes, and farming.

 

Farms:

Farms often use large amounts of herbicides and pesticides, both of which are toxic pollutants. These substances seep into rivers, streams and lakes, and toxic substances can build up over a period of time. Farms also frequently use large amounts of chemical fertilizers that are washed into the waterways and damage the water supply and the life within it. Allowing livestock to graze near water sources often results in organic waste products being washed into the waterways. Runoff from the exposed soil of agricultural fields can contaminate groundwater. 

 

Business:

Clearing of land can lead to erosion of soil into the river. Waste and sewage generated by industry can get into the water supply.Many industrial and power plants use rivers, streams and lakes to dispose of waste heat. The resulting hot water can cause thermal pollution. Thermal pollution can have a disastrous effect on life in an aquatic ecosystem because increasing temperature decreases the amount of oxygen in the water, thereby reducing the number of animals that can survive there.Toxic or radioactive materials from industry, mine sites and abandoned hazardous waste sites can seep into groundwater.Burning fuels causes acid rain that falls into lakes, streams, and ponds. Because of this, air pollution is potentially one of the most threatening forms of pollution to aquatic ecosystems.

 

Homes:

Sewage generated by houses or runoff from septic tanks can get into nearby waterways.Fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides used for lawn care can run off and contaminate the waterway. Improper disposal of hazardous chemicals down the drain put toxic materials in the ecosystem.Leaks of oil and antifreeze from a car on a driveway can be washed off by the rain into nearby waterways.

 

 

Your first task is to create a chart that teaches us about water contaminants. Visit https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/table-regulated-drinking-water-contaminants

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You may use this chart to guide this research: