Water pollution means that harmful things like chemicals and trash have gotten into our rivers, lakes, and oceans. Clean water is necessary for every living thing on Earth to survive, including people, animals, and plants. When water becomes dirty or unsafe, it causes big problems for the environment.
What Makes Water Dirty?
Water often gets dirty from litter, such as plastic bottles, food wrappers, and bags. Rain carries these items from the ground or garbage cans into storm drains and streams. Over time, large pieces of plastic break down into tiny bits called microplastics, which are hard to see but still pollute the water.
Chemicals are a major source of pollution, often coming from things we use every day, such as car oil or soapy water from washing a driveway. When it rains, these substances wash off roads and parking lots, flowing across the ground and into the nearest water source. This runoff carries toxic materials that make the water unhealthy for all forms of life.
Water also gets polluted through farm runoff when rain washes over large fields. Farmers use fertilizers to help plants grow and pesticides to keep bugs away. The excess chemicals travel with the rainwater into nearby rivers and groundwater. This introduces high levels of nutrients like nitrates and phosphates into the water system.
What Happens to the Animals and Plants?
When water is polluted, the animals and plants that live in it suffer because their home becomes unsafe. Fish, turtles, and marine mammals can accidentally eat plastic litter, mistaking it for food, which makes them sick or causes them to choke. Oil spills coat the fur of animals like otters and the feathers of birds, making it impossible for them to stay warm or swim properly.
The chemicals in polluted water can cause a process called eutrophication when they reach a lake or ocean. Excess nutrients from fertilizers cause tiny water plants, called algae, to grow fast, creating a thick layer on the surface. When this large amount of algae dies, the bacteria that break it down use up the oxygen in the water. This lack of oxygen, sometimes called a “dead zone,” makes it impossible for fish and other organisms to breathe and survive.
Pollution also harms underwater plants, such as sea grasses, by blocking the sunlight they need to grow. People who drink or swim in water contaminated with sewage or chemicals can become ill. Pollutants like mercury build up in small fish. When bigger fish eat them, the poison moves up the food chain, eventually affecting people who eat the fish.
How Can We Help Keep Water Clean?
One direct way to help is by always putting trash in the correct bin and recycling plastic, paper, and metal items. When outside, especially near a river or beach, pick up any litter you see and put it in a secure container. Never throw anything down a storm drain because those drains lead directly to a local waterway, not to a treatment facility.
We can also help by saving water at home, which is called water conservation. Taking shorter showers, fixing leaky faucets, and turning off the water while brushing your teeth all help save fresh water. When we use less water, there is less wastewater that needs to be treated, which reduces the strain on our water systems.
You can encourage your family to use fewer harsh chemicals for cleaning or gardening. Instead of letting car wash soap run into the street, use a bucket and sponge. Another option is to wash the car on a grassy area so the ground can naturally filter the water.