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Water pollution (or aquatic pollution) is the contamination of water bodies, with a negative impact on their uses. [1] : 6 It is usually a result of human activities. Water bodies include lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, reservoirs and groundwater. Water pollution results when contaminants mix with these water bodies.
Water pollution in the United States is a growing problem that became critical in the 19th century with the development of mechanized agriculture, mining, and industry, although laws and regulations introduced in the late 20th century have improved water quality in many water bodies. [1] Extensive industrialization and rapid urban growth ...
Water quality refers to the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water based on the standards of its usage. [1] [2] It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which compliance, generally achieved through treatment of the water, can be assessed.
Nonpoint source ( NPS) pollution refers to diffuse contamination (or pollution) of water or air that does not originate from a single discrete source. This type of pollution is often the cumulative effect of small amounts of contaminants gathered from a large area. It is in contrast to point source pollution which results from a single source.
Thermal pollution is the rise or drop in the temperature of a natural body of water caused by human influence. Thermal pollution, unlike chemical pollution, results in a change in the physical properties of water. A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers. [1]
Pollution (or contamination) can also occur from naturally occurring contaminants, such as arsenic or fluoride. [1] Using polluted groundwater causes hazards to public health through poisoning or the spread of disease ( water-borne diseases ). The pollutant often produces a contaminant plume within an aquifer.
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. [1] Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring ...
Point source water pollution comes from discrete conveyances and alters the chemical, biological, and physical characteristics of water. In the United States, it is largely regulated by the Clean Water Act (CWA). [1] Among other things, the Act requires dischargers to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to ...
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