What is water pollution?
Water pollution refers to abnormal levels of five major categories of indicators in source water—sensory properties, inorganic pollutants, organic pollutants, microorganisms, and radioactivity—which affect the water production process and effluent quality control to varying degrees, posing risks to drinking water safety and human health.
Water pollution occurs when human activities alter the natural properties and composition of water, affecting its usability or endangering human health. It can be categorized into four types:
1.Physiological pollution: The deterioration of smell, taste, appearance, and transparency after pollutants enter natural water bodies.
2.Physical pollution: Pollutants that alter the physical properties of water, such as heat, radioactive substances, oil, and foam.
3.Chemical pollution: Pollutants that change the chemical characteristics of water, including acids, alkalis, salts, toxic substances, and pesticides.
4.Biological pollution: The introduction of pathogenic microorganisms into water bodies, which can directly or indirectly spread various diseases.
What harm does water pollution cause?
Under normal conditions, water has a certain level of dissolved oxygen, which is essential for aquatic life and plays a key role in the oxidation-reduction reactions that promote the transformation and degradation of pollutants—making it a key factor in the natural self-purification capacity of water bodies.
The discharge of domestic sewage containing large amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, along with the decomposition of organic matter, releases nutrients that fuel algal blooms and excessive plant growth. This leads to poor water circulation, a sharp decline in dissolved oxygen, and even the formation of oxygen-depleted zones. As a result, aquatic plants die in large numbers, water turns black, emits foul odors, and transforms into “dead lakes,” “dead rivers,” or “dead seas,” eventually becoming swamps. This phenomenon is known as eutrophication. Eutrophic water is characterized by strong odors, deep coloration, and high bacterial content—making it unsuitable for direct use and often resulting in mass fish deaths.
The harm of water pollution can be seen in three key areas:
1.Harm to the environment: It leads to the reduction or extinction of species, devalues various environmental resources, and disrupts ecological balance.
2.Harm to production: Polluted water that fails to meet industrial or agricultural standards can lead to reduced yields and economic losses.
3.Harm to human health: Drinking contaminated water can cause acute or chronic poisoning, cancer, infectious diseases, and other health issues. Beyond physical illness, the unpleasant sensory effects of polluted water can also affect people’s daily lives and emotional well-being.
Post time: Apr-01-2026