Effects of water pollution

Pollution is a big issue that we see in our everyday life and don’t do much about because it’s ‘normal,’ but do you ever wonder how it happens? Air pollution and land pollution are very important issues that need to be discussed. Today we’ll be talking about water pollution. Water pollution is when a harmful substance contaminates a body of water making it toxic for people, animals, and the environment. There are many types of water pollution, but they are all harmful to everyone on Earth. 

One negative effect of water pollution is that it can be very dangerous for those who consume it. According to the website for the Harvard School of Public Health , “Water pollutants may cause disease or act as poisons. Bacteria and parasites in poorly treated sewage may enter drinking water supplies and cause digestive problems such as cholera and diarrhea.” This means that many people can and will get ill because they might not have any other option but to drink contaminated water.

Secondly, another negative effect of water pollution is that it can damage an environment that lots of animals depend on and live in. On the website Envirotech Online, it states “There are countless species of plants and animals which depend upon water for their survival, making them the most susceptible to water pollution. Meanwhile, other forms of pollution can destroy the carefully balanced ecosystems and habitats of water-dwelling organisms, wiping out entire species altogether.” Meaning that water pollution can single handedly kill an entire ecosystem very quickly.

Lastly, another negative effect of water pollution is that it can contaminate our food sources. If the animals we consume drink toxic water, our food supply will also be toxic. According to Iberdrola,, “Fishing in polluted waters and the use of waste water for livestock farming and agriculture can introduce toxins into foods which are harmful to our health when eaten.” This means that water pollution can damage our health through what we eat. 

In conclusion, water pollution is very bad since it can cause diseases, kills ecosystems, and contaminates our food sources. But there are things that we can do to stop and reduce water pollution. For example, some things we can do are disposing of toxic chemicals properly instead of just throwing them into the sink or any kind of body of water. Another thing that we can do is to recycle, since this allows for there to be less pollutants in the waters. Finally, you can support organizations such as The Water Project by donating or just spreading awareness to the issue so that people can do something about it.