Water Pollution7SCIENCE: Wed. Feb. 16

What are some types of water pollution?

• Bacteria and viruses

• Untreated sewage and garbage

• Radioactive waste

• Chemicals like pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides

• Oil from cars• Soaps

What are some causes of water pollution?

• Humans and other organisms produce much of this pollution that can end up in: Oceans, lakes, rivers and groundwater

• Illegal management of waste:– Dumping chemicals and garbage into water

• These pollutants can cause birth defects and health problems such as cancer and liver damage in humans and animals

How can we manage this water pollution?

• Water treatment facilities– Water is treated (cleaned) and

returned for human use– The large pollutants are filtered

through many different processes

• Reducing water pollution by working together:» Countries must try and keep water (for drinking

and other uses) clean and safe!

Example: Water treatment system

How can we remove this pollution?• Bioremediation– Bio = life, remediation = fixing a problem

• This process uses living organisms to make a substance that is harmful or dangerous into one that is harmless or safe

• Bacteria break down the harmful wastes

• Can be used for many resources: soil and many types of water

• How can we reduce water pollution?

Video about Garbage in the Pacific Ocean