Why is water pollution dangerous

“Don’t spit in the well - you may need to drink from it!” -- Unknown, Russia.

Water is a unique substance, because it can naturally renew and cleanse itself, by allowing pollutants to settle out (through the process of sedimentation) or break down, or by diluting the pollutants to a point where they are not in harmful concentrations. However, this natural process takes time, and is difficult when excessive quantities of harmful contaminants are added to the water. And humans are using more and more materials that are polluting the water sources that we drink from. In nine of the last ten years, large blue-green algae blooms have appeared on the northern part of Lake Winnipeg. These are caused by excess phosphorus in the water. Fertilizer use is 15 times higher today than it was in 1945. Beach closures are becoming increasingly common. The list of pollutants is long and the signs of water pollution surround us, but the point is this: we are dumping contaminants into the small portion of water on the planet that is fit for drinking.

What is Pollution?

Pollution can be defined in several ways. Water pollution occurs when energy and other materials are released, degrading the quality of the water for other users. Water pollution includes all of the waste materials that cannot be naturally broken down by water. In other words, anything that is added to the water, above and beyond its capacity to break it down, is pollution. Pollution, in certain circumstances, can be caused by nature itself, such as when water flows through soils with high acidities. But more often that not, human actions are responsible for the pollutants that enter the water.

Where is All of this Pollution Coming From?

There are two main sources of water pollution; point sources and non-point sources. Point sources include factories, wastewater treatment facilities, septic systems, and other sources that are clearly discharging pollutants into water sources. Non-point sources are more difficult to identify, because they cannot be traced back to a particular location. Non-point sources include runoff including sediment, fertilizer, chemicals and animal wastes from farms, fields, construction sites and mines. Landfills can also be a non-point source of pollution, if substances leach from the landfill into water supplies.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) divides water pollution into the following six categories:

1. Biodegradable waste consists mainly of human and animal waste. When biodegradable waste enters a water supply, the waste provides an energy source (organic carbon) for bacteria. Organic carbon is converted to carbon dioxide and water, which can cause atmospheric pollution and acid rain; this form of pollution is far more widespread and problematic than other forms of pollutants, such as radioactive waste. If there is a large supply of organic matter in the water, oxygen-consuming (aerobic) bacteria multiply quickly, consume all available oxygen, and kill all aquatic life.

2. Plant nutrients, such as phosphates and nitrates, enter the water through sewage, and livestock and fertilizer runoff. Phosphates and nitrates are also found in industrial wastes. Though these chemicals are natural, 80 percent of nitrates and 75 percent of phosphates in water are human-added. When there is too much nitrogen or phosphorus in a water supply (0.3 parts per million for nitrogen and 0.01 parts per million for phosphorus), algae begin to develop. When algae blooms, the water can turn green and cloudy, feel slimy, and smell bad. Weeds start to grow and bacteria spread. Decomposing plants use up the oxygen in the water, disrupting the aquatic life, reducing biodiversity, and even killing aquatic life. This process, called eutrophication, is a natural process, but generally occurs over thousands of years. Eutrophication allows a lake to age and become more nutrient-rich; without nutrient pollution, this may take 10,000 years, but pollution can make the process occur 100 to 1,000 times faster. 

3. Heat can be a source of pollution in water. As the water temperature increases, the amount of dissolved oxygen decreases. Thermal pollution can be natural, in the case of hot springs and shallow ponds in the summertime, or human-made, through the discharge of water that has been used to cool power plants or other industrial equipment. Fish and plants require certain temperatures and oxygen levels to survive, so thermal pollution often reduces the aquatic life diversity in the water.

4. Sediment is one of the most common sources of water pollution. Sediment consists of mineral or organic solid matter that is washed or blown from land into water sources. Sediment pollution is difficult to identify, because it comes from non-point sources, such as construction, agricultural and livestock operations, logging, flooding, and city runoff. Each year, water sources in the United States are polluted by over one billion tonnes of sediment! Sediment can cause large problems, as it can clog municipal water systems, smother aquatic life, and cause water to become increasingly turbid. And, turbid water can cause thermal pollution, because cloudy water absorbs more solar radiation.

5. Hazardous and toxic chemicals are usually human-made materials that are not used or disposed of properly. Point sources of chemical pollution include industrial discharges and oil spills. The Oil Spills fact sheet includes more detailed information about oil spills, as well as other sources of oil pollution. Non-point sources of chemical pollution include runoff from paved roads and pesticide runoff. Many people think industries produce the greatest amount of chemical pollution. But domestic and personal use of chemicals can significantly contribute to chemical pollution. Household cleaners, dyes, paints and solvents are also toxic, and can accumulate when poured down drains or flushed down the toilet. In fact, one drop of used motor oil can pollute 25 litres of water! And, people who use pesticides on their gardens and lawns tend to use ten times more pesticide per acre than a farmer would!

6. Radioactive pollutants include wastewater discharges from factories, hospitals and uranium mines. These pollutants can also come from natural isotopes, such as radon. Radioactive pollutants can be dangerous, and it takes many years until radioactive substances are no longer considered dangerous.

It would be wise to add a seventh category of water pollution; pharmaceuticals and personal care products (often abbreviated PPCPs), including medications, lotions and soap, are being found in increasing concentrations in lakes and rivers. Scientists have discovered that many PPCPs act as hormone disrupters, which means that the synthetic hormones in the products interfere with the natural hormones in animals, especially fish that live in the water. There has not been enough research to determine the effects that PPCPs can have on humans, but there is evidence to suggest that these chemicals may be partially responsible for an increase in cancer and birth defects. For more information about PPCPs and other emerging contaminants, see the fact sheet titled Emerging Contaminants.

How Bad is Water Pollution in Canada?

It is difficult, or impossible, to estimate the amount of water pollution that originates in Canada, because many pollutants come from non-point sources. As well, because all of the water in the world is connected, it is sometimes impossible to tell where the pollutants originated. However, here are a few statistics about North America and Canada:

• It is estimated that five million tonnes of road salt are used in Canada each year.

• Fertilizer use is more than 15 times what it was in 1945.

• In the United States, over 7.5 trillion litres of water are filtered each year to remove silt.

• Canadians are the second highest consumers of water, second only to Americans.

• Over 360 chemical compounds, including lead, DDT and mercury, have been identified in the Great Lakes.

• Between 1950 and 1975, Lake Erie experienced the process of eutrophication, due to excess phosphorus and nitrogen. Without human pollution, the process that took 25 years would have taken 15,000 years!

• Some 70,000 commercial and industrial compounds are currently in use in Canada, and there are estimated 1,000 chemicals that are introduced each year.

• Just one drop of many household chemicals can render large amounts of water undrinkable; for example, one drop of 2,4-D (a common household herbicide) can make 10 million litres of unfit for drinking!

• The Sierra Legal Defence Fund reports that 21 Canadian cities dump more than one trillion litres of untreated sewage are dumped into our waters every year.

What Impact Does Domestic Waste Have on Water Pollution?

The categories of water pollution that domestic waste fits into are biodegradable waste, hazardous and toxic chemical pollutants and PPCPs. Generally, wastewater treatment facilities are equipped to effectively remove harmful substances generated from biodegradable waste. The hazardous and toxic chemicals that individuals release into the environment are more dangerous (and more preventable). Chemicals, such as cleaners, dyes, paints, pesticides and solvents, which are poured down drains, are a substantial and dangerous form of pollution. Wastewater treatment facilities are generally unequipped to remove PPCPs from wastewater; water pollution from PPCPs is a growing concern. For more information about dangerous pollutants that are found in domestic products, see the Emerging Contaminants fact sheet.

What Impact Does Industrial Activity Have on Water Pollution?

Industrial pollution comes in a variety of forms. There are many federal regulations regarding types and amounts of pollutants that can be emitted from industries, though in some countries, companies who are over their limit can buy “pollution credit” from companies who are under the targeted amount.

Heat pollution is commonly caused by industries, but many regions have passed legislation requiring that power plants and industries cool water before they release it. Construction, mining and logging operations can cause great amounts of sediment to pollute lakes and streams. While agricultural practices are responsible for the most sediment pollution, construction and mining can lose up to 70 tonnes of sediment per acre per year, which is 15 times higher than the normal cropland rate.