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Definition: water pollution from Dictionary of Energy

Environment. a general term for the discharge or release of harmful or unwanted substances to the ocean, lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water, from such sources as household wastes (e.g., sewage), agriculture (e.g., fertilizers, manure), or runoff from factories, refineries, waste-treatment plants, and the like. This may also include indirect contaminants that enter the water supply from soils or groundwater systems and from the atmosphere via precipitation. Thus, water pollutant.

water pollution

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
contamination of water resources by harmful wastes; see also sewerage , water supply , pollution , and environmentalism . In the United States industry is the greatest source of pollution, accounting for more than half the volume of all water pollution and for the most deadly pollutants. Some 370,000 manufacturing facilities use huge quantities of freshwater to carry away wastes of many kinds. The waste-bearing water, or effluent, is discharged into streams, lakes, or oceans, which in turn disperse the polluting substances. In its National Water Quality Inventory , reported to Congress in 1996, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concluded that approximately 40% of the nation's surveyed lakes, rivers, and estuaries were too polluted for such basic uses as drinking supply, fishing, and swimming. The pollutants include grit, asbestos , phosphates and nitrates , mercury , lead , caustic soda and other sodium compounds, sulfur and sulfuric acid , oils, and petrochemicals . In…
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Full text Article water pollution

From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
State resulting when substances are released into a body of water, where they become dissolved or suspended in the water or deposited on the bottom, accumulating to the extent that they overwhelm its capacity to absorb, break down, or recycle them, and thus interfering with the functioning of…
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CHRONIC POLLUTION Selected examples
There over 400 known ocean dead zones worldwide High population density caused by rapid ur-banization and accelerating industrialization, including mining enterprises and agri-businesses, is causing increased water pollution and corresponding environmental threats . Human activity on an ever more…
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Full text Article water pollution

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
Any addition to fresh or seawater that interferes with biological processes or causes a health or environmental hazard. Common pollutants include nitrates, pesticides, and sewage (resulting from poor sewage disposal methods), although a huge range of industrial contaminants, such as chemical…
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Water Pollution
California's surface, ground, and coastal waters suffer serious contamination from farms, cities, and industry, jeopardizing health, recreation, and wildlife. Toxic chemicals pose special risks to the public and the environment. California has some of the most magnificent rivers, lakes, and coastal…
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Full text Article How do the activities of humans cause water pollution and what are their consequences?

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
Background Substances that pollute land and air can end up by polluting rivers, lakes, and finally the sea. The chemicals that pollute the land seep down through the soil until they reach the water table and then slowly make their way to rivers. Chemicals that pollute the air are washed out of the…
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Full text Article Water Pollution

From Guide to Global Hazards
At the time of the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm, south‐east Sweden, the greatest threat to the marine environment was perceived to be water pollution. Waste discharged from ships, as well as urban and industrial effluent from land‐based sources, were all…
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Full text Article water pollution

From Philip's Encyclopedia
Contamination of water by harmful wastes. The chief source of water pollution is industrial waste . Toxic chemicals, such as polychlorinated biphenyl (pcb) , discharge as effluent and cannot be disinfected with chlorine . In addition, the burning of fossil fuels causes acid rain . Untreated or…
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WATER POLLUTION
Water pollution is a physical or chemical change in water that adversely affects the health of humans or other organisms. There are eight major types of water pollution: Water Pollution The first major federal legislation addressing the concerns of water pollution was the Federal Water Pollution…
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Full text Article water pollution

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
contamination of water resources by harmful wastes; see also sewerage , water supply , pollution , and environmentalism . In the United States industry is the greatest source of pollution, accounting for more than half the volume of all water pollution and for the most deadly pollutants. Some…
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Full text Article Water Pollution

From The Visual Guides: Understanding Weather and The Environment Full text Article POLLUTION
Description Time Total Time Water is essential to all living beings. 00:02 - 00:05 00:01:18 Therefore, water pollution has devastating effects on the environment and on human beings. 00:06 - 00:11 Toxic products released into the water disrupt ecosystems. 00:13 - 00:17 However, water pollution is…
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