Ten potential source of contamination in water quality

There are ten potential causes that lead to water pollution

Every living thing needs water for living, and the need is not only for metabolic system or for another activity such as home, source of foods or cleaning. But, water sources sometimes are not good because of being contaminated. The contamination can cause many things including genetic mutation, illness or diseases, and mostly could lead to death.

However, why the water is being contaminated? Amount of groundwater passes earth’s underground layers which act as membrane, so it can purify the water. And, why do the contaminants still stay within the water? Actually there are ten potential causes that can make water contaminated, and they are

1. Climate change (primarily precipitation causing increased levels of sediment, turbidity, and other contaminants)
2. Temperature (can affect biological activity, oxygen saturation, and mass transfer coefficients)
3. Watershed characteristics (steep slopes, vegetative cover, wildlife)
4. Geology (mineral content)
5. Presence of nutrients (can stimulate microbiological growth)
6. Saltwater intrusion (increased salinity)
7. Wastewater discharges (bacterial contamination, depletion of dissolved oxygen increased levels of inorganic and organic contaminants)
8. Hazardous waste facilities (release of toxic, reactive, corrosive, or flammable contaminants)
9. Mine drainage (Acid discharges, increases in sediments, turbidity, color)
10. Agricultural runoff (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers)
11. Livestock (microbial contamination, increased erosion, increased nitrates)
12. Urban runoff (petroleum products, metals, salts, silts, and sediments)
13. Land development (increased erosion and sediment loading, increased human activities that can release contaminants to the environment)
14. Atmospheric deposition (acid rain)
15. Recreational activities (swimming, boating, camping)