Water contamination – Types, sources, effects, solutions

When water is considered unsafe to drink, it is due to contamination.

This can be caused by various sources, including industrial and agricultural waste,
sewage, and natural events like hurricanes and floods.

Their presence can make it unsafe for drinking, cooking, and bathing, leading to serious
health issues for those who consume it.

Types of water contamination

The main forms contaminants take are:

1. Physical contaminants: solid particles that are suspended in water and can affect
its clarity, color, and overall appearance. These contaminants can be caused by
natural events such as storms and erosion, or human activities like construction
and land development. They include sediments, dust and other suspended solids.
2. Chemical contaminants: substances that are not naturally found in water and can
have harmful effects on human health and the environment. These include toxic
chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers, heavy metals, salts, and minerals. Some of
these contaminants can have serious health effects, including cancer, birth
defects, and neurological damage. Additionally, they can harm aquatic life and
wildlife, and impact the quality of water for recreational activities like fishing and
swimming.
3. Biological contaminants: matter of organic origin, whether living or not. Living
organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, algae, fungi, and parasites, can be found in
water sources that have come into contact with animal or human waste. These
contaminants can cause serious health problems, including gastrointestinal
illnesses, skin infections, and respiratory diseases.
4. Radiological contaminants: radioactive elements and isotopes that can enter
water sources through nuclear accidents, mining, and other sources. These
contaminants can cause cancer, birth defects, and other health problems if
ingested or absorbed through the skin.
5. Disinfection byproducts: chemicals that are formed as a result of the disinfection
process used to treat drinking water. These chemicals can have negative health
effects, including cancer, birth defects, and reproductive problems. While
technically a form of chemical contaminants, they deserve their own category
due to their unique source.

Sources of water contamination

The main causes of water contamination are due to human activities which result in
pollution, but natural events also play a role. Some significant sources of water
contamination include:

1. Agricultural activities: The use of pesticides, fertilizers, and failures in animal

waste management, can all lead to water contamination through runoff and
leaching. When rainwater washes over fields treated with pesticides and
fertilizers, it can carry these chemicals into nearby streams, rivers, and
groundwater aquifers. Similarly, animal waste from feedlots and farms can
contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can contaminate water sources if
not properly managed.
2. Industrial waste: Industries generate a variety of chemicals and heavy metals as
byproducts of their operations. If these materials are not properly disposed of or
stored, they can leak into nearby water sources, contaminating them. Leakage
from underground storage tanks, such as those used to store gasoline and oil,
can also contribute to groundwater contamination.
3. Sewage: Human waste, as well as waste from industry and agriculture, can enter
water sources through sewage treatment plant discharges and septic systems.
Improperly treated sewage can contain a wide range of contaminants, including
bacteria, viruses, and chemicals, that can pose a risk to human health and the
environment.
4. Natural events: Storms, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, can also cause
water contamination. Some of these events are accentuated indirectly by human
actions, such as storm intensity increasing due to climate change or landslides
being caused not just by rain, but also by improper land use, while others are
more or less beyond human activity, such as volcanic eruptions. These events
can disrupt water sources, causing sediment runoff and contamination from
chemicals, heavy metals, and other pollutants. They can also cause physical
damage to water treatment facilities, making it difficult to properly treat water for
safe use.
5. Mining: The process of extracting minerals and metals from the earth is usually
intensive, using up large amounts of water and releasing many potentially toxic
byproducts, which can also contribute to water contamination. During the mining
process, heavy metals and other contaminants can be released into nearby water
sources, posing a risk to human health and the environment.
6. Urbanization: As urban areas expand through construction and land development,
they can cause sediment runoff, which can carry chemicals, heavy metals, and
other pollutants into nearby water sources. Additionally, the increased use of
household cleaning products and personal care items in urban areas can lead to
increased levels of chemical contamination in water.

Effects of the most common water contaminants

All water contaminants negatively affect human activity, as well as the rest of the
biosphere. Health risks are a particularly high concern, as some contaminants can pose
serious health risks, including illness, disease, and even death.

- Contaminants like bacteria and viruses can cause disease outbreaks, while
chemicals and heavy chemicals can cause long-term declines in human health
and birth defects that are only noticed when it is too late.

- Contaminants can also have negative impacts on the health of ecosystems, such
as killing aquatic life and harming wildlife. For example, micro plastics found in
both freshwater and seawater have been observed to affect the development and
behavior of both plankton and fish. Algal blooms caused by agricultural runoff
can decimate entire lakes, and these algae can then produce toxins which then
threaten humans.

- Contaminated water can affect the taste, odor, and appearance of water, making
it unpleasant for drinking, cooking, and bathing, leading to decreased quality of
life. It puts a higher burden on medical systems, requires more expensive
treatment, and can affect economic activities, such as agriculture and water
tourism. This can lead to a vicious cycle, where people who afford to decide to
leave affected communities, resulting in further economic and social damage,
which means the community has even less chances to deal with contamination.

However, some particularly common and noteworthy contaminants include:

1. Chlorine – a common disinfectant used to treat drinking water, but it can also
form harmful byproducts, such as trihalomethanes (THMs), which pose a risk to
human health. Chronic exposure to THMs has been linked to an increased risk of
cancer and other health problems.
2. Arsenic – a naturally occurring element that can be found in groundwater,
especially in areas with high levels of volcanic activity. Arsenic is toxic and can
cause skin lesions, cancer, and other health problems.
3. Lead – a toxic metal that can enter water sources through aging plumbing
systems and lead service lines. Chronic exposure to lead can cause
developmental problems in children and lead to cardiovascular disease, kidney
problems, and other health problems in adults.
4. Mercury – another toxic metal that can enter water sources through industrial
waste, coal-fired power plants, and other sources. Chronic exposure to mercury
can cause neurological problems such as Minamata disease and other health
problems.
5. Coliform bacteria – commonly used as indicators of water contamination. Their
presence can indicate the presence of other harmful pathogens and can cause
stomach and intestinal problems.
6. Nitrates – commonly found in agricultural runoff and can cause a birth condition
 called blue baby syndrome, which can be fatal to infants.
7. Pesticides – like nitrates, they can enter water sources through runoff and
leaching from agricultural fields. Chronic exposure to pesticides has been linked
to a variety of health problems, including cancer, birth defects, and endocrine
disruption.

Solutions to water contamination

The first line of defense is found within policy and regulation. By setting standards for
water quality, providing funding for treatment and protection programs, and enforcing
penalties for those who violate regulations, policymakers can both minimize water
pollution and provide relief, alternatives, and solutions to the affected communities.

Source protection measures, such as improving agricultural practices to reduce runoff

and leaching, properly disposing of industrial waste, and maintaining sewage treatment
plants and septic systems, can help prevent contamination from entering water sources
in the first place, which makes them the next most important measure.

Public education about the importance of water quality, the sources of water
contamination, and the steps that can be taken to prevent it, can help raise awareness
and encourage individuals to take action to protect their own health and the health of
their communities. It can also make communities engage in dialogues with the various
stakeholders, making compromises and alternatives easier to find and apply.

When the above preventive steps fail to stop the contamination of water, treatment and
filtration processes, such as reverse osmosis, activated carbon filtration, and ultraviolet
disinfection, can remove or reduce the levels of various contaminants in drinking water,
including chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria, and viruses. While usually effective, these
processes can be energetically intensive and expensive, and their byproducts
themselves can become a contaminant.

Regular monitoring and testing of water sources can detect the presence of
contaminants and allow for timely action to be taken to prevent or reduce their levels,
which allows to both verify the efficiency of existing regulations and source protection
measure and to effectively allocate the resources needed for water treatment.

Lastly, as a temporary solution until the contamination is dealt with or as a permanent

solution when the cause is unfixable (such as the geological presence of high quantities
of Arsen within the groundwater), switching to alternative water sources, such as
surface water or desalinated seawater, can provide a safer and more reliable source of
d water in areas where sources are contaminated.