Water pollution or H2O pollution has many sources and characteristics. Humans and other organisms produce bodily wastes which enter rivers, lakes, oceans and other surface waters; in high concentrations these wastes result in bacterial contamination and excessive nutrient loading (eutrophication). Industries discharge a variety of compounds such as heavy metals, and wastewater, sometimes in toxic concentrations, from industrial processes that may also be too hot or too low in dissolved oxygen to support life. Silt-bearing runoff from ...
Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances. Some organic water pollutants include:
bacteria, often is from sewage or livestock operations;
fertilizers, in runoff from agricultural fields or forestry;
food processing waste;
tree and brush debris from logging operations
Inorganic pollutants include:
metals
acid mine drainage
acid rain caused by industrial or volcanic discharges
acid pollution of lakes by runoff from acid soils
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The causes of water pollution can be divided into two groups: anthropogenic sources of pollution are those due to human choices, and natural sources are those resulting from forces intrinsic to the environment.
Anthropogenic sources include:
discharge of poorly-treated or untreated sewage;
runoff from construction sites, farms, or paved and other impervious surfaces e.g. silt
discharge of contaminated and/or heated water used for industrial processes
acid rain caused by industrial discharge of s ...
