- 2070 Chaitra · 4 marks
Sources and types of water pollution
Short answer
Sources are point (sewage, industrial effluents), non-point (agricultural runoff, urban stormwater), and natural (arsenic, volcanic). Types include physical (turbidity, heat), organic/inorganic chemical, biological/pathogenic, nutrient, radioactive, and oil pollution.
What are the sources and types of water pollution?
Water pollution is any physical, chemical or biological change in water quality that makes it harmful to living beings or unfit for its intended use.
Sources of water pollution
1. Point sources – enter at one identifiable location:
- Domestic sewage outfalls.
- Industrial effluent pipes (tanneries, distilleries, dyeing, paper).
- Hospital waste water.
- Discharges from treatment plants.
2. Non-point (diffuse) sources – come from a wide area:
- Agricultural runoff with fertilisers and pesticides.
- Urban storm water carrying oil, dust and garbage.
- Open defecation areas and leaking septic tanks.
- Landfills and solid waste dumped on river banks (leachate).
- Erosion and landslides (sediment).
3. Natural sources – arsenic, iron, fluoride from rocks; volcanic ash; decaying vegetation.
Types of water pollution
| Type | Pollutants | Example effect |
|---|---|---|
| Physical | Turbidity, colour, odour, heat | Poor appearance; thermal stress to fish |
| Organic (chemical) | Sewage, food waste (high BOD) | Oxygen depletion, fish kill |
| Inorganic (chemical) | Arsenic, nitrate, heavy metals, salts | Arsenicosis, blue-baby syndrome |
| Biological (pathogenic) | Bacteria, viruses, protozoa, worms | Cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea |
| Nutrient | Nitrate, phosphate | Eutrophication, algal bloom |
| Radioactive | Uranium, radium | Cancer |
| Oil | Oil spills, garage waste | Coats surface, kills aquatic life |
Also classified by water body: surface water pollution (rivers, lakes) and groundwater pollution (wells, aquifers). In Nepal the main problems are pathogenic and organic pollution in urban rivers like the Bagmati, and arsenic, iron and ammonia in groundwater.
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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