---
title: "Sources of water pollution"
subject: "Engineering Chemistry"
chapter: 3
key: "semester_2/engineering_chemistry:water-sources"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_2/engineering_chemistry/water-sources
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Sources of water pollution

Engineering Chemistry · Chapter 3: Environmental Chemistry

- Asked in: 2072 Magh, 2 marks
- Video: [What Is Water Pollution | Environmental Chemistry | Chemistry | FuseSchool](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk1J2EW-nmQ) — FuseSchool - Global Education
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_2/engineering_chemistry/water-sources
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_2/engineering_chemistry/chapter-3

## Question

Explain the sources of water pollution.

## Short answer

Water pollution arises from domestic sewage (human waste, detergents), industrial effluents (heavy metals, acids, dyes), agricultural runoff (fertilisers, pesticides), mining and oil spills, thermal discharges from power plants, and other sources like radioactive waste and landfill leachate.

## Answer

- **Domestic sewage:** human waste, kitchen waste, detergents.
- **Industrial effluents:** acids, alkalis, dyes, heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Cd, As, Cr), oils and phenols, from tanneries and from paper, textile, sugar and chemical industries.
- **Agricultural runoff:** fertilisers (nitrates, phosphates), pesticides (DDT) and animal wastes.
- **Mining and oil:** acid mine drainage, oil spills.
- **Thermal pollution:** hot water from power plants and industries.
- **Others:** radioactive wastes, landfill leachate, siltation from soil erosion, religious and cultural offerings, municipal solid waste dumping into rivers.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which is an agricultural source of water pollution?
   A. Hot cooling water from power plants
   B. Acid mine drainage
   C. Tannery effluents with phenols
   D. Runoff of fertilisers (nitrates, phosphates), pesticides and animal wastes
   Answer: D. Agricultural runoff carries fertilisers, pesticides and animal wastes; the others are thermal, mining and industrial sources. (Key point: Sources)

2. Which source produces thermal pollution?
   A. Hot water discharged from power plants and industries
   B. Fertiliser runoff from farms
   C. Domestic sewage and detergents
   D. Oil spills at sea
   Answer: A. Power plants and industries release hot water, causing thermal pollution. (Key point: Thermal source)

3. Which are industrial effluents?
   A. Fertilisers and animal waste
   B. Acids, alkalis, dyes, heavy metals, oils and phenols from tanneries, paper and textile mills
   C. Human waste and kitchen waste
   D. Hot water only
   Answer: B. These are typical industrial effluents. (Key point: Industrial)

## Related in Engineering Chemistry

- [Sources, effects and remedies of water pollution](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_2%2Fengineering_chemistry%3Awater-pollution-sources) — Engineering Chemistry, chapter 3, asked 2×
- [Sources and impacts of water pollution](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_2%2Fengineering_chemistry%3Awater-sources-impacts) — Engineering Chemistry, chapter 3
- [Air pollution, pollutants, sources and remedies](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_2%2Fengineering_chemistry%3Aair-pollution-sources-remedies) — Engineering Chemistry, chapter 3
- [Point and non-point sources; waste water treatment](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_2%2Fengineering_chemistry%3Apoint-nonpoint-waste-water) — Engineering Chemistry, chapter 3
- [Water pollutants, sources; oxides making water acidic](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_2%2Fengineering_chemistry%3Awater-pollutants-acidic) — Engineering Chemistry, chapter 3
- [Water pollution, pollutants and adverse effects](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_2%2Fengineering_chemistry%3Awater-pollutants-effects) — Engineering Chemistry, chapter 3

## Related in other subjects

- [Water pollution: sources, causes and impacts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Awater-pollution-sources-impacts) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 5
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