Contamination of lakes and rivers: causes, consequences and how to avoid it

There are many types of pollution but then we focus on What is the contamination of water and rivers and the types of polluting agents that cause it, all related to the actions of the human being and the activities it develops. The Water pollution in rivers, lakes and lagoons It occurs when the quality of the waters is committed by the presence of agents of diverse origin that unbalance it, making it not suitable for consumption and, therefore, making life difficult in it.

The main sources and agents of this type of pollution are:

• Garbage pollution (strange products) that we throw to the rivers or lake channels, such as cans, plastics, wrappers and a long etc.
• Waste contamination that arrive with wastewater, wastewater is already a pollutant.
• Pollution by chemicals.
• Waste pollution and industrial spills.

To expand this information we recommend this other article on what are the polluting agents or Types of water pollutants.

Now that in the following sections of this ecology article, we will focus on the actions that give rise to these types of pollution, that is, we will explain the causes and, in addition, we will stop on the consequences that this entails.

We would dare to say that 99.9% of Causes of water pollution or water pollution They are by action and human activities. The human being is not aware of everything that his decisions affect the environment, either directly or indirectly, even being aware of many times. Some of the anthropic causes of the contamination of these water masses are:

• Dispute of residual waste that flows into rivers, lakes and seas.
• Industrial discharges, the factories sometimes do not comply with environmental legislation and violate the norms thus causing great natural damage when pouring their waters without filtering into these natural masses.
• Oil spills.
• Use of pesticides in agriculture, used for crops in order to maximize collections and avoid insect damage and other animals.
• Deforestation entails the elimination of trees and other vegetation that is responsible for the filtering of rainwater, absorption of it by the terrain … If we eliminate it we are favoring that the water is not slowed but has “free path” to drag all the material that has not been cleaned from deforestation and all erossed material by the force of water.
• Increased temperatures or thermal contamination. This cause can be understood as natural, but if we stop to ask ourselves why that increase, we obtain in response to human actions and climate change where the great person is the human being. The increase in temperatures reduces the amount of oxygen in the water, thus altering the composition of lakes and rivers, breaking the balance.

We will clearly and easily raise the consequences derived from the contamination of rivers and lakes or water masses.

• Ecosystem alteration.
• Loss of biodiversity.
• Eutrophication, happens when the composition of lakes to a greater extent and rivers is altered by the presence of fertilizers or other chemicals, altering their composition, thus increasing the concentration of nitrogen (n) and phosphorus (p). A layer is generated that prevents the passage of light and oxygen, causing great problems in aquatic biodiversity.
• Diseases, both in animals and plants and in humans. In the case of human animals and beings not only because of the direct intake of water, but also by the indirect intake of other foods that have absorbed water for their development.
• High mortality in countries where there are no means of purification of water.

Some Examples of contaminated rivers and lakes worldwide are:

• SALWEEN River: It is located in the South Asian, to the east of Tibet. The industries present in the area have caused the increase in zinc concentrations (zn), copper (cu), cadmium (CD) or lead (PB) among other elements.
• Rio de la Plata: It is located in Latin America, contaminated by the discharge of industrial waste, homes and a long etc, full of garbage and remains that are thrown out of control.
• Danube River: Contaminated since 1999 due to the chemical waste that flowed from the factories located in Serbia and that were bombarded in the attacks of the NATO forces, to that the wastewater, pesticides and the passage of ships are added.
• GANGES RIVER: Located in India, it is one of the most polluted rivers. For cultural reasons or what is the same by tradition, the inhabitants throw the ashes of the incineration of their loved ones, both animals and people, to the river in order to reach paradise.
• ATITLAN Lake: This Lake of Guatemala is contaminated by waste and waste that is thrown directly and indirectly in its waters as if it were a landfill.

Some Contaminated Spain rivers and that the quality of the water does not pass the quality of the waters are the following:

• Ría del Nervión.
• Ulla River (in its middle section).
• Gállego River.
• LLOBREGAT RIVER.
• Ebro River.
• Segura River.
• Guadiana River.
• Guadaría River.
• Guadalentín River.
• Jarama River.
• The manga minor manga.

The problem goes further, it is not only superficial pollution, the contamination of the waters will stop at the sea, it infiltrates the ground, affects vegetation and animals, aquifers, wells … and all this affects us, the human being, responsible and not consistent with their actions.

The answer would be simple if humanity in general were more civic and responsible. Everything would be to comply with the legislation, both industries and governments, but it is clear that it does not always happen.

The possible solutions to contamination of river and lake water are:

• Sanctions to those who do not comply with environmental legislation.
• Sanctions to industries that violate the Law of Waste and Pumps.
• Periodic controls of industries with spills in water masses.
• Involvement from the highest positions to the “people.”
• Crop controls.
• Prohibition of the use of certain chemicals that will end in a stream of water.
• Awareness of young people and, above all, the little ones.
• Individual responsibility towards the environment.
• Periodic waste cleaning.

These are some of the solutions we raise from Ecology Verde, being aware of the difficulty that this entails. However, in this other post we offer more ideas on how to avoid water pollution.

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