1.2 trillion gallons of untreated sewage, storm water, and industrial waste are discharged into US waters annually. The US EPA has warned that sewage levels in rivers could be back to the super-polluted levels of the 1970s by the year 2016.Water pollution is caused by many sources that are involved in our everyday lives. These sources come from many different places and can be broken into three groups: agricultural waste, domestic waste, and industrial waste. The pollutants in each group help with the classification. Agricultural waste is classified into natural and non-natural sources, while industrial waste is classified into the specific types of pollutants. The three groups are caused mostly by the everyday activities of humans. They have many negative effects on the environment and human health. However, some are trying to restore the earth’s original health by simple measures such as buying items in bulk. By understanding the classifications of water pollution, agricultural, domestic, and industrial waste, the waters can return to a sustainable health, which will benefit future generations of all organisms.
The Classifications
Agricultural wastes consist of two different types:

Several types of domestic waste include ignitable, corrosive, poison, cleaning solutions, and

Industrial waste is one of the more lethal types of water pollution sources that consist of toxic (heavy metals), ignitable (oxidizers), corrosive (alkaline degreasers), and reactive pollutants (cyanide wastes). These contaminants don’t get as much publicity when it comes to their affect on waters, but they have some of the most deadly effects.
The Methods of Detection
Agricultural Waste
One type of pollution concerning agricultural waste is directly affected by fertilizers and pesticides from farms that contain nitrogen. When it rains, the fertilizer runs off into rivers and lakes, filling it with nitrogen. This causes a thriving algae population growth because algae lives off of the nutrients the fertilizers provide. Once all of the food is gone, the algae die and sink to the bottom using all of the oxygen in the water. Because the water is depleted of nutrients and oxygen, live is not sustainable making it a dead zone.

Domestic Waste
Domestic waste is one of the most publicly broadcasted pollution sources, and much knowledge is known about the sources. Causes of domestic waste include land clearing, road and building construction, fertilizer application, road salt application, natural vegetation destruction, wetland and riparian area destruction,

Industrial Waste
Industrial waste is probably the most toxic type of waste there is. Its causes are made by careless decisions and an economic mind instead of an ecological mind. Many industrial facilities use freshwater to carry away the plant’s waste into rivers, lakes, and oceans. The industrial processes use chemicals that are often very dangerous forms of waste. Most industries have displayed an unwillingness to find ways to deal with this hazardous waste because of the expenses needed to carry out the process. Even worse,

The Reperc

Agricultural waste, if not properly managed, can have devastating effects of the environment and quality of water. Contaminants such as pesticides, nitrates, bacteria, herbicides, and phosphates can have shocking effects on groundwater that runs under agricultural areas. The increase in nitrogen in the water can increase the algal population therefore eliminating oxygen from the water and making it uninhabitable, and undrinkable.

Domestic wastes, when dumped into water sources, can be harmful to marine life. Not always fatal, but infection and disease can spread through the fish population and infect other animals higher up on the food chain. For example, when these infected fish are caught by humans and are consumed, it can result in birth defects and cancers in humans.
Industrial waste is being dumped into waterways and improperly contained, which is causing serious problems. This is causing leakage into groundwater and ground waters.

The Pro-active Measures
Many things are being done to mend or prevent the current health condition of

There are many ways to prevent domestic waste that can be done in one’s household, such as choosing small containers instead of large ones when purchasing food.


To reduce the amount of industrial waste produced, many precautions can be taken. Properly disposing of and storing of toxic contaminants such as heavy metals, alkaline degreasers, and oxidizers, can reduce the amount foolishly disposed of into the waterways. Also, using non-toxic cleaning materials and finding alternative items that aren’t so harmful. Although proactive measure may be more expensive, it would benefit the environment and possibly save the company in years to come.
The Health Risks
Pollution in our water has many extremely hazardous health risks. One factor that contributes greatly to water pollution is agricultural waste. For example, farms that raise cattle,



The Preventative Measures
Water pollution has become such a major catastrophe that environmental organizations have been researching ways to help eliminate this problem and many people, who are becoming aware of this issue, are developing preventive measures to help control the pollution. To deal with agricultural pollution, some people are
To deal with domestic waste water pollution,


There is not much the average person can do to prevent industrial water pollution. It is in the hands of the factories to figure out alternative ways to produce products that have a reduced impact on the environment. The US government also regulates the amount of waste that a factory emits. Many more people all over the world need to start to take action to help prevent water pollution.
The Environmental, Cultural, and Socioeconomic Factors
Contaminated water is directly affecting many societies by the environmental, cultural,

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