Water pollution is any chemical, physical or biological change in the quality of water that has a harmful effect on any living thing that drinks or uses or lives in it. Water pollution is a very important and very real issue in the world today. The environment is being destroyed. Ecosystems that once thrived are being diminished. Chemicals and waste are being dumped into the ocean and the organisms there are paying for it. Pollutants are being discharged into the water without any form of proper treatment, and it's more than beginning to show, as seen in the pictures below.
The effects of water pollution are very dangerous to both the organisms
living in the water, and those who live on land. Processes like eutrophication can occur and kill off organisms and natural biological communities beneath the waves. Eutrophication is a great increase in the phytoplankton in a biological community. This depletes the oxygen in the water, which causes many of the fish and other organisms in the water to die off. Acid rain can not only affect aquatic organisms, but those on land as well. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water molecules in the atmosphere, they produce acids. This acid rain can harmful effects on plants and infrastructure, including the peeling of paint and the corrosion of steel structures.
So why should we care? Water pollution is a very serious matter. When water-soluble inorganic pollutants, such as acids, salts and toxic metals are built up in large quantities, it causes the water to become unfit to drink and kills off many organisms. The picture below depicts a dolphin that was killed by chemical pollutants that were released into the ocean. To its right is a cow that was killed by swallowing plastic that was floating in the water. The other three pictures below show how tainted the tap water that should be suitable for drinking has become. Radioactive compounds cause cancer, birth defects, and genetic damage. These things are happening now, and it's our job to work together to stop them.
But there is still hope! Many projects and businesses are promoting the "green" movement. This movement is simply a way of getting people to use more eco-friendly materials throughout their everyday schedule. It also promotes the conservation of water, electricity, and other natural resources. By taking part in this movement, you alone can help make a difference.
Many products today are supporting the "green" movement. Businesses marketing such products generally spend more making such products, raising the price slightly. But in the end, the benefits to the environment are definitely worth it. Products like mugs, pens, notebooks, lotions, hair products, cleaning products, clothes, and bags are being distributed everywhere. Everyone has a chance to help clean up our environment, and we should all give it a shot.
One serious nonpoint source of pollution is the runoff that comes from marinas. Marinas and boating are both very common past times that many people are now taking advantage of. This has led to an increase in the amount of water pollution areas like this are accumulating. Processes such as boat cleaning, fueling, and runoff from parking lots and repair areas are raising the amount of pollution the water has to endure. Many of the materials used in building these marinas and docks are also harmful to the environment.
For this reason, many areas are researching the production of green marinas and docks. These marinas, also referred to as clean marinas, try to prevent or reduce pollution by utilizing environmentally conscious boating and construction procedures and materials. They are usually built with more environmentally friendly materials in mind. Programs like the Green Marina (http://www.greenmarina.org/) incorporate green procedures, materials, and programs to instill a higher sense of environmental consciousness in all its users. These programs include eco-tours, which are boat tours on eco-friendly solar electric boats. They also give away more eco-friendly boats at “green” marathons to help promote the reduction of water pollution.
Sunk deep in the ground, piles made of wood, steel, or plastic make a great base for a stable dock.
