Water Trails & Water Pollution

Causes Of Water Pollution - Sewage and Waste Water

Domestic households, industrial and agricultural practices produce wastewater that can cause pollution of many lakes and rivers.

• Sewage is the term used for wastewater that often contains feces, urine and laundry waste.

• There are billions of people on Earth, so treating sewage is a big priority.

• Sewage disposal is a major problem in developing countries as many people in these areas don’t have access to sanitary conditions and clean water.

• Untreated sewage water in such areas can contaminate the environment and cause diseases such as diarrhea.

• Sewage in developed countries is carried away from the home quickly and hygienically through sewage pipes.

• Sewage is treated in water treatment plants and the waste is often disposed into the sea.

• Sewage is mainly biodegradable and most of it is broken down in the environment.

• In developed countries, sewage often causes problems when people flush chemical and pharmaceutical substances down the toilet. When people are ill, sewage often carries harmful viruses and bacteria into the environment causing health problems.

Sewage

In developing countries, an estimated 90% of wastewater is discharged directly into rivers and streams without treatment. Even in modern countries, untreated sewage, poorly treated sewage, or overflow from under-capacity sewage treatment facilities can send disease-bearing water into rivers and oceans. In the US, 850 billion gallons of raw sewage are sent into US rivers, lakes, and bays every year by leaking sewer systems and inadequate combined sewer/storm systems that overflow during heavy rains. Leaking septic tanks and other sources of sewage can cause groundwater and stream contamination.