Water means everything to us. A little over 2/3 of the Earth is covered by water. The exact percentage of water on Earth is 71.11%(http://www.water-pollution.org.uk) . There are many different kinds of water on our planet such as seas, lakes, rivers, oceans, lagoons, and groundwater. Unfortunately humans pollute the main source that our life depends on. All water pollution affects organisms and plants that live in these kinds of water. When humans pollute the water, they don't think that this pollution will harm them by eating the affected organisms! Water pollution may not damage our health immediately but can harm after long term exposure.

There are many causes for water pollution. The causes are sewage and wastewater, marine dumping, industrial waste, radioactive waste, oil pollution, underground storage leakages, atmospheric deposition and global warming. This paragraph concentrates only on one cause of water pollution which is the industrial waste.
Industry is a huge source of water pollution; it produces pollutants that are extremely harmful to people and the environment. Many industrial facilities throw different industrial waste into water.

Pollutants from industrial sources include:

1. Asbestos – This pollutant is a serious health hazard and carcinogenic. Asbestos fibers can be inhaled and cause illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer, intestinal cancer and liver cancer.

2. Lead – This is a metallic element and can cause health and environmental problems. It is a non-biodegradable substance so is hard to clean up once the environment is contaminated (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_waste). Lead is harmful to the health of many animals, including humans, as it can inhibit the action of bodily enzymes.

3. Mercury - This is a metallic element and can cause health and environmental problems. It is a non-biodegradable substance so is hard to clean up once the environment is contaminated. Mercury is also harmful to animal health as it can cause illness through mercury poisoning.

4. Nitrates – The increased use of fertilisers means that nitrates are more often being washed from the soil and into rivers and lakes (www.accessscience.com.library.hct.ac.ae). This can cause eutrophication, which can be very problematic to marine environments.

5. Phosphates - The increased use of fertilisers means that phosphates are more often being washed from the soil and into rivers and lakes. This can cause eutrophication, which can be very problematic to marine environments.

6. Sulphur – This is a non-metallic substance that is harmful for marine life.

7. Oils – Oil does not dissolve in water; instead it forms a thick layer on the water surface. This can stop marine plants receiving enough light for photosynthesis. It is also harmful for fish and marine birds.

8.Petrochemicals – This is formed from gas or petrol and can be toxic to marine life.

Additionally to these pollutants the smoke that comes out from the smokestacks has bad effects on the atmosphere. This leads into acid rainfall which harms the health of marine life in the rivers and lakes it pollutes, and can result in mortality.
In conclusion humans need to prevent water pollution by following some ways. The industries must be watched by the government. If any industry throws any harmful chemical materials or industrial wastes into water, the industry must be punished. Before throwing any harmful industrial wastes the industry have to be treated correctly. In order to reduce the amount of polluted water that needs treatment people have to use the running water only if needed.



Bibliography:

http://www.water-pollution.org.uk/industrialwaste.html>

www.accessscience.com.library.hct.ac.ae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_waste.