Sources of Water Pollution
In nature, all water contains some impurities. As water flows in streams, sits in lakes, and fi lters through layers of soil and rock in the ground, it dissolves or absorbs the substances that it touches. Some of these substances are harmless. In fact, some people prefer mineral water precisely because minerals give it an appealing taste. However, at certain levels, minerals, just like man-made chemicals, are considered contaminants that can make water unpalatable or even unsafe. The two categories of water pollution are: direct and indirect contaminant sources.
Direct sources
include effluent outfalls from factories, refineries, waste treatment plants and such that emit fluids of varying quality directly into urban water supplies. In the United States and other countries, these practices are regulated, although this doesn't mean that pollutants can't be found in these waters.
Indirect sources
include contaminants that enter the water supply from soils/groundwater systems and from the atmosphere via rain water. Soils and ground waters contain the residue of human agricultural practices (fertilizers, pesticides, etc...) and improperly disposed of industrial wastes. Atmospheric contaminants are also derived from human practices (such as gaseous emissions from automobiles, factories and even bakeries).
The water treatment plant adds chemicals to the water through the process of treating the water, which may become contaminants with potential health risks. Some of these water treatment chemicals may not be eliminated and can be transported in the water to your home. Municipal water treatment plants cannot remove every possible contaminant in water.
Water that has been treated by a public or community treatment system has to be transported to your home and out of your faucet. Since water is a universal solvent, this distribution system can contribute contaminants to water from the composition of the piping, potential breaks in underground distribution lines and everything else the water may come in contact with before it leaves your faucet.
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