How Does Water Pollution Affect the Environment?

Water pollution is one of the greatest forms of environmental pollution. It damages the land, the animals and our health. Water is a resource that we all need to survive and we need to realize just how water pollution can affect the environment.

Water pollution destroys many habitats of animals that make their homes in the water. Sea creatures such as fish depend of a delicately-balanced ecosystem, and the health of the fish population is greatly affected if the water is too polluted. Fish, turtles and ducks can get caught in debris such as nets and garbage and perish.

Animals that reside near bodies of water are also at risk. For example, beavers make their homes at the water’s edge. Their dams can be broken down or bogged down with debris because of water pollution. Smaller animals drink contaminated water and then become food sources for larger animals, creating a continuous cycle of contamination. Plants that live in and around water can also be affected. Pollution can kill plants that are already grown, and hinder the growth of any new plants.

By affecting the plants and animals that live in water, the pollution inadvertently affects our food supply as well. If the types of plants and animals that humans consume for food die or cannot thrive, we will have less food to eat.

In addition, water pollution can affect our drinking water. The more pollution in the water, the more we need to employ unnatural methods to achieve clean water. This leads to more factories for water decontamination, which adds to air pollution.