Water pollution

A. water pollution by sewage

the main source of sewage are:

o human and domestic wastes
o detergent rich in phosphates
o farmyard wastes
o Industrial waste from food processing industries.
Sewage contains pathogenic organisms. If the water is used
for human consumptions, then diseases such as cholera
spread.
Very high level of sewage contains large number of bacteria
which use up the oxygen in the water for their own respiration.
This does not leave enough oxygen for any other water life, so
many organism dies.
Small quantities of sewage release ions as it is decomposed.
The ions encourage rapid growth of water plants
(eutrophication), which eventually die and decompose. The
bacteria of decomposition again us up so much oxygen in the
water that no other life exists.

From the graph it can be seen that the, the concentration of

oxygen decreases very quickly due to the entry of sewage into
the river.
o This is because the organic materials present in the
sewage are broken down by bacteria present in
sewage. The bacteria use oxygen for respiration that
rapidly reproduce and grow in number.
After the low level of oxygen, it gradually rises but slower than
the rate of fall of oxygen level.
o This is because oxygen enters into the river from
atmosphere and also oxygen is produce by plants
during photosynthesis.
Effect of release of sewage on the amount of bacteria, algae and
nitrate level.

Effects of addition of sewage on the level of oxygen in water.

If the river becomes polluted there will be a decrease in the

oxygen level and increase in the bacterial population. This
shown the point, where sewage enters the river. According to
the graph it is point B.
Bacterial population increases suddenly as there would lot of
bacteria in the sewage itself. The bacteria use oxygen from
the river water, reproducing very fast and increase in their
population.

 When sewage is added into the river there is a decrease in

After point B towards C the algal population increases due to

the level of algae. This is because of the blockage of light for

the availability of more nitrate ions leading to algal bloom.

Towards point D again the algae population decreases, due

algae due to the accumulation of sewage and other

suspended particles on top of the water. As a result algae
cannot photosynthesis so there population does not
increases. Another reason is that due to the shortage of
nitrate ions in water or due to presence of toxins in sewage.

to the lack of nitrate. Some of the algae also will be eaten by

primary consumers (herbivores) in the water. It may also be
due to unsuitable temperature of the water.