Water

In the nature, water is an indispensable component. 97% of the total water

of the world comes from sea-water, i.e., saline water, which is practically no use to human
beings. The remaining 3% is sweet water, of which 2% remains as condensed form in polar
regions and in various permanent glaciers. The remaining 1% sweet water Which accumulated
in rivers, fountains, lakes, ponds, under the soil etc., is consumed for different useful purposes.
Due to the polar nature of water, a large number of inorganic salts get dissolved in it. As a
result, these salts become easily available to living beings. These salts are extremely important
to aquatic life.
The various gaseous pollutants such as CO2, SOx, NOx etc., present in atmosphere,
organic and inorganic pollutants on the earth’s surface swept by rain water and mix with the
rivers, lakes, seas etc. Due to different chemical reaction in water, these pollutants decompose
to give unpolluted water. As a result, the extent of environmental pollution decreases.
Water pollution:
when water of different water bodies gets contaminated with one or more chemical
substances, evolved either by natural phenomena or indiscriminate human activities and tend
to cause health hazards to man and other living beings or adversely affect the processes of their
livelihood, then it is said that the water is polluted.

Different sources of water pollution:

1.Domestic waste -
Solid waste of various materials of domestic use (e.g., discarded paper, plastics, torn
cloth, vegetable refuse, remains of food etc.) excreta of man and domestic animals are mostly
left in open places. With time, these discarded materials are carried by wind or rain water to
the nearby water bodies. This contaminates the water and makes it unfit for use.
i) Domestic wastes mostly contain organic compounds. These organic compounds are
decomposed by bacteria in presence of dissolved oxygen (DO). This process is called
biodegradation. In the process of biodegradation, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, Phosphorus etc.,
presents in the organic compounds are oxidized to CO2, H2O , nitrate, phosphate and other
salts. During the occurrence of the process of biodegradation, the quantity of dissolved oxygen
gradually decreases. Naturally, aquatic plants, fishes and other aquatic lives do not get
sufficient oxygen for respiration. Consequently, aquatic living beings face serious problems. DO
is considered to be an important parameter in predicting the quality of the water. For aquatic
plants and animals, the value of DO must not be less than of 4 - 6 mg.L-1 . With increasing value
of DO, the quality of the water gradually improves. Lowering in the value of DO indicates that
the water is getting polluted.
 ii) If there is deficiency of dissolved oxygen in water the oxidation of organic pollutants does
not get completed. In consequence of incomplete oxidation of methane (CH4), hydrogen
sulphide(H2S), phosphine (PH3), different amino-compounds etc. are produced and created
extremely offensive order.
iii) Waste material, Sewage from dispensaries, hospitals and domestic wastes carrying
pathogenic micro-organisms are drained into the water bodies and may cause various diseases
such as Cholera, typhoid, para-typhoid, dysentery, hepatitis, polio, gastroenteritis, jaundice etc.
iv) Waste materials like plastics do not undergo bacterial decomposition in presence of oxygen
i.e., they are non-biodegradable. They remain unaffected even if they are left in water for
years. Thus, they decrease the depth of water and on the other hand, increase the extent of
water pollution under the influence of their constituent chemical compounds.
2. Industrial Waste –
Industries, in the production of organic and inorganic materials release industrial wastes.
Factories producing or using mineral acids like HCl , H2SO4 , HNO3 , H3PO4 etc.and alkalis e.g.,
NAOH , KOH , NH3 give up profuse quantities of waste materials or influents which are grown
directly into water of rivers, lakes, ponds etc. These acids or alkalis get mix with water and
increase the acidity or alkalinity of water.
Again, the industrial waste of different factories, containing metallic elements (e.g., Pb, Hg,
Cd, Zn, Cr, Mn, As, Be etc.) mixes with different water bodies. These metals have profound ill
effects on aquatic plants and aquatic animals in particular. Direct use of this polluted water
entails attack by several diseases. Besides, these metals, accumulated in human bodies through
food-chains, cause a wide range of ailments.
3. Fertilizers used in agriculture -
Chemical fertilizers or nutrients are extensively used for increasing agricultural production.
Mainly urea or organic fertilizers and ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, monocalcium
phosphate etc., are used as inorganic fertilizers. A certain portion of these fertilisers remains
unutilised and being carried by the rain water, falls into the nearby rivers, lakes etc., and thus
causes water pollution.
Water containing nitrate ion cannot be used as portable water because nitrate ion cannot be
removed by the usual process of purification of water. Consumption of such water effects
haemoglobin of babies, causing the disease called ‘Blue baby syndrome’. Moreover, nitrate ion
inside the body is converted into carcinogenic nitroso amines.
4. Pesticides used in agriculture –
A wide range of synthetic organic chemicals are used for the better production and
preservation of crops. For example, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides etc., are applied to the
field to kill insects, fungi, herbs etc. These chemicals are collectively known as pesticides.
Pesticides, when used in agricultural fields, are carried by flowing water to enter the
hydrosphere and cause pollution of water. Again, when pesticides are sprayed in the field, a
part of them get mixed with the atmosphere which come down along with rain water and
mingle with the water of the rivers, lakes etc. Water pollution is also caused by the discharges
from factories producing pesticides.
5. Detergent –
Detergent is widely used as cleaning agent in household work and in industry. The effluent
released after its use, mixes with the nearby ponds, rivers etc. and causes water pollution.
Two chief constituents of detergent are -
A) Surface active agent; e.g., Alkyl benzene sulphonate (ABS).
i) Surface active agents decrease the surface tension of water and consequently help in
the formation of foam and emulsion and oily substances with water. These surface
active agent are non-biodegradable and thereby entail water pollution.
ii) Foam created by detergents forms and layer on the surface of water and thus
prevent water from coming in contact with air and sun rays. Consequently, water cannot
absorb oxygen from air and the dissolved oxygen level (DO) in water goes on decreasing.
Furthermore, sun rays being obstructed, the aquatic plants at the bottom cannot release
oxygen by the process of photosynthesis. For this reason, also, the dissolved oxygen level
gradually gets diminished. This results in the deficiency of oxygen required for the
respiration of aquatic plants and animals.
iii) Surface active agents form a layer on some organic pollutants (e.g., phenolic
compounds). So phenolic compounds present in water can no longer come in contact
with bacteria and hence the biodegradation of organic pollutants becomes inhibited.
Consequently, the extent of pollution in water increases.
B) Builder or Filler; e.g., Sodium tripolyphosphate [Na3P3O10]. Detergent contains phosphate
salt as builders or fillers, phosphate ions produced from them form water soluble complex salt
by combination with the basic radicals Ca2 +, Mg 2 + etc. These complex phosphate salts serve as
nutrients for algae and aquatic plants, consequently affecting their rapid population growth
(Eutrophication). Plenty of oxygen is required for their respiration. This results in rapid decrease
in the level of dissolved Oxygen (DO) and the survival of aquatic animals becomes extremely
difficult.
6. Radioactive substances –
Radioactive substances, during mining and refining as well as from nuclear power plants, may
be carried into water. Radioactive discharges from Medical and scientific institutions using
radioactive isotopes may also lead to water pollution.
7. Thermal pollution –
In hydroelectric power plants, generally the water from rivers or lakes is converted into
superheated steam which is used to rotate the turbine. Only a negligible fraction of heat carried
by steam is transformed into electrical energy and the rest returns to rivers or lakes with the
help of water. This process continues, in cyclic order. As a result, the temperature of water of
the river or the lake rises considerably and the dissolved oxygen (DO) level decreases, causing
great harm to the aquatic animals, particularly the fishes. In thermal nuclear power plant and
many other industries, water is used as coolant, which is discharged at a high temperature to
rivers or lakes resulting in rise in the temperature of the water. This increased temperature
accelerates the faster assimilation of the waste materials, causing depletion of dissolved oxygen
(DO).
8. Oil-slicks on sea-water –
Mineral oils and by-products of oil spreads into sea-water for several reasons. Consequently, a
layer of floating oil (oil-slicks) on sea-water is formed and the transfer of atmospheric oxygen
into sea-water is prevented which in turn reduces dissolved oxygen (DO) level. Again, the
oxygen required for biochemical decomposition comes from water and hence the level of
dissolved oxygen is reduced further. Naturally this brings about a shortfall of oxygen required
for respiration of aquatic plants and animals and their survival becomes extremely difficult.
Moreover, oil-slicks on sea-water do not allow sunrays to enter in the water in sufficient
quantity and in consequence, photochemical reactions of aquatic plants are hindered and their
growth is remarkably inhibited thereby. At sea, the oil layer causes death of birds. The oil
floating on the sea penetrates through the feathers and wings of birds and thus their insulation
and buoyancy buoyancy are adversely affected. Consequently, their body temperature
decreases and ultimately, they face death. This phenomenon is called hypothermia.

Prepared by
UTTAM KUMAR MONDAL
Lecturer in Chemistry
Diamond Harbour Government Polytechnic
Govt. of West Bengal, Diamond Harbour
South 24-Parganas, 743331