Variations in Water Quality
- Clean, potable water is essential for human consumption, irrigation and for livestock
- Approximately one-third of the world's population does not have access to clean, potable water
- Unsafe water results in an estimated 1.2 million deaths worldwide each year
- In areas with low precipitation water can become stagnant
- Diseases which spread in polluted water include typhoid, cholera, bilharzia and dysentery
- There are many sources of water pollution and it is estimated that globally 80% of wastewater enters the water system without being treated
Sources and Impacts of Water Pollution
Source | How it Enters the Water | Impact |
Agriculture |
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Industry |
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Domestic |
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Exam Tip
Remember to be clear about the difference between causes and impacts. The cause of pollution is where it comes from and how it enters the water. The impacts are how the environment, humans and wildlife are affected by the pollution.