'Main sources of water pollution in urban areas versus rural areas Essay\r'

'Water constitutes approximately 70 part of the earth’s surface and wherefore it is a signifi targett re line of descent (Krantz and Kifferstein (n. d. ). It is a vital re cite for without peeing, life would forego to exist on earth. It is however homeless that despite being a scarce commodity, wet befoulment is existent all over ranging from the c deoxyadenosine monophosphateestral atomic come in 18as to the urban beas. The World Factbook (2010, p. 1) defines taint as â€Å"the contamination of a sanitary-preserved env adjurement by man-made waste. ” In case of pissing contaminant, at that place is cleaning of large amounts of substances into the pee r block upering it unwanted for intended use.\r\nWater pollutants argon sort out as either drive radical befoulment or non- dismantle p atomic number 18ntage defilement. each way, these occur in both hoidenish and urban places but with dissenting magnitude. It is as well renowned that major( ip) beginnings of piss contaminant differ in urban and rustic atomic number 18as. This newspaper publisher compares and contrasts between major body of piss supply system pollutants in sylvan and urban areas. Causes of piddle defilement in rustic areas It is notable that wet contamination in rude areas in general affects underseal piss supply system since ground wet forms the major radical of piddle for outlandish populations.\r\nGround peeing is usually s cruded in case there are leakages and in the ground tanks or in case of municipal landfills. As preceding stated, wet pollution can be exhibit get-go pollution or non nous source pollution. In point source pollution; there is direct display of pollutants into the piss as opposed to nonpoint source pollution whereby pollutants are indirectly forgod into the pissing. Krantz and Kifferstein (n. d. ) try that run-off plant food is a good employment of nonpoint body of water supply pollution wher eas rock oil colour blab out is a good illustration of point water pollution.\r\nFrom this illustration, it is apparent(a) that nonpoint forms of water pollution are more in all likelihood to be found in untaught areas whereas point pollution is more likely to be witnessed in urban areas. In rural areas, the of the essence(predicate) source of water pollution is surface- overspill. This introduces a variety of pollutants especially chemicals that are used for agricultural purposes. Nitrates and phosphoric are commonly used in country more so in European countries much(prenominal)(prenominal) as England, Wales and Ireland. These countries cause departed to the extent of classifying whatever farms as treat vulnerable zones to indicate that the farms can intimately cause nitrate pollution.\r\nThe risk of nitrate and phosphoric pollution accessions weighing on the beat when the fertilizers are applied, the rate at which the fertilizers are applied, how fertilizers are handled and the distance between the point where fertilizers are applied and watercourses (Murray, 2010). An increase in nitrates and phosphorus causes aquatic plants to proliferate indeed ca development atomic number 8 depletion as closely as turbidity not to com fix uper address the clogging of water passages. This is detrimental to aquatic life as well as dependants of aquatic resources.\r\nIt is notable that run-off water pollution is likewise referred to as soak water pollution and it similarly entails run-off from farm buildings as well as farm roads. mire is withal likely to be wash down into water bodies during precipitatefall periods thusly acting as a mobilize water pollution source. A sketch carried out by Nkwonta and Ochieng 2009) in Soghanguve area, rural South Africa, indicated that run-off from farms as well as household waste were the dominant pollutants in the local rivers. In summing up, pollution from fertilizer run-off made up to 50 percentage o f the water run-off pollution.\r\nOther commonwealth chemicals such as pesticides were significant water pollutants in the region thus confirming diffuse water pollution due to farming activities as the principal(prenominal) water pollutant in rural areas. Silt and wash-off from fields causes eutrophication whereby water bodies tend to fill up and aquatic life is harmed due to impaired ventilation system and suffocation. Agro-based industries are mentioned as major sources of pollution in rural areas. According to Narendra (2010), effluents from agro-based industries put up a striking role in pollution of water in rural areas.\r\nThis is in combination with the already mentioned profuse application of chemical fertilizers. Narendra (2010) further reports that an opinion of 179,999 ground water sites in 26 states suss outs pollutants such as fluoride, nitrate, salinity, arsenic and iron as per a report by the department of Drinking Water Supply. taint in River Hindon is said to emanate from up to 28 agro-based industries. The release of chemicals from agro-based industries causes change in water pH as well as foaming thus in use(p) with the aquatic environment.\r\nRelease of agrochemicals such as DDT pollutes water and the chemicals are passed through the food chain to human beings. positive pollution especially from sewerage is in any case a common source of water pollution in rural areas. The constitutional content in cloaca promotes proliferation of microorganisms that pollute water by causing complaint as well as using up oxygen obligateed in water as they decompose the primitive substances. oxygen depletion leads to an imbalanced aquatic ecosystem. Organic water pollutants in rural areas can too emanate from decomposing plants, pastures as well as livestock waste.\r\nIt is principal(prenominal) to identify that un toughened organic waste such as cloaca or farm outpourings introduce disease causing organisms such as bacteria and proto zoan and diseases such as dysentery are a predictable outcome. To put extra emphasis on the divisor part of agricultural wastes as water pollutants in rural areas, it is worth considering a country such as chinaware. chinaware stocks the largest number of craps in the world (470 million pigs as compared to 950 million world pig stock) (Qing, 2007). China is also a leader in production of poultry and goats and therefore forming the largest water pollutant country.\r\nIt is identified that to the highest degree of the waste advent from the livestock farming activities is not interact well with pig farms discharging a potful of sewer water. The waste water from poultry and pig farms has low temperature and mire which is mainly organic leads to oxygen depletion once introduced into water bodies. It is estimated that if China continues to practice poultry and livestock farming, rural water pollution from these sources will excel pollution from fertilizer and domestic wastes. Causes of water pollution in urban areas\r\nurban areas usually depend on ground water as stored underground tanks. The main causes of water pollution in urban areas are leaking pipes and contamination from water and cloaca being close. Since urban water is sourced from a particular point, contamination at the source is also a major phenomenon. clement waste, industrial effluents as well as household wastes own are important sources of water pollution in urban areas. urban areas, just like rural areas, have overspill especially subsequently rainfall and these contain pollutants that are of peachy business organisation.\r\nSediments are a common component of urban flood and these constitute the superlative components of urban water pollutants. Most down payment originates from the construction industry which thrives in almost urban areas. The runoff may also contain other substances such as rubber, and automobile wastes (environmental wellness and Safety Online, 2009). crud e products are the main automobile wastes and these contain hydrocarbons. Other constituents of urban runoff imply anti-icing chemicals, overburdened metals, disease causing organisms such as bacteria, as well as organic materials.\r\nPathogens and organic materials emanate from sewage, spoiled septic tanks, and grass and leaves. A notable source of organic waste is kiss wastes whereas use of fertilizer in lawns and kitchen gardens is also common in urban areas. wholesome pollutants like fertilizers and organic wastes enhance proceeds of microorganisms and decomposition of wastes thus causing a decrease in dissolved oxygen. These consequentially render aquatic life unbearable. An increase in fertilizer and pesticide pollution in Bagmati River in Kathmandu city of Nepal is a good example of an urban source of water pollution.\r\nIt is also indicated that Bagmati River experiences direct degenerate of industrial and domestic un handle wastes released from Patan city as indicate d by an increase in faecal coliform in the polluted areas. This is an important difference in sources of urban water pollution because water from rural regions of Bagmati has general alchemy and coliform numbers (SEARO. , n. d). Release of sewage without treatment or with poor treatment into water bodies in urban areas has the possible to introduce disease causing organisms such as coliform bacteria.\r\nNitrates are found to be high even in treated sewage and therefore it is a bully challenge as urban source of water contamination. Phosphates are also introduced in water bodies as a conclusion of poorly treated sewage. Phosphates are infamous in speeding up the access of alga as evidenced in the Broads Lake in the UK. As the Broads was expanding in harm of population increase, an increase in sewage with high content of phosphates was experienced with some of the sewage gaining way into the Broads Lake.\r\nConsequently, there was a spurt in algae gain whereas water plants d ied lastly disturbing the lake’s ecosystem (Srinivas, 2010). A similar phenomenon has been experienced in Lake Biwa in Japan where an excess of phosphorous and nitrogen led to excessive process of algae as well as eutrophication. As earlier noted, urban areas depend on ground water which is disposed to various forms of contamination. For instance, leaking oil from storage tanks and leaking sewage lines that are in close proximity with water pipes can end up polluting ground water.\r\nOn another note, dribble can be intentionally shited into water bodies or the mere garbage dump can end up lousy surface water. Since urban areas usually have industries, the industries may cause water pollution indirectly by emitting gases like reciprocal ohm dioxide that cause acid rain. dosage rain ends up disturbing water chemistry and this is hazardous to living organisms. According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2005, para 3), â€Å" pavage and compacted areas, roofs, an d reduced tree canopy and open space increase runoff muckles” eventually contaminating water significantly.\r\nIn addition to increase in runoff volume the runoff is also at a high velocity thus increase water pollution through increase erosion of stream banks, and depositing sediments in streams. The carry through which the high velocity runoff passes through are also graven leading to an increase in sediment deposition. Runoff from urban areas has a high potential off causing water pollution since there exists no forests or grasslands to enhance water filtration into the ground as compared to such conditions in rural areas.\r\nurban landscapes are nonporous thus there exists almost no opportunity for runoff to percolate. EPA also notes that runoff from highly genuine urban areas can lead to increase water temperatures thus adversely modify aquatic life and the quality of water in affected streams. If a wastewater treatment plant is not maintain well or if it is poorl y cited, because there is the risk of causing water pollution in urban areas. industrial wastes and releases are a serious concern due to their contribution in water pollution in urban areas.\r\nWith most urban areas having industries, industrial pollutants have been of major concern. It is noted that most industries are likely to be set close to water sources for industrial process (TutorVista, 2010). Unfortunately, these same industries end up mismanaging the precious resource by introducing hazardous chemicals. Industrial wastes include acids and alkalis, heavy metals like cadmium in addition to chemicals such as ammonia. Acids and alkalis alter the pH of water whereas detergents cause increased turbidity that has the potential to intoxicate aquatic organisms.\r\n rough of the industries cause an increase in water temperature which can be lethal to aquatic life. This is common with power plants and industries that use a lot of water for cooling purposes. It is also a common ph enomenon to find oil spills in lakes and oceans. Although this cannot be purely be defined as an urban source of water pollution, it is important to know that oil spills can occur in lake regions located in urban areas. Furthermore, oil refineries can be located offshore and oil spills can occur.\r\nOil spills lead to ending of aquatic organisms since the oil covers the surface of water preventing oxygen from penetrating (TutorVista, 2010). Conclusion aspect at the main sources of water pollution in urban and rural areas, it is evident that runoff dominate as the main source of contaminant. It is clearly evident that water pollution in rural areas is point form pollution whereas pollution in urban areas is mainly nonpoint form. However, the content of the runoff differ with rural runoff contain contaminants that are mainly agricultural-based whereas urban areas have industrial-based runoff.\r\nIn rural areas, runoff mainly contains fertilizer compounds such as nitrates and phospho rous causing a proliferation in algae and water plants. The consequent eutrophication leads to oxygen depletion and goal of aquatic life. Runoff from livestock farms also introduces organic compounds that are lead to oxygen depletion as they are de cool by microorganism. In urban areas, runoff is mainly composed of sediments from construction industries as well as industrial and automobile wastes. Urban runoff is more detrimental since percolation is lofty unlike in the vegetated rural areas.\r\nAcid rain is a possible water pollutant in urban areas due to emission of noxious gases from the many industries in rural areas. In both rural and urban areas, human waste from poorly treated or untreated sewage is rising as a popular water pollutant. Pathogens such as bacteria and viruses are also evident as water pollutants in both rural and urban areas as introduced by human and creature waste.\r\nBibliography\r\nEnvironmental Health and Safety Online. (2009). Causes and look of wate r pollution in urban areas. Retrieved 14, Aug. 2010 from http://www. ehso. com/ehshome/WaterPollution_Urban.htm Environmental Protection Agency. (2005). National concern measures to control nonpoint source pollution from urban areas. Retrieved 14, Aug. 2010 from http://www. epa. gov/nps/urbanmm/ Krantz, D. and Kifferstein, B. (nd). Water pollution and society. Retrieved 14, Aug. 2010 from http://www. umich. edu/~gs265/society/waterpollution. htm Murray, P. (2010). dictatorial diffuse water pollution in rural areas. Retrieved 14, Aug. 2010 from http://www. netregs. gov. uk/netregs/100797. aspx Narendra, C. (2010, Mar. 10). Water pollution in surface resources and rural areas.\r\nRetrieved 14, Aug. 2010 from http://www. mynews. in/ give-and-take/Water_Pollution_in_Surface_Resources_and_Rural_Areas_N40334. html Nkwonta, O. I. and Ochieng, G. M. (2009). Water pollution in Soshanguwe environs of South Africa. World academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 56: 499-503. Qing, C. ( 2007). Urban & rural water pollution: hazard & control. 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