Almost all types of water pollution are harmful to the health of humans, animals and plants. Water pollution may not harm our health immediately but could harm after long term exposure. Different types of water pollution affect health in different ways:

Heavy metals from industrial processes can accumulate in nearby lakes and rivers. They are toxic to marine organisms such as fish and shellfish, and subsequently to those who eat them. Heavy metals can slow growth; birth defects and cancer.

Industrial waste often contains many toxic compounds that are harmful to the health of seafood. Some of the toxins in industrial waste can have only mild effects while others can be fatal. They can cause immunosuppression, fertility failure or acute poisoning.

Pollutants from wastewater often lead to diseases that infect aquatic and terrestrial organisms through drinking water. Microbiological contamination is a major problem in developing countries, with diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever being the main cause of infant mortality.

Sulfate particles from acid rain can harm the health of organisms in rivers and lakes, which can lead to death.

The suspended particles in fresh water reduce the quality of drinking water for humans and the aquatic environment for marine organisms. Suspended particles can often reduce the amount of sunlight that passes through the water, disrupting the growth of photosynthetic plants and microorganisms.

pollution of sea and ocean freshwater sources Consequences of water pollution for the economy Water pollution can harm economies as it can be costly to treat and prevent pollution. Non-degraded waste quickly accumulates in the water and flows into the oceans.

Groundwater pollution can be prevented by preventing pollutants from contaminating nearby water bodies. There are several water treatment methods to prevent water pollution such as: biological filter, chemical filter, sand filter.

These simple techniques cost money to maintain, but preventive measures are much cheaper than cleaning up polluted water. The cost for cleaning water pollution depends on many factors:

The location of the water pollution is important in determining how much the cleanup will cost. If the water pollution is in an area that is convenient to move, then the cleaning cost will be cheaper.

The size of the area of ​​water pollution should also be considered, the larger the polluted area, the more expensive the cleaning will be.

The type of water pollutant can also have an effect on cleaning costs, some pollutants are harder to clean than others, and therefore more expensive.