Water Pollution

Summary

We all need clean water. People need it to grow crops and to operate factories, and for drinking and recreation. Fish and wildlife depend on it to survive.

Many different pollutants can harm our rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. The three most common are soil, nutrients, and bacteria. Rain washes soil into streams and rivers. The soil can kill tiny animals and fish eggs. It can clog the gills of fish and block light, causing plants to die. Nutrients, often from fertilizers, cause problems in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Nitrogen and phosphorus make algae grow and can turn water green. Bacteria, often from sewage spills, can pollute fresh or salt water.

You can help protect your water supply:

• Don’t pour household products such as cleansers, beauty products, medicines, auto fluids, paint, and lawn care products down the drain. Take them to a hazardous waste collection site.
• Throw away excess household grease (meat fats, lard, cooking oil, shortening, butter, margarine, etc.) diapers, condoms, and personal hygiene products in the garbage can.
• Clean up after your pets. Pet waste contains nutrients and germs.

Environmental Protection Agency

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Specifics

• Acid Rain Environmental Protection Agency
• Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)-Associated Illness: General Information Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Harmful Algal Blooms National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
• Human Health at the Beach Environmental Protection Agency

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Basic Information and Answers to Frequent Questions about Healthy Watersheds Protection Environmental Protection Agency
• Risk Assessment Environmental Protection Agency

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Protozoan Infections National Institutes of Health

Find an Expert

• Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Start Here

• Primer on Water Quality U.S. Geological Survey
• Safe Water and Your Health National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Journal Articles

• Water pollution

Teenagers

• Quiz: Water and Your Health Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health

Children

• River and Stream Pollution National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

• The Future of Water

Related Issues

• Water Contamination Centers for Disease Control and Prevention