Water Pollution

Water pollution is the contamination of bodies of water, including lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater. Water pollution occurs most often because of humans.

Types of Water Pollution

• Nutrients Pollution
• Surface Water Pollution
• Oxygen Depleting
• Ground Water Pollution
• Microbiological
• Suspended Matter
• Chemicals
• Oil Spillage

Effects of Water Pollution

• Kill marine organisms.
• Cause malaria, cholera and diarrhoea if consumed.
• Leading cause of death in developing countries.
• Anaerobic organisms grow and produce toxins.
• Encourages algae and weed growth.

Gulf Oil Spill
The explosion of the BP oil boat occurred April 20th, 2010. The BP oil boat leaked 3.19 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico by July 15, 2010 when the well was capped.

Humans Encourage BP Oil Spill

• The crew did not look for problems with the oil leaking.
• The seal designed to stop leaks was weak and poorly designed.
• Immediate response did not arrive in time and was unaffective.

Cleaning Up the Spill
Floating booms were used as physical barriers to stop the spill from spreading. Skimmers were used; skimmers are boats that drive through the oil and collect it. Also sorbents were used to absorb oil.

Prevention of Oil Spills
Regulations about drilling equipment, especially blowout preventer, were proposed by the government. Since the blowout preventer failed in the BP oil spill, oil and gas drillers are required to preform tests and maintenance on the blowout preventers.

What You Can Do to Prevent Water Pollution.

• Do not litter.
• Do not put chemicals, oils, paints, or medicines in the sink, drain, or toilet.
• Do not overuse pesticides and fertilisers so it does not run off into water bodies.
• Buy environmentally safe cleaning liquids.

Sources
http://ocean.si.edu/gulf-oil-spill

Sources
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/eight-failures-led-to-gulf-oil-spill-bp...

Sources
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/04/14/3646695/offshore-drilling-rules...