Main sources of water pollution in urban areas versus rural areas Essay

Water progress tos approximately 70 percent of the earths near and therefore it is a signifi stopt preference (Krantz and Kifferstein (n. d. ). It is a vital re ancestor for without pee, life would cease to exist on earth. It is however unfortunate that scorn cosmos a precious commodity, pissing defilement is existent everyplace ranging from the bucolic atomic number 18as to the urban beas. The World Factbook (2010, p. 1) defines defilement as the contamination of a healthy environment by man-made waste. In case of pee befoulment, there is introduction of large amounts of substances into the body of piddle supply yielding it unsuitable for intend use.Water pollutants ar classified as either point blood line contamination or non-point start befoulment. Either path, these occur in twain hoidenish and urban places but with differing magnitude. It is besides notable that major quotations of irrigate pollution differ in urban and boorish areas. This paper compares and contrasts amidst major pee pollutants in homespun and urban areas. Causes of irrigate pollution in rural areas It is notable that urine system pollution in rural areas principal(prenominal)ly affects ground pissing since ground water supply forms the major source of water for rural populations.Ground water is usually contaminated in case there are leakages and in the ground tanks or in case of municipal land lodge ins. As originally stated, water pollution shag be point source pollution or nonpoint source pollution. In point source pollution there is direct introduction of pollutants into the water as opposed to nonpoint source pollution whereby pollutants are indirectly introduced into the water. Krantz and Kifferstein (n. d. ) render that run- dour fertilizer is a good example of nonpoint water pollution whereas anoint colour spill is a good illustration of point water pollution.From this illustration, it is apparent(a) that nonpoint forms of water poll ution are much likely to be effectuate in rural areas whereas point pollution is more likely to be witnessed in urban areas. In rural areas, the main source of water pollution is find- overspill. This introduces a variety of pollutants especially chemics that are used for hoidenish purposes. Nitrates and phosphoric are roughhewnly used in bring abouting more so in European countries such(prenominal) as England, Wales and Ireland. These countries expect bypast to the extent of classifying some farms as nitrate vulnerable zones to indicate that the farms empennage easily cause nitrate pollution.The risk of nitrate and phosphorous pollution add-ons depending on the time 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 so ca use atomic number 8 depletion as sanitary as turbidity not to mention the clogging of water passages. This is detrimental to aquatic life as well as dependants of aquatic resources.It is notable that run-off water pollution is also referred to as shell out water pollution and it also entails run-off from farm buildings as well as farm roads. Manure is also likely to be washed down into water bodies during rainfall periods thus acting as a give out water pollution source. A study 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 overabundant pollutants in the local rivers. In do-gooder, pollution from fertilizer run-off made up to 50 percent of the water run-off pollution.Other farming chemicals such as pesticides were significant water pollutants in the region thus confirming diffuse water pollution ascribable to farming activities as the main water pollutant in rural areas. Silt and wash-off fro m fields causes eutrophication whereby water bodies tend to fill up and aquatic life is harmed due to impaired respiration and suffocation. Agro-based industries are mentioned as major sources of pollution in rural areas. According to Narendra (2010), effluents from agro-based industries concur a striking role in pollution of water in rural areas.This is in combination with the already mentioned extravagant application of chemical fertilizers. Narendra (2010) further reports that an assessment of 179,999 ground water sites in 26 states leads pollutants such as fluoride, nitrate, salinity, arsenic and iron as per a report by the department of Drinking Water Supply. Pollution in River Hindon is said to arise 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 interfering with the aquatic environment. outpouring of agrochemicals such as DDT pollutes water and the chemicals are passed finished th e food chain to human beings. Organic pollution especially from sewage is also a common source of water pollution in rural areas. The organic fertiliser contented in sewage promotes proliferation of microorganisms that pollute water by causing disease as well as using up oxygen contained in water as they decompose the organic substances. Oxygen depletion leads to an imbalanced aquatic ecosystem. Organic water pollutants in rural areas can also emanate from decomposing plants, pastures as well as stock waste.It is primal to identify that un do by organic waste such as sewage or farm overflows introduce disease causing organisms such as bacteria and protozoan and diseases such as dysentery are a predictable outcome. To put extra emphasis on the contribution of rude wastes as water pollutants in rural areas, it is worth considering a earth such as China. China stocks the largest number of pigs in the world (470 one million million pigs as compared to 950 million world pig sto ck) (Qing, 2007). China is also a leader in production of domesticated fowl and goats and therefore forming the largest water pollutant country.It is determine that most(prenominal) of the waste coming from the livestock farming activities is not do by well with pig farms discharging a lot of sewer water. The waste water from poultry and pig farms has low temperature and mire which is mainly organic leads to oxygen depletion in one case introduced into water bodies. It is estimated that if China continues to practice poultry and livestock farming, rural water pollution from these sources will exceed pollution from fertilizer and domestic wastes. Causes of water pollution in urban areasurban 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 sewage being close. Since urban water is sourced from a particular point, contamination at the source is also a major phenome non. Human waste, industrial effluents as well as household wastes have are important sources of water pollution in urban areas. Urban areas, just like rural areas, have overspill especially after rainfall and these contain pollutants that are of prominent concern.Sediments are a common component of urban runoff and these constitute the greatest components of urban water pollutants. Most sediment originates from the construction pains which thrives in most urban areas. The runoff may also contain other substances such as rubber, and automobile wastes (environmental Health and Safety Online, 2009). rock oil products are the main automobile wastes and these contain hydrocarbons. Other constituents of urban runoff include anti-icing chemicals, heavy metals, disease causing organisms such as bacteria, as well as organic materials.Pathogens and organic materials emanate from sewage, spoilt pestiferous tanks, and grass and leaves. A notable source of organic waste is flatter wastes whereas use of fertilizer in lawns and kitchen gardens is also common in urban areas. Nutrient pollutants like fertilizers and organic wastes nurture growth 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.It is also indicated that Bagmati River experiences direct discharge of industrial and domestic untreated wastes released from Patan city as indicated 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 normal chemistry and coliform numbers (SEARO. , n. d). Release of sewage without treatment or with poor treatment into water bodies in urban areas has the potential to introduce disease causing organisms such as colifo rm bacteria.Nitrates are found to be high even in treated sewage and therefore it is a great challenge as urban source of water contamination. Phosphates are also introduced in water bodies as a result of poorly(predicate) treated sewage. Phosphates are notorious in speeding up the growth of algae as evidenced in the Broads Lake in the UK. As the Broads was expanding in terms 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.Consequently, there was a spurt in algae growth whereas water plants died finally disturbing the lakes ecosystem (Srinivas, 2010). A similar phenomenon has been experienced in Lake Biwa in Japan where an excess of phosphorous and nitrogen led to excessive growth of algae as well as eutrophication. As earlier noted, urban areas depend on ground water which is prone to non-homogeneous forms of contamination. For instance, leaking oil from storage tanks and leaki ng sewage lines that are in close propinquity with water pipes can end up polluting ground water.On other note, garbage can be intentionally dumped into water bodies or the mere(prenominal) garbage dump can end up contaminating come forward water. Since urban areas usually have industries, the industries may cause water pollution indirectly by emitting gases like sulphur dioxide that cause acid rain. venereal disease rain ends up disturbing water chemistry and this is barbarian to active organisms. According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2005, para 3), pavement and compacted areas, roofs, and trim down tree canopy and open space increase runoff volumes eventually contaminating water significantly.In addition to increase in runoff volume the runoff is also at a high upper thus increasing water pollution through increase wear of stream banks, and depositing sediments in streams. The channels through which the high velocity runoff passes through are also incised le ading to an increase in sediment deposition. Runoff from urban areas has a higher 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.Urban landscapes are nonporous thus there exists almost no chance for runoff to percolate. EPA also notes that runoff from highly developed urban areas can lead to increased water temperatures thus adversely affecting aquatic life and the quality of water in affected streams. If a wastewater treatment plant is not maintained well or if it is poorly cited, then there is the risk of causing water pollution in urban areas. Industrial wastes and emissions are a serious concern due to their contribution in water pollution in urban areas.With most urban areas having industries, industrial pollutants have been of major concern. It is noted that most industries are likely to be located close to water sources for industrial run (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.Some 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 phenomenon to find oil spills in lakes and oceans. Although this cannot be strictly 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.Oil spills lead to death of aquatic organisms since the oil covers the surface of water preventing oxygen f rom penetrating (TutorVista, 2010). Conclusion Looking 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.In rural areas, runoff mainly contains fertilizer compounds such as nitrates and phosphorous causing a proliferation in algae and water plants. The consequent eutrophication leads to oxygen depletion and death of aquatic life. Runoff from livestock farms also introduces organic compounds that are lead to oxygen depletion as they are decomposed by microorganism. In urban areas, runoff is mainly composed of sediments from construction industries as well as industrial and automobile wastes. Urban run off is more detrimental since percolation is rare unlike in the vegetated rural areas.Acid rain is a possible water pollutant in urban areas due to emission of pestilential gases from the many industries in rural areas. In both rural and urban areas, human waste from poorly treated or untreated sewage is emergent 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 carnal waste.BibliographyEnvironmental Health and Safety Online. (2009). Causes and control of water pollution in urban areas. Retrieved 14, Aug. 2010 from http//www. ehso. com/ehshome/WaterPollution_Urban.htm Environmental Protection Agency. (2005). National management 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. 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