Question

Explain the list of major water pollutants and their sources.

Answer 1

• Microorganisms – Domestic sewage, domestic waste water, dung heap 
• Organic wastes – Domestic sewage, animal excreta, food processing factory wastc. detergents and decayed animals and plants
• Plant nutrients – Chemical fertilisers 
• Heavy metals – Heavy metal producing factories 
• Sediments – Soil erosion by agriculture and strip-mining 
• Pesticides – Chemicals used for killing insects, fungi and weeds 
• Radioactive substances – Mining of uranium containing minerals 
• Heat – Water used for cooling in industries