Water Pollution

Water pollution is when harmful things get into our water. Chemicals, trash, and sewage can all pollute rivers, lakes, and oceans. Polluted water is dangerous for people, animals, and plants. Keeping our water clean is one of the most important things we can do for the environment.

Sources of Pollution

Water pollution comes from many places. Factories sometimes release chemicals into rivers. Fertilizers from farms can wash into streams during rainstorms. Oil spills from ships harm ocean life. Even trash thrown on the ground can end up in waterways when rain carries it to storm drains.

Cleaning Our Water

Water treatment plants clean dirty water before it goes back into rivers or the ocean. Laws like the Clean Water Act set rules for what can be put into waterways. Volunteers organize river and lake cleanups to remove trash. Everyone can help by not littering and by properly disposing of chemicals and medicines.

Fun Facts

• About 2 billion people around the world do not have access to safe drinking water.
• A single gallon of oil can pollute up to one million gallons of water!
• Wetlands act like natural water filters, cleaning polluted water as it flows through.

Did You Know?

The Cuyahoga River in Ohio was so polluted that it actually caught fire in 1969, which helped inspire the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency!