Water pollution is a serious concern in some parts of the world especially in the developing countries. It is caused by the mixing of the sewage water and toxic industrial chemicals with drinking water. While already developed nations have found solutions to tackle this problem, the developing countries are still faced with this fatal dilemma and have so far been unsuccessful in combating this problem that has taken many lives. The main reasons for water pollution are as follows:

· Industrial effluents

· Silt

· Thermal wastes

· Radioactive substances

· Agricultural Wastes

Industrial effluents are arguably the most dangerous form of water pollution. They are known to cause cancer if mixed with water. Organic pollutants like dyes, salts and cyanides are prime examples such effluents. Silt pollutes the water at a very early stage. The soil or silt of the mountains combined with rain water gets mixed with drinking water during a process called deforestation.

Thermal pollution doesn’t have direct effect on humans. However, life under water takes a severe hit because of it. Thermal and nuclear power stations take in a huge amount of water and then discharges it at relatively high temperature. The aquatic life doesn’t adjust to this sudden change in temperature and as a result dies. This in turn does effect human beings, albeit indirectly.

Radioactive substances are a cause of huge concern as they are released during atomic explosions. These isotopes mix with water bodies and cause pollution and can also cause cancer in the human body. There has been much advancement in the field of agriculture. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has resulted in increased crop rate. However, these pesticides and fertilizers eventually get incorporated into water bodies through irrigation, rainfall and drainage and end up causing water pollution. This pollution has been linked to leukemia and cancer.

These are just some of the commonly observed sources of water pollution. In light of these discoveries it is best advised that people installed a good water filtration system in their homes to safe guard themselves against the adverse and fatal effects of water pollution.