Answer. Water pollution is a contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans and ground water). Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful Compounds.
Water pollution has the following effects:
(i) It is hazardous to human health. Drinking polluted water can cause cholera, typhoid and diarrhea.
(ii) The use polluted water is not only devastating for people but also for animals and birds.
(iii) It causes rapid growth of algae. Death and decomposition of algae cause deficiency of oxygen in water that affects other organism living in water.
(iv) It is damaging aquatic life, thus breaking a link in food chain.
(v) It reduces the aesthetic quality of lakes and rivers.
(vi) It is unfit for cleaning or washing purposes.