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

wet constitutes approximately 70 percent of the earths surface and wherefore it is a signifi standt re address (Krantz and Kifferstein (n. d. ). It is a vital re p bentage for without weewee, life would cease to exist on earth. It is however unfortunate that despite being a wanted commodity, weewee supply taint is existent all over ranging from the rural beas to the urban atomic number 18as. The World Factbook (2010, p. 1) defines befoulment as the contamination of a healthy environment by man-made prodigality. In case of pee befoulment, in that location is introduction of large amounts of substances into the piss rendering it inapposite for intended use.Water pollutants atomic number 18 classified as either point inception pollution or non-point bug pollution. Either way, these occur in some(prenominal) rural and urban places but with differing magnitude. It is to a fault notable that study sources of water pollution differ in urban and rural areas. This p aper compares and contrasts between major water pollutants in rural and urban areas. Causes of water pollution in rural areas It is notable that water pollution in rural areas of importly affects ground water since ground water 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 landfills. As preliminary stated, water pollution can 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. ) provide that run-off fertilizer is a good representative of nonpoint water pollution whereas oil squelch is a good illustration of point water pollution.From this illustration, it is evident that nonpoint forms of water pollution are to a with child(p)er extent in all li kelihood to be found in rural areas whereas point pollution is more likely to be witnessed in urban areas. In rural areas, the of import source of water pollution is surface-runoff. This introduces a revolution of pollutants oddly chemicals that are used for agricultural purposes. Nitrates and phosphorous are commonly used in floriculture more so in European countries much(prenominal) as England, Wales and Ireland. These countries have gone to the extent of classifying many farms as nitrate vulnerable zones to indicate that the farms can easily earn nitrate pollution.The risk of nitrate and phosphorous pollution make ups seeing on the time when the fertilizers are applied, the rate at which the fertilizers are applied, how fertilizers are handled and the place between the point where fertilizers are applied and watercourses (Murray, 2010). An increase in nitrates and phosphorus causes aquatic plants to proliferate indeed causing oxygen depletion as considerably as t urbidity 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 as well referred to as break up water pollution and it overly entails run-off from farm buildings as well as farm roads. Manure is also likely to be washed down into water bodies during rain downfall periods indeed acting as a diffuse 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 dominant pollutants in the local rivers. In admittance, pollution from fertilizer run-off made up to 50 percent of the water run-off pollution. otherwise farming chemicals such as pesticides were significant water pollutants in the region indeed confirming diffuse water pollution due to farming activities as the main water pollutant in rural areas. clog up and wash-off from fields causes eutrophication whereby water bodies tend to fill up and aquatic life is harmed due to impaired public discussion and suffocation. Agro-based industries are mentioned as major sources of pollution in rural areas. According to Narendra (2010), effluents from agro-based industries have a large 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 block offs pollutants such as fluoride, nitrate, salinity, arsenic and iron as per a report by the department of Drinking Water Supply. defilement in River Hindon is said to emanate 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.Release of agrochemicals such as DDT pollutes water and the chemicals are passed through the food chain to human beings. Organic pollution especially from sewer is also a common source of water pollution in rural areas. The native content in sewage promotes proliferation of microorganisms that pollute water by causing ailment as well as using up oxygen contained in water as they decompose the organic substances. atomic number 8 depletion leads to an imbalanced aquatic ecosystem. Organic water pollutants in rural areas can also emanate from decomposing plants, pastures as well as livestock waste.It is important to identify that un inured organic waste such as sewage or farm runoffs introduce disease causing organisms such as bacteria and protozoan and diseases such as dysentery are a predictable outcome. To put extra emphasis on the voice of agricultural wastes as water pollutants in rural areas, it is worth considering a country such as mainland China. China stocks the largest number of pigs in the world (470 million pigs as compared to 950 million world pig stock) (Qing, 2007) . China is also a leader in production of poultry and goats and therefore forming the largest water pollutant country.It is identified that to the highest degree of the waste coming from the livestock farming activities is not treated well with pig farms discharging a nap of wastewater. The waste water from poultry and pig farms has low temperature and mire which is mainly organic leads to oxygen depletion erstwhile introduced into water bodies. It is estimated that if China continues to practice poultry and livestock farming, rural water pollution from these sources will overstep 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 phenomenon. Human waste, in dustrial effluents as well as household wastes have are important sources of water pollution in urban areas. Urban areas, upright like rural areas, have runoff especially after rainfall and these contain pollutants that are of great 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 industry 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). Petroleum 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 septic tanks, and good deal and leaves. A notable source of organic waste is pet wastes whereas use of fertilizer in lawns and kitchen gardens is also common in urban areas. Nutrient pollutants like fertilizers and organic wastes enhance 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 urban center 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 coliform bacteria.Nitrates ar e 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 treated sewage. Phosphates are disreputable 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 at last 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 various forms of contamination. For instance, leaking oil from storage tanks and leaking sewage lines that are in close proxim ity with water pipes can end up polluting ground water.On another note, garbage can be intentionally doodly-squated into water bodies or the mere garbage dump can end up contaminating surface water. Since urban areas usually have industries, the industries may cause water pollution indirectly by emitting gases like sulphur dioxide that cause acid rain. Acid rain ends up disturbing water chemistry and this is hazardous to living organisms. According to Environmental Protection billet (EPA) (2005, para 3), pavement and compacted areas, roofs, and reduced tree canopy and open space increase runoff volumes in the end contaminating water significantly.In addition to increase in runoff volume the runoff is also at a high velocity thus increasing water pollution through change magnitude erosion of stream banks, and depositing sediments in streams. The channels through which the high velocity runoff passes through are also incised leading to an increase in sediment deposition. Runoff fr om urban areas has a high 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 opportunity 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 processions 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 process (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 rob 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 purely 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 expiry of aquatic organisms since the oil covers the surface of water preventing oxygen from penetrating (TutorVista, 2010). Conclusion Looki ng 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 shoemakers last 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 runoff 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 noxious 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 animal waste.BibliographyEnvironmental Health and Safety Online. (2009). Causes and chasteness 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. Retrieved 14, Aug. 2010 from http//www. umich. edu/gs265/society/waterpollution. htm Murray, P. (2 010). Controlling diffuse water pollution in rural areas. Retrieved 14, Aug. 2010 from http//www. netregs. gov. uk/netregs/100797. aspx Narendra, C. (2010, Mar. 10). Water pollution in surface resources and rural areas.Retrieved 14, Aug. 2010 from http//www. mynews. in/News/Water_Pollution_in_Surface_Resources_and_Rural_Areas_N40334. html Nkwonta, O. I. and Ochieng, G. M. (2009). Water pollution in Soshanguwe environs of South Africa. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 56 499-503. Qing, C. (2007). Urban & rural water pollution hazard & control. Retrieved 14, Aug. 2010 from http//www. ecosanres. org/icss/proceedings/presentations/51CHEN-QingEN. pdf SEARO. (n. d). National Environmental & Health accomplish Plan Environmental problems. Retrieved 14, Aug. 2010 fromhttp//www. searo. who. int/LinkFiles/National_Environment_&_Health_Action_Plan_chp9a. pdf Srinivas, H. (2010). 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