Effects on EcosystemBack to Top
Ecosystems can be severely affected or damaged by water pollution.
Contamination of groundwater from pesticides causes damage to the reproductive system in the wildlife ecosystem.
When sewage water, agricultural run-off that contain organic materials are discharged into fresh water, causes increase in the growth of algae in turn causing oxygen depletion.
Low levels of oxygen in rivers and lakes due to water pollution are a major cause for extinction of indigenous organisms.
Destruction in ecosystem is caused due to the rise in temperature in water like the coral reefs are affected by the bleaching effect due to warmer temperatures.
Water pollution may also cause flooding due to accumulation of solid waste and soil erosion in streams and rivers.
Ground water and surface water are contaminated with heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants and nutrients.
Water pollution kills life that inhabits the water-based ecosystem, disrupting the natural food chain.
Due to water pollution other than inorganic nutrient input and inflow of waste water; organic wastes and plant nutrients like nitrates and phosphates are decomposed. This promotes algal bloom especially blue-green algae. These algae grow fast consuming all the dissolved oxygen, killing the water animals. This is known as eutrophication.
The non-biodegradable pesticides and chemicals cause mass destruction of aquatic life.
Steep increase in the BOD[Biological Oxygen Demand] levels of water.
Imbalance in host-parasite relations in the ecosystem, changing the food webs and food chain.
Affects microbial population.
Deposition of hazardous chemicals in soil leads to soil infertility.