Welcome to GattPrep!
Hello, water guardian! 💦🛡️
Water is life. But what happens when the water we need becomes dirty, dangerous, or wasted? In this lesson, we explore the serious issue of water contamination—how it happens, its effects, and most importantly, how we can conserve and protect our precious water sources.
Get ready to become a water-wise problem solver!
Water contamination means that water has been polluted—usually by harmful substances—making it unsafe for drinking, cooking, bathing, or farming.
Contaminated water can come from homes, factories, farms, and hospitals.
| Source | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic waste | Water used at home | Dirty water from sinks, bathrooms, laundry |
| Industrial waste | Chemicals from factories | Dyes, acids, heavy metals |
| Agricultural waste | Farm-related pollutants | Pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste |
| Oil spills | Leakage of fuel or oil into water | Affects oceans and rivers |
| Hospital waste | Medical chemicals and bacteria | Improper disposal of syringes or drugs |
| Plastic waste | Non-biodegradable materials | Bottles, wrappers, microplastics |
Some diseases spread through dirty water or insects that breed in water:
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Water-washed diseases | Eye infections, scabies |
| Water-based diseases | Schistosomiasis (bilharzia), guinea worm |
| Insect-based diseases | Malaria, yellow fever (from mosquitoes) |
🤢 Causes diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery
🐟 Kills aquatic life and plants
🚫 Makes water unsafe for farming or drinking
🧼 Increases cost of water treatment
💔 Harms biodiversity and pollutes entire ecosystems
Clean water is essential for:
👩🏽⚕️ Human health
🌾 Agriculture and food production
🐠 Aquatic ecosystems
🌍 Sustainable development
If we don’t protect our water, we risk health crises, hunger, and environmental damage.
River Pollution Near a Factory
A local river becomes brown and smelly after a nearby factory begins releasing chemical waste into it. Fish die, farmers stop irrigating, and locals fall sick after using the water. This is a classic example of industrial water contamination.
Conservation means using water wisely and protecting clean sources.
| Method | What It Involves |
|---|---|
| Household water treatment | Boiling, filtering, or chlorinating water |
| Safe storage | Keeping water covered to prevent contamination |
| Wastewater treatment | Cleaning dirty water before reuse or discharge |
| Rainwater harvesting | Collecting and storing rainwater from roofs |
| Fixing leaks | Reduces water loss in homes and pipes |
| Public education | Teaching communities how to protect water sources |
| Proper sanitation | Using toilets, not open defecation, and safe waste disposal |
🧠 Problem:
Your school notices that students are getting sick from drinking water stored in open containers. What might be the cause, and how can the problem be solved?
✅ Step-by-Step Solution:
Open containers allow dirt, insects, and germs to enter
This leads to water contamination
Solution: Use covered, clean containers and treat the water (e.g., by boiling)
✔️ Answer: The water is contaminated due to unsafe storage. It can be made safe by covering containers and boiling or filtering the water before use.
1. Fill in the blanks
(a) Water that contains harmful substances is said to be ______.
(b) Cholera is an example of a ______ disease.
Answers:
(a) contaminated
(b) water-borne
2. Match the Source to Its Type
| Source | Type |
|---|---|
| (i) Dirty laundry water | A. Domestic waste |
| (ii) Pesticides in water | B. Agricultural waste |
| (iii) Acid from a factory | C. Industrial waste |
Answers:
(i) → A, (ii) → B, (iii) → C
3. Short Answer
Why is rainwater harvesting considered a conservation method?
Sample Answer: Because it collects free, clean water from nature that can be used later, reducing the need to use treated tap water.
Water contamination comes from homes, farms, factories, and hospitals
It causes disease, pollution, and kills aquatic life
Conservation methods like safe storage, rainwater harvesting, and proper treatment protect water
We must all help keep water clean—for ourselves and future generations
Look around your home or school. Can you spot at least one way water is being wasted or at risk of contamination? Write down what you see and suggest a way to fix it!
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