Science
Water pollution.
Definition
The contamination of water bodies (rivers, lakes, oceans, groundwater) by harmful substances that degrade water quality and harm aquatic ecosystems. Sources include industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, sewage, and improper waste disposal.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 Fertilizer runoff causing algal blooms and dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico
- 2 Industrial chemicals like PFAS contaminating drinking water supplies near manufacturing plants
- 3 Oil spills like the Deepwater Horizon disaster devastating marine ecosystems in the Gulf