The things dissolved in water and the
things carried by water affect its
quality - or how good it is. We have
been adding too many extra things to
our water - polluting it.
We use cleaning products that contain
poisonous chemicals. We pour all kinds
of things into our sewers, sinks and
toilets. It seems to be an easy way to
get rid of wastes. STOP and THINK.
Do you really want these things in the
What water can do
Water is AMAZING for it can dissolve more things than
any other liquid on this planet! After it rains or when
snow melts, water runs off the land dissolving the
chemicals it meets. Some of these chemicals are
necessary for life - others are deadly. Even necessary
chemicals can be deadly in large amounts. This water -
the runoff - becomes a chemical soup.
Water can also carry soil and other particles that aren't
dissolved. This makes the water turbid, meaning you
can't see through the water very well. Fast - moving water
is powerful and can carry many particles. When water
slows down, these particles settle to the bottom,
forming layers of sediment. Too much sediment harms
plants and animals living in the water.
Runoff from rooftops, roads and parking lots rushes through storm sewers carrying dirt and chemicals.
Runoff from farms and communities may contain dissolved pesticides.
Our sewage water contains many dissolved chemicals –some are deadly.
Runoff from fields and lawns may contain dissolved fertilizers
Runoff from bare ground carries lots of soil into the water.
A healthy river or lake is not polluted. We can help clean a river or lake by finding
out some of the causes of pollution and doing what we can to stop it.
