All water is slowly but surely being polluted everyday by harmful chemicals.
Water born organisms are all dying at a very alarming rate.
Drinking water has become greatly affected as is our ability to use water for recreational purposes.
Water pollution occurs when a body of water is adversely affected due to the addition of large amount of materials to the water.
Two types of water pollutants exist: point source and nonpoint source.
Point sources of pollution occur when harmful substances are emitted directly into a body of water: the Exxon Valdez oil spill is and example of a point source pollution..
Nonpoint source delivers pollutants indirectly through environmental changes: and example of this is when fertilizer from a field is carried into a stream by rain, in the form of run-off.
Technology exists for point sources of pollution to be monitored and regulated, although political factors may complicate matters.
Nonpoint sources are much more difficult to control.
Pollution arising from nonpoint sources accounts for a majority of the contaminants in streams and lakes.