Question

1. Rivers are the lifeline of human civilization. They are the source of the freshwater resource as well as home to numerous plants, fishes, birds, and animals. However, in recent times this resource is being polluted by different human activities which in turn threaten the survival of marine organisms. Suppose you are an ecologist working to protect the river water from pollution. Discuss in Class the different human activities which cause river pollution and what steps you can take individually and with the whole class as a team to protect the river flowing through your place from being polluted.

Answer 1

Some of the human activity that led to pollution of water bodies are:

• Sewage from homes and wastes from factories are dumped into rivers or lakes.
• Addition of Human excreta, cow dung etc to water bodies.
• Agricultural substances such as fertilizers and pesticides are washed away into the water bodies.
• Gutter water when mixed with drinking water.
• Throwing dead bodies in holy rivers.
• Hot and cold water discharged from industries in to the water bodies.

• Some suggestions for controlling river pollution are as follows:
  
• Preventing the discharge of untreated sewage and other industrial wastes into rivers
• Preventing the throwing of solid wastes, trash and medical wastes on the river banks
• Stop discarding dead human bodies or animal carcasses into the rivers
• Stop quarrying sand in river beds that leads to wearing away of the banks
• Stop using river-sides as open lavatories
• Preventing runoffs into the rivers
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