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Question

Explain why it is harmful to discharge untreated sewage into rivers and seas.


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Solution

  • Sewage is the wastewater from homes (domestic liquid waste) as well as from industries, offices, hospitals and other places.
  • All the wastewater that is released from various sources forms the sewage which contains suspended impurities. These impurities are called contaminants.
  • The contaminants may be classified as:
Organic impuritiesHuman faeces, animal waste, urine, oil, pesticides, fruits and vegetable wastes etc.
Inorganic impuritiesNitrates, phosphates, metals
NutrientsPhosphorus, nitrogen
BacteriaCausing cholera, typhoid.
Other microbesCausing dysentery
  • River water is used for different purposes like washing, bathing, drinking. Clean sea water is essential for marine life.
  • So, if untreated sewage is discharged into water bodies, it can spread harmful diseases and even cause death.
  • Sewage must always be treated in wastewater treatment plants before being released into water bodies.

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