Water, we could not survive without it, it is a literal part of who we are. The planet is a similar organism and 71% of its surface is just water. Our dependence on it goes behind our health, it influences agriculture, weather, transportation, construction, heating, cooling and so much more.

The sources of water we currently have are limited as only a small percentage can be used for human needs. While many of us cannot imagine our lives without a nice cold glass of water or daily showers, this is not the reality for millions of people in developing countries. Water shortages, flooding and poor water quality pose a serious issue in many regions and are linked to the majority of local illnesses.

Water gets polluted when heat or harmful substances such as chemicals or microorganisms contaminate our water sources, rivers, oceans, lakes, etc. The quality of water degrades in various ways and becomes toxic to the ecosystems as well as humans.

One of the most notorious ways water gets polluted is through toxic waste. Medical, chemical or radioactive waste are all types of toxic waste that can present extremely dangerous threats to our health and environment. Nevertheless, pollution also occurs domestically, when dangerous organic waste escapes from sewage systems and poses a threat through pathogens or organic substances altering the oxygen levels of surrounding waters.

Another type of water pollution is associated with agriculture when due to soil erosion, sediments get accumulated in nearby rivers or other bodies of water. What many people do not consider is thermal pollution. Although not visible, disposing of unnaturally hot or cold water can drastically alter the ecosystems and even cause the extinction of whole species.