Written by: Emily Joswiak • June 9, 2023• Environment

How Wastewater Can Negatively Impact the Environment

It’s important to handle wastewater appropriately to avoid potential hazards and effects. Here’s how wastewater can negatively impact the environment.

Wastewater, also known as sewage, is any liquid waste contaminated with chemicals or other materials. Sewage can include household wastewater from bathrooms and kitchens, industrial wastewater from factories and businesses, and runoff from agricultural activities such as fertilizer application. It’s important to understand how wastewater can negatively impact the environment to ensure you’re using safe management practices.

Habitat Destruction

Habitat destruction caused by wastewater is a serious environmental issue that can devastate aquatic ecosystems. When untreated wastewater enters a body of water, it introduces pollutants such as fertilizers and pesticides, which can disrupt the natural balance of an ecosystem and lead to reduced biodiversity. These chemicals also increase oxygen demand in the water, which depletes dissolved oxygen levels, leading to algal blooms and dying animals. These changes cause irreparable damage to habitats, reducing wildlife populations and increasing extinction rates among endangered species.

Soil Contamination

Soil contamination is a type of environmental pollution caused by hazardous materials in soil, including toxins and other pollutants. These contaminants can come from various sources, including wastewater. The consequences of soil contamination are far-reaching and can significantly affect ecosystems. Certain pollutants enter the soil and become absorbed into plants through their roots. This pollution can cause soil to break down and become too unhealthy for crops to grow. It can also spread diseases if humans or animals eat food grown in the contaminated soil.

Groundwater Pollution

Wastewater can also pollute groundwater sources. Groundwater contamination occurs when pollutants enter an aquifer directly or indirectly through surface water runoff. Sources of groundwater pollution are numerous but commonly stem from improper management practices, which is why proper wastewater management is important. This issue can negatively impact drinking water quality and affect aquatic habitats located downstream from contaminated areas. The effects of contamination vary depending on the type and concentration of pollutants present. Common contaminants include heavy metals, synthetic chemicals, and human waste. Drinking water contaminated with these pollutants can cause serious illness or disease.

Now that you know the ways that wastewater can harm the environment, you better understand these issues. Following safe wastewater management practices is important to avoid these environmental impacts.

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Last modified: June 9, 2023