Water Pollution

Eutrophication is the naturally occurring ageing process of a water body but it has been accelerated when a water body becomes excessively nutrient and minerals rich due to anthropogenic activities, which induce overly growth of plant and algae e.g., increase of phytoplankton in water body, resulting in oxygen depletion because of bacterial degradation of biomass consumes oxygen. So, the levels of dissolved oxygen are severely reduced. The causal factors are the discharge of sewage and agricultural fertilisers containing nitrate which stimulates disproportionate growth.

Phosphate pollution in the water is directly related to the release of the untreated sewage and agriculture fertilizers into the water body. This results in excessive algal bloom that forms a thick layer on the surface of the water and prevents the sunlight and oxygen from getting into the water. As a result, the underlying aquatic animals and plants suffocate and die. When this algal bloom dies, it further enhances the eutrophication process, greatly decreasing the dissolved oxygen in the water.