4 Management of Surfaces Water Resources—Ecological Status …
147
Due to the diversity and complexity of the sources of pollution, the consequences
of water pollution are numerous, some of them unforeseen, with long-term effects,
others not measurable. Because of this, many diseases originate in the quality of
drinking water, and many species of flora and fauna are affected by the quality of the
water they have at their disposal [36, 37].
Some pollutants that have a persistent character will affect the aquatic environment
in the long run, which has unwanted effects even after decades, even after the source
of pollution has ceased.
Here are some of the most important consequences of pollution.
Sanitary consequences:
• Human and animal waste discharged into water causes water sickness (typhoid
fever, dysentery, cholera, gastroenterocolitis, intestinal parasites, etc.);
• Toxic substances in industrial wastewater can cause acute and chronical poisoning
with unpredictable consequences over time;
• Radioactive substances from the waters discharged from nuclear power plants or
from the processing of minerals can cause radiation-related diseases;
• Alteration of the organoleptic characteristics of the waters (smell, taste, and color),
etc.
Biological consequences:
• Thermal pollution may lead to a decrease in dissolved oxygen concentration, and
temperature rise. These consequences are responsible for a series of unwanted processes (disappearance of fish species, mass development of thermophilic algae,
eutrophication, creation of anaerobic conditions favoring the development of
anaerobic microorganisms and occurrence of products such as hydrogen sulfide,
methane, carbon dioxide etc.
• The unfavorable modification of the structure of aquatic biocenosis in favor of
those who have lower claims for good water quality;
• Disturbances of aquatic life through the death of species due to lack of oxygen or
destruction of natural habitat; etc.
Economic consequences:
• Increased costs for both treated water and for products requiring a certain quality
of water;
• The difficulty of using polluted water sources, which require expensive treatment
processes;
• Providing water from other sources, at a great distance;
• Costs of treating people who have become ill due to poor water quality, etc.
Social consequences:
• Compromising the natural areas of recreation and agreement;
• Compromising tourist or urban areas situated in the vicinity of rivers or polluted
seaside;
147
Due to the diversity and complexity of the sources of pollution, the consequences
of water pollution are numerous, some of them unforeseen, with long-term effects,
others not measurable. Because of this, many diseases originate in the quality of
drinking water, and many species of flora and fauna are affected by the quality of the
water they have at their disposal [36, 37].
Some pollutants that have a persistent character will affect the aquatic environment
in the long run, which has unwanted effects even after decades, even after the source
of pollution has ceased.
Here are some of the most important consequences of pollution.
Sanitary consequences:
• Human and animal waste discharged into water causes water sickness (typhoid
fever, dysentery, cholera, gastroenterocolitis, intestinal parasites, etc.);
• Toxic substances in industrial wastewater can cause acute and chronical poisoning
with unpredictable consequences over time;
• Radioactive substances from the waters discharged from nuclear power plants or
from the processing of minerals can cause radiation-related diseases;
• Alteration of the organoleptic characteristics of the waters (smell, taste, and color),
etc.
Biological consequences:
• Thermal pollution may lead to a decrease in dissolved oxygen concentration, and
temperature rise. These consequences are responsible for a series of unwanted processes (disappearance of fish species, mass development of thermophilic algae,
eutrophication, creation of anaerobic conditions favoring the development of
anaerobic microorganisms and occurrence of products such as hydrogen sulfide,
methane, carbon dioxide etc.
• The unfavorable modification of the structure of aquatic biocenosis in favor of
those who have lower claims for good water quality;
• Disturbances of aquatic life through the death of species due to lack of oxygen or
destruction of natural habitat; etc.
Economic consequences:
• Increased costs for both treated water and for products requiring a certain quality
of water;
• The difficulty of using polluted water sources, which require expensive treatment
processes;
• Providing water from other sources, at a great distance;
• Costs of treating people who have become ill due to poor water quality, etc.
Social consequences:
• Compromising the natural areas of recreation and agreement;
• Compromising tourist or urban areas situated in the vicinity of rivers or polluted
seaside;