• 0.6% is groundwater (we can use some of this water)
• 0.01% is in lakes and streams (we can use some of this water)
• 2.2% is in glaciers and icecaps
• 0.001% is water vapour

If you want to help keep our waters clean, there are many things you can do to help. You can prevent water pollution of nearby rivers and lakes as well as groundwater and drinking water by following some simple guidelines in your everyday life.

• Conserve water by turning off the tap when running water is not necessary. This helps prevent water shortages and reduces the amount of contaminated water that needs treatment.
• Be careful about what you throw down your sink or toilet. Don’t throw paints, oils or other forms of litter down the drain.
• Use environmentally household products, such as washing powder, household cleaning agents and toiletries.
• Take great care not to overuse pesticides and fertilisers. This will prevent runoffs of the material into nearby water sources.
• By having more plants in your garden you are preventing fertiliser, pesticides and contaminated water from running off into nearby water sources.
• Don’t throw litter into rivers, lakes or oceans. Help clean up any litter you see on beaches or in rivers and lakes, make sure it is safe to collect the litter and put it in a nearby dustbin.

Water Pollution.

Water pollution is a large set of adverse effects upon water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater caused by human activities.

Water is essential for life and plays a vital role in the proper functioning of the Earth’s ecosystems. The pollution of water has a serious impact on all living creatures, and can negatively affect the use of water for drinking, household needs, recreation, fishing, transportation and commerce.

Water has two primary functions in our everyday lives: bathing and consumption. Water can easily be contaminated (one gallon of motor oil can contaminate 1 million gallons of water), which will affect not only the water we drink, but the water that comes into our houses and the natural water sources we swim in.

Water Pollution.