What is Water Pollution?

Imagine not being able to drink a glass of water, not being able to go swimming in a lake on a hot summer day. That is a reality for many people because of how polluted the Great Lakes are becoming. Water pollution is “when discharges of energy or materials degrade the quality of water for other users, including both humans and wildlife.” (Historic Canada). Water pollution is now becoming a big issue especially in the Great Lakes. “The Great Lakes consist of four lakes including Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario. Their connecting channels form the largest fresh surface water system on Earth.” (Great Lakes Information Network) “These Freshwater Seas hold an estimated 6 quadrillion gallons of water, about one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water supply and nine-tenths of the U.S. supply” (Great Lakes Information Network). The Great Lakes provide a source of fresh water to many places across the world which means polluted water will cause a big problem to many people all across the world. One of the main sources that contribute to the water pollution are industries which dump toxic chemicals and sewage into the waters. Pollution is having a big affect on the waterways of the world and also the Great Lakes in Canada and the run offs into the United States.