Abstract:
Both natural processes and human activities influence the quality of surface waters. The
natural processes and their sources of pollution in surface water bodies are relatively
inconsequential, except pollution from natural disaster. Surface water pollution and
contamination from humans and human activities, comprising both organic and inorganic
constituents, known as anthropogenic pollutants, originate from domestic and municipal
source, agricultural production, mining, industrial production, power generation, forestry
practices, and other factors, which alter the physical, chemical and biological characteristics
of water, are of main concern for surface water bodies. Amongst these sources, the major
pollution is from human settlements, industrial and agricultural activities. Pollution and
contamination from such sources manifest itself in the form of higher concentration of
nutrients, sediments, salts, trace metals, chemicals and other toxins, as well as pathogenic
organisms that may thrive in warmer waters. In addition, a growing number of new
contaminants are being detected in the world’s waterways (UN-Water, 2011). These include
contaminants from pharmaceutical products, steroids and hormones, industrial additives and
agents, as well as gasoline additives (WHO, 2011; UL, 2015; Eslamian, 2016).
