Agricultural Waste
In the 2000 National Water Quality Inventory conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), agricultural activity was identified as a point source of pollution for 48% of stream and river water, and for 41% of lake water. Most agricultural waste comes from the disposal of animal waste on farms. Livestock farms store manure in large tanks known as “lagoons” which hold millions of gallons of animal waste. Unfortunately, these lagoons often leak and waste can be carried away by rain water and deposited into bodies of water. Because these leaks often are not found until there is a major problem, this type of waste is generally considered a non-point source of pollution. 
The cause of animal waste is leaving animal feces where the animals drop them, instead of properly disposing of them and it can then become bacteria ridden. The effects include the health risks of humans and animals in the way of disease. “Pet waste can also be a factor in Eutrophication of lakes. The release of nutrients from the decay of pet waste promotes weed and algae growth, limiting light penetration and the growth of aquatic vegetation. This in turn can reduce oxygen levels in the water, affecting fish and other aquatic organisms” (“Pollution”). Prevention consists of disposing of pet waste in the correct ways. Methods of detecting the animal waste are clear in the fact that it can be seen on the ground, or represented by the
amount of plan life in the water.
Animal manure and waste have devastating effects on the health of humans living near and around these lagoons containing animal waste. These neighboring humans frequently breathe in harmful gases produced from the decomposition of the animal waste and suffer from serious and irreversible health effects such as wheezing, coughing, headaches, shortness of breath and diarrhea. Some gases emitted into the air by agricultural waste are deadly, such as hydrogen sulfide, which is extremely dangerous even at very small concentrations. Serious effects of hydrogen sulfide include seizures, comas, and even death. Animal waste lagoons can also crack and seep, allowing very dangerous nitrates to enter drinking water systems underground, which can cause death in babies and infants. Methods that could be enacted to reduce the impact of agricultural waste include alternative farming methods, public awareness, regulation of waste, and development of technology to reduce waste.
Domestic Waste
Domestic waste, or domestic sewage, is a non point source of pollution through waste discarded from households. Many people dump their garbage into bodies of water leaving it littered with cans, bottles, plastics, and wrappers. The chemicals and substances we use to clean our households also contribute to water pollution. Most cleaning products today contain phosphates; these and other chemicals affect the health aquatic life and humans if large amounts of the chemicals are consumed. The main solution for this is to use cleaning products that do not include these toxic chemicals that pollute the water.
The cleaning products we spray into the air of our homes all can get into the water of our homes, and are therefore rushed back into the water supplies. This creates high phosphate levels from the products, and they are washed into the water, “High phosphate levels can kill life in rivers, streams and oceans by causing "algae blooms." Algae slimes dense enough to suffocate marine life have been swelling around the world, especially in coastal bays” (Hughes). Preventative measures have taken place such as banning phosphates to guarantee we don’t put them into the water.
Human waste can carry a variety of germs and pathogens. When these microbes enter drinking water, they can have serious health effects when ingested by humans. Bacteria and viruses ingested from human waste can cause diseases and symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, cholera, salmonella, hepatitis A, and many others. Phosphates in drinking water from cleaning chemicals in households cause the oxygen levels in water to deplete, which can affect fish, but does not have serious effects in drinking water of humans. The greatest amount of damage phosphate can cause in humans is digestive problems. Methods to prevent the entry of domestic waste into drinking water involve a “decentralized” sewage treatment or in home water treatment systems to filter out additional waste.
Industrial Waste
Many industrial factories use water to carry away waste into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Pollutants from industrial sources include lead, mercury, nitrates, phosphates, oils, sulfur, and petrochemicals. These point source pollutants not only pollute the water but can cause health problems in humans and can cause diseases such as cancer. Lead is a major problem in Detroit due to all of the emissions from lead-based gasoline and also from other industrial factories around the city. The way to detect lead pollution in water is by getting the water tested. The cause of lead pollution in water can come from automotive and industrial sources.
Drinking water’s exposure to chemicals such as nitrates and lead from industrial waste can have damaging health effects on humans. Nitrates can cause harm to infants less than 6 months of age, causing shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome, which both can result in death. Lead can also cause developmental problems if it exists in large amounts in the drinking water of children, causing slow brain development and behavioral problems. Lead can also cause less severe illnesses in adults such as kidney problems and high blood pressure. Methods effective in preventing lead and nitrates from entering drinking water include reverse osmosis, using cold water for consumption, and flushing pipes before consumption.
Overall, animal waste, cleaning products, and lead all have a major impact to water pollution especially in Detroit. All of these factors can cause serious health problems in humans if the waste is disposed improperly. To obtain clean and safe drinking water, we all need to take care of our waste.
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