6.1.6

Water Pollution in the UK

Test yourself

Water Quality and Water Pollution in the UK

Polluted water cannot be drunk by humans. Polluting lots of water means that less water is available to drink.

Illustrative background for Are there problems with water quality in the UK?Illustrative background for Are there problems with water quality in the UK? ?? "content

Are there problems with water quality in the UK?

  • 80% of English rivers have 'good' water quality (meaning there aren't loads of unwanted chemicals in them).
  • The quality of UK water has been improving gradually since 2005.
  • The quality of water in the UK's rivers can fall if pesticides or fertilisers (particularly phosphates or nitrates) are washed into rivers, if factories release pollutants into bodies of water, or if fuel spills pollute water.
Illustrative background for How can you manage water quality?Illustrative background for How can you manage water quality? ?? "content

How can you manage water quality?

  • Water quality can be improved by regulating what factories are able to empty into rivers and what they have to do with different types of waste.
  • Banning the use of chemicals and pesticides that could lower water quality is another way to improve the quality of water.
  • Groundwater is pumped out of underground aquifers, whilst surface water comes from rivers, lakes, streams or springs.

Jump to other topics

1The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1Natural Hazards

1.2Tectonic Hazards

1.3Weather Hazards

1.4Climate Change

2The Living World

3Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1The UK Physical Landscape

3.2Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.3River Landscapes in the UK

3.4Glacial Landscapes in the UK

4Urban Issues & Challenges

5The Changing Economic World

6The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1Resource Management

6.2Food

6.3Water

6.4Energy

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