The first thing that you need to do on your quest to improve water quality is to learn more about this kind of pollution. Simply installing a water filter is not going to end the pollution. You first need to learn more about the sources and causes of this water pollution before you can make an impact on water quality.

Water pollution can occur to any water body, including lakes, streams, rivers, ponds, and even oceans. The earth surface is 71% water. You can see what a large problem this can be if the water becomes polluted and unusable. Water pollution is caused by humans and our activities. From sewage to industrial waste to surface runoff to underground storage tank leakage, each of these sources has a significant impact upon our water sources. Learning about each of these pollution sources will give you a basis for improving water quality.

* Sewage is not something that most people put much thought into, but it can be a major source of pollution. This usually occurs when sewage is improperly treated or not treated at all in a sewage treatment plant. This pollution can include bacteria that can harm someone's health, like introducing Hepatitis A. That is why it's so important that restrictions and guidelines be set for sewage treatment.

But sewage can also be directly dumped into water sources, like in marinas of third-world or developing countries. A friend and I wanted to snorkel at a Caribbean island, but I decided against it at the last minute this one day. Maybe it was the way there were boats moored just off the beach, but I wasn't comfortable with the situation. My friend got pretty sick and I didn't suffer at all. Since we'd been eating the same food and swimming in the same places, except that one area, I'm pretty sure the contents of the water were the culprit in my friend getting sick. Was it sewage being dumped into the water from those boats? That's my guess. And the garden patches that are irrigated with human refuse from the outhouses situated right in the gardens, like I saw in China, adds to water pollution problems too.

And then there is the sewage from feedlots. What an unsanitary condition they create! Not only is there a concentration of urine and feces from cattle that enters the soil and water aquifers, but also a breeding ground (excuse the pun) for unhealthy cattle which we use for food!

* Industrial waste has been a major problem for many years. This waste’s disposal is highly regulated in most countries, but some unscrupulous companies try to get around these regulations by illegally dumping, which causes severe environmental damage.

* Surface runoff is another way chemicals and other pollutants used on land are introduced into the water sources. When it rains or snow melts, surface runoff can pick up chemicals and pollutants like insecticides, petroleum products, detergents, and fertilizers. Silt, another problem in water quality, is pulverized soil or rock, that washes into lower water systems.

* Underground tanks are susceptible to leaking, especially if they have been underground for a long time. The bad thing about this source of water pollution is that in most cases, people don't even realize that the tanks are leaking until it has caused significant damage to soil and water.

Water pollutants eventually make their way into rivers, which then drain into oceans. Most water sources are connected to one another. Because of this interconnection, it's important to learn more about the sources of water pollution so you can work on ways ton help improve water quality.

Improved water quality improves your health, and that of those you love. By gaining knowledge about water pollution, you are on your way to becoming a tool to help improve the water quality.