RIVER POLLUTION: A MINI REVIEW OF CAUSES AND EFFECTS

Abstract

Pollution of rivers is a serious topic that is frequently brought up by people from all walks of life all around the world including Malaysia. Domestic wastes, industrial pollutants, as well as agricultural wastes, including harmful and dangerous materials, have been discharged into the rivers directly or indirectly. The inflow of these hazardous pollutants not only pollutes river water but also sediment and aquatic life. Rivers, as we all know, are one of the contributors to the clean water supply in most parts of the world. River pollution has an impact on the availability of clean water used for a range of purposes, including domestic, industrial, and agricultural. Pollution, on the other hand, depletes the supply of food derived from rivers, such as fish and shrimp. The health of users, including humans, animals, and plants, will be affected by the consumption and usage of water, as well as the aquatic life of contaminated rivers. This article exposes the harsh reality of river pollution that we must all accept. To protect our rivers, it is critical to determine and know exactly the pollution sources, causes, and effects of the contaminants on rivers’ ecosystems, humans, and animals. When it comes to reducing current river pollution, prevention measures such as public awareness and continuous monitoring are preferable to treatment. In addition, significant research in the area of wastewater monitoring, as well as strict regulations, are required to manage global river pollution. This is important to prevent the continuous pollution of our rivers, which is primarily the result of negligent human actions. For rivers that have been identified as polluted, water treatment technologies including ozonation, chlorination, and aerobic granulation can be applied to remediate the pollutant residues. This is to ensure that the global community receives a clean and safe water supply.