Question

A waste company has been dumping untreated sewage into the river next to the house. They have recently been found guilty because of the effect the pollution has had on the plants and animals living there. What effect has the raw sewage had on the animals that live in the river?

Answer 1

The effects of dumping untreated sewage into a river include depletion of oxygen, spread of disease, disruption of aquatic ecosystems, and accumulation of toxins in the food chain, posing risks to the health of both aquatic and land animals, as well as humans.

Step-by-step explanation:

The dumping of untreated sewage by a waste company into a river can have devastating effects on the aquatic ecosystem. This form of water pollution introduces harmful pathogens, depletes oxygen levels, and provides excessive nutrients which can lead to eutrophication. The latter creates a bloom of algae that blocks sunlight and further reduces oxygen available to aquatic animals, causing massive die-offs and disruption of the food chain. Moreover, toxic substances like heavy metals and chemicals can accumulate in the bodies of aquatic organisms, a process known as bioaccumulation, which is harmful to the animals consuming the contaminated water and to the predators up the food chain, including humans.

Water pollution not only affects the quality of aquatic life but also the health of land animals and humans who rely on the river for their water supply. Untreated sewage contributes to the spread of disease and can contaminate drinking water sources, posing significant health risks. Implementing proper wastewater treatment processes is crucial to preventing such environmental and health hazards.

Answer 2

When you think about it, the flow sewage is a form of pollution. Therefore the raw sewage would pollute their source of survival being the river which they drink, and bath from.