Waste water, sewage, chemicals, fertilizers, oil and grease, diesel oil and gasoline runs into rivers or seeps into groundwater from:
- Pit latrines/Soak away pits
- Factories
- Farms
- Garbage dumps
Underground storage tanks such as at gas stations
How do we pollute or contaminate our water?
How does water get to our taps?
- Water is pumped from a well or diverted from a river or spring.
- This water runs through pipelines to a treatment plant where the water is made safe for drinking.
- The treated water then is transferred by pipelines to our homes and taps.
- In most cases the water may first be sent to a storage tank before getting to our taps
What are the different uses of water?
Water is used for the following:
Domestic Purposes
- cooking
- drinking
- bathing
- washing
Agricultural Purposes
- farming gardening fisheries
Industrial Purposes
- manufacturing
Recreation
- swimming
- rafting
- boating
Hydropower generation
What are water sources?
Water sources are the points from which your water comes. These include rivers, springs, ponds and wells. Water that comes from rivers, springs and ponds is called surface water. Water that runs underground and is tapped by a well is called groundwater. Most of Jamaica’s water is underground.
What is the water cycle?
The endless circulation of water from the atmosphere to the earth and its return to the atmosphere through condensation,precipitation, evaporation and transpiration is called the water or hydrologic cycle.