Water pollution refers to any chemical, physical, or biological change in water that harms living things. Over 1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and 5,000 people die daily from dirty water. Global warming will exacerbate droughts, floods, and waterborne diseases. Approximately 46% of American lakes are too polluted for activities like fishing, swimming, and supporting aquatic life. Simple actions like not littering and cleaning up litter can help address this issue.

1. Water pollution refers to any chemical, physical, or biological change in the quality of water
that has a harmful effect on any living thing which drinks it, uses it, or lives in it.
• Over 1 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water. 5,000 people die each
day due to dirty drinking water.
• Droughts, floods, and waterborne diseases will only intensify with global warming.
Whitney Dube & Brendan Clarkson
• Approximately 46% of the lakes in America are
too polluted for fishing, aquatic life, or
swimming.
• Don’t throw litter into rivers, lakes, or oceans.
• Help clean up any litter you see on beaches or
in rivers and lakes. Put any waste into a nearby
trash or recycling bin.

2. Works Cited
"11 Facts About Pollution." Do Something. Blacksmith Institute, EPA , Random History, 27
July 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. <http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-
facts-about-pollution>.
Asaff, Sarabeth. "How to Stop Water Pollution." LoveToKnow. Love To Know Green Living,
n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.
<http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/How_to_Stop_Water_Pollution>.
Google. Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.
<https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi>.
"Protecting Our Clean Water." American Rivers. American Rivers, 2013. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.americanrivers.org/initiatives/pollution/?gclid=CLqYkOfn17YCFQne
4AodhmEAaw>.