Water Pollution is defined as what?

• A. Contamination of water bodies due to industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and sewage
• B. Pure water from rainfall
• C. Saltwater intrusion only
• D. Water scarcity due to drought

Answer: (A)

Water pollution means the contamination of water bodies by pollutants, which lowers water quality and harms ecosystems and health. The best choice captures this idea by pointing to contamination from common pollution sources: industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and sewage. These sources introduce a range of pollutants—chemicals, nutrients that cause eutrophication, pathogens, heavy metals, and more—that degrade rivers, lakes, and groundwater, making the water unsafe for people, wildlife, and uses like drinking, irrigation, or recreation.

The other options don’t fit the definition. Pure water from rainfall isn’t pollution; it describes clean water. Saltwater intrusion is a salinity issue that affects freshwater supplies, not a broad definition of pollution. Water scarcity due to drought is about quantity, not contamination.