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Water pollution is anything that spoils our rivers, lochs, seas and oceans.
Pollution happens when fertilisers and weedkillers wash off farm land or if the wastewater treatment works don't work properly. Waste from factories can also pollute rivers.
Water from country roads can pollute burns and rivers as it often has high levels of petrol and oil. This can cause oxygen loss in the water which kills plants and animals.
In cities, the water from roads drains into the main wastewater network and is treated.
Some people illegally throw weedkiller or paint stripper down the drain which can pollute rivers and upset the wastewater treatment process.
Litter left on beaches by careless visitors looks horrible. But a lot of litter also comes from ships. Litter includes:
People also flush things that they shouldn't down the toilet. Some of these include:
These things can block and break sewage screens at the treatment works and can also end up on the beach and in rivers.
Some of the more unusual items we have found at treatment works include toys and even false teeth!
Please don't flush any of these things down the toilet. Instead put them in a bag and then put the bag in the bin.
In the interactive Games section, you can play 'Bin or Flush' to find out more.
