Every farm has a nearby stream that is used for irrigation so when it rains the toxic chemicals are washed away into the stream which eventually pollute the water. .
Another negative effect is the fertilizers are high in nitrates and over time if the chemicals constantly keep flowing into the stream oxygen depletion occurs. If there is not enough oxygen in the water a process called eutrophication follows. Eutrophication specifically pertains to the nitrates because they cause an overgrowth of plants in the stream. (Schwartz, Elizabeth) As the plants die they become organic material and the enormous decay of the material lowers the oxygen level which in the end leaves the lake with a lot of decomposers like algae. .
Organic farms that do not feed their livestock corn usually allow them to graze. The pastures are always located near a water source. The animal then produces waste and some of it gets washed away into the river which pollutes the water because it contains bacteria. .
Water gets a lot of its pollution from industries. According to the National Resources Defense Council each year 1.2 trillion gallons of untreated sewage, storm water, and industrial waste are dumped into U.S. waters. Many power plants use rivers and lakes to dispose waste heat that is generated by the power plant. The result of this is hot water and this is plays a large effect on marine life. If the temperature increases then the survival of marine life will decrease. .
Mine and construction sites use heavy metals and radioactive materials which they too release them into the waters and contaminate the water. Mostly all industries are a point-source water pollution because they have pipes that connect from the factory to a waterway. .
Some industries burn fossil fuels which emits sulfur dioxide into the air, the sulfur dioxide reacts with the water which then creates sulfuric acid and falls as precipitation called acid rain.