5 Water Problems Faced by Lakes That You Didn't Know

• Pollution - Human activity, such as the use of fertilizers in agriculture or sewage release and natural processes, like animal activity and soil erosion, contribute to the pollution and bad quality of water in lakes and ponds. As a result, the Water will instigate pathogenic bacteria development with high levels of nutrients, metallic pollutants and other detrimental chemicals.

• Water Clarity and Colour - Overdevelopment of algae, called algae blooms, causes the water to look green, red, brown or even yellow or pink. In addition to the aesthetics, these algae can produce dangerous toxins within the water body. These algae blooms are directly linked to an excess of nutrients which contribute to the decrease of oxygen in the water and hence the eventual discoloration and poor clarity.

• Sludge Accumulation - When the quality of the water is poor, and in particular the level of oxygen is low, a potentially toxic sludge layer accumulates at the bottom of the waterbody. This is a bed of heavy solids and sediments which creates legacy and costly problems for that lake or pond.

• Bad Smell - The presence of excessive amount of sludge and the presence of chemicals in the water causes the release of smelly gases such as Ammonia or H2S.

• Death of Aquatic life - Water which is poor in quality with the presence of harmful bacteria, algae, chemicals and a lack of oxygen restricts aquatic organisms to survive. As a result, the presence of fish but also invertebrates and beneficial microorganisms is prevented as they cannot survive and hence counters the required process of Biodiversity.