noun phrase · neutral
water pollution
UK/ˈwɔːtə pəˈluːʃən/US/ˈwɔtər pəˈluːʃən/WAT·er pol·LU·tion
Contamination of lakes, rivers, oceans or groundwater by harmful substances
Examples
“Improper disposal of industrial waste leads to serious water pollution.”
“Water pollution affects both drinking supplies and aquatic life.”
“Communities downstream suffered from severe water pollution after the spill.”
Band 8 sentence
“Strict regulation on industrial discharge is necessary to prevent water pollution and protect public health.”
Collocations
- prevent water pollution
- reduce water pollution
- contaminate the water
Word family
Common mistakes
water pollution is dangerous for fishes→water pollution is dangerous for fish
pollution of water→water pollution
Say it for a higher band
5dirty water→6polluted water→7+water pollution
Synonyms
river pollution
Easily confused
air pollution
“Air pollution and water pollution both harm human health but come from different sources.”
water contamination
“A chemical spill caused contamination of the town's water supply.”
Related words
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In Nature & Animals
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