Water Pollution

Candidate Name: Abaigail Lammie

Candidate #

Centre: Fair Prospect High

Territory: Jamaica

Teacher:

Year of Submission: 2015

Topic

Aim

Methodology

Instrument used to collect Data

Presentation and Explanation of Data

Conclusion

Bibliography
What are the causes and effects of water pollution in the community of Long Road?
1. To investigate causes of water pollution in the community of Long Road
2. To investigate the effects of water pollution in the community of Long Road
When:

Data was collected on the 10th October, 2014. It took two days to complete collection of data.
Questionnaire were given out on the 15 th of October 2014 and collected on the 16 th October 2014.

Where:

The study area is Long Road, Portland Jamaica. The small community is located to the east and is one
mile from the border of Portland and St. Thomas. The community is about 1 ½ mile long and 3 ½ mile
wide. However the specific water source is located in a section of the community called Dillon. It is the
last secondary road leading from Long Road to Hector’s River. The secondary road is on the right side of
the main road. The main water source is about 44m wide, However the length was undetermined based
on tributaries and streams that were adjoined to it.

How:

The data will be collected using questionnaires, observation, taking of photographs and illustration
taken from text book and computer.
Questionnaire

1. How long have the water been used for domestic purpose?
10 years [ ]
20 years [ ]
30 years [ ]
Over 60 years [ ]

2. What is the man type of pollutant that contributes to pollution of the water source?
Sewage [ ]
Solid waste [ ]
Chemicals [ ]
Domestic garbage [ ]

3. Who contributes mostly to the pollution of water sources?

Adult [ ]
Elderly [ ]
Children [ ]
All Age Group [ ]

4. Is the water source treated?

Yes [ ] No [ ]

5. How often is the water treated?

Weekly [ ]
Monthly [ ]
Bi-monthly [ ]
Yearly [ ]

6. Does the pollution of the water cause any disease?

Yes [ ] no [ ]

7. Is there any effort in the community to inform residents about water pollution?
Yes [ ] no [ ]

8. Do you believe that water pollution can be stopped or reduce?

Yes [ ] no [ ]
9. How do you suggest that government deal with water pollute in your area?
Have meeting in the area [ ]
Give pamphlet with information [ ]

10. Do you believe that if citizens were more aware of water pollution, they would treat the
resource better?

Yes [ ] no [ ]
Water pollution can be caused from various factors. Sometimes water that is located close to farming
area is sometimes contaminated by chemicals used by farmers. Sometimes these chemicals dissolve in
the water causing it to become toxic. Other sources such as natural disasters bring down debris which
contaminates the water. Human behaviour can also contribute to natural disaster. Natural shedding of
leaves from plants can also contaminate water sources. Animal such as birds and beasts can also
contribute to the pollution of water.

The presentation of data will highlight how some of the factors contributed to water pollution.
Fig. 1 Pie Chart

Pollutants that contributeto the water pollution

Human faeces food spoilage bird faeces chemicals fallen leaves

18%
27%

18%

28% 9%

The pie chart above showed that the use of chemicals on nearby farms and from washing contributed
most to the pollution of the water source. It is a rural area and most people do farming for a living.
Therefore most farmers use chemicals which sometimes cause the water to be polluted. Human faeces,
food spoilage and fallen leaves also contributed to the pollution of the water source. These pollutants
were sometimes caused by the destruction of the environment. However some humans who were not
very educated, defecated and throw garbage in the stream leading to the water source.

Bird droppings contributed to 10% of the pollution. It was so because birds flew over the water source
and sometimes drop faeces in the water which cause the water to be polluted with of data and
observation influence the positive structure of the pie chart.
Fig 2: Bar Graph below showed how aware of water pollution.

70%

60%

50%

40% elderly
children
30% educated people
teenager

20%

10%

0%
Elderly Children Educated people Teenager

The bar graph highlight that children who had parents who were not aware of water pollution used the
water without care. Elderly who were used to their old way of living also pollute regularly. However,
teenagers of school age were taught in school about pollution. However, from observation and question
answered, educated contributed less to water pollution at the water source.
Fig. 3 Table showing how often the water was treated.

Items Frequency
Daily 0
Weekly 1
Monthly 4
Bi-weekly 2

The table showed that water was not treated on a daily basis. Therefore, that showed that the water
was untreated for most days which would lead to water pollution. Normally the water was treated at
about four times monthly. Overall, most people used the water for domestic purposes. The research
done showed that many people in the community were not educated on water pollution. Therefore,
they threw debris into the water. The untreated water contributed to the pollution of the water.
It can be concluded that the water source was mainly polluted by the uses of chemicals by farmers.
Although the water was secure, many citizens use streams which had the water source incorrectly.
Therefore the action contributed to the water pollution. Education plays a great role in understanding of
water pollution. Elderly people and small children were not so educated on how to care for the
environment which includes the water source. Water pollution sometimes contributed to simple
diseases like diarrhoea. According to geography books, the same type of pollutant that contributed to
water pollution was the same ones that contributed to water pollution in other areas of the Caribbean
and the world.
Bunnette, R. (2002) General Geopgraphy in Diagrams, Singapore: longman

Longman Caribbean School Atlas: (2000) Jamaica : Carlong Publisher

Rahil, V. (2005) New Caribbean Geopgraphy with Map Reading Questions 4 th Edition. Trinidad Caribbean
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