Water pollution has been a problem since ancient times. The first record of water pollution comes from the Mesopotamian civilization, which flourished between 3000 and 1000 BCE. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the world’s earliest known literary works, the hero-king Gilgamesh rejects the advances of a goddess because he is disgusted by the polluted state of her temple’s sacred pool.
The industrial revolution, which began in the 18th century, brought with it new sources of water pollution. The burning of coal to power factories produced large amounts of soot and ash that were dumped into rivers and lakes. Waste from slaughterhouses and tanneries was also often disposed of in waterways. As cities grew larger and more crowded, sewage became another major source of water pollution.
Despite these problems, it was not until the late 19th century that scientists began to study water pollution in earnest. In 1865, Robert Angus Smith published a landmark book called “On the Causes, Nature and Prevention of Nightsoil and Sewage Pollution of Rivers”. This work helped raise awareness about water pollution and led to the passage of laws in England and Wales that prohibited dumping sewage into waterways.
Today, water pollution remains a serious global problem. According to the World Health Organization, over 2 billion people do not have access to clean drinking water; meanwhile, almost half of all wastewater generated each year is discharged untreated into our rivers, lakes and oceans. With continued population growth and industrialization, finding ways to reduce water pollution will be increasingly important in order to protect our planet’s vital freshwater resources