ABSTRACT
Since ancient times water has been considered the most suitable medium to clean, disperse, transport, and dispose of waste from human activities. With the advent of industrialization and increasing population, the range of requirements for water has expanded as has the demand for higher quality water. Water pollution refers to any change in natural waters that may impair further use of the waters, caused by the introduction of organic or inorganic substances, or by a change in temperature of the water. Wastewaters emanate from the following primary sources: municipal wastewater, industrial wastewater, agricultural runoff, and stormwater and urban runoff. The basic objective of the field of water quality management is to determine the environmental controls that must be instituted to achieve a specific environmental quality objective. A multi-disciplinary approach is usually needed when a receiving water must meet competing agricultural, municipal, recreational, and industrial requirements.
