Water Pollution Abatement Strategies

Water is essential to life and one of human’s fundamental needs. Although 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water bodies, water is still in short supply, difficult to access, and unevenly distributed. Unfortunately, water is easily overused, resulting in pollution. This chapter discusses the nature of water, water pollution, water pollutants and their sources, the impact of water pollutants on human health and on the environment as well as strategies for water pollution control, particularly through the use of legal instruments. Although the chapter discusses water pollution generally, noting water pollutants and their sources, the impact of such water pollutants on human health and on the environment, the use of legal instruments as strategies for water pollution control focuses on Nigeria.