(i) Polluted water causes a number of water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, jaundice, diarrhoea, hepatitis and dysentery.
(ii) Presence of acids or alkalies in water destroys certain microorganisms, which carry out the self-purification process in rivers.
(iii) Decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water body adversely affects the life of aquatic organisms.
(iv) Change in water temperature disturbs the aquatic life as eggs and larvae of various animals are badly affected by such changes.