Tainted Water. Source: Joy MundaneMany maufacturing industries also generate polluted waste waters which can pose a threat to drinking water sources if not properly managed. Improper storage and release of chemicals on commercial and industrial sites can have severe adverse impacts on water quality. To protect water sources, wastewater must be properly treated before they are discharged to watercourses. Industrial effluent is strongly regulated, and strict limits are set for the level of contaminants contained in industry wastewater.

While many industrial plants maintain their own waste water treatment systems to ensure their effluent meets regulation standards before being released to a water source, the reduced amount of pollution found in treated industrial effluent can still be a concern.

Adapted from Pollution Probe's Source Water Protection Primer