Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies by harmful substances, which degrades water quality and impacts human and environmental health. Prevention methods include proper disposal of waste, using water-efficient appliances, and minimizing chemical use, while control can be achieved through treatments and new technologies like bioremediation and phytoremediation. The document highlights the urgency of addressing water pollution, which affects ecosystems and is exacerbated by the significant volume of waste dumped into water bodies annually.