Does Oil Pollute Water?

A spill of only one gallon of oil can contaminate a million gallons of water. A single pint of oil released into a lake or wetland can cover one acre of surface water and seriously damage aquatic habitat.

How does oil ruin water?

The most common effect is the spreading of the oil over the surface of the water. Most oil is less dense than water, so when oil spills, it spreads across the water surface.

How much oil does it take to contaminate water?

Spilling a single gallon of oil can contaminate as much as one million gallons of water. Spilling a pint of oil in a wetland or lake could cover the surface area of an acre of water.