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WATER POLLUTION

List all the sources and contaminants of water pollution you can think of that are occurring in this image. WATER POLLUTION. Any physical , biological , or chemical change in water quality that adversely affects living organisms can be considered pollution.

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WATER POLLUTION

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  1. List all the sources and contaminants of water pollution you can think of that are occurring in this image

  2. WATER POLLUTION • Any physical, biological, or chemical change in water quality that adversely affects living organisms can be considered pollution. • Point Sources – know EXACTLY the source • Non-Point Sources – cannot determine source

  3. Plant Nutrients and Cultural Eutrophication • Eutrophication - a condition in an aquatic ecosystem (like a stream) where high nutrient concentrations cause algae to grow very rapidly, choking out the other life in the water and robbing the water of dissolved oxygen

  4. Water Analysis • Alkalinity • Ammonia • Chloride • Chlorine • Chromium • Dissolved Oxygen • Iron • Hardness • Nitrate • pH • Phosphate • Turbidity • Fecal Coliform Bacteria

  5. Alkalinity • sum of components (mainly bicarbonate, carbonate, and hydroxide) that tend to elevate the pH of the water above 4.5 • represents the buffering capacity of water and its ability to resist a change in pH

  6. Ammonia • a source of nitrogen • a nutrient for algae and other forms of plant life and thus contribute to eutrophication • The higher the pH, the more of the NH3 will be present • Can block oxygen transfer in the gills of fish, thereby causing immediate and long term gill damage. Fish suffering from ammonia poisoning will appear sluggish and come to the surface, as if gasping for air.

  7. Chloride • one of the major anions to be found in water and sewage • presence in large amounts may be due to: • natural processes such as the passage of water through natural salt formations in the earth • pollution from sea water intrusion, industrial or domestic waste or deicing operations

  8. Chlorine • Because of its strong oxidizing properties, chlorine acts as a biocide • If present in a natural waterbody, someone is likely backwashing a swimming pool or else there is an industrial or municipal effluent • Can kill fish, plants, algae and bacteria

  9. Chromium • Most toxic form, hexavalent chromate or Cr (VI), is produced in pickling and plating operations, anodizing aluminum, leather tanning, manufacturing of paints, dyes and explosives. • Also used to inhibit corrosion in open and closed system cooling towers • Main topic of the movie Erin Brockovich

  10. Dissolved Oxygen • Water with an oxygen content > 6 ppm will support desirable aquatic life. • Water with < 2 ppm oxygen will support mainly detritivores and decomposers. • Oxygen is added to water by diffusion from wind and waves, and by photosynthesis from green plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. • Oxygen is removed from water by respiration and oxygen-consuming processes.

  11. Iron • High concentrations can indicate runoff from mining operations or industrial effluent • Concentrations above 1 ppm will impart a foul taste to the water • The US drinking water standard prohibits levels above 0.3 ppm

  12. Hardness • Represents primarily the total concentration of Calcium and Magnesium ions expressed as calcium carbonate • Not a safety issue • Hard water is safe for drinking, cooking, and other household uses. • up to 60 ppm - "soft” • 120-180 ppm - "hard” • Hard water is found in more than 85% of the US

  13. Nitrates • Nutrient needed for all living plants and animals to grow • High nitrogen levels cause plants to take over the healthy balance of steam life. Too much nitrogen in a stream system promotes eutrophication

  14. pH • Overall measure of water quality • Indication of the sample’s acidity or alkalinity • Acceptable limit 6.5-8.5 • Can alter corrosivity and solubility of contaminants • For every one unit of change on the pH scale, there is a ten-fold change in how acidic or basic (alkaline) the sample is

  15. Phosphates • A nutrient needed for plant growth • High concentrations in surface waters may indicate fertilizer runoff, domestic waste discharge, or the presence of industrial effluents or detergents • When too much phosphorous is introduced into a stream, it is susceptible to eutrophication

  16. Turbidity • How murky the water looks and is a measure of how much tiny material is suspended • amount of sediment, or disturbed soil clouding the water • microscopic plankton • Cloudy water can block sunlight needed by plant and animals and can carry dangerous chemicals like pesticides • Contributes to eutrophication • Particles in the water also collect heat from sunlight, raising the surface temperature of the water

  17. Fecal Coliform Bacteria • Found in the lower intestine of humans and other warm-blooded animals • Rare or not found at all in unpolluted water • Presence indicates sewage or fecal contamination in water

  18. Remaining Problems • Greatest impediments to achieving national goals in water quality are sediment, nutrients, and pathogens, especially from non-point discharges. • About three-quarters of water pollution in the U.S. comes from soil erosion, air pollution fallout, and agricultural and urban runoff. • Single cow produces 30 kg manure/day. • Some feedlots have 100,000 animals.

  19. WATER POLLUTION CONTROL • Source Reduction • Cheapest and most effective way to reduce pollution is avoid producing it or releasing it into the environment. • Studies show as much as 90% less road salt can be used without significantly affecting winter road safety. • Soil conservation • Banning phosphate detergents

  20. TYPES AND EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION • Infectious Agents • Main source of waterborne pathogens is improperly treated human waste. • Animal wastes from feedlots and fields is also important source of pathogens.

  21. Inorganic Pollutants • Metals • Many metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel are highly toxic. • Highly persistent and tend to bioaccumulate in food chains. • Lead pipes are a serious source of drinking water pollution. • Mine drainage and leaching are serious sources of environmental contamination.

  22. Inorganic Pollutants • Nonmetallic Salts • Many salts that are non-toxic at low concentrations can be mobilized by irrigation and concentrated by evaporation, reaching levels toxic to plants and animals. • Leaching of road salts has had detrimental effect on many ecosystems. • Acids and Bases • Often released as by-products of industrial processes.

  23. Organic Chemicals • Thousands of natural and synthetic organic chemicals are used to make pesticides, plastics, pharmaceuticals, pigments, etc.. • Two most important sources of toxic organic chemicals in water are: • Improper disposal of industrial and household wastes. • Runoff of pesticides from high-use areas. • Fields, roadsides, golf courses

  24. Pesticide Runoff

  25. Sediment • Human activities have accelerated erosion rates in many areas. • Human-induced erosion and runoff contribute about 75 billion metric tons of suspended solids to world surfaces each year. • Sediment can either be beneficial (nourish floodplains) or harmful (smother aquatic life).

  26. Thermal Pollution • Raising or lowering water temperatures from normal levels can adversely affect water quality and aquatic life. • Oxygen solubility in water decreases as temperatures increase. • Species requiring high oxygen levels are adversely affected by warming water.

  27. Thermal Pollution • Industrial cooling processes often use heat-exchangers to extract excess heat, and then discharge heated water back into original source. • Thermal Plume • Produce artificial environments which attract many forms of wildlife. • Can lead to large die-offs if plume disappears for extended period of time.

  28. Groundwater and Drinking Water • About half the U.S. population, and 95% of rural residents, depend on underground aquifers for drinking water. • For decades, groundwater was assumed impervious to pollution and was considered the gold standard for water quality.

  29. Groundwater and Drinking Water • EPA estimates 4.5 trillion liters of contaminated water seep into the ground in the U.S. every day. • MTBE - Gasoline additive, and suspected carcinogen, is present in many urban aquifers. • In agricultural areas, fertilizers and pesticides commonly contaminate aquifers and wells.

  30. Groundwater Pollution

  31. Groundwater and Drinking Water • Estimated 1.5 million Americans fall ill from fecal contamination annually. • Cryptosporidium outbreaks • Milwaukee - 400,000 sick, 100 dead.

  32. Ocean Pollution • Estimated 6 million metric tons of plastic bottles, packaging material, and other litter tossed from ships into the ocean annually. • Few coastlines in the world remain uncontaminated by oil or oil products. • Estimated somewhere 3 and 6 million metric tons of oil are discharged into the world’s oceans. • Transport creates opportunities for major spills.

  33. Oil Pollution in the Ocean

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