Water Pollution Notes
- Contaminant: Anything in the water deleterious to a particular end use regardless of its origin whether it occurs in the watershed source or in a water supply
- Pollutant: Anything in the water deleterious to a particular end use that is of anthropogenic origin
- Disease-causing Agens
Vibrio sp.
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Oxygen is removed from water when organic matter is consumed by bacteria
Low oxygen may kill fish and other organisms
Sources of organic matter
Natural inputs: bogs, swamps, leaf fall
Human inputs: pulp and paper mills, meat-packing plants
Nonpoint inputs: runofffrom urban areas
- Water-soluble inorganic chemicals
Most are extremely toxic
Readily absorbed into plant or animal tissue
Combine with biomolecules (proteins/nucleic acids)
Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog and snow
Dry deposition refers to acidic gas and particles
Causes
Sulfur dioxide SO2 and nitrogen oxide NOx
2/3 from sulfur dioxide and ¼ from nitrogen oxide from electric power from fossil fuels
Measured using pH scale
Affects sensitive bodies of water, located in watersheds
At pH 5, fish eggs cannot hatch
Lower pH, adult fish die
- Inorganic Plant Nutrients
Storm water
Soil erosion
Excessive use of fertilizers
Eutrophication
- Organic Chemicals
Bio: decomposed by biological agents, especially bacteria
- Sediment or Suspended Material
Sediment loading effects
Destruction of spawning
Absorption and transport of other pollutants
Reduced light penetration
- Radioactive Isotopes
Molten uranium reacts with groundwater, producing large explosions
- Heat
Increase in temperature may alter aquac ecosystems
Industrial cooling waters is first order source of heat
Nuclear plants: waste even high proportion of heat
- Genetic pollution
Grow with less light and fewer nutrients, can outcompete
Fish population negatively affected if hydrilla exceeds 30%-40% coverage of lake
- Pollution of Streams and Lakes
Many rivers so polluted that few species can live in them
- Ocean Pollution
35% waste discharged untreated in ocean waters
Ocean is ultimate repository of waste
Heavily used
Close to sources of pollution
Shallow-water bodies
Not well circulated
- Groundwater Pollution
Groundwater renewed slowly
25% usable groundwater contaminated in U.S
Difficult to clean up contaminated groundwater
Monitor aquifers near landfills
Require leak detection systems
Ban or strictly regulate disposal of wastes
- Drinking Water Quality
U.S Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 requires EPA to est. national drinking water standards
Bottled water is more contaminated than tap water
Standards for numerous contaminants, two cause immediate health threat
Coliform Bacteria: indicate presence of disease causing organisms
Nitrate: Cause “blue baby syndrome” nitrate reacts with blood and blood can’t carry oxygen
Screening: removal of any coarse floating objects
Aeration: dissolving oxygen into water to remove smell and taste
pH correction: preparing for coagulation and to precipitate metals
Coagulation: causes agglomeration and sedimentation of suspended solids through the addition of a coagulating agent
Sedimentation: floc settles out and is scraped and vacuumed othe bed of large sedimentation tanks
Pre/dechlorination: kill algae that clog water filters
Disinfection: water completely free of suspended sediment is treated with oxidizing agent, usually chlorine
- Waste Water Treatment
Domestic used water and toilet waste
Rain
Industrial effluent
Livestock wastes
WWTPs: treat larger volumes of municipal or industrial waste
- Water Legislation
Ability to detect and remove contaminants
Understanding of actual or possible impacts
U.S
EPA recorded 700 contaminants that have been found in drinking water
EPA requires monitoring and reporting of 83 variables and set MCLs
Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Ac 1987
Federal Water Pollution Control Act 1972
Safe Drinking Water Act, 1974 amended 1996
London Dumping Convention, 1975 is the international treaty regulation disposal of wastes
MARPOL 73/78 implemented in the U.S by Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships under lead of U.S Coast Guard
- Pollutant: Anything in the water deleterious to a particular end use that is of anthropogenic origin
- Subset of contaminant
- Massive quantity of pollutants produced by humans, their machines, plants and animals
- Pollution of Streams and Lakes
- Ocean pollution
- Groundwater pollution
- Drinking water quality
- Waste water treatment
- Water Legislation
- Point-factories, sewage treatment plants, mines, oil wells, etc.
- Nonpoint-acid deposition, substances picked up in runoff, seepage into groundwater, etc.
- Disease causing agents-pathogens
- Oxygen demanding agents-organic waste; manure
- Water soluble inorganic chemicals-acids, toxic metals
- Organic chemicals-oil, pesticides, detergents
- Sediment-erosion and soil
- Radioactive Isotopes-radon/uranium
- Heat-electric and nuclear power plants
- Genetic Pollution
- Disease-causing Agens
- Waterborne Bacteria
Vibrio sp.
- Waterborne Protozoans
- P. Darben
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Oxygen is removed from water when organic matter is consumed by bacteria
Low oxygen may kill fish and other organisms
Sources of organic matter
Natural inputs: bogs, swamps, leaf fall
Human inputs: pulp and paper mills, meat-packing plants
Nonpoint inputs: runofffrom urban areas
- Water-soluble inorganic chemicals
- Heavy metals
Most are extremely toxic
Readily absorbed into plant or animal tissue
Combine with biomolecules (proteins/nucleic acids)
- Acid rain
Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog and snow
Dry deposition refers to acidic gas and particles
Causes
Sulfur dioxide SO2 and nitrogen oxide NOx
2/3 from sulfur dioxide and ¼ from nitrogen oxide from electric power from fossil fuels
Measured using pH scale
Affects sensitive bodies of water, located in watersheds
At pH 5, fish eggs cannot hatch
Lower pH, adult fish die
- Inorganic Plant Nutrients
- Phosphorus and Nitrogen
Storm water
Soil erosion
Excessive use of fertilizers
Eutrophication
- Organic Chemicals
- Biological Magnification
- Degradable: that can be chemically decomposed: decomposable plastic wastes
Bio: decomposed by biological agents, especially bacteria
- Sediment or Suspended Material
- Erosion
Sediment loading effects
Destruction of spawning
Absorption and transport of other pollutants
Reduced light penetration
- Radioactive Isotopes
- China Sydrome
Molten uranium reacts with groundwater, producing large explosions
- Heat
- Thermal pollution
Increase in temperature may alter aquac ecosystems
- Waste Heat
Industrial cooling waters is first order source of heat
Nuclear plants: waste even high proportion of heat
- Genetic pollution
- Hydrillia
Grow with less light and fewer nutrients, can outcompete
Fish population negatively affected if hydrilla exceeds 30%-40% coverage of lake
- Pollution of Streams and Lakes
- Rivers
Many rivers so polluted that few species can live in them
- Flowing water can recover rapidly by dilution and decay
- Eutrophication
- Pollution of Streams and Lakes
- Ocean Pollution
- Ocean Pollution
35% waste discharged untreated in ocean waters
Ocean is ultimate repository of waste
- Pollution in Coastal Waters
Heavily used
Close to sources of pollution
Shallow-water bodies
Not well circulated
- Types of Ocean Pollution
- Petroleum
- Groundwater Pollution
- Groundwater pollution
Groundwater renewed slowly
25% usable groundwater contaminated in U.S
Difficult to clean up contaminated groundwater
- Prevention
Monitor aquifers near landfills
Require leak detection systems
Ban or strictly regulate disposal of wastes
- Drinking Water Quality
- Drinking Water Quality
U.S Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 requires EPA to est. national drinking water standards
Bottled water is more contaminated than tap water
- Water Quality Standards
Standards for numerous contaminants, two cause immediate health threat
Coliform Bacteria: indicate presence of disease causing organisms
Nitrate: Cause “blue baby syndrome” nitrate reacts with blood and blood can’t carry oxygen
- Water Treatment Stages
Screening: removal of any coarse floating objects
Aeration: dissolving oxygen into water to remove smell and taste
pH correction: preparing for coagulation and to precipitate metals
Coagulation: causes agglomeration and sedimentation of suspended solids through the addition of a coagulating agent
Sedimentation: floc settles out and is scraped and vacuumed othe bed of large sedimentation tanks
Pre/dechlorination: kill algae that clog water filters
Disinfection: water completely free of suspended sediment is treated with oxidizing agent, usually chlorine
- Waste Water Treatment
- Treatment Objectives
- Sewage or Wastewater treatment
Domestic used water and toilet waste
Rain
Industrial effluent
Livestock wastes
- Wastewater Treatment
WWTPs: treat larger volumes of municipal or industrial waste
- Water Legislation
- Water Quality Standards
Ability to detect and remove contaminants
Understanding of actual or possible impacts
U.S
EPA recorded 700 contaminants that have been found in drinking water
EPA requires monitoring and reporting of 83 variables and set MCLs
- Legal Attempts to Control Water Pollution
Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Ac 1987
Federal Water Pollution Control Act 1972
Safe Drinking Water Act, 1974 amended 1996
London Dumping Convention, 1975 is the international treaty regulation disposal of wastes
MARPOL 73/78 implemented in the U.S by Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships under lead of U.S Coast Guard