Lecture # 2

Contents of the lecture

Water
Earths water supply & distribution

Hydrologic cycle
Water pollution
Sources of water pollution
Types of water pollution
Types of water pollutants

Acid rain
Water borne diseases
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Water is essential to life on earth.

Three forms of Water.

Solids: When water becomes very cold

and freezes it will change from a liquid to

a solid. It has a definite form and shape.
Liquids: When water takes the shape
of its container it is in a liquid form.
Gases: When water is seen in a vapor
form and has no definite size or shape it
is in a gas form.
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The earth's water supply

97.2% of the Earth's water supply is

salt water.

Only 2.8% is fresh water!

World Water Supply

97.200% salt water in the oceans
02.014% ice caps and glaciers
00.600% groundwater
00.009% surface water
00.005% soil moisture
00.001% atmospheric moisture

Distribution of water
Ocean Water: The vast majority of water

on the planet is the salt water in the

oceans and seas.
Fresh Water: This is the fresh water in
rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and similar
bodies of water.
Groundwater: The majority of the planet's
liquid freshwater is stored in underground
aquifers. Water that enters an aquifer
remains there for an average of 1,400
years!

Water : A precious Natural

Resource
We use water for

drinking, irrigation,
industrial purposes and
energy production.
Water use
agriculture and energy
production - 80%
industry and public use
- 20%

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Hydrologic cycle - water cycle

It describes the continuous

movement of water on,

above or below the
surface of the earth
Powered by energy from
the sun
Hydrologic cycle purifies
water

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Pollution of water
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Water Pollution

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Where do Water pollutants come from?

Point Sources A single definable source

of the pollution, e.g. a factory, a sewage

plant, etc. Point-source pollution is
usually monitored and regulated.
Non-point sources No single source, but

a wide range of sources, e.g. runoff from

urban areas, or farmland. Non-point
sources are much more difficult to
monitor and control.
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Pollution of Water
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.

Surface water pollution

Groundwater pollution
Microbiological pollution
Oxygen depletion pollution
Nutrients pollution
Suspended matter pollution
Chemical pollution

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Pollution of Water
1.

Surface water pollution

It is the visible form of pollution
and can be seen on waters in
lakes, streams, rivers. E.g.plastic
bottles, shopping bags and trash
from human consumption

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Pollution of Water
2. Groundwater pollution
Effects drinking water and aquifers
below the soil caused by highly
toxic chemicals and pesticides
from farming

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Pollution of Water
3. Microbiological pollution
Natural form of water pollution
caused by microorganisms. E.g.
bacteria and viruses cause serious
diseases.

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Pollution of Water
4. Oxygen depletion pollution
Some microorganisms in water use
up the available oxygen, called as
oxygen depletion which results in
lower oxygen.

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Pollution of Water
5. Nutrients pollution
Found in waste water and
fertilizers. They can cause
excess vegetation in water such
as algae and weeds which use
up oxygen in water hurting
marine life.

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Pollution of Water
6. Suspended matter pollution
It occurs when pollutants enter the
water and do not mix with water
molecules. These suspended
matter forms fine silt in water.

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Pollution of Water
7. Chemical pollution
There is a lot of chemical run off
from factories into the water bodies
which includes metals, solvents,
pesticides from industries. They
add poison to wildlife in water.

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Non-persistent (degradable)
water pollutants
These compounds can be broken down

by chemical reactions or by natural

bacteria into simple substances such as
carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
If the pollution load is high, this process
can lead to low oxygen levels.
E.g. Domestic sewage, fertilizers and
some industrial wastes
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Persistent Water pollutants

This is the most rapidly growing type of

pollution
This includes substances that degrade very
slowly or cannot be broken down at all;
They may remain in the aquatic environment
for years or longer periods of time.
some pesticides, petroleum products,
radioactive materials and metals.

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Acid rain
Acid rain is formed when moisture in the

clouds mixes with sulfur or nitrogen

oxides in the air.
Acid rain includes rain or snow with a pH
level that falls below 5.6 (normal
rainwater).
The sulfur and nitrogen get into the air by
the burning of fossil fuels such as coal
and gasoline. The average pH of acid rain
is 4.3.
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Consequence of Acid Rain

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Water borne diseases

Diseases caused by the ingestion of
water contaminated with pathogenic
bacteria, viruses, or parasites include:
cholera
typhoid
Dysentery
Other diarrheal diseases
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Remedial measures
Locate the point sources of pollution.
Work against acid rain.
Educate your community.
Ensure sustainable sewage treatment.

Watch out for toxins.

Be careful what you throw away.
Think globally, act locally.

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Thank you

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