Republic of the Philippines

BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Pablo Borbon Main II, Alangilan Batangas City
College of Engineering, Architecture & Fine Arts
www.batstate-u.edu.ph Tel. No. (043) 425-0139 loc. 118

Chemical and Food Engineering Department

ChE-530
Industrial Waste Management and Control

Water Environment
(Water Pollution)

Aquino, Charmaine Pearl L.

ChE- 5201

Alayon, Ericdan F.
Alib, Lhester G.
ChE- 5202

Dr. Eufronia M. Magundayao

Instructor, ChE-530

January 24, 2018

 WATER ENVIRONMENT (WATER POLLUTION)
OVERVIEW

 Definition of Industrial Water Pollution

 Pollutants from Industrial Sources
 Ten Industrial Causes of Water Pollution
 Effects of Industrial Water Pollution
 Conclusion

DEFINITION OF NINDUSTRIAL WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies. This form of environmental
degradation occurs when pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into water bodies without
adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds. Water pollution caused by factories and other
industries can be the most serious problem in a given environment. These types of pollution can
lead to serious human and animal health problems as well as widespread destruction of the natural
world.

POLLUTANTS FROM INDUSTRIAL SOURCES

o Asbestos – This pollutant is a serious health hazard and carcinogenic. Asbestos

fibres can be inhaled and cause illnesses such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung
cancer, intestinal cancer and liver cancer.
o Lead – This is a metallic element and can cause health and environmental problems.
It is a non-biodegradable substance so is hard to clean up once the environment is
contaminated. Lead is harmful to the health of many animals, including humans, as
it can inhibit the action of bodily enzymes.
o Mercury – This is a metallic element and can cause health and environmental
problems. It is a non-biodegradable substance so is hard to clean up once the
environment is contaminated. Mercury is also harmful to animal health as it can
cause illness through mercury poisoning.
o Nitrates – The increased use of fertilisers means that nitrates are more often
being washed from the soil and into rivers and lakes. This can cause eutrophication,
which can be very problematic to marine environments.
o Phosphates – The increased use of fertilisers means that phosphates are more often
being washed from the soil and into rivers and lakes. This can cause
eutrophication, which can be very problematic to marine environments.
o Sulphur – This is a non-metallic substance that is harmful for marine life.
o Oils – Oil does not dissolve in water, instead it forms a thick layer on the
water surface. This can stop marine plants receiving enough light
for photosynthesis. It is also harmful for fish and marine birds.
o Petrochemicals – This is formed from gas or petrol and can be toxic to marine life.

TEN INDUSTRIAL CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION

1. AGRICULTURE- Pesticides are made with incredibly harsh chemical ingredients, while
fertilizers, even when made of natural substances, can be packed with nitrates.
Groundwater is the most heavily affected by pollution from agricultural sites. However,
any farms that are near freshwater sources may also pollute these surface bodies of water.
 2. MINING- .Lead, mercury, Sulphur, and arsenic are just some of the problems that can
come from mining. Basically, any heavy metal can be a potential pollutant in water sources
near mining sites. Groundwater is the most likely type of water to be affected by fracking
and most mining practices. However, it’s fairly common for tailings dams to fail and cause
polluted mining wastewater to spill into nearby sources of surface water.

3. FISHING - fishing boats increase the presence of gasoline and oil in water sources, and
they also overfish bodies of fresh water significantly. When overfished, the balance of
water environments is thrown off and pollution from bacteria and nutrients is likely.

4. NUCLEAR- Most nuclear power plants use a lot of water as part of their regular processes.
The wastewater that is then expelled from these locations is full of pollution, which washes
into ground and surface water nearby. Most nuclear power plants are also located on or
near bodies of freshwater, which means there’s almost nothing keeping this wastewater
from finding its way into lakes and rivers nearby.

5. FUEL- Gasoline and oil both fall into this category. Most of the time, these problems come
from spills and leaks in the industry, but the regular normal use of gasoline and oil can lead
to both groundwater pollution and air pollution that, in turn, carries pollutants to surface
water sources around the world.

6. PLASTICS- When plastic items are left in landfills for years instead of being recycled,
they are allowed to seep into the soil and cause their chemical components to break down
into the groundwater below.

7. TEXTILE MANUFACTURING- Asbestos is a common byproduct and waste product

from many textile manufacturing locations. Asbestos may be present in wastewater from
these factories that ends up being dumped into rivers and lakes.

8. CLEANING- “Cleaning” is a broad term, and it includes a few different industrial sectors.
Dry cleaning, for example, produces harsh chemical waste that is sometimes laced with
chromium, a harsh carcinogenic substance.

9. AUTO MANUFACTURING- Auto manufacturing companies use a lot of harsh chemicals

and metals in their production processes. They also create a lot of byproducts that can be
potentially very toxic if not disposed of properly. Mercury and lead are two of the leading
types of pollutants produced regularly by auto manufacturing companies.

10. RECREATION- Animal waste almost always pollutes (or at least contaminates) natural
bodies of water used for recreation.

EFFECTS OF INDUSTRIAL WATER POLLUTION

1. EFFECTS ON THE ECOSYSTEM- Industrial water pollution can have far

reaching effects on the ecosystem. The water used in various industrial
processes comes in contact with toxic chemicals, heavy metals, organic
sludge, and even radioactive sludge. So, when such polluted water is thrown
 into the ocean or other water bodies without any treatment, they become
unfit for any human and agricultural use.

2. THERMAL POLLUTION- Thermal pollution refers to an increase in

ambient water temperature. It can have an adverse effect on aquatic or
marine life, as some organisms are extremely sensitive to slight changes in
temperature.

3. INCREASE MURKINESS OF WATER- Industrial wastewater can

increase the murkiness of water. This in turn, can prevent sunlight from
reaching the bottom of the water bodies. As a result, bottom-dwelling plants
can fail to photosynthesize.

4. EFFECT OF CHEMICALS- The common industrial pollutants responsible

for causing water pollution are, sulfur, asbestos, poisonous solvents,
polychlorinated biphenyl, lead, mercury, nitrates, phosphates, acids,
alkalies, dyes, pesticides, benzene, chlorobenzene, carbon tetrachloride,
toluene, and volatile organic chemicals. Chemicals like sulfur is harmful for
marine life, while asbestos is known to be a potential carcinogen. Drinking
water contaminated with asbestos may increase the risk for benign intestinal
polyps.

CONCLUSION:

As you can see, there’s no industry that doesn’t have the potential to do a lot of damage to
the environment or to human health. Depending on the practices used regularly by a specific type
of industry, there can be serious complicates associated with its operations. However, there are
more and more industries working toward improving the quality of water in their areas, too. When
you find a factory that produces items with safe, sustainable practices or a farm that uses natural
fertilizers and pesticides, be sure to support them as much as possible by purchasing from them
and spreading their information to everyone you know. This is the best way you can help make a
difference when it comes to industrial water pollution.