Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Chapter 22
Types, Effects and Sources of Water Pollution Point sources Nonpoint sources
Fig. 22-3 p. 494
Water quality
Rural homes
Urban streets
Cropland
Animal feedlot
Suburban development POINT SOURCES
Factory
Natural biodegradation process Does not work if overloaded or stream flow reduced Does not work against non biodegradable pollutants
Pollution of Streams
Oxygen sag curve Factors influencing recovery
Two Worlds
Developed Countries U.S. and other developed countries sharply reduced point sources even with population and economic growth Nonpoint still a problem Toxic chemicals still problem Success Cuyahoga River, Thames River
Two Worlds
Developing Countries: Serious and growing problem Half of worlds 500 major rivers heavily polluted Sewage treatment minimal $$$ Law enforcement difficult 10% of sewage in China treated Economic growth with little $$$ to clean up
Case Study: Indias Ganges River: Religion, Poverty, and Health Daily, more than 1 million Hindus in India bathe, drink from, or carry out religious ceremonies in the highly polluted Ganges River.
Eutrophication of Lakes
Eutrophication: nutrient enrichment of lakes mostly from runoff of plant nutrients (nitrates and phosphates)
During hot dry weather can lead to algae blooms Decrease of photosynthesis Dying algae then drops DO levels Fish kills, bad odor
Pollution of Lakes
Eutrophication
Eutrophication in Lakes
Solutions: Advanced sewage treatment (N, P) Household detergents Soil conservation Remove excess weed build up Pump in oxygen or freshwater
Section 4: Groundwater
Why is groundwater pollution a serious problem? What is the extent of the problem? What are the solutions?
Groundwater
Groundwater can become contaminated No way to cleanse itself Little dilution and dispersion Out of sight pollution Prime source for irrigation and drinking REMOVAL of pollutant difficult
Accidental spills
Groundwater
Pollution moves in plumes Soil, rocks, etc. act like sponge Cleansing does not work (low O, low flow, cold) Nondegradables may be permanent
Ocean Pollution
Oceans can disperse and break down large quantities of degradable pollution if they are not overloaded.
Pollution worst near heavily populated coastal zones Wetlands, estuaries, coral reefs, mangrove swamps 40% of worlds pop. Live within 62 miles of coast
Mangrove Swamp
Estuaries
Ocean Pollution
Large amounts of untreated raw sewage (viruses) Leaking septic tanks Runoff Algae blooms from nutrients Dead zones NO DO Airborne toxins Oil spills
Ocean Pollution
Preventing and reducing the flow of pollution from land and from streams emptying into the ocean is key to protecting oceans
Oil Spills
Sources: offshore wells, tankers, pipelines and storage tanks
Oil Spills
Solutions: Preventing and Reducing Surface Water Pollution Nonpoint Sources Reduce runoff Buffer zone vegetation
Point Sources
Clean Water Act Water Quality Act
Nonpoint Sources
Reduce runoff
Nonpoint Sources
Nonpoint
Prevent soil erosion and only apply needed pesticides and fertilizers
Point Sources
Most developed countries use laws to set water pollution standards. Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act 1972, 77, 87) Regulates navigable waterways..streams, wetlands, rivers, lake
Combined sewer overflow is a problem in many older towns EPA: 1.8 M to 3.85 M sick from swimming in water contaminated by sewer overflows EPA: $100 billion to fix
Primary: removes 60% of solids and 30-40% oxygen demanding wastes (physically) Secondary: uses biological processes to remove up to 90% of biodegradables Tertiary: advanced techniques only used in 5% of U.S. $$$$ Disinfection: chlorine, ozone, UV What is not taken out???
Expensive
Not widely used
Bottle Water
U.S. has the worlds safest tap water due to billions of $$$ of investment
Bottle water 240 to 10,000 times more expensive than tap water
Bottle Water
1.4 million metric tons of bottle thrown away each year Toxic fumes released during bottling Bottles made from oil based plastics Water does not need to meet SDWA