Water Pollution Key Terms

Point source pollution

Water pollution that can be traced to a specific spot (such as a factory or sewage treatment plant) because it is discharged into the environment through pipes, sewers, or ditches.

North Pacific Garbage Patch

A gyre of marine debris particles in the central North Pacific Ocean discovered between 1985 and 1988. Also known as the Great Pacific garbage patch, or the Pacific trash vortex.

Cellular Respiration

A process in which the energy of organic molecules is released within cells.

Fertilizer runoff

A serious environmental concern because of its negative impact on water supplies, wildlife and health, including eutrophication, which results in excess algae growth and oxygen depletion in lakes and stream, and methemoglobinemia, caused by too much nitrate-nitrogen in drinking water.

Primary sludge

A slimy mixture of bacteria-laden solids that settle out from sewage wastewater during primary treatment.

Secondary sludge

A slimy mixture of bacteria-laden solids that settle out from sewage wastewater during secondary treatment.

Septic tank

A tank, typically underground, in which sewage is collected and allowed to decompose through bacterial activity before draining by means of a leaching field.

Microfleece

A thin poly fleece fabric that wicks moisture away from baby's skin. Sheds fibers when washed and pollutes water in countries without resourceful washing machines.

Oligotrophic

Deep, clear body of water that has minimal nutrients. Water in a oligotrophic setting contains a high level of dissolved oxygen.

Dead Zone

Low-oxygen water in a lake or ocean, caused by excessive nutrient pollution from human activities.

Eutrophic

Enriched with nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates and consequently overgrown with plants or algae; water in a eutrophic lake contains little dissolved oxygen.

Sediment pollution

Excessive amounts of soil particles that enter waterways as a result of erosion.

Fecal Coliform

Fecal contamination with disease-causing bacteria Sources: Mammal feces Concerns: Decreased DO which produces fish kills; waterborne bacterial diseases in humans

NPDES

National Pollution Discharge Elimination System addresses water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants to waters of the United States.

Ocean Dumping Ban Act

Prohibits all municipal sewage sludge and industrial waste dumping into the ocean after December 31, 1991.

PPM/PPB

PPM = parts per million PPB = parts per billion / 1 PPM = 1000 PPB

Pharmaceuticals microbeads

Plastic microspheres most frequently made of polyethylene but can be of other petrochemical plastics such as polypropylene and polystyrene. Have resulted in the contamination of the natural environment with the physical plastic beads but also the chemical byproducts as they break down.

Nonpoint pollution

Pollutants that enter bodies of water over large areas rather than being concentrated at a single point of entry. Examples include agricultural fertilizer runoff and sediments from construction.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

The O2 gas in between H2O molecules Source: Aeration (riffles, waterfalls, etc.) photosynthesis, low temperatures Concerns: Too low; can kill fish -can be a sign of fecal contamination in water / Too high; gas bubble disease

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

The amount of oxygen needed by microorganisms to decompose (by aerobic respiration) the organic material in a given volume of water.

Turbidity

The cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye. The measurement of turbidity is a key test of water quality.

Eutrophication

The enrichment of a lake, estuary, or slow-flowing stream by nutrients that cause increased photosynthetic productivity. Eutrophication that occurs naturally is a slow process in which the body of water gradually fills in and converts to a marsh, eventually disappearing.

Safe Drinking Water Act

The federal law that protects public drinking water supplies throughout the nation. Under the SDWA, EPA sets standards for drinking water quality and with its partners implements various technical and financial programs to ensure drinking water safety.

Enrichment

The fertilization of a body of water, caused by the presence of high levels of plant and algal nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

Leachate

The liquid that seeps through solid waste at a sanitary landfill or other waste disposal site.

National emission limitations

The maximum permissible amount (by law) of a particular pollutant that can be discharged into the nation's rivers, lakes, and oceans from point sources.

Maximum contaminant level

The maximum permissible amount (by law) of a water pollutant that might adversely affect human health.

Runoff

The movement of fresh water from precipitation and snowmelt to rivers, lakes, wetlands, and, ultimately, the ocean.

Aeration

The process by which air is circulated through, mixed with or dissolved in a liquid or substance.

Sewage

The wastewater released from drains or sewers (from toilets, washing machines, sinks, and showers); includes human wastes, soaps, and detergents.

Secondary treatment

Treatment of wastewater biologically to decompose suspended organic material; secondary treatment reduces the water's biochemical oxygen demand; occurs after secondary treatment.

Primary treatment

Treatment of wastewater by removing suspended and floating particles (such as sand and silt) by mechanical processes (such as screens and physical settling).

Thermal Pollution

Warm/hot water discharged into water Sources: Nuclear/industrial power plants Concerns: Thermal shock to organisms