Unit 3 Test (Chapter 14 set)

What are three ways surface oil can be cleaned up?

1.) Containment 2.) Applying chemicals 3.) Genetically engineered bacteria

What can cause an oil spill?

1.) Undersea drilling 2.) Tank explosions 3.) Oil tankers

How many people worldwide do NOT have access to safe drinking water?

1.1 billion people

What is a point source? Non-point source?

A point source is a distinct location from which pollution is directly produced like a sewage treatment facility that discharges its wastewater from a pipe into the ocean. A non-point source is a diffuse area such as an entire farming region.

What is a septic system and how does it work?

A septic system is a sewage treatment system in houses where a septic tank receives wastewater from the house one end and leaves out the other causing three layers to form which are the scum layer (anything that will float rises to the top of the tank), the sludge layer (anything heavier sinks), and the septage (which is a clear water layer and it contains large quantities of bacteria, pathogenic organisms and inorganic nutrients like N and P). The septage moves out of the septic tank by gravity into several and into the leach field. The pipes have small holes so the water can seep through and be absorbed and filtered by the soil. The harmful pathogens join the sludge in the septic tank and diminish in abundance or be degraded by soil microbes in the leach field. The organic matter is broken down into CO2 and inorganic nutrients. Finally, the water and nutrients are taken up by plants or enter a nearby stream or aquifer.

What is the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974? What kinds of water does it apply to?

Act that gave the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the power to Set & Enforce standards for Community Water Systems. Failure to do so results in punishment for firms. This law focuses on all waters actually or potentially designed for drinking use, whether from above ground or underground sources. Establishing MCLs. It applies to surface water/groundwater.

Where do military compounds come from? What are their effects? Solutions?

Aka Percholates, which is used for manufacturing, testing and fueling rockets. The chemical can cause thyroid problems as well as reduce the production of hormones necessary for proper functioning of the human body, and contaminate soil. A solution is ensuring there are no percholates in the groundwater.

Why is it difficult to clean up rocky coastlines?

By using high-pressure hot water, it removes oil but it also removes plants and animals that live in the rocks as well as the fine-grained sediments containing nutrients causing the area to be unhabitable for many species.

What diseases are caused by drinking water contaminated with human waste?

Cholera, hepatitis A, dirrheal diseases and malaria.

Where does arsenic come from? What are its effects? Solutions?

Comes from rock material dissolving into groundwater, drinking water, human activities such as mining. Arsenic causes cancers of the skin, lungs, kidneys, and bladder as well as arsenic poisoning. A solution is that the amount of arsenic concentrations were limited in facilities.

What is eutrophication? Cultural eutrophication?

Eutrophication- A phenomenon in which a body of water becomes rich in nutrients. Cultural Eutrophication- When a body of water experiences an increase in fertility due to anthropogenic.

How is heat a water pollutant?

If cold water is taken away from a natural supply that contains organisms that have adapted to cold temps. and then returned as heated water, then it can cause a thermal shock and kill many organisms due to the drastic temp. change. Not only that, but organisms will develop a high respiration rate and since the warm water does not contain a lot of DO, then these organisms will suffocate.

Where in the US do we have a large dead zone? When and how does it form?

In the US, there is a dead zone where the Mississippi River dumps into the Gulf of Mexico. It forms during the summer due to the discharge of wastewater and agricultural runoff from fertilizers in which both contain N and P. This causes large algal blooms and decrease in oxygenated water.

How does a manure lagoon treat animal manure?

In the manure lagoons, bacteria breaks down the manure and the manure can be spread onto farm fields to serve as fertilizer.

Where does mercury come from? What are its effects? Solutions?

Increased concentrations in water, burning fossil fuels (coal), cement manufacturing, burning of trash, waste and medical/dental supplies. Mercury causes central nervous system damage as well as Mercury Poisoning. The EPA wants to cut cement manufacturing by 81% and establish new rules on Mercury emissions to deal with the problem.

Where do acids come from? What are their effects? Solutions?

Industrial plants burning coal and releasing sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide in air. Acids cause the pH of water to go down in forest lakes and streams causing acid rain/snow and toxic levels in metals. A solution is installing coal scrubbers to prevent acids from being released into air-passing stream water through limestone treatment facilities that raise the pH of water and remove toxic metals.

How does sediment impact aquatic ecosystems?

It can clog fish gills and hinder their ability to take in oxygen, and the increased amount of sediments cause more amounts of nutrients to be present in these ecosystems.

Where does sediment pollution come from?

It comes from human activities (mainly construction) which can cause erosion of the plant-free, dug up soil and sediments can enter streams, rivers, crops and domesticated chemicals that always disturb the soil and replace natural vegetation along the water's edge. The suspension of soil particles in the water can cause waterways to turn murky and brown and the increased sediments in the water colum lessons the infiltration of sunlight which decreases the productivity of plants and algae.

Where does lead come from? What are its effects? Solutions?

Lead comes from natural sources of drinking water, pipes, brass fittings, and lead containing materials. Lead damages the brain, nervous system and kidneys. Federal guidelines are now requiring the installation of lead-free materials.

Why is clean, safe water a challenge in less developed countries?

Less developed countries are still in the process of industrializing, have less restrictive environmental laws, and lack the money to fund water quality improvements.

How is noise a water pollutant?

Loud sonar emitted from ships, submarines, military sonar, and underwater air guns disrupt the communication between animals, especially those who thrive on low-frequency, long-distance communication like whales which can kill them.

What does a low BOD indicate? A high BOD?

Low BOD- Indicates that a waterbody is less polluted by wastewaters. High BOD- Indicates that a waterbody is more polluted by wastewater.

What is an MCL and how are they determined?

Maximum Containment Levels, and they are determined by the concentration and each compound that can cause harm as well as the feasibility and cost of reducing the compound to such a concentration.

What is turbidity?

Measures the amount of light that can pass through water. Indicates the amount of dissolved solids in the water.

How do nitrogen and phosphorus get into human waste water?

Nitrogen and phosphorus are used in soaps and detergents, and can up going down the shower drain/toilet drain and eventually reaching wastewater.

What is oxygen-demanding waste?

Organic matter that enters a body of water and feeds the growth of the microbes that are decomposers.

What is oxygen demanding waste? Why does it demand oxygen?

Oxygen demanding waste is organic matter that enters a body of water and feeds the growth of the microbes that are decomposers. It demands oxygen because these microbes need oxygen to decompose waste and they demand more once they grow and as more waste enters the water.

Where do industrial compounds come from? What are their effects? Solutions?

PCBs used in manufacturing plastics and insulating electrical transformers, PBDEs are flame retardants added to construction materials, electrical components and furniture/clothing. PCBs can cause cancer and even death. A solution is that the manufacturing of PBDEs has been banned.

How does solid waste threaten aquatic ecosystems?

Plastic-rings from beverage packs can strangle many animals, medical waste is toxic for people, and mainly they carry harmful chemicals.

What are the risks and benefits of manure lagoons?

Risks: 1.) Developing leaks in their liner and can cause overflow into adjacent water bodies 2.) Applying manure creating runoff, moving into nearby water bodies. Benefits: 1.) They can prevent manure from leaking into the groundwater 2.) They allow manure to be recycled as fertilizer.

What is the Clean Water Act? What kinds of water does it apply to?

Supports the "protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water". Sets up the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Regulates point sources of pollution by requiring a permit to discharge any pollutant into a navigable waterway. Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) sets daily limits for total pollutant discharges into impaired water bodies (on 303d list). Set based on the maximum pollution levels the water body can receive and still meet water quality standards. It applies to natural and surface waters.

What is biochemical oxygen demand?

The amount of oxygen a quantity of water uses over a period of time at specific temperatures.

What is a leach field?

The combination of pipes and lawn.

Nitrate

The concentration (ppm) of nitrate ions. Indicates how nutrient rich the water is.

Phosphorus

The concentration (ppm) of phosphate ions. Indicates how nutrient rich the water is.

What is water pollution?

The contamination of stream, rivers, lakes, oceans, or groundwater with substances produced through human activities that negatively affect organisms.

What is an oxygen sag curve?

The curve obtained when the concentration of DO in a river into which sewage or other pollutant has been discharged and plotted against the distance downstream from the sewage outlet.

What is the goal of primary treatment?

The goal of primary treatment is for the solid waste material to settle out of the wastewater at the bottom of the tank. The sludge is exposed to bacteria that can digest it. Most of the water is removed from the sludge to reduce its volume and weight prior to transporting it away from the sewage treatment plant. This final form of sludge can be placed into a landfill, burned, or converted into fertilizer pellets for agricultural fields, lawns, and gardens.

What is the goal of secondary treatment?

The goal of secondary treatment is to use bacteria to break down 85-90% of the organic matter in the water and convert it to CO2 and inorganic nutrients such as N and P. Settled particles are added to sludge. This treatment requires aeration as it promotes the growth of aerobic bacteria the emit less offensive odors than anaerobic bacteria.

What is wastewater? Where does it come from?

The water produced by human activities including human sewage from toilets and gray water from bathing, washing clothes, and dishes. Wastewater comes from human activities including human sewage from toilets and gray water from bathing, washing clothes and dishes.

How does a septic system get rid of disease causing organisms?

Their harmful pathogens settle and become part of the sludge and exposure to chemicals or UV light kills them.

Why is it difficult to clean up underwater oil spills?

There is no agreed-upon method to removing/cleaning underwater oil spills, considering all three methods used for surface water could pose a serious danger to marine organisms.

Where do inert ingredients come from? What their effects? Solutions?

These come from additives that improve the effectiveness of a pesticide. They are toxic to plants and amphibians. A solution is for these ingredients to be tested which North America and Europe want to mandate.

Where do pharmaceuticals come from? What are their effects? Solutions?

They are commonly found in the environment, the USGS has tested 139 streams and found that 50% of them contained anitbiotics and reproductive hormones while 80% were prescription drugs and 90% steroids. They are harmless in low concentrations, however they can mimic the hormone estrogen. These drugs are easily detectable so they are easy to deal with.

Why are oil spills such a problem?

They are toxic and lethal to every marine species and even birds, and they are persistant and spread out within/along the surface of the water leaving it contaminated for many years.

Where do synthetic organic compounds come from? What are their effects? Solutions?

They enter the water supply from either industrial point sources where they are manufactured or from non-point sources when they are applied over very large areas. They are toxic, can cause genetic defects, and interfere with growth/sexual development. A solution is that they are being tested, researched, and even burned to preserve safety.

Where do hormones come from? What are their effects? Solutions?

They operate at low concentrations inside the tissues of organisms. Their real effects are unknown. They are currently being researched.

Where do pesticides come from? What are their effects? Solutions?

They were introduced in World War 2 to kill plants and insects. They can kill a wide variety of organisms as well as altering physiological functions, and DDT interrupts nerve transmission in insects and birds causing them to produce thin shelled eggs. A soulution is using inert ingredients to make pesticides more effective.

What is the goal of tertiary treatment?

To remove nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater to release wastewater similar in quality to the waterway receving it.

What is TMDL?

Total Maximum Daily Load which sets up daily limits for total pollutant discharges into impaired water bodies.

How can you disinfect wastewater?

Using chlorine, ozone, or UV light to kill remaining pathogens.

What are Dead Zones?

Water areas with extremely low oxygen concentration and very little life.

What indicator species do we use to test for the presence of human waste in drinking water? Are the indicator species harmful?

We use the fecal coliform bacteria to test for the presence of human waste in drinking water such as E-coli. They themselves are not harmful (Drinking water must have 0 coliform bacteria colonies, very low turbidity and low nutrient levels. Water for fishing can have thousands of coliform bacteria colonies and high turbidity, but must have at dissolved oxygen levels of at least 6 ppm to support life).

In what circumstances might it be legal to dispose of raw sewage directly into a waterbody.

When older sewage treatment plants receive water from storm drains after a heavy rainfall and the capacity overwhelmes the treatment plants.

How does oxygen demanding waste lead to a dead zone?

When there is a high demand for oxygen for the microbial decomposition of waste in a waterbody, there are low amounts of oxygen remaining for other organisms. Low concentrations of oxygen are lethal to many organisms such as fish and organisms can't move like plants and shellfish. In the end, there is little oxygen and little life in these areas that they are considered dead zones.