Earth Science Final - CJK

What is Vinyl Chloride and how does it effect living organisms?

Vinyl Chloride is a carcinogenic compound. Carcinogens are known to cause cancer.

What are the main types of liquid waste?

-Sewage -Industrial Waste -Used Oil - 40% poured onto ground or into storm drains. Some is reclaimed and recycled, much is discarded. -Liquid Animal Waste - feedlots, stockyards, etc...

What is non-point source pollution? (Give an example)

A non point source of pollution is a pollution where the source is not known. An example would be a river with 10 companies all dumping different toxins into a river. If a specific toxin becomes a problem it may be hard to determine which company is dumping the specific toxin into the river. Therefor, this would be considered non-point source pollution. At least until the specific source is narrowed down.

How does a septic system function?

A private home septic system treats the homes waste water. In this system water goes to a settling tank where solids settle out. Solids are slowly broken down by bacteria. Remaining liquid contains organic matter load. Liquid seeps out into leaching field soil.

What are septic systems of private homes?

A private home septic system treats the homes waste water. In this system water goes to a settling tank where solids settle out. Solids are slowly broken down by bacteria. Remaining liquid contains organic matter load. Liquid seeps out into leaching field soil. The leaching field is a network of porous pipes and surrounding soil. Septic tank effluent is slowly released. Organic matter breaks down by microorganisms and oxygen reactions.

Explain the basic concept of a sanitary landfill.

A sanitary landfill is comprised of alternate layers of compacted trash and a covering material. Soil cover keeps out vermin and confines the refuse. Sanitary landfills are usually placed in low spots such as valleys, abandoned gravel pits, and surface mines.

What are safety mechanisms that should be implemented in a secure landfill plan?

A secure landfill needs to be monitored with wells and piping to check for leaking. Leachate needs to be pumped out before it leaks.

Talk about Paper Recycling. Explain benefits, problems, and methods.

About 45% of paper used is recycled. According to the recycling council of Ontario every ton of newspapers recycled saves about 18 trees and 3 cubic feet of landfill space.

What is aerobic decomposition?

Aerobic decomposition is decomposition in the presence of oxygen. In this decomposition oxygen depletion occurs.

What is agricultural pollution?

Agriculture pollution is waste associated with farming. Sources of agriculture pollution include fertilizer, organic waste, sediments, and other chemicals.

What are the effects of eutrophication?

Algal bloom kills off other types of plants which decompose resulting in oxygen depletion in the body of water. This can result in the die off of other oxygen dependent organisms such as fish.

What is anaerobic decomposition?

Anaerobic decomposition is decomposition in the absence of oxygen. This type of decomposition produces noxious gases.

Are there any potential problems with waste incineration?

Any time you burn something it produces abundant carbon dioxide along with ash. Ash is typically a condensed form of whatever toxins existed in the waste. (Ash is a significant issue with incineration) Other common gases associated with waste incineration are: Chlorine gas, HCL, hydrogen cyanide, and sulfur dioxide. Much urban waste is not combustible. This results in waste needing to be sorted before it is incinerated. It also means that was incineration is only usable for a portion of the total waste. Lastly, incineration is expensive. It can cost up to 2000$ per ton to operate.

How is the water cleansed and what happens to the water once it is cleansed?

As material passes through soil, fine solids and larger pathogens are filtered out. By the time effluent reaches water (surface or ground water), it has been purified of many biological and chemical contaminants.

What is BOD and why is it important?

BOD is short for Biochemical Oxygen Demand. BOD of a system is the measure of the amount of oxygen required to breakdown the organic matter aerobically. The more organic matter, the higher the BOD. BOD may exceed the amount of dissolved oxygen in the system.

What is biomagnification? How does it occur?

Biomagnification and bio-accumulation are essentially the same concept. What this refers to is the build up of toxins in the environment. When a toxin is introduced into the environment it may enter the food chain. The toxin may initially effect a large amount of small organisms. As these small organisms are eaten by predators higher up in the food chain, the toxin accumulates in the larger predator. As these predators are fed on, the toxin again accumulates in greater quantities in the next level of the food chain and so on.

What other types of inorganic pollutants are found in water? What are their sources?

Chlorine- is used to kill bacteria in municipal waste water system, can kill algae and harm fish populations. Acids, from industrial plants or mine drainage, may act to leach out toxic metals from rocks or mine tailings. Asbestos - carcinogenic, impacts still being studied.

What are some suggestions for reducing waste volumes?

Composting - by composting organic materials we can allow micro-organisms to decompose our organic waste. We can then use the resulting material as fertilizer. Recycle - recycling materials lowers the amount of new waste we introduce into the environment.

What is composting and how does it work?

Composting is a process where you take your organic waste and dispose of it in a dedicated area. The area is then left undisturbed allowing micro-organisms to decompose the waste naturally. Composting produces a nutrient rich material and improves soil structure, water-holding capacity, and adds nutrients.

Explain the concentrate and contain method of liquid waste disposal.

Concentrate and contain is the concentration of liquid waste by removal of water. The waste is then confined in barrels or a secured reservoir.

What is DDT and how does it effect living organisms? Why is it hard to control in the environment?

DDT is an insecticide used heavily during WW2. Scientist who recognized benefits received Nobel price for saving lives. Insects developed resistance to DDT. Was believed to break down rapidly. Bio-accumulation occurred. Eagles, Robins, Pelican, and Ospreys were all affected and nearly wiped out. The U.S. Banned the use of DDT. However, it is still produced here and can easily be spilled from factories. It is hard to control in the environment because it bio-accumulates.

What is deep-well disposal?

Deep well disposal is the method of waste disposal where liquid industrial waste is injected deep into the crust of the earth.

Explain the dilute and disperse method of disposing of liquid waste.

Dilute and disperse is the dilution of liquid waste by adding water and then the waste is dumped into a larger water source like the ocean, a lake, or a river.

What are dredge spoils?

Dredge spoils are sediments dredged from reservoirs and waterways. They are dumped at a rate of 200 million tons per year into the ocean. The problem with the dumping of dredge spoils is that they bury marine organisms, remove oxygen from the water, and typically contains pollutants.

What is secondary sewage treatment? What happens during this stage of treatment? How effective is this treatment?

During secondary treatment the sewage effluent is aerated. Bacteria/fungi break down dissolved/suspended material. Sewage goes through settling tank to remove beneficial microorganisms. Sludge cycles back to mix with fresh water and air. Water can be chlorinated to disinfect.

What is eutrophication?

Eutrophication is the artificial input of excessive nutrients; plants such as algae thrive on these nutrients and can produce algal blooms. -Algal growth (Bloom) proceeds and chokes out other plants. -These dead plants drop to the bottom of the pond where they become part of the organic matter load and increase the BOD. -This process re-releases abundant nutrients into the water and the cycle is repeated. -Layers of water become depleted in oxygen and will kill oxygen dependent animals.

Are plans for secure landfills foolproof?

Evidence shows that no landfill is truly secure. Compacted clay is never truly impermeable. Plastic containers can rupture or decompose. Liners can fracture due to wastes.

What are some sources of agriculture pollution?

Fertilizer Organic waste Sediments Chemicals

Are there any ways to minimize the effects of the various sources of agriculture pollution?

Fertilizer can be applied sparingly, and monitored closely with computer systems. Slow release fertilizers can be used. Vegetation can be used around feed lots in order to filter out solid waste from water run off. Crop rotation and legumes can be used in order to improve nitrogen levels in the soil which lowers the need for fertilizer use.

Talk about Glass Recycling. Explain benefits, problems, and methods.

Glass is virtually indestructible in landfills. It can be broken, does not dissolve or breakdown. Recycling glass beverage containers reduces by over 5 million tons/year amount of glass in solid-waste disposal. Beverage container deposits give people an incentive to not litter. United States recycles about 19% of glass. There is room for improvement.

What are common sources of groundwater pollution?

Ground water can be polluted from landfill leachate, general chemical spills, or septic / sewage system leakage. Recharge zones must be protected from improper use of herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides. Polluted recharge water will pass into the subsurface where it remains dissolved and can result in pollution of ground water. Residence times are important because recharge water may be discharged from a well before the residence time has elapsed.

What is groundwater pollution?

Groundwater pollution is the contamination of ground water. It is difficult to detect and remediate since the ground water is not visible. It requires testing and monitoring. A matter of routine for municipalities but a burden for a single well homeowner.

What materials are commonly associated with biomagnification?

Heavy metals which include cadmium, lead, mercury, plutonium. Other materials such as arsenic and DDT as well.

What are some problems associated with radioactive disposal?

Historical suggestions for storage of radioactive wastes include: Outer Space - Very expensive, and accidents would result in radioactive waste being spread across great distances. Antarctic Ice - Waste may melt deeper into the ice, then the ice refreezes above. Glaciers move. Plate Tectonics Subduction Zones - This is a very slow process and containers may be eroded by salt water deep within the subduction. Seabed Disposal - This storage method is currently under research. Bedrock Caverns can be used for liquid waste. (Our notes had no problems listed with this method) Bedrock disposal of solid high-level wastes. (Our notes had no problems listed with this method)

Are there any benefits from incinerating waste?

Incinerating waste allows landfills to save space. When trash is incinerated the waste is effectively compacted into ash.Then the ash is deposited into the landfill. Incineration can generate power by using the heat to power generators.

What problems could be associated with ship incineration / dumping?

Incineration does not completely break down toxins in waste. At best it transfers part of the toxin to the air through the release of incineration related gases (I.e. Carbon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Methane, etc..) the other portion of the toxin is condensed into ash that is then dumped into the ocean.

How effective is incineration in dealing with hazardous waste?

Incineration does not completely eliminate toxins. It may condense the toxins into ash which then has to be dealt with. Recent technology has allowed incinerators to burn hotter allowing them to breakdown complex toxic substances to less dangerous ones. This is a "safer" way to deal with toxic waste, but it is still not considered a safe way of disposal.

How effective is landfill decomposition at reducing the amount of materials over time?

Landfill decomposition is much slower than previously believed. (Even slower if landfill is relatively dry) Studies have found well-preserved food wastes 2 decades in age. Readable newspapers have been found 3-4 decades old. Decomposition is faster in wet wastes but moisture leads to increased pollution problems. Essentially, landfills are not very effective at reducing waste volume.

What are some ways in which toxic chemicals may escape from a landfill?

Leachate is the term for liquid that results from water percolating through a landfill. As the water makes it's way through the landfill it picks up toxic chemicals and moves them out of the landfill via permeable soil or by overflowing the liner layer of the landfill. There are a few different ways in which leachate may get into the water supply. If you imagine a landfill as a bowl of trash, as leachate gathers in the bowl there is a point at which that leachate will fill the bowl. Then any additional leachate will overflow the bowl. Another way is if the water table is naturally higher then the lowest point in the landfill. In this situation the leachate and water table overlap causing contamination.

What are MTBEs and how do they effect living organisms?

MTBEs can get in groundwater. It's health effects are currently unknown. However, it may be a carcinogen.

What non chemical solutions exist for insect control?

Natural pests such as wasp species that deposit eggs into tomato hornworms can be used to reduce pests. Large numbers of sterilized insect pests - sterilized by irradiation can be used to reduce numbers of insects. Baited insect traps can be used to trap male insects. Genetically engineered crops to produce chemical toxins in tissues.

Has the Superfund been effective?

No, the program will never be adequate to deal with numbers and costs of site cleanups. The average cost of a Superfund project is over 30$ Million and increasing. (This does not include litigation fees.) Parties responsible for contamination may not be identified. If responsible part is identified they are required to contribute to cleanup costs.

Can septic systems handle toxic wastes and household chemicals?

No, toxic wastes and household cleaning materials won't be affected by the septic system processes.

What problems could be associated with ocean dumping?

Ocean dumping is disastrous for the ocean and the environment as a whole. By default, water is polluted by ocean dumping. Waste that has been dumped at see can, and does, wash ashore due to shifting currents.

What is ocean dumping?

Ocean dumping refers to two specific scenarios. The first is the dumping of ash by boats that incinerate waste on board. The second situation is the straight dumping of waste into the ocean.

Are there any methods of reversing groundwater pollution?

Often the most effective and economical way to treat polluted groundwater is to allow natural processes to remove or destroy pollutants. Decontamination after extraction, also called pump-and-treat, is useful if ground water is needed before residence times elapse. Air stripping, where air is pumped into the extracted water loaded with volatile organic pollution, transfers the pollution into air rather than leaving it in the water. Activated charcoal filters and absorbs many organic compounds from water.

What problems are associated with open dumps formerly used as municipal waste disposal?

Open dumps are unsightly, unsanitary, and smelly. They attract vermin, and are possible fire hazards. Surface water percolated through and leaches out chemicals which are carried away or may be deposited into groundwater. Open dumps are no longer tolerated in the United States.

What is organic matter and what is it's relationship to pollution?

Organic matter is the substances of living or dead organisms and their by products. Examples include: -Algae in a pond -Human or animal waste -Runoff from an animal feedlot -Discharge from food processing plants -Runoff from municipal streets or highways -Disease transmission can result

Are there any other alternative options for recycling?

Other options include: Pavement recycling in order to construct new roads from it. Raze and rebuild buildings, recycling as much scrap material as possible. Recycle steel into other useful objects. Reuse bricks as footpaths. Waste exchanges - One industry's waste is raw materials for another industry. (Innovation has no limit in this area)

What are PCBs and how do they effect living organisms?

PCBs can cause reproduction, stomach, and liver problems.

Have particulate emissions in the United States declined or increased overall? Or do the rates vary by material?

Particulate emissions in U.S. have declined in recent decades from industrial/commercial sources. Other types are harder to control - agriculture, construction, driving on unpaved roads, etc.

What are particulates? Where do they come from?

Particulates include soot, smoke, ask from fuel combustion, dust from industrial processes, other from accidental/deliberate burning of vegetation. Particulates generated by human activity are largely derived from point sources. Estimates very from 34 million tons/year to 180 million tons/year. Also from natural sources such as volcanoes, fires, erosion, etc. Particulates don't usually have long residence times. Usually removed quickly by precipitation.

What potential problems are associated with particulates?

Particulates may be: Carcinogenic when inhaled Chemically toxic Unsightly and dirty

Talk about Plastic Recycling. Explain benefits, problems, and methods.

Plastics are difficult to break down. Degradable plastics degrade when exposed to sunlight, weather, and microbial activity. This exposure is not necessarily available in a landfill. Composites of different plastic types can be used as shredded plastic stuffing and plastic lumber. Recycled plastic is marked with recycling symbols. Markets for recycled plastic vary by regions Plastics are not usually recycled back into same form.

What is point source pollution? (Give an example)

Point source pollution is pollution that enters a system from one, identifiable spot. We know the source of the pollution. An example would be a company that is dumping a toxic chemical into a river.

Are there any possible improvements for landfills?

Possible areas of improvement in regards to landfills include: -Better location selection and designs. Landfills can be constructed over rock or soil with limited permeability. -Landfills can be placed well above the water table level. -Plastic liners to contain leachate can be used. -Several meters of clay can be used to line the bottom of the site. (Kind of like a huge bowl)

Are there any potential problems to composting?

Potential composting problems include: Organic matter must be separated from other waste. Sometimes chemical wastes make material unusable. .

Are there any problems associated with deep-well disposal?

Potential problems include: Leachate is not contained and wells may leak. The process may act to lubricate faults. The process is expensive and unsafe. It could cost 1 Million to drill; however, cost to maintain and operate usually comparable to landfill.

What is primary sewage treatment? What happens during this stage of treatment?

Primary sewage treatment is the removal of solids within the sewage by screens. During this stage of treatment a screen removes large objects like floating trash. The flow of the sewage slows and sand/gravel will settle out into a grit chamber. Suspended organic/inorganic matter settle into sedimentation tank. Chemical treatment may be necessary for any industrial wastes.

Why are paper, plastic, and glass not recycled more frequently in the United States?

Recycling requires source separation in order to be effective. People are not accustomed to separating out their trash and it can be very costly to manually separate trash at a recycling facility.

What is residence time?

Residence time is Capacity / Rate of Influx. Residence time refers to how quickly a substance cycles through a reservoir. Capacity is the maximum concentration of a substance a reservoir can reach before saturation occurs. Rate of influx is how much of a substance a stream or ground water system brings into the reservoir.

What factors impact residence times of materials through the atmosphere?

Residence times are impacted by amounts of material present, rates of addition and rates of removal.

How does residence time relate to pollution?

Residence times for many natural compounds are known and understood. A better way to understand residence time is that it is the time that it takes for half of a material to dissipate. If something has a residence time of 10 years that means that in 10 years half of that substance will be dissipated. In another 10 years half of what was left will be dissipated and so on. Residence times for more complex chemicals and compounds, including synthetic ones, are not well known. Chemical behavior of complex and synthetic compounds often need time to be studied and understood. That time isn't always available before these compounds are introduced into the market place.

What parameters must be in place in order to use deep-well disposal?

Rocks must be relatively porous and permeable. Depth must be appropriate. Hundreds to thousands of meters deep and away from water supply.

What problems are associated with sanitary landfills?

Sanitary landfills produce various gasses due to decomposition. These gases include Carbon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Methane, and Hydrogen Sulfide. If the soil is permeable these gases may be released. Alternately, these gases may also need to be vented intentionally. If soil is permeable above or below the landfill Leachate may get out of the landfill and pollute the environment. Landfills require a large land commitment and people generally do not want a landfill in their backyard. (NIMBY: Not in my back yard)

What is a secure landfill plan?

Secure landfills are the placing of liquid waste into sealed drums, and covering with impermeable lining material; idea is to assure that the leachate will not migrate.

What are the affects of agriculture pollution in relation to our water supply?

Sediment pollution is a serious threat to water-quality. 3 Billion tons of sediments end up in U.S. waterways - bulk is from farmlands. Sediment pollution reduces light to aquatic plants, suffocates food supplies, fish eggs, shellfish. It clogs water filters and damages power-generating equipment.

Explain why dredging is used in regards to cleaning up water pollution.

Sediments are a major source of water pollution. Dredging is a method that can be used to remove the sediment from a water source such as a lake or a section of a stream.

What problems are associated with sediments and their removal?

Sediments must be removed carefully so as not to disturb the fine particles which would further cloud the water. Sediments are a problem in water because they can contain toxic chemicals, or even extra nutrients that result in eutrophication.

What is sewage treatment?

Sewage treatment is the removal of sewage from water so that the water may be reused.

What is shipboard incineration?

Shipboard incineration involves the burning of waste at sea and then dumping of the ashes overboard. Using this process toxic gases are released into the atmosphere through incineration and then the toxic ash is dumped into our ocean.

What is sludge?

Sludge is a by-product of sewage treatment. It is rich in organic matter and nutrients, and can be used as fertilizer. Sludge may contain high levels of heavy metals, toxins, etc. Limit use to areas not used for food production or pasture lands.

What is source separation?

Source separation is the sorting of waste into categories so that it can be sent to appropriate disposal sites. Think of the series of 3 garbage cans all over the place at CSC where students are supposed to put their trash in the appropriate container. That is source separation.

How does weathering effect solid waste?

Surface water from weathering (I.e. Rain) can filter through solid waste piles (I.e. Landfills) and pull toxic chemicals out of the waste which then may find its way into ground water supplies. The toxic fluid that comes out of a landfill is called leachate.

What is the global carbon cycle? (Be able to summarize its flow)

The Carbon Cycle is a complex series of processes through which all of the carbon atoms in existence rotate. The same carbon atoms in your body today have been used in countless other molecules since time began. The wood burned just a few decades ago could have produced carbon dioxide which through photosynthesis became part of a plant. When you eat that plant, the same carbon from the wood which was burnt can become part of you. The carbon cycle is the great natural recycler of carbon atoms. Unfortunately, the extent of its importance is rarely stressed enough. Without the proper functioning of the carbon cycle, every aspect of life could be changed dramatically Carbon exists in the nonliving environment as: carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere and dissolved in water (forming HCO3−) carbonate rocks (limestone and coral = CaCO3) deposits of coal, petroleum, and natural gas derived from once-living things dead organic matter, e.g., humus in the soil Carbon enters the biotic world through the action of autotrophs: primarily photoautotrophs, like plants and algae, that use the energy of light to convert carbon dioxide to organic matter. and to a small extent, chemoautotrophs — bacteria and archaea that do the same but use the energy derived from an oxidation of molecules in their substrate. Carbon returns to the atmosphere and water by: respiration (as CO2) burning decay (producing CO2 if oxygen is present, methane (CH4) if it is not.

What is the Superfund?

The Superfund is the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability act of 1980. It was setup to pay for immediate emergency cleanup of abandoned and owner-refusal toxic-waste sites. The number of problems sites was greatly underestimated. Original estimates about 400 sites. By 1987, over 950 priority sites identified. By 1995, over 40,000 sites.

What are the functions of the Superfund?

The Superfund was setup to pay for immediate emergency cleanup of abandoned and owner-refusal toxic-waste sites.

What is the Yucca Mountain Facility?

The Yucca Mountain facility is a high-level waste disposal site in the west established by Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. Yucca Mountain had a number of attractive characteristics: -Tough host rock -Arid climate -Low population density -Low regional water table -Apparent geologic stability Geological studies were detailed and revealing. Objections still being raised by state of Nevada Hope to begin construction in 2017

What is geochemical cycling and why is it important?

The geochemical cycle is the concept that all chemicals are in a perpetual cycle in the environment. An example is calcium. Calcium is weathered out of rocks, it goes into a solution of water. In water it may be carried into oceans. Some may be taken up by marine organism's shells. Some may precipitate into limestone deposits.

How does thermal pollution affect living organisms?

The impact of thermal pollution may not be apparent to humans but to fish and migratory animals it can be devastating. Cold-blooded organisms survive within certain temperature ranges. Changes in temperature changes rates of chemical reactions and critical chemical properties of water. Brain eating amoeba of Clinton Lake are an example.

What is a leeching field?

The leaching field is a network of porous pipes and surrounding soil. Septic tank effluent is slowly released. Organic matter breaks down by microorganisms and oxygen reactions.

Where do solid wastes come from?

The major sources of solid waste in the United States are: 1) Agriculture (crops and animals) 2) Mineral Industry 3) Municipalities 4) Industry

What is the difference between shipboard incineration/dumping and normal ocean dumping?

The primary difference between these two methods of waste disposal is incineration. Shipboard incineration burns waste before it is dumped into the ocean. Ocean dumping simply dumps the waste.

How is the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant designed?

The site is located in bedded salt underlain by evaporites and overlain by mud stone. It is located 2150 feet below the surface in a dry and stable tectonic region. The site has been tectonically stable for over 200 million years.

What are the three principle elements of today's atmosphere?

The three main components to our atmosphere are Nitrogen 76.6%, Oxygen 23.1%, and "Other".

What potential problems are associated with municipal sewage treatment plants?

There are a few key potential problems involved with municipal sewage treatment systems: -Large amounts of rain or runoff can overload capacity of treatment plants resulting in untreated raw sewage. -Secondary treatment may have little effect on dissolved minerals or toxic chemicals. -Chlorination may not be beneficial - if impurities are already present, chlorine can lead to formation of chlorinated hydrocarbons. (Chloroform, for example)

Why are there problems finding sites for new landfills?

There are a few main reasons why finding new sites for landfills is hard. First, landfills require a lot of space. Roughly One Acre per 10,000 people per year. Due to this land that is already short in supply becomes used quickly. The next issue is called "NIMBY" or Not In My Back Yard. No one wants to have a landfill in their backyard so there is generally resistance to any plans for new landfills in an area.

How can damage to our water sources be reversed?

There are a few possible ways in which damage to our water sources can be reversed. -Dredging - This method physically removes the bottom of a lake or stream. The sediment removed is then considered toxic waste and needs to be dealt with. -Physical isolation or chemical treatment of sediments. - Barriers can be constructed to isolate polluted sediments in a pond or portion of a stream. Plastic liners can be placed over sediments and covered by a layer of sand. Careful addition of salts of aluminum, calcium, or iron to phosphorus-rich sediments may reduce the risk of eutrophication. Results are questionable and this has not been used large scale. -Decontamination - Toxic spills often require treatment to decontaminate water, animals, and sediments. -Aeration - Oxygen levels in a lake that is oxygen-depleted can be restored by aeration. A simple fountain may be required to keep a decorative pond from eutrophication in an area where fertilizers are used.

Can a septic system be placed anywhere for convenience or are there certain criteria that must be met?

There are a few things that should be considered in regards to the placement of a new septic system: -Soil should be permeable so that fluids can flow through. However, it should not be too permeable so that flow of fluid is too fast. -Water table should be below the septic system so that the water table is not contaminated with sewage. -The depth of soil should be sufficient to adequately filter waste water. -The leaching field should not be within 15 meters of body of water. -If a well is present, it must be far enough from the septic system to avoid possible contamination. -Houses should be spaced far enough apart so as to not saturate the soil with raw sewage.

What causes eutrophication?

There are many causes of eutrophication. Typically it is caused by fertilizer run off, or some other type of mineral rich chemical running into a body of water.

What alternate strategies might be used to dispose of liquid waste?

There are three main alternate strategies we talked about: 1) Incineration - This destroys toxic liquid organic chemicals but it produces carbon dioxide. 2) Neutralize by chemical treatment. Generates a less toxic liquid or residue and would still require proper storage. 3) Waste exchange - One industries waste may be another's raw materials.

How are liquid wastes disposed of?

There are two primary ways of disposing of liquid waste. 1) Dilute and disperse is the dilution of liquid waste by adding water and then the waste is dumped into a larger water source like the ocean, a lake, or a river. 2) Concentrate and contain is the concentration of liquid waste by removal of water. The waste is then confined in barrels or a secured reservoir. Neither method is safe in the long term.

Can thermal pollution be reduced?

Thermal pollution can be reduced by recycling the causes of the heat such as warm water and carbon dioxide into other processes. In other words, excess heat can be used in other ways so that it isn't introduced into the environment.

What is thermal pollution?

Thermal pollution is the release of excess or waste heat into the environment. Excess heat is given off as a by-product of generating power.

Where is the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant?

WIPP is located in Southeast New Mexico.

What is the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant?

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Is a site in Southeast New Mexico used for storage of transuranic wastes. (Wastes of radioactive elements heavier than uranium.) It was opened in March 26, 1999 - only for government - produced high-level wastes.

What is waste incineration?

Waste incineration is the burning of waste in order to dispose of it.

What is a contaminant plume and what does it indicate?

When ground water is contaminated the point of contamination will often contain a high level of contamination. As the water migrates the pollutant thins and spreads out resulting in a wider area being contaminated with a lower concentration of toxin. Imagine a toxic chemical seeping from a tipped over oil barrel. The initial point where the toxin leaves the barrel is the start of the plume, as the toxin gets further away from the barrel it spreads out and covers a wider area. This is a plume.

How do dredge spoils affect water quality?

When spoils are dumped into the water they saturate the water with particulates. This results in water not being able to hold oxygen. As a result of a lack of oxygen marine organisms will die. Another result is that dredge spoil dumping covers marine organisms on the bottom like a blanket. This also suffocates the organisms resulting in their death. As these dead organisms decompose toxins are released into the water which has a negative effect on water quality.

Are there any problems or concerns with wells and septic systems in the same area?

Yes, a well and septic system need to be spaced far enough apart so as to avoid sewage seeping into the water supply.