Sust Chap 21

Safe Drinking Water Act

sets uniform federal standards for drinking water to guarantee safe public water supplies throughout the US

biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) or biological oxygen demand

the amount of oxygen microorganisms need to decompose biological wastes into carbon dioxide, water, and minerals

cellular respiration

the degradation process where microorganisms decompose sewage and other organic materials into carbon dioxide, water, and similar inoffensive materials; it requires the presence of oxygen

eutrophication

the enrichment of a lake, estuary, or slow-flowing stream by inorganic plant and algal nutrients such as phosphorous

combined sewer overflow

the excess which flows into nearby waterways without being treated when too much water enters the combined sewer system (due to a heavy rainfall or large snowmelt)

enrichment

the fertilization of a body of water due to the presence of high levels of plant and algal nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous

national emission limitation

the maximum permissible amount of a water pollutant that can be discharged from a sewage treatment plant, factory, or other point source

coal ash (or fly ash)

the solid material left over after coal is burned

primary and secondary sludge

the solids remaining after sewage treatment has been completed

maximum contaminant

the upper limit for the concentration of a particular water pollutant in water intended for human consumption

secondary treatment

treating wastewater biologically to decompose suspended organic material; secondary treatment reduces the water's biochemical oxygen demand

primary treatment

treating wastewater by removing suspended and floating particles by mechanical processes

sewage

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

point source pollution

water pollution that can be traced to a specific region

combined sewer systems

when human and industrial wastes are mixed with urban runoff from storm sewers before flowing into the sewage treatment plant

Provide examples of agricultural, municipal, and industrial water pollution

Agriculture is the biggest contributor to surface-water pollution, including fertilizers, pesticides, plant and animal wastes, and eroded soil. Municipal waste can include surface runoff containing a variety of chemical and organic contaminants as well as sewage. Industrial wastes vary based on the type of industry and can include a variety of chemicals, organic materials, and radioactive materials.

Describe how most drinking water is purified in the U.S. and discuss the chlorine dilemma

Most municipal water supplies are treated before being used so that the water is safe to drink. Water is usually treated with aluminium sulfate to cause suspended particles to clump and settle out, filtered through sand, and disinfected by adding chlorine. There is concern that chlorine in drinking water creates health hazards, so alternatives including UV and ozonation, are being developed.

Contrast point source pollution and nonpoint source pollution

Point source pollution is water pollution that can be traced specific spot. Nonpoint source pollution consists of pollutants that enter bodies of water over large areas rather than being concentrated at a single point of entry

Distinguished among primary, secondary, and tertiary treatments for wastewater

Primary treatment wastewater by removing suspended and floating particles by mechanical process. Secondary treatment is treating wastewater biologically to decompose suspended organic material; secondary treatment reduces the water's biochemical oxygen demand. Primary and secondary treatment generate primary and secondary sludge, which consist of the solids remaining after sewage treatment has been completed. Some sludge can be safely used as fertilizer, while other sludge must be disposed of in landfills. Tertiary treatment is advanced wasterwater treatment methods that are sometimes employed after primary and secondary treatments

Discuss how sewage is related to eutrophication, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and dissolved oxygen

Sewage supplies nutrients that contribute to eutrophication and a high oxygen demand. Eutrophication, the nutrient enrichment of lakes, estuaries, or slow-moving streams, results in high photosynthetic productivity, supporting an over population of algae. Eutrophication kills fishes, and causes a decline in water quality as these algae die and decompose. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is the aount of oxygen needed by microorganisms to decompose biological wastes into carbon dioxide, water, and minerals. A large amount of sewage generates a high BOD, which lowers the level of dissolved oxygen in the water

Compare the goals of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act

The Safe Water Act sets uniform federal standards for drinking water to gaurentee safe public water supplies throughout the U.S. The Clean Water Act has two basic goals: to eliminate the discharge of pollutants into U.S. waterways and to attain water quality levels that make these waterways safe to fish and swim in.

List and briefly describe eight categories of water pollutants

Water pollution consists of any physical or chemical change in water adversely affects the health of humans and other organisms. Sewage is the release of wastewater from drains or sewers (such as from toilets, washing machines, and showers); it includes human wastes, soaps, and detergents. Disease-causing agents, such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasitic worms, are transmitted in sewage. Sediment pollution, primarily from soil erosion, increases water turbidity, thereby reducing photosynthetic productivity in the water. Inorganic plant and algal nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, contribute to enrichment, the fertilization of a body of water. Many organic compounds, such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, solvents, and industrial chemicals, are quite toxic to organisms. Inorganic chemicals include toxins such as lead and mercury. Radioactive substances include the wastes from mining, refining, and using radioactive metals. Thermal pollution occurs when heated water, produced during many industrial process, is released in to waterways.

Define dead zone

a dead zone is a section of the ocean or sea in which oxygen has been depleted to the point that most animals and bacteria cannot survive; it is often caused by runoff of chemical fertilization or plant and animal wastes

volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

a large group of carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature

dead zone

a section of the ocean or a sea in which oxygen has been depleted to the point that most animals and bacteria cannot survive; often caused by runoff of chemical fertilizers or plant and animal wastes

fecal coliform test

a water quality test for the presence of fecal bacteria, which indicates a chance that pathogenic organisms may be present as well

tertiary treatment

advanced wastewater treatment methods that are sometimes employed after primary and secondary treatments

bacterial source tracking (BST)

allows investigators to identify subtle differences in strains of E.coli on the basis of their animal hosts in order to determine where the contamination is coming from ( human wastes, animal feedlots, or wildlife wastes)

eutrophic

an enriched body of water; has cloudy water which resembles pea soup because of the presence of vast numbers of algal and cyanobacteria

water pollution

any physical or chemical change in water that adversely affects the health of humans and other organisms

Clean Water Act

goals are to eliminate the discharge of pollutants in US waterways and to attain water quality levels that make these waterways safe for fishing and swimming

endocrine disrupters

cause hormonal effects

constructed wetlands

channel contaminated water through a series of sand beds and plants in order to clean the water

inorganic plant and algal nutrients

chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorus that stimulate the growth of plants and algae; they are essential for the normal functioning of healthy ecosystems but are harmful in larger concentrations

organic compounds

chemicals that contain carbon atoms; examples include sugars, amino acids, and oils

green chemistry

chemistry designed with minimizing environmental impacts in mind

radioactive substances

contain atoms of unstable isotopes that spontaneously emit radiation

inorganic chemicals

contaminants that contain elements other than carbon; examples include acids, salts, and heavy metals

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

deals with the storage and disposal of hazardous wastes and helps prevent groundwater contamination

oligotrophic lake

has clear water and supports small populations of aquatic organisms

hypertension

high blood pressure

disease-causing agents

infectious organisms that cause diseases; they come from the wastes of infected individuals

Refuse Act

intended to reduce the release of pollutants into navigable rivers

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

issues permits to point sources to discharge untreated wastewater

Ocean Dumping Ban Act

law which bans ocean dumping of sludge and industrial waste

hypoxia

low-oxygen condition which occurs when algae grow rapidly because of the presence of nutrients in the water

Define maximum contaminant level and national emission limitations, and specific the water legislation each relates to

maximum contaminant level is the upper limit for the concentration of a particular pollutant in water intended for human consumption, The EPA determines maximum contaminant levels for water pollutants that might affect human health as mandated by the Safe Drinking Water Act. The national emission limitation is the maximum permissible amount of a water pollutant that can be discharged from sewage treatment plant, factory, or other point source. The Clean Water Act instructs the EPA to set up and monitor national emission limitations

sediment pollution

occurs when excessive amounts of suspended soil particles eventually settle out and accumulate on the bottom of a body of water

thermal pollution

occurs when heated water produced during certain industrial processes is released into waterways

artificial eutrophication

overnourishment of an aquatic ecosystem by nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; due to human activities such as agriculture and discharge from sewage treatment plants; also called cultural eutrophication

nonpoint source pollution

pollutants that enter bodies of water over large areas rather than being concentrated at a single point of entry; also called polluted runoff