Water Pollution and Treatment

How can we use the earth's water more sustainably?

Think about where the water is coming from and be conscious of how much water is used.

How is water transported from its source to its use site? What problems are associated with these practices?

Through the use of aqueducts or canals. Problems that arise are the fact that large amounts of water are diverted from their original end point and completely change the ecosystems that no longer are receiving water or limited amounts of water.

Can wastewater be recycled and reused?

yes, water can be recycled and reused.

Water Quality Act

1965 required states to issue water quality standards for interstate waters, and authorized the newly created Federal Water Pollution Control Administration to set standards where states failed to do so.

eutrophic

A a natural high concentration of the chemicals required for life in a lake.

oligotrophic

A relatively low concentration of chemicals required for life in a lake.

algal bloom

A relatively rapid increase in the population of (usually) phytoplankton algae in an aquatic system.

algae

A simple plant that capture energy through photosynthesis but they don't have flowers or leaves etc that characterize high plants.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of transferring large amounts of water from one place to another?

Advantages: Transferring water from water-rich water-poor areas makes the latter areas more suitable for growing food, grazing, and other business activities. Disadvantages: The most important is that it encourages unsustainable use of water in areas where water is not naturally supplied. The 2 case studies that follow illustrate this and other disadvantages along with the advantages of transferring water.

Which parameters are most important in determining water quality?

Amount of oxygen that can be dissolved in water. DO

What causes eutrophication?

An excessive plant and algal growth

How can wetlands be used to treat wastewater?

By filtering systems, removing sediment, nutrients and pollutants from water.

How is wastewater treated?

By removing as much of the suspended solids as possible before the remaining water, called effluent, is discharged back to the environment. As solid material decays, it uses up oxygen, which is needed by the plants and animals living in the water.

What are the common sources of groundwater pollution and how is this problem being addressed?

Common sources of groundwater pollution are gas stations, septic systems, dumping of household chemicals. Greater restrictions on things like underground tanks.

What is water conservation? How can water be conserved in agriculture? domestic use? industry and manufacturing?

Conserving water by either reusing the water for other purposes or using less water. Drip irrigation is a way to use less water in agriculture and hydroponics is a way to use less water and reuse the water in agriculture. Using dual flush toilets, front loading washers, and water saving shower heads or faucets are a few ways to conserve water domestically. An example of industries conserving water is a nuclear power plant that cools its water in a holding tank and reusing that water instead of dumping the water into a nearby lake.

constructed wetlands

Constructed wetlands purify the water that flows through them. Compared to conventional treatment methods, they tend to be simple, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly. agricultural and mine runoff.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

DO is the amount of oxygen that is present in water, while BOD is the amount of oxygen required for biochemical decomposition processes.

What effects do dams and reservoirs have on the environment? Why are some dams being removed?

Dams are man-made holding tanks or reservoirs of water. 3% of dams are hydroelectric dams that use the energy from water to produce electricity. Most dams are used to hold water to be used for drinking water, water for irrigation, and recreational purposes. Dams can negatively affect the environment by diverting water and causing droughts downstream which can also affect wetlands, removing a lot of the nutrient silt that flows downstream and affects deltas and estuaries, causing floods upstream, and affecting the migrating and breeding of certain fish for which fish ladders need to be built.

What is cultural eutrophication?

Eutrophication that is caused by human processes that add nutrients to a body of water. Examples include agricultural runoff

Oil (Exxon Valdez)

Exxon Valdese was responsible for a big oil spill in 1989 in Prince William Sound

What standards have been established to measure water quality? Who establishes these standards?

How much microbiological organisms, volatile organic chemicals, herbicides, organic, inorganics chemicals that are in the water. The US environmental protection agency establishes the standards.

What are some examples of water pollutants?

Human trash, chemicals dumped by hospitals & other companies, runoff of chemical fertilizers and pesticides from farm fields

Leachate Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUSTs)

Leachate is the liquid produced when water percolates through any permeable material. It can contain either dissolved or suspended material, or usually both. Steel tanks placed underground to store gasoline etc. The average life expectancy of a steel tank was 30 to 50 years depending on the rate of corrosion of the steel. Since the early 1980s, corrosion of steel tanks, along with faulty installation and operation, have resulted in nearly ubiquitous groundwater contamination by gasoline.

phytoplankton

Microscopic plants that live in the ocean.

Nutrients (N, P)

Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphate can cause an increase in the growth of algae and bacteria. Excess bacteria and algae affect oxygens levels for the fish and other aquatic organisms. They block light to deeper waters.

What is the difference between point and nonpoint sources of pollution? How can these sources be reduced?

Point pollution could be found at a specific point, such as a factory pouring waste into a river or an oil spill. Non-point sources have a harder to find point of pollution, such as run-off.

Waterborne pathogenic microbes and fecal coliform bacteria

Waterborne pathogenic microbes and fecal coliform bacteria's the standard measure and indicator of disease potential. High levels of these - the less safe the water is.

sediment

Rocks and mineral fragments that range from gravel particles > 2mm to finer sand, silt , clay and colloidal particles. More sediment chokes streams, fills bodies of water, buries vegetation and reduces the quality of the water resource

Safe Drinking Water Act

Safe drinking water act provides all americans with safe drinking water, sets contaminate levels for dangerous substances and pathogens.

saltwater intrusion

Saltwater intrusion is a natural process that occurs in virtually all coastal aquifers. It consists in salt water (from the sea) flowing inland in freshwater aquifers.

How is water quality monitored?

Secchi disks (measure water clarity), probes, nets, gauges and meters. Or just using direct sampling.

secondary treatment

Secondary treatment is when the water goes through an aeration tank and another sedimentation tanks.

septic tank systems

Septic tank disposal systems and centralized water treatment plants. Waste goes into septic tank then to a draining field and seeps into the soil

What are some of the problems with wastewater reuse?

Some problems of waste water reuse. Inadequate treament facilities can deliver contminated water to the drinking supplies.It can spread disease causing viruses.

What causes flooding, and what can we do about it?

Sometimes, there is heavy rain for a very short period that result in floods. In other times, there may be light rain for many days and weeks and can also result in floods. Rivers can overflow their banks to cause flooding. Build wetlands to absorb the rain.

Clean Water Act

The clean water act provide billions of dollars in federal grants for sewage treatment plans, encourage inovative technology and alternative water treatment.

What is eutrophication?

The process by which a body of water develops a high concentration of nutrients due to algae and bacteria growth.

disinfection

The removal, deactivation or killing of pathogenic microorganisms.

How can we waste less water?

Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth, Use a rub when taking a shower to reserve water, Take shorter showers, water lawn less often.

How does urbanization contribute to flooding? How can this problem be minimized?

Urbanization contributes to paved roads and loss of recharge areas for water to infiltrate into the ground. When less water absorbs into the ground, this creates more surface water runoff and flooding. A way to minimize flooding are urban gardens.

advanced treatment

Using Chemical and physical treatment to clean the water.

What is water pollution and water quality?

Water pollution is the contamination of water by pollutants. Water quality is the chemical, physical, biological, and radiological characteristics of water that is suited for human use.

primary treatment

primary treatment is when incoming raw sewage goes through filters, grit chamber and a sedimentation tank.