Chp. 21 Water Pollution

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biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)

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

Refuse Act of 1899

intended to reduce release of pollutants into rivers

oligotrophic

lake that has clear water, supports small populations of aquatic organisms

combined sewer systems

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

Hypoxia

Algae/inorganic plant use up all the dissolved oxygen so fish and other aquatic life cannot survive

Radioactive Substances

Atoms of unstable isotopes that emit radiation. Bad b/c they are radioactive.

Ocean Dumping Ban 1988

Banned dumping sludge into the ocean

Sewage

Carries disease causing agents, generates high BOD, causes eutriphication

Organic Compounds

Chemicals containing carbon that lead to VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) in water supplies

Inorganic Compounds

Chemicals containing other elements other than carbon. Don't break down/degrade so remain in water for long amounts of time. Lead/Mercury especially potent

Purification of Water Steps

Coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection

Disease Causing Agents

Comes from human/animal waste which have infectious organisms.

Bangladesh

Contaminated water lead to arsenic poisoning

Disposal of Sludge

Controversial. Used to dump in ocean but that was banned. Mainly incinerated which contributes to air pollution instead of the water.

Industrial Water Waste-Human Induced Pollution

Different industries have different pollutants. Food processing=high BOD, Pulp/paper=toxic chemicals, Electronics=heavy metals. Industry is regulated but accidental spills are huge problem.

Water Pollution Worldwide

Every country has a water pollution problem. Municipal sewage is largest issue in developing countries

Clean Water Act

Goal is to eliminate discharge into waterways and attain water quality to allow for safe drinking, swimming, and fishing

Individual Septic tanks

Hard to regulate and easily contaminated

Thermal Pollution

Heated water from industry often released back into water at a warmer temp than originally. Increased temp=chemical,physical,biological effects, oxygen dissolves faster, reproductive cycles, digestion rate, respiration rate can change.

Po River, Italy

Industry/Sewage pollution and sediment deposition

Agriculture-Human Induced Pollution

Largest contributer. Fertilizer causes enrichment, pesticides are toxic to humans/animals, soil erosion causes sediment pollution

Inorganic Matter/Algal Nutrients

More inorganic matter means more algae/inorganic plants that use up all the dissolved oxygen leading to hypoxia

Ground Water Pollution

Most common pollutant is pesticides, fertilizer, organic compounds that seep into ground. People thought rock layers prevented pollution but incorrect, in fact ground water takes years to clean up and often isn't even possible.

Lake Maracaibo, Venzeula

Oil rig contamination and fertilizer contamination=algae bloom

Non Point Source Pollution

Polluted runoff. Pollution enters over large area, cumulative effect is huge and difficult to regulate

Point Source Pollution

Pollution discharged from a specific site, relatively easy to regulate

Primary Treatment

Removes large particles creating primary sludge, doesn't eliminate organic/inorganic compounds

Sediment Pollution

Sediment naturally happens but when in excess, reduces light penetration=less phtosynthetic organisms=less primary producers=less aquatic life.

Safe Water Drinking Act 1974

Set maximum level of contamination in water

Ganges River, India

Sewage and Industrial and dead bodies = lots of pollution

Municipal Pollution-Human Induced Pollution

Sewage is main pollutant but non point source through urban run off carrying garbage, salt, poop, sediment and toxins.

Fecal Coliform Test

Test water quality for presence of E. Coli, used to monitor sewage water for infectious disease

Green Chemistry

Traditionally people control pollution by removing it but green chemistry reduces/removes pollutants from the process

Trickling Filter

Trickle water through rock beds with bacteria and microorganisms in them which degrade the organic matter

Secondary Treatment

Use aerobic bacteria to decompose organic matter. Use trickling filter or activated sludge process

BST (Bacteria Source Tracking)

Used to track the source of infectious bacteria (used to track disease causing agents in water)

Tertiary Treatment

Variety of biological, chemical, and physical processes that reduce phosphorous/nitrogen(enrichment chemicals)

Zimbabwe

Water contaminated with cholera caused huge outbreak

Activated Sludge Process

Water is circulated through bacteria particles and after several hours a secondary sludge forms from the settled organic matter

Alternative Waste Water Treatment

Wetlands that channel contaminated water though sand beds/plants. or Composting toilets.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

deals with storage and disposal of hazardous wastes, prevents ground water contamination

eutrophication

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

eutrophic

enrichment of water results in increased photosynthetic productivity usually cloudy water

combined sewer overflow

excess when too much water enters system illegal

enrichment

fertilization of a body of water --due to high levels of plant and algal nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus)

artificial eutrophication

over nourishment of an aquatic ecosystem by nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; due to human activities such as agriculture and discharge from sewage treatment plants

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

point sources have to get permits to discharge untreated wastewater

dead zone

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

Safe Drinking Water Act

set uniform federal standards to guarantee safe public drinking water


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