Ch 11-3 Water Pollution

What is it? Anything that degrades water quality Anything that negatively affect organisms What causes it? Almost every way we use water pollutes Industrialization and rapid population growth

Where does it come from? Point-Source Pollution – Can trace pollution to a source – Ex: leaking tanker, factory, sewage pipe

Where does it come from? Point-Source Pollution Non-Point Source Pollution – Comes from many different sources – Difficult to enforce laws – Ex: Acid rain, runoff from streets/farms/lawns

Types of Pollutants (6) 1.Pathogens—cause disease

Types of Pollutants (6) 1.Pathogens—cause disease 2.Organic Matter—animal and plant remains

Types of Pollutants (6) 1.Pathogens—cause disease 2.Organic Matter—animal and plant remains 3.Organic Chemicals— pesticides/fertilizer/gasoline/oil/plastics 4.Inorganic Chemicals—salts/acids/bases 5.Heavy metals—lead/mercury/arsenic 6.Physical Items—heat and trash

Wastewater Water that leaves a home or industry Treated similar to water entering homes Things that don’t decompose form “sludge” – Harmful needs to be stored, burned, or used

Common Pollution Artificial Eutrophication – Read page 288 – Too many ________ can cause harm – The process of ________ uses the _____ – This natural process increases when ???

Common Pollution Groundwater Pollution – Leaky Underground Storage Tanks (LUST) are large source of pollution – Tough to clean up because pollutants stick to soil

Common Pollution Ocean Pollution – Dumping from ships – 85% of it comes from land activities – Exxon Valdez most famous oil spill

Cleaning up EPA regulates pollution through many laws: – Clean Water Act (1972) banned dumping of pollutants – Other laws regulate drinking water, oil tankers, sewage, etc.