Water Pollution G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 14 th Edition Chapter 22 G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 14 th Edition Chapter 22

Key Concepts  Types, sources, and effects of water pollutants  Major pollution problems of surface water  Major pollution problems of groundwater  Reduction and prevention of water pollution  Drinking water quality Refer to Tables 22-1 and 22-2 p. 492 and 493

Types of Water Pollution INFECTIOUS AGENTS Examples: Bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasitic worms Major Human Sources: Human and animal wastes Harmful Effects: Disease OXYGEN-DEMANDING WASTES Examples: Organic waste such as animal manure and plant debris that can be decomposed by aerobic (oxygen-requiring) bacteria Major Human Sources: Sewage, animal feedlots, paper mills, and food processing facilities Harmful Effects: Large populations of bacteria decomposing these wastes can degrade water quality by depleting water of dissolved oxygen. This causes fish and other forms of oxygen-consuming aquatic life to die. OXYGEN-DEMANDING WASTES Examples: Organic waste such as animal manure and plant debris that can be decomposed by aerobic (oxygen-requiring) bacteria Major Human Sources: Sewage, animal feedlots, paper mills, and food processing facilities Harmful Effects: Large populations of bacteria decomposing these wastes can degrade water quality by depleting water of dissolved oxygen. This causes fish and other forms of oxygen-consuming aquatic life to die. INORGANIC CHEMICALS Examples: Water-soluble 1) acids, (2) compounds of toxic metals such as lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and selenium Se), and (3) salts such as sodium chloride (NaCl) in ocean water and fluorides (F – ) found in some soils Major Human Sources: Surface runoff, industrial effluents, and household cleansers Harmful Effects: Can (1) make fresh water unusable for drinking or irrigation, (2) cause skin cancers and crippling spinal and neck damage (F – ), (3) damage the nervous system, liver, and kidneys (Pb and As), (4) harm fish and other aquatic life, (5) lower crop yields, and (6) accelerate corrosion of metals exposed to such water.

Types of Water Pollution ORGANIC CHEMICALS Examples: Oil, gasoline, plastics, pesticides, cleaning solvents, detergents Major Human Sources: Industrial effluents, household cleansers, surface runoff from farms and yards Harmful Effects: Can (1) threaten human health by causing nervous system damage (some pesticides), reproductive disorders (some solvents), and some cancers (gasoline, oil, and some solvents) and (2) harm fish and wildlife. PLANT NUTRIENTS Examples: Water-soluble compounds containing nitrate (NO 3 – ), phosphate (PO 4 3– ), and ammonium (NH 4 + ) ions Major Human Sources: Sewage, manure, and runoff of agricultural and urban fertilizers Harmful Effects: Can cause excessive growth of algae and other aquatic plants, which die, decay, deplete water of dissolved oxygen, and kill fish. Drinking water with excessive levels of nitrates lowers the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and can kill unborn children and infants (“bluebaby syndrome”). PLANT NUTRIENTS Examples: Water-soluble compounds containing nitrate (NO 3 – ), phosphate (PO 4 3– ), and ammonium (NH 4 + ) ions Major Human Sources: Sewage, manure, and runoff of agricultural and urban fertilizers Harmful Effects: Can cause excessive growth of algae and other aquatic plants, which die, decay, deplete water of dissolved oxygen, and kill fish. Drinking water with excessive levels of nitrates lowers the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and can kill unborn children and infants (“bluebaby syndrome”). RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS Examples: Radioactive isotopes of iodine, radon, uranium, cesium, and thorium Major Human Sources: Nuclear and coal-burning power plants, mining and processing of uranium and other ores, nuclear weapons production, natural sources Harmful Effects: Genetic mutations, miscarriages, birth defects, and certain cancers

Types of Pollution SEDIMENT Examples: Soil, silt Major Human Sources: Land erosion Harmful Effects: Can (1) cloud water and reduce photosynthesis, (2) disrupt aquatic food webs, (3) carry pesticides, bacteria, and other harmful substances, (4) settle out and destroy feeding and spawning grounds of fish, and (5) clog and fill lakes, artificial reservoirs, stream channels, and harbors. HEAT (THERMAL POLLUTION) Examples: Excessive heat Major Human Sources: Water cooling of electric power plants and some types of industrial plants. Almost half of all water withdrawn in the United States each year is for cooling electric power plants. Harmful Effects: Lowers dissolved oxygen levels and makes aquatic organisms more vulnerable to disease, parasites, and toxic chemicals. When a power plant first opens or shuts down for repair, fish and other organisms adapted to a particular temperature range can be killed by the abrupt change in water temperature— known as thermal shock.

Persistent Organic pollutants (POPs) The “Dirty Dozen” or “Terrible Twelve” aldrin 1 hexachlorobenzene 1,2,3 chlordane 1 mirex 1 DDT 1 toxaphene 1 dieldrin 1 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) 2,3 endrin 1 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (dioxins) 3 heptachlor 1 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-furans (furans) 3 1 Pesticide 2 Industrial Chemical 3 Byproduct PCBs PAHs Unknown Pollution Threats Pharmaceuticals in the water supply Pharmaceuticals in the water supply

Table 22-2 Page 493 Table 22-2 Common Diseases Transmitted to Humans Through Contaminated Drinking Water Type of Organism Bacteria Viruses Parasitic protozoa Parasitic worms Disease Typhoid fever Cholera Bacterial dysentery Enteritis Infectious hepatitis Amoebic dysentery Giardiasis Schistosomiasis Effects Diarrhea, severe vomiting, enlarged spleen, inflamed intestine; often fatal if untreated Diarrhea, severe vomiting, dehydration; often fatal if untreated Diarrhea; rarely fatal except in infants without proper treatment Severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting; rarely fatal Fever, severe headache, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, jaundice, enlarged liver; rarely fatal but may cause permanent liver damage Severe diarrhea, headache, abdominal pain, chills, fever; if not treated can cause liver abscess, bowel perforation, and death Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, flatulence, belching, fatigue Abdominal pain, skin rash, anemia, chronic fatigue, and chronic general ill health Water Contamination - Milwaukee

Pollution Sources and Effects Oxygen Sag Curve Oxygen Sag Curve Factors that influence dissolved oxygen in the water Biological Oxygen demand Recovery Nonpoint Sources Point Sources

Chesapeake Bay Largest US estuary Relatively shallow Slow “flushing” action to Atlantic Major problems with dissolved O 2 Hypoxia and Anoxia Area Most Effected: Gulf of Mexico Long Island Sound WHY? Eutrophication – Nutrient pollution

Case Study: The Great Lakes Fig p. 500 An Industrial Legacy Great Lakes

Water ppm Figure 22-6 Page 498 Phytoplankton ppm Zooplankton ppm Rainbow smelt 1.04 ppm Lake trout 4.83 ppm Herring gull 124 ppm Herring gull eggs 124 ppm Biomagnification

Groundwater Pollution Causes: Low flow ratesSpills Low oxygenLandfill leachate Few bacteriapesticides /fertilizers Cold temperatureswaste lagoons Aquifer cleanup Love Canal

Ocean Pollution Fig p. 504 Message from the waves

APES Quiz4/18 1.Name 3 types of water pollution. Identify the sources, and effects of each. 2.What is bioaccumulation? 3.What is biomagnification? 4.Give an example of a pollutant that exhibits biomagnification. APES Quiz4/18 1.Name 3 types of water pollution. Identify the sources, and effects of each. 2.What is bioaccumulation? 3.What is biomagnification? 4.Give an example of a pollutant that exhibits biomagnification.

Oil Spills  Sources: offshore wells, tankers, pipelines and storage tanks  Effects: death of organisms, loss of animal insulation and buoyancy, smothering  Significant economic impacts  Mechanical cleanup methods: skimmers and blotters  Chemical cleanup methods: coagulants and dispersing agents

Solutions: Preventing and Reducing Surface Water Pollution Nonpoint Sources Point Sources  Reduce runoff  Buffer zone vegetation  Reduce soil erosion  Clean Water Act (1972)  Water Quality Act (1965): Established water purity standards with states retaining initial responsibility for water purity.

Water Laws: Clean Water Act (1972): Established the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States. It gave the EPA the authority to implement pollution control programs such as setting waste-water standards for industry.Clean Water Act (1972): Established the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States. It gave the EPA the authority to implement pollution control programs such as setting waste-water standards for industry. Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1948): Created comprehensive programs for eliminating or reducing the pollution of interstate water and improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground water supplies.Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1948): Created comprehensive programs for eliminating or reducing the pollution of interstate water and improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground water supplies. Safe Drinking Water Act (1974): Established standards for safe drinking water in the United States.Safe Drinking Water Act (1974): Established standards for safe drinking water in the United States. Ocean Dumping Ban Act (1988): Made it unlawful for any person to dump or transport for the purpose of dumping sewage, sludge, or indus­trial wastes into the ocean.Ocean Dumping Ban Act (1988): Made it unlawful for any person to dump or transport for the purpose of dumping sewage, sludge, or indus­trial wastes into the ocean. Oil Spill Prevention and Liability Act (1990): Strengthened the EPA's ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills.Oil Spill Prevention and Liability Act (1990): Strengthened the EPA's ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills. Source Water Assessment Program—SWAP (1996): Required states to identify sources of public drinking water supplies and assess susceptibility to contamination.Source Water Assessment Program—SWAP (1996): Required states to identify sources of public drinking water supplies and assess susceptibility to contamination. Source Water Protection Program—SWPP (1996): Encouraged states to adopt a community-based approach to preventing water pollution.Source Water Protection Program—SWPP (1996): Encouraged states to adopt a community-based approach to preventing water pollution. Surface Water Treatment Rule—SWTR (1996): Addressed control of microbial pathogens, including cryptosporidium.Surface Water Treatment Rule—SWTR (1996): Addressed control of microbial pathogens, including cryptosporidium.

Technological Approach: Septic Systems  Require suitable soils and maintenance Fig p. 510 Technological Approach: Sewage Treatment  Physical and biological treatment Advanced Tertiary TreatmentAdvanced Tertiary Treatment Uses physical and chemical processesUses physical and chemical processes Removes nitrate and phosphateRemoves nitrate and phosphate ExpensiveExpensive Not widely usedNot widely used

Wastewater treatment High-Tech v. Low-Tech Solar Aquatic Waste Treatment Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant – Los Angeles Wetlands treating sewage Treating mining wastewater

“Municipal” Water Treatment Process" Coagulation: Alum and other chemicals are added to water to form tiny sticky particles, called floc, that attract dirt particles. Flocculation: The water is stirred slowly with paddles to mix the alum with the dirty water. Sedimentation: The water is no longer stirred and is allowed to settle. The heavy particles (floc) settle to the bottom and clear water moves off the top to the filtration chamber. Filtration: Water passes through filters that help remove even smaller particles. Our filters consist of gravel, sand, garnet and charcoal. Each layer filters out a smaller and smaller particle. The charcoal not only acts as a filter but neutralizes taste and odor. Disinfection: After filtration, the water moves into a disinfection chamber where it is mixed with chlorine. A small amount of chlorine is added to kill any bacteria or microorganisms that may be in the water. It is at this step that we also add a small amount of fluoride for dental health. Storage: Water is placed in a closed tank or reservoir where it flows through pipes to homes and businesses in the community

Drinking Water Quality  Safe Drinking Water Act  Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs)  Purification of urban drinking water  Bottled water  Protection from terrorism  Purification of rural drinking water

Water Video Clips Composting Toilets & Z-weed Drinking Water from a Contaminated Aquifer Desalinization Drugs in water