Pollution in the Ches. Bay

The Bay area is home to over 15,000,000 people! About 50,000 commercial vessels enter the Bay each year.

The Bay area is home to over 15,000,000 people! All these people and activities put a strain on the Bay ecology.

Point Source Pollution Pollution from a specific source, like a pipe or sewage treatment plant.

Non-Point Source Pollution A scattered source of pollution, such As sediment, fertilizer from yards, etc...

6 Types of Pollution 1. Nutrients Nitrogen & Phosphorus from fertilizers & feces (poo poo). Possible sources: lawns, sewage treatment plants, farms.

Eutrophication Excess nutrients in water cause algal blooms, which block sunlight & use up O2 during decomposition. This can cause a dead zone.

An algal bloom in Norfolk caused by eutrofication.

6 Types of Pollution 2. Sediments Run-off from dredging, construction, & erosion, which covers up benthic organisms & blocks out sunlight.

Why do you think high silt would be a problem for marine organisms? Hint: How do these organisms get their food?

6 Types of Pollution 3. Bacteria - Bacteria from fecal matter - manure, boat toilets, septic systems, and sewage treatment plants.

6 Types of Pollution 4. Toxins Poisonous substances such as oil from cars & boats & heavy metals (mercury) from factories. Poisonous waste water from a copper mine in China pollutes the Ting River.

6 Types of Pollution 5. Thermal - Heated water pumped from factories & sewage treatment plants. Ginna Power Plant on Lake Ontario

6 Types of Pollution 6. Debris – most trash & debris either biodegrades or sinks, except plastics, which can stay indefinitely.