Water Usage Water Contamination

Office of Wastewater Management, U.S. EPA Progress in water quality: An evaluation of the national investment in municipal wastewater treatment. EPA-832-R

Pollution can enter ground or surface water in liquid form.

Air pollution is one of the most important sources of groundwater pollution. What goes up must come down somewhere.

Mercury in Surface Water Mercury from coal-burning plant smokestacks can become concentrated in fish living in streams. South Carolina releases advisories for species of fish in different streams with guidelines about how many can be “safely” consumed.

Air pollution (polluted rain) Garbage/waste dumps Garbage/waste dumps Septic fields Septic fields Leaky tanks Leaky tanks Surface pollutants Surface pollutants Air pollution (polluted rain) Garbage/waste dumps Garbage/waste dumps Septic fields Septic fields Leaky tanks Leaky tanks Surface pollutants Surface pollutants

Pollution from Residential Septic Fields Black Water– wastewater from kitchen sink and toilet. High in nutrients, solids, and pathogens, demands more complex treatment regimen = more $$$ Black Water – wastewater from kitchen sink and toilet. High in nutrients, solids, and pathogens, demands more complex treatment regimen = more $$$ Grey Water– wastewater from bathtubs, washing machines, bathroom sinks, and other sinks not used for hazardous or toxic ingredients or food preparation. Grey Water – wastewater from bathtubs, washing machines, bathroom sinks, and other sinks not used for hazardous or toxic ingredients or food preparation.

Pollution in groundwater is worse than pollution in surface water because it: Has a longer residence time Is harder to clean up Is harder to clean up Is harder to trace to source Is harder to trace to source

Point Source Pollution Most contamination from a single polluter. Relatively easy to assign blame Relatively easy to stop Point Source Pollution Most contamination from a single polluter. Relatively easy to assign blame Relatively easy to stop Non-Point Source Pollution Contamination from many sources Difficult to assign blame Difficult to stop Non-Point Source Pollution Contamination from many sources Difficult to assign blame Difficult to stop

The contaminant goes with the flow – wherever the water goes, the pollution follows. Point Source Pollution

Real World Pollution Plume Point Source Migration of pollution from a single area.

York County 172 total investigations Petroleum product: 86% Heavy metal contamination: 8% Volatile organic compounds: 5% Petroleum product: 86% Heavy metal contamination: 8% Volatile organic compounds: 5% Under remediation: 39% Under investigation: 27% Owner contacted: 12% Inactive: 10% Awaiting funding: 5% Other: 6% Under remediation: 39% Under investigation: 27% Owner contacted: 12% Inactive: 10% Awaiting funding: 5% Other: 6%

If the leak is caught early and flow within the contaminated aquifer has been well studied, it may be possible to force the pollution out with a combination of pressure (to concentrate the contaminant) and pumping. If the flow of that aquifer at that spot is not well understood, it is possible to make the situation worse. Pumping out the contaminant is not a viable option for most groundwater pollution. Point Source Pollution

Helperin, A.N., D.S. Beckman, and D. Inwood California’s contaminated groundwater: is the state minding the store? National Resource Defense Council, Los Angeles. California Nitrates and Nitrites Primarily associated with agriculture (fertilizer and animal waste). This is non-point source pollution. Nitrates and Nitrites Primarily associated with agriculture (fertilizer and animal waste). This is non-point source pollution.

Contaminants in Drinking Water

Common Organic Chemical Contaminants Benzene Carbon tetra-chloride Trihalomethanes Toxaphene Tetracholroethylene Vinyl Chloride Endrin Lindane Methoxychlor cancer liver, kidney, heart damage liver, kidney, nervous, immune, and circulatory damage growth, liver, kidney, nerve effects fuel, drugs, paint, pesticides cleaning solvents chlorine treated water insecticides dry cleaning wastes, solvents PVC pipe, solvent breakdown pesticides insecticides ChemicalHealth EffectSource Organic contaminants Organic contaminants - chemicals with organic chemical structures. Pollutants include primarily synthetic compounds, including plastics.

Arsenic Cadmium Lead Mercury Nitrate Selenium Radon Asbestos Barium Fluoride skin and nervous system toxicity kidney problems kidney and nervous system damage kidney and nervous system disorders Blue Baby Syndrome liver damage cancer circulatory system irregularities skeletal and dental damage pesticides, industrial waste, smelting epoxy sealants, coal, pigments lead pipes and solder crop runoff, batteries fertilizer, sewage, animal waste smelting, coal/oil combustion radioactive decay asbestos cement in water systems bed rock and soils flourinated water, fertilizer, aluminum ChemicalHealth EffectSource Common Inorganic Chemical Contaminants Inorganic contaminants Inorganic contaminants - primarily metals, some other dissolved ions, and radioactive chemicals. Does not include organic chemicals

Gastroenteric infection, dysentery, typhoid fever, and cholera Gastroenteric disease Legionnaire's disease fecal coliform other bacteria Giardia lambia Legionella human and animal fecal matter natural waters, some water heaters Common Microbiological Contaminants BugHealth EffectsSource Microbiological contaminants Microbiological contaminants - disease-causing micro-organisms (i.e., germs) Giardia fecal coliform bacteria Legionella

Drinking Water Purification BIG tiny