Water Quality Module 5:1

Importance of Clean Water  Health  Environment  Recreation  Natural beauty Module 5:2

Water Pollution Types of Pollution  Chemicals  Bacteria  Sediment  Nutrients Sources of Pollution  Industry  Individuals Module 5:3

Surface Water vs Ground Water  Module 5:4 Photo credit: © American Ground Water Trust

How do Contaminants Get Into the Water? 1.Directly 2.Runoff 3.Wind 4.Leaching Module 5:5

What’s Polluting Our Water? 1.Bacteria 2.Sediment 3.Nutrients 4.Chemicals Module 5:6

1. Bacteria Sources:  Human waste  Manure, pet & wildlife deposits Module 5:7

Bacteria: Health Effects  Stomach cramps  Diarrhea  Kidney failure  Death (in rare cases) Module 5:8

Bacteria: Solutions 1. Proper septic system installation 2. Proper septic system maintenance  Regular inspections  Regular pump-outs  Reduce input  Protect filter bed  Improve system when increasing load Module 5:9

Bacteria: Solutions 3. Pick up after pets 4. Don’t feed the waterfowl Module 5:10 Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR

2. Sediment Sources:  Dirt roads & paths  Gardens & farm fields  Imported beach sand  Construction Increased by:  Removing plants  Adding hard surfaces  Altering the natural watercourse Module 5:11

Sediment: Impacts  Adds chemicals  Adds nutrients  Clouds the water Module 5:12

Sediment: Impacts  Poor swimming  Navigation problems Module 5:13

Sediment: Solutions 1.Maximize vegetation 2.Cover exposed soil 3.Minimize hard surfaces 4.Avoid altering water courses & shorelines Module 5:14

3. Nutrients Sources:  Fertilizers  Detergents & cleaners  Septic system leachate Module 5:15 Photo credit: Washington State Department of Ecology

Nutrients: Impacts Module 5:16

Nutrients: Solutions 1.Use low phosphate detergents and cleaners Module 5:17

Nutrients: Solutions 2.Avoid the use of fertilizers 3.Maintain your septic system Module 5:18

4. Chemicals Sources:  Household cleaners  Paints & solvents  Gas, oil, antifreeze, break fluid & grease Module 5:19

Chemicals: Impacts  Poses health risks to us  Contaminates drinking water  Alters pH balance  Harmful to wildlife and aquatic life Module 5:20

Chemicals: Solutions 1. Alternative cleaners  Non-toxic  All ingredients disclosed  Plant-based  Phosphate & petroleum free  Biodegrade quickly 2. Vinegar, baking soda, borax Module 5:21

Chemicals: Solutions 3. Dispose of hazardous waste properly 4. Maintain cars and boats Module 5:22

Chemicals: Solutions 5. Fill up and repair away from the water 6. Clean-up spills properly & immediately Module 5:23

Water Testing Module 5:24

Testing Your Drinking Water  Test for bacteria regularly  Test for other contaminants if you suspect a problem Module 5:25

Interpreting Bacterial Test Results  Only water with a count of 0 Total Coliform and/or 0 E.coli is safe to drink  Sterilize contaminated water  Identify source of problem & fix it  Adopt preventative habits Module 5:26

Testing Your Surface Water Professional tests:  Take samples and send to a lab Tests you can do yourself:  Water clarity  Temperature  Dissolved oxygen  Total phosphorus Module 5:27 Photo credit:

Case Study: “Watershed Watch”  Mississippi and Rideau Valley watersheds  Relies heavily on volunteer monitoring  Establishes baseline data  Will give an indication of lake health Module 5:28

Every Little Bit Helps  Take action!  Encourage others  Learn more Module 5:29 Courtesy of: Jennifer Brownlee

We Can Make a Difference…Together Module 5:30