1. Chapter 18 Water Pollution

2. 18.1 Water Pollution
Water pollution is anything that degrades water quality
Chemical
Biological
Particulate Matter
Taste
Esthetics
Thermal

3. 18.2 Types And Effects Of Water Pollutants
Infectious agents remain an important threat to human health
Bacteria are detected by measuring oxygen levels
Coliform Bacteria
Not Dangerous, but Indicate Fecal Contamination
Nutrient enrichment leads to cultural eutrophication
BOD = Biological Oxygen Demand
Eutrophication can cause toxic tides and “dead zones”

4. 18.2 Types And Effects Of Water Pollutants
Inorganic pollutants include metals, salts, acids, and bases (alkalis)
Organic pollutants include drugs, pesticides, and other industrial substances
Sediment also degrades water quality
Thermal pollution is dangerous for organisms

5. 18.3 Water Quality Today The Clean Water Act protects our water
The importance of a single word
Water quality problems remain
Other countries also have serious water pollution
Groundwater is hard to monitor and clean
There are few controls on ocean pollution
London Dumping Convention 1990

6. 18.4 Water Pollution Control
Source reduction is often the cheapest and best way to reduce pollution
Controlling nonpoint sources requires land management
Human waste disposal occurs naturally when concentrations are low
Water remediation may involve containment, extraction, or phytoremediation

7. 18.5 Water Legislation
The Clean Water Act of 1972 was ambitious, bipartisan, and largely successful
“Fishable and Swimmable”
What Can You Do? Steps You Can Take to Improve Water Quality
Don’t Dump Pollutants (Lawn Fertilizer, Motor Oil, Pet Waste)
Clean water reauthorization remains contentious
Unfunded Mandates
Other important legislation also protects water quality