1. Water Pollution

2. Cuyahoga River 1952

3. Point sources = specific, identifiable sources of pollution factories, sewage treatment plants, mines, oil wells, oil tankers Sources of Pollution

4. Nonpoint sources = unidentifiable or multiple sources; cannot be traced to a single site of discharge acid deposition, substances picked up in runoff, seepage into groundwater Agriculture is largest source of water pollution in the U.S. Sources of Pollution

6. Types of Pollution Infectious Agents Oxygen Demanding Agents Inorganic Chemicals Organic Chemicals Plant Nutrients Sediment or Suspended Material Radioactive Materials Heat (Thermal Pollution)

7. Infectious Agents Effects: Cause diseases Examples: Bacteria, viruses, parasites, protozoa Sources: Human & animal wastes

8. Inorganic Chemicals Effects: add toxins to aquatic systems –Make water unusable for drinking/irrigation –Toxins can cause cancer, damage to nerves, liver, and kidneys Examples: acids, salts, metal compounds Sources: Industry, household cleaners, surface runoff

9. Organic Chemicals Effects: add toxins to aquatic systems –Cause cancer, damage nervous and reproductive systems Examples: oil, gasoline, plastics, pesticides, cleaning solutions Sources: Industry, farms, households

10. concentrations increase at increasing levels in the food chain – PCBs, DDT, etc. Biological Magnification Biological Magnification

11. Plant Nutrients Effects: excess growth of algae & other aquatic plants, leading to eutrophication Examples: Nitrates (NO 3 ) & phosphates (PO 4 3- ) Sources: sewage, animal waste, inorganic fertilizers

12. Sediments Effects: disrupts photosynthesis & food webs, carry harmful substances (pesticides, etc), clog & fill waterways, suffocate aquatic life Examples: soil, silt Sources: land erosion

13. Chesapeake Bay This before/after shows just how much sediment, silt and mud was washed into the Chesapeake Bay by the recent storms. (NOAA) http://www.wjla.com/blogs/weather/2011/09/chesapeake-bay-choked-with-sediment-after-recent-floods-map--12796.html

14. Chesapeake Bay That scene, captured on Sept. 11 by NASA's Aqua satellite, came two days after heavy rain caused the third highest flooding on the Susquehanna River in recorded history (a peak river discharge of 778,000 cubic feet per second, FYI). Some sectors of the D.C. area got an astounding 32 inches of rain in the past two weeks.heavy rain http://www.wjla.com/blogs/weather/2011/09/chesapeake-bay-choked-with-sediment-after-recent-floods-map--12796.html September 14, 2011

15. Chesapeake Bay Plumes of sediment were observed flowing down the Susquehanna River into the Chesapeake Bay this week after the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee brought heavy rainfall to Pennsylvania and Maryland. http://www.chesapeakebay.net/blog/post/satellite_image_shows_sediment_pollution_flowing_into_chesapeake_bay September 14, 2011 The large rainfall totals caused rivers to swell, washing dirt and pollution off the land and carrying it downstream to the Bay. Record flooding and water levels were recorded at Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River last week.

16. Chesapeake Bay Satellite Image of Bay After Rain Storm Reveals Sediment Pollution This NASA satellite image was taken on March 17 after a heavy downpour. It shows a plume of muddy water extending from the Susquehanna River, at the extreme northern end of the Bay, and flowing far south, almost to the Virginia border. http://cbf.typepad.com/bay_daily/2011/03/satellite-image-of-bay-after-rain-storm-reveals-sediment-pollution.html 03/29/2011

17. Katrina – wingo?? 174 million tons of muck Once the basin fills, the U.S. Geological Survey projects a 250 percent increase of sediment, a 30 percent to 40 percent increase in phosphorous, and a 2 percent increase in nitrogen moving into the bay. http://www.ydr.com/opinion/ci_13324749 Absent a Katrina-wingo-type event, we have 15 to 20 years before the basin fills

18. Katrina – wingo?? What's in the muck? The Susquehanna River Basin Commission compiled a report in 2006 on sediment core samples analyzed by the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies. Notable findings: Coal is a major component. Various levels of toxic metals high concentrations of silver in lower levels of sediment. The river appears to be the main source of PCBs to the upper bay, while pesticides appear to be trapped behind the dams. Other components: Methane gas. Phosphorus. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Low levels of radiation. http://www.ydr.com/opinion/ci_13324749

19. Thermal (heat) Effects: lowers dissolved oxygen in water, makes organisms more vulnerable to disease Examples: excessive heat Sources: electric power & industrial plants

20. Radioactive Materials Effects: genetic mutations, miscarriages, birth defects, cancer Examples: radioactive isotopes of iodine, radon, uranium Sources: nuclear power plants, mining

21. Oxygen Demanding Wastes Effects: Deplete dissolved oxygen Examples: Biodegradable animal wastes and plant debris Sources: sewage, animal feedlots, food processing facilities, pulp mills

22. Biological Oxygen Demand ( BOD): the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic bacteria to break down organic materials in a certain volume of water over a 5-day incubation period at 20°C (68°F) Oxygen is removed from water when organic matter is consumed by bacteria. Low oxygen conditions may kill fish and other organisms Pollution – oxygen demanding agents

23. Water Quality A fecal coliform bacteria test is used to indicate the likely presence of disease-causing bacteria in water.

24. Other Water Quality Tests Temperature & pH Turbidity/Cloudiness pH Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Nitrate/Nitrogen Phosphate Hardness Salinity Carbon Dioxide Biotic survey (macro invertebrates)