1. Chapter 21 Water & Soil Pollution
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2. Types of Water Pollution
Sewage
Disease-causing agents
Sediment pollution
Inorganic chemicals
Radioactive substances
Thermal pollution
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3. Eutrophication Nutrient enrichment of a standing water ecosystem
Ex: Lake Washington & Oscillatoria
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4. Eutrophication
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5. Carrying Capacity ( K )
Exponential growth slows as carrying capacity is reached.
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6. Eutrophication
Oscillatoria reached it’s (K). As dead and dying cells rot decomposers consume them and use up the oxygen. BOD or biological oxygen demand increases and life is choked out (hypoxia).
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8. Controlling Artificial Eutrophication
H2O, sunlight, carbonate CO3, N, P, & other inorganic compounds are the main requirements for algal growth (limiting factors).
Limit the P and even the N to slow eutrophication.
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9. Organic Compounds
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB’s), Benzene, Chloroform, Dioxins, & Vinyl Chloride are examples that can be found in polluted water.
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10. Lead (Pb) Pb based paint was banned (for sale) in the U.S. in 1978.
Pb additives were removed from U.S. gasoline in 1986.
Pb enters the soil & groundwater from incinerator ash that is dumped into landfills.
Pb enters your body via pesticides & fertilizers on produce, canned foods, & dinnerware.
Middle-aged men, pregnant women, & young kids face the greatest threat.
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11. Mercury (Hg) Liquid at room temp. & can vaporize.
Liquid  Gas  Precipitation Contaminates Water
Coal-fired power plants release the largest amount of Hg (33%).
Technology is there to remove the Hg out of coal emissions but it is expen$ive.
Municipal incinerators medical waste incinerators contribute as well.
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12. Mercury (Hg)
Bacteria convert the Hg in the sediments to methyl mercury. These compounds are highly toxic & remain in the environment for long periods of time.
They accumulate into organisms found at the top of the food chain. Tuna, Shark, Swordfish, &marine mammals.
40 out of 50 states have released health advisories on Hg tainted seafood.
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13. Red Tides Algal blooms due to marine algae.
These can produce toxins that directly kill fish, & cormorants & work their way up the food chain to marine mammals (Monk seals) & people.
Cause? Increasing temp?
Coastal Pollution?
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14. Red Tides
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15. “Dead Zone” in the Gulf Of Mexico
Fertilizers flow from the mighty Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico from Iowa, Wisconsin, & Illinois (31 states) every spring & summer.
This Dead Zone causes Hypoxia and creates an area of no life the size of New Jersey. Poses a serious threat to commercial fishing in the area.
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16. Radioactive Substances
These isotopes emit radiation.
Originate from mining of Uranium & Thorium, nuclear plants and medical & scientific research facilities, & Radon in the earth’s crust.
12 sewage treatment plants have tested positive for low level radiation in the U.S. since the 1980’s.
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17. Thermal Pollution
Water is used to cool industrial plants (steam generated electric power plants) & is returned to waterways significantly warmer.
This speeds decomposition and allows less oxygen to dissolve in the water. Fish become stressed, need more food, have to ventilate their gills more and thus have a shorter lifespan.
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18. Sources of Water Pollution
Point Source vs. Non-point Source
Agriculture
Municipal sources
Industrial wastes
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19. Sources of Water Pollution
Point Source: This is discharged into the environment through pipes, sewers, or ditches from specific sites like factories or sewage treatment plants.
Ex: Cyanide spill in Feb contaminated the Tisza & Danube Rivers.
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20. Sources of Water Pollution
Nonpoint Source: (polluted runoff) is caused by land pollutants that enter bodies of water over broad areas (not a single point.)
Precipitation carries pollutants and deposits them into lakes rivers, wetlands, groundwater, & the ocean.
Soil erosion is a major source.
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21. Sediment pollution
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22. Sources of Water Pollution
Municipal sources contribute urban runoff from storm sewers and city streets. Runoff contains salt, garbage,sediments, & traffic emissions.
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23. Sources of Water Pollution
Industrial wastes:
Food industries  organic wastes
Papermills & pulp mills  sludge & chlorine
Electronics  Cu, Pb, Mn, & other heavy metals (can be filtered)
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24. Improving Water Quality
Purification of drinking water through reservoirs (surface water source).
Aluminum sulfate used to take particulates out
Sand used to filter smaller particulates.
Activated carbon used sometimes
Disinfection via Chlorine, O3, or UV radiation.
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25. Water treatment for municipal use
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27. Some pollutants are still detectable at low levels
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Some pollutants are still detectable at low levels

28. Improving Water Quality
Municipal Water pollution has a nonpoint source in urban runoff from sewers.
This runoff is often worse than sewage.
It contains asbestos, chlorides, copper, cyanides, grease, hydrocarbons, Pb, motor oil, organic wastes, phosphates, sulfuric acid, and Zn.
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29. Urban Runoff (nonpoint)
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30. Improving Water Quality
Combined sewer systems (NY, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Boston) mix human & industrial wastes with urban runoff. If too much rain drains into the runoff then the system can’t handle it.
Thus combined sewer overflow flows into waterways without being treated.
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31. Groundwater Pollution
50% of the U.S. population receives water from this source.
Pesticides, fertilizers, organic compounds, come from landfill seepage, underground storage tanks, backyards, golf courses, & agriculture.
250,000 petroleum tanks are presently seeping into groundwater (conservative estimate).
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32. Sources of groundwater contamination
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33. Sources of Water Pollution
Agriculture: 72% of water pollution comes from agriculture.
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34. Individual Septic Systems
Involve the use of Septic tanks and Leach fields.
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35. Typical septic tank &
drainage field system
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37. Testing Water Pollution
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38. Testing Water Pollution
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39. Testing Water Pollution
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40. Testing Water Pollution
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41. Testing Water Pollution
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42. Testing Water Pollution
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43. Testing Water Pollution
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44. Testing Water Pollution
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45. Direction of drainage
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46. Soil Remediation
Alternatives have been developed to stop incineration of contaminated soils including;
Dilution
Vapor extraction
Bioremediation
Phytoremediation
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48. Laws Controlling Water Pollution
Clean Water Act of 1972, 1981, & 1987
Refuse Act of 1899
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49. Laws Controlling Water Pollution
Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974
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50. Dissolved Oxygen
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51. Nitrate-N in ppm
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52. Phosphate Test
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53. BOD Biological (biochemical) O2 Demand
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54. Pb Test
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