1. Water Pollution

2. Questions for Today:
What are examples of point and nonpoint pollution sources for water?
What are the Major Types of Water Pollutants and Diseases transmitted in Water?
What are two measurements used to determine clean waters in lakes and rivers?
Compare and Contrast Oligotrophic Lakes with Eutrophic Lakes.

3. Questions for Today: What major sources of pollution for ground water?
What laws are in effect for our drinking water?
What are major sources of pollution for ocean water?

4. Sources of Water Pollution
Remember:
Point sources are pollutions sources where you can identify the sole polluter and/or pollutant
Nonpoint sources are sources where you cannot identify the polluter or the pollutant can come from many anonymous sources.

5. Top Three polluters Agricultural Activities Industrial Wastes Mining
Sediment eroded from agricultural lands
Fertilizers and pesticides
Industrial Wastes
Organic and inorganic wastes
Heat
Mining
Erosion of Sediments and Toxic Chemicals

6. Top areas of nonpoint pollution
Parking Lots
Prevent absorption of water back into the water table
Increases flooding and erosion
Plastic
Polymers are forever!

7. Major Water Pollutants
Aside from the different chemicals, inorganic and organic, that enter our water supply, infectious disease is one of the major water pollutants.
Identified over 500 types of diseases
The World Health Organization (WHO)
Each year, approximately 3.2 million people die prematurely from water-borne infectious diseases.
1 child every 18 seconds die due to diarrhea alone!

10. Water Quality Two of the biggest measures for water quality are:
Dissolved Oxygen
Amount of Oxygen ready to use in the water
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Amount of Oxygen needed for organic growth.
When both measurements are graphed we get a oxygen sag curve.

13. Oligotrophic vs Eutrophic
Oligotrophic lakes are lakes with low nutrient, clear water, BIG fish, and Cold, High DO, low BOD
Eutrophic Lakes high nutrient, murky/brackish water, small fish and bugs, warm, Low DO, High BOD
Oligotrophic lakes -> Eutrophic Lakes
Cultural Eutrophism

14. Major sources of groundwater pollution
Remember that half of the US Drinking water comes from groundwater sources like aquifers.
Common Pollutants include:
Hydrocarbons
Inorganic Chemicals
Organic Solvents

15. Major Sources of GW Pollution
The Problem
Once contaminant hits the water supply, the GW is essentially ruined.
Groundwater flows slower than surface water so it cannot naturally biodegrade the pollutant as well as a river or stream.

18. Laws protecting our Water
U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974
Requires the EPA to establish a Maximum Contaminant Level for any contaminant entering our water.
Clean Water Act
Many provisions guarding our water supplies
Requires treatment facilities for municipal water and regulates the amount of pollutants entering our water.

19. Pollution in the Ocean
Most of the Open Oceans are considered “clean” due to the vastness and the deep waters.
Most of the pollution problems are located closer to the coastlines and shores due to agricultural runoff and access to sunlight.

20. Industry Nitrogen oxides from autos and smokestacks, toxic chemicals, and heavy metals in effluents flow into bays and estuaries.
Cities Toxic metals and oil from streets and parking lots pollute waters; sewage adds nitrogen and phosphorus.
Urban sprawl
Bacteria and viruses from sewers and septic tanks contaminate shellfish beds and close beaches; runoff of fertilizer from lawns adds nitrogen and phosphorus.
Construction sites
Sediments are washed into waterways, choking fish and plants, clouding waters, and blocking sunlight.
Farms
Runoff of pesticides, manure, and fertilizers adds toxins and excess nitrogen and phosphorus.
Red tides
Excess nitrogen causes explosive growth of toxic microscopic algae, poisoning fish and marine mammals.
Closed shellfish beds
Closed beach
Oxygen-depleted zone
Figure 20.15
Natural capital degradation: residential areas, factories, and farms all contribute to the pollution of coastal waters and bays. According to the U.N. Environment Programme, coastal water pollution costs the world $16 billion annually—more than $30,000 a minute—due to ill health and premature death. Question: What are three changes you could make in your lifestyle that might help to prevent this pollution?
Toxic sediments
Chemicals and toxic metals contaminate shellfish beds, kill spawning fish, and accumulate in the tissues of bottom feeders.
Oxygen-depleted zone Sedimentation and algae overgrowth reduce sunlight, kill beneficial sea grasses, use up oxygen, and degrade habitat.
Healthy zone
Clear, oxygen-rich waters promote growth of plankton and sea grasses, and support fish.
Fig , p. 548

21. Ocean Pollution
Aside from Agricultural, a major pollutant is oil that is leaked off of rigs and tanker ships and industrial and city runoff.
The Exxon Valdez crash in 1989
Cost roughly 6.5 billion dollars
The Prestige Crash in 2002
The BP Oil Spill
Industrial Runofff accounts for 37% of the oil pollution in the ocean

22. Gulf of Mexico and Pollution
The Gulf Coast has some of the worst water in the nation due to it’s low DO count.
Why?
How many states drain waste into the Gulf of Mexico