1. General Types of Water Pollution Water Quality Notes

2. WATER POLLUTION: SOURCES, TYPES, AND EFFECTS Water pollution is any chemical, biological, or physical change in water quality that has a harmful effect on living organisms or makes water unsuitable for desired uses. Water pollution is any chemical, biological, or physical change in water quality that has a harmful effect on living organisms or makes water unsuitable for desired uses. Point source: specific location (drain pipes, ditches, sewer lines). Point source: specific location (drain pipes, ditches, sewer lines). Nonpoint source: cannot be traced to a single site of discharge (atmospheric deposition, agricultural / industrial / residential runoff) Nonpoint source: cannot be traced to a single site of discharge (atmospheric deposition, agricultural / industrial / residential runoff)

3. Point Source Pollution Water pollution that can be traced to a specific spot (such as a factory or sewage treatment plant) because it is discharged into the environment through pipes, sewers or ditches. Water pollution that can be traced to a specific spot (such as a factory or sewage treatment plant) because it is discharged into the environment through pipes, sewers or ditches.

4. Non-Point Source Pollution Pollutants that enter bodies of water over large areas rather than being concentrated at a single point of entry. Pollutants that enter bodies of water over large areas rather than being concentrated at a single point of entry. Ex) Agricultural fertilizer runoff and sediments from construction. Ex) Agricultural fertilizer runoff and sediments from construction.

5. Agriculture Fertilizers, animal wastes, etc. Fertilizers, animal wastes, etc. Sources of Pollution Sewage, fertilizers, dumping into drainage ditches, etc. Sewage, fertilizers, dumping into drainage ditches, etc. Municipal Waste Industrial Waste Chemicals left over from manufacturing, waste products, etc. Chemicals left over from manufacturing, waste products, etc.

6. Definition Excessive amounts of suspended soil particles that eventually settle out and accumulate on the bottom of a body of water. Excessive amounts of suspended soil particles that eventually settle out and accumulate on the bottom of a body of water. Sediment Pollution

7. Environmental Injustice Questions Why should the general public be informed about local hazardous waste sites? What role should the government play? Why should the general public be informed about local hazardous waste sites? What role should the government play? What federal, state and local agencies exist to protect the environment and human health? What federal, state and local agencies exist to protect the environment and human health? What strategies can community members use to address environmental injustices? What strategies can community members use to address environmental injustices? How might youth be affected by environmental injustices? How might youth be affected by environmental injustices?

8. Causes Erosion of agricultural lands Erosion of agricultural lands forest soils exposed by logging forest soils exposed by logging degraded stream banks degraded stream banks overgrazed rangelands overgrazed rangelands strip mines strip mines construction. construction.

9. Environmental Effects Reduces light penetration Reduces light penetration Covering aquatic organisms Covering aquatic organisms Bringing insoluble toxic pollutants into the water Bringing insoluble toxic pollutants into the water Filling in waterways. Filling in waterways.

10. Health Effects Sediments adversely affect water quality by carrying toxic chemicals. Sediments adversely affect water quality by carrying toxic chemicals. The sediment particles provide surface area to which some insoluble, toxic compounds adhere (toxic chemicals) The sediment particles provide surface area to which some insoluble, toxic compounds adhere (toxic chemicals) Disease-causing agents can also be transported into water via sediments. Disease-causing agents can also be transported into water via sediments.

11. Sewage

12. Causes Release of waste water from drains or sewers (toilets, washing machines, and showers) and include human wastes, soaps and detergents. Release of waste water from drains or sewers (toilets, washing machines, and showers) and include human wastes, soaps and detergents.

13. Environmental Effects Enrichment – the fertilization of a body of water Enrichment – the fertilization of a body of water Presence of high levels of plants and algal nutrients like nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) Presence of high levels of plants and algal nutrients like nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)

14. Health Effects Oxygen – less dissolved oxygen for the fish, etc., and then they die Oxygen – less dissolved oxygen for the fish, etc., and then they die Sewage carries disease-causing agents. Sewage carries disease-causing agents.

15. Definition Infectious organisms that cause disease. Infectious organisms that cause disease. Disease-Causing Agents

16. Environmental Effects Municipal wastewater contains bacteria, viruses, protozoa, parasitic worms, and other infectious agents that cause human or animal diseases. Municipal wastewater contains bacteria, viruses, protozoa, parasitic worms, and other infectious agents that cause human or animal diseases.Causes Comes from the wastes of infected individuals. Comes from the wastes of infected individuals.

17. Health Effects Typhoid, cholera, bacterial dysentery, polio and infectious hepatitis are some of the more common bacteria or viruses that are transmitted through contaminated food and water. Typhoid, cholera, bacterial dysentery, polio and infectious hepatitis are some of the more common bacteria or viruses that are transmitted through contaminated food and water.

18. Major Water Pollutants and Their Effects Water quality and dissolved oxygen (DO) content in parts per million (ppm) at 20°C. Water quality and dissolved oxygen (DO) content in parts per million (ppm) at 20°C. Only a few fish species can survive in water less than 4ppm at 20°C. Only a few fish species can survive in water less than 4ppm at 20°C.

19. Chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorus that stimulate the growth of plants and algae. Chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorus that stimulate the growth of plants and algae. Inorganic Plant and Algal Nutrients

20. Causes Nitrates and phosphates come from sources such as human and animal wastes, plant residues, atmospheric deposition and residential land. Nitrates and phosphates come from sources such as human and animal wastes, plant residues, atmospheric deposition and residential land.

21. Environmental Effects Encourage excessive growth of algal and aquatic plants. Encourage excessive growth of algal and aquatic plants.

22. Causes Chemicals that contain carbon atoms. Chemicals that contain carbon atoms. Synthetic chemicals that are produced by human activities Synthetic chemicals that are produced by human activities pesticides, solvents, industrial chemicals and plastics, and seepage from landfills. pesticides, solvents, industrial chemicals and plastics, and seepage from landfills. Organic Compounds

23. Health Effects Hundreds of synthetic organic compounds are toxic and some of these have been shown to cause cancer or birth defects. Hundreds of synthetic organic compounds are toxic and some of these have been shown to cause cancer or birth defects. Pollutes streams and groundwater. Pollutes streams and groundwater. Environmental Effects

24. Inorganic Compounds

25. Causes Contain elements other than carbon. Contain elements other than carbon. Examples include acids, salts, and heavy metals. Examples include acids, salts, and heavy metals. From sources such as industries, mines, irrigation runoff, oil drilling and urban runoff from storm sewers. From sources such as industries, mines, irrigation runoff, oil drilling and urban runoff from storm sewers.

26. Environmental Effects Some of these inorganic pollutants are toxic to aquatic organisms. Some of these inorganic pollutants are toxic to aquatic organisms.

27. Health Effects Lead and mercury are poisonous. Lead and mercury are poisonous. Mercury exposure Mercury exposure Mental retardations, cerebral palsy, and developing delays, causes kidney disorders and several damage the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Mental retardations, cerebral palsy, and developing delays, causes kidney disorders and several damage the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Low levels of mercury in the brain cause neurological problems such as headache, depression, and quarrelsome behavior. Low levels of mercury in the brain cause neurological problems such as headache, depression, and quarrelsome behavior.

28. Radioactive Substances Contains atoms of unstable isotopes that spontaneously emit radiation Contains atoms of unstable isotopes that spontaneously emit radiation

29. Causes Get into water mining and processing of radioactive minerals such as uranium and thorium. Get into water mining and processing of radioactive minerals such as uranium and thorium. Nuclear weapons industry uses the largest amounts. Nuclear weapons industry uses the largest amounts. Medical and scientific research facilities Medical and scientific research facilities

30. Health Effects Mutations, birth defects, mental retardation, genetic disease, leukemia, cancer (breast, bone, thyroid, skin, lung), burns, cataracts, male sterility. Mutations, birth defects, mental retardation, genetic disease, leukemia, cancer (breast, bone, thyroid, skin, lung), burns, cataracts, male sterility.  Pollutes air, water and soil. Environmental Effects

31. Causes When heated water produced during certain industrial processes is released into waterways. When heated water produced during certain industrial processes is released into waterways. Thermal Pollution

32. Environmental Effects Decomposition of wastes occurs faster, depleting the water of oxygen; this affects aquatic life. Decomposition of wastes occurs faster, depleting the water of oxygen; this affects aquatic life.  Typically affects animals, not humans. Health Effects