Water PollutionWater Pollution

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Kanik GuptaKanik Gupta

Water Pollution: Types, Effects, Water Pollution: Types, Effects, and Sourcesand Sources

What is water pollution?What is water pollution?

Major types of pollutants, sources and effects Major types of pollutants, sources and effects

Is the water safe to drink?Is the water safe to drink?

Prevention and what we can do ?Prevention and what we can do ?

Types, Effects, and Sources of Types, Effects, and Sources of Water PollutionWater Pollution

• Water is polluted by Water is polluted by infectious bacteriainfectious bacteria, , inorganic and organic inorganic and organic chemicalschemicals, and , and excess heatexcess heat..

• Water pollution is any chemical, Water pollution is any chemical, biological, or physical change in water biological, or physical change in water quality that has a harmful effect on quality that has a harmful effect on living organisms.living organisms.

• The WHO estimates that The WHO estimates that 3.4 million 3.4 million people diepeople die prematurely each year from prematurely each year from waterborne diseases.waterborne diseases.

• In the U.S., an estimated In the U.S., an estimated 1.5 million 1.5 million peoplepeople a year become ill from infectious a year become ill from infectious agents.agents.

• Scientists monitor water quality by using Scientists monitor water quality by using bacterial counts, chemical analysis, and bacterial counts, chemical analysis, and indicator organismsindicator organisms..

• One method of measuring water quality involves One method of measuring water quality involves measuring the number of colonies of fecal measuring the number of colonies of fecal coliform bacteriacoliform bacteria present in a water sample. present in a water sample.

• Drinking water should not contain Drinking water should not contain any any colonies/100colonies/100 milliliters, milliliters,

• Chemical analysisChemical analysis includes checking inorganic includes checking inorganic and organic chemicals present, sediment and organic chemicals present, sediment content, and turbidity of water.content, and turbidity of water.

• Indicator speciesIndicator species are living organisms that are are living organisms that are monitored to determine levels of pollution.monitored to determine levels of pollution.

The leading sources of water The leading sources of water pollution are agriculture, pollution are agriculture, industries, and mining.industries, and mining.

1.1.Agricultural activitiesAgricultural activities are the are the leading cause of water pollution leading cause of water pollution from erosion, overgrazing, from erosion, overgrazing, fertilizers and pesticides, and fertilizers and pesticides, and excess salt from irrigated soils. excess salt from irrigated soils.

2.2.Industrial facilitiesIndustrial facilities are another are another large source of water pollution, large source of water pollution, and mining is a third source.and mining is a third source.

Sources of water pollutionSources of water pollution

• One of every fiveOne of every five people in the world lacks people in the world lacks access to safe drinking water.access to safe drinking water.

• Ninety-five percentNinety-five percent of people in developed of people in developed countries and countries and 74%74% of people in developing of people in developing countries have access to clean drinking countries have access to clean drinking water.water.

• In a warmer world, too much rain and too In a warmer world, too much rain and too

little rain can increase water pollution.little rain can increase water pollution.

Pollution of Freshwater StreamsPollution of Freshwater Streams

Streams Streams can recover from moderate levelscan recover from moderate levels of of degradable water pollutants if the flows are degradable water pollutants if the flows are not reduced.not reduced.

1.1. A combination of A combination of dilution and biodegradationdilution and biodegradation can allow recovery of stream pollution can allow recovery of stream pollution

2.2. The breakdown of pollutants by bacteria The breakdown of pollutants by bacteria creates an creates an oxygen sag curveoxygen sag curve. Organisms that . Organisms that have a high oxygen demand can’t survive in have a high oxygen demand can’t survive in the curve.the curve.

3.3. Volume of the stream, volume of wastes Volume of the stream, volume of wastes entering, flow rate, temperature, and pH entering, flow rate, temperature, and pH levels all affect how great a sag curve is levels all affect how great a sag curve is produced.produced.

Water Pollution: NowWater Pollution: Now

Stream pollution in most developing countries Stream pollution in most developing countries is a serious and growing problem. is a serious and growing problem. Half of Half of the world’s 500 major riversthe world’s 500 major rivers are heavily are heavily polluted, and most of them run through polluted, and most of them run through developing countries where developing countries where waste waste treatment is minimal or nonexistenttreatment is minimal or nonexistent. .

For example: Religious beliefs, cultural For example: Religious beliefs, cultural traditions, poverty, little economic traditions, poverty, little economic development, and a large population development, and a large population interact to cause severe pollution of the interact to cause severe pollution of the Ganges River in IndiaGanges River in India. .

Groundwater Pollution: Causes Groundwater Pollution: Causes and Persistenceand Persistence

Sources of groundwater pollutionSources of groundwater pollution

Slow flowing: slow dilution and dispersionSlow flowing: slow dilution and dispersion

Consequences of lower dissolved oxygenConsequences of lower dissolved oxygen

Fewer bacteria to decompose wastesFewer bacteria to decompose wastes

Cooler temperatures: slow down chemical reactionsCooler temperatures: slow down chemical reactions

““Degradable” and nondegradable wastes in groundwaterDegradable” and nondegradable wastes in groundwater

Pump nanoparticles of inorganic compounds to remove pollutants (may be the cheapest, easiest, and most effective method but is still being developed)

Find substitutes for toxic chemicalsKeep toxic chemicals out of the environment

Install monitoring wells nearlandfills and underground tanks

Require leak detectors on underground tanks

Ban hazardous waste disposalin landfills and injection wells

Inject microorganisms to clean up contamination (less expensive but still costly)

Store harmful liquids in aboveground tanks with leak detection and collection systems

Prevention Cleanup

Pump to surface, clean, and return to aquifer (very expensive)

Solutions

Groundwater Pollution

Preventing and Cleaning Up Preventing and Cleaning Up Pollution in GroundwaterPollution in Groundwater

Effects of Oil on Ocean LifeEffects of Oil on Ocean Life Crude and refined petroleumCrude and refined petroleum

Tanker accidents and blowoutsTanker accidents and blowouts

Exxon ValdezExxon Valdez

Volatile hydrocarbons kill larvaeVolatile hydrocarbons kill larvae

Tar-like globs coat birds and marine mammalsTar-like globs coat birds and marine mammals

Oil destroys insulation and buoyancyOil destroys insulation and buoyancy

Heavy oil sinks and kills bottom organismsHeavy oil sinks and kills bottom organisms

Coral reefs dieCoral reefs die

Slow recoverySlow recovery

Oil slicks ruin beachesOil slicks ruin beaches

Limited effectiveness of clean up methodsLimited effectiveness of clean up methods

Prevention Cleanup

Ban dumping of wastes and sewage by maritime and cruise ships in coastal waters

Reduce input of toxic pollutants

Separate sewage and storm lines

Regulate coastal development

Recycle used oil

Require double hulls for oil tankers

Require at least secondary treatment of coastal sewage

Use wetlands, solar-aquatic, orother methods to treat sewage

Sprinkle nanoparticles over an oil or sewage spill to dissolve the oil or sewage without creating harmful byproducts(still under development)

Protect sensitive areas from development, oil drilling, and oil shipping

Ban ocean dumping of sludge and hazardous dredged material

Improve oil-spill cleanup capabilities

Solutions

Coastal Water Pollution

Preventing and Cleaning Up Preventing and Cleaning Up Pollution in Coastal WatersPollution in Coastal Waters

Solutions

Water Pollution

• Prevent groundwater contamination

• Greatly reduce nonpoint runoff

• Reuse treated wastewater for irrigation

• Find substitutes for toxic pollutants

• Work with nature to treat sewage

• Practice four R's of resource use (refuse,

reduce, recycle, reuse)

• Reduce resource waste

• Reduce air pollution

• Reduce poverty

• Reduce birth rates

Reducing Water PollutionReducing Water Pollution

What Can You Do?

Water Pollution

• Fertilize your garden and yard plants with

manure or compost instead of commercial

inorganic fertilizer.• Minimize your use of pesticides.• Never apply fertilizer or pesticides near a body

of water.• Grow or buy organic foods.• Compost your food wastes.• Do not use water fresheners in toilets.• Do not flush unwanted medicines down the

toilet.• Do not pour pesticides, paints, solvents, oil,

antifreeze, or other products containing harmful

chemicals down the drain or onto the ground.

What Can We Do?What Can We Do?