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Chapter 21

Water & Soil Pollutionhttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051123/ap_on_re_as/china_water_panic

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Types of Water PollutionSewage

Disease-causing agents

Sediment pollution

Inorganic chemicals

Radioactive substances

Thermal pollution

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EutrophicationNutrient enrichment of a standing water ecosystem

Ex: Lake Washington & Oscillatoria

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Eutrophication

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Carrying Capacity ( K )• Exponential growth slows as carrying capacity is

reached.

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EutrophicationOscillatoria 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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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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Organic Compounds

• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB’s), Benzene, Chloroform, Dioxins, & Vinyl Chloride are examples that can be found in polluted water.

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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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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.

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/programs/mercury-free/

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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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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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Red Tides

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“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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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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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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Sources of Water Pollution

Point Source vs. Non-point SourcePoint Source vs. Non-point Source

AgricultureAgriculture

Municipal sourcesMunicipal sources

Industrial wastesIndustrial wastes

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Sources of Water PollutionPoint SourcePoint Source: This is discharged into the : This is discharged into the environment through pipes, sewers, or environment through pipes, sewers, or ditches from specific sites like factories ditches from specific sites like factories

or sewage treatment plants.or sewage treatment plants.

Ex: Cyanide spill in Feb. 2000 Ex: Cyanide spill in Feb. 2000 contaminated the Tisza & Danube contaminated the Tisza & Danube

Rivers.Rivers.

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Sources of Water PollutionNonpoint SourceNonpoint Source: (polluted runoff) is : (polluted runoff) is caused by land pollutants that enter caused by land pollutants that enter

bodies of water over broad areas (not bodies of water over broad areas (not a single point.)a single point.)

Precipitation carries pollutants and Precipitation carries pollutants and deposits them into lakes rivers, deposits them into lakes rivers,

wetlands, groundwater, & the ocean.wetlands, groundwater, & the ocean.

Soil erosion is a major source.Soil erosion is a major source.

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Sediment pollutionSediment pollution

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Sources of Water Pollution

Municipal sources contribute urban Municipal sources contribute urban runoff from storm sewers and city runoff from storm sewers and city

streets. Runoff contains salt, streets. Runoff contains salt, garbage,sediments, & traffic garbage,sediments, & traffic

emissions.emissions.

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Sources of Water Pollution

Industrial wastes:Industrial wastes:

Food industries Food industries organic wastes organic wastes

Papermills & pulp mills Papermills & pulp mills sludge & sludge & chlorinechlorine

Electronics Electronics Cu, Pb, Mn, & other Cu, Pb, Mn, & other heavy metals (can be filtered)heavy metals (can be filtered)

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Improving Water Quality

• Purification of drinking water through Purification of drinking water through reservoirs (surface water source).reservoirs (surface water source).

• Aluminum sulfate used to take Aluminum sulfate used to take particulates outparticulates out

• Sand used to filter smaller particulates.Sand used to filter smaller particulates.

• Activated carbon used sometimesActivated carbon used sometimes

• Disinfection via Chlorine, ODisinfection via Chlorine, O33, or UV , or UV

radiation.radiation.

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Water treatment for municipal useWater treatment for municipal use

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Some pollutants are still detectable at low levelsSome pollutants are still detectable at low levels

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Improving Water Quality

• Municipal Water pollution has a Municipal Water pollution has a nonpoint sourcenonpoint source in in urban runoffurban runoff from sewers. from sewers.

• This runoff is often worse than sewage.This runoff is often worse than sewage.

• It contains asbestos, chlorides, copper, cyanides, It contains asbestos, chlorides, copper, cyanides, grease, hydrocarbons, Pb, motor oil, organic grease, hydrocarbons, Pb, motor oil, organic wastes, phosphates, sulfuric acid, and Zn.wastes, phosphates, sulfuric acid, and Zn.

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Urban Runoff (nonpoint)Urban Runoff (nonpoint)

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Improving Water Quality

• Combined sewer systemsCombined sewer systems (NY, San (NY, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Boston) mix human Francisco, Pittsburgh, Boston) mix human & industrial wastes with urban runoff. If & industrial wastes with urban runoff. If too much rain drains into the runoff then too much rain drains into the runoff then the system can’t handle it. the system can’t handle it.

• Thus Thus combined sewer overflowcombined sewer overflow flows into flows into waterways waterways withoutwithout being treated. being treated.

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Groundwater PollutionGroundwater Pollution

• 50% of the U.S. population receives water 50% of the U.S. population receives water from this source.from this source.

• Pesticides, fertilizers, organic compounds, Pesticides, fertilizers, organic compounds, come from landfill seepage, underground come from landfill seepage, underground storage tanks, backyards, golf courses, & storage tanks, backyards, golf courses, & agriculture.agriculture.

• 250,000 petroleum tanks are presently 250,000 petroleum tanks are presently seeping into groundwater (conservative seeping into groundwater (conservative estimate).estimate).

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Sources of groundwater contaminationSources of groundwater contamination

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Sources of Water PollutionSources of Water Pollution

Agriculture: 72% of water pollution Agriculture: 72% of water pollution comes from agriculture.comes from agriculture.

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Individual Septic SystemsIndividual Septic Systems

• Involve the use of Septic tanks and Involve the use of Septic tanks and Leach fields.Leach fields.

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Typical septic tank & Typical septic tank & drainage field systemdrainage field system

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Testing Water Pollution

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Testing Water Pollution

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Testing Water Pollution

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Testing Water Pollution

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Testing Water Pollution

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Testing Water Pollution

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Testing Water Pollution

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Testing Water Pollution

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Directi

on of

drain

age

Directi

on of

drain

age

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Soil RemediationSoil Remediation

• Alternatives have been developed to Alternatives have been developed to stop incineration of contaminated soils stop incineration of contaminated soils including;including;

• DilutionDilution

• Vapor extractionVapor extraction

• BioremediationBioremediation

• PhytoremediationPhytoremediation

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Laws Controlling Water Pollution

• Clean Water Act of 1972, 1981, & 1987Clean Water Act of 1972, 1981, & 1987

• Refuse Act of 1899Refuse Act of 1899

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Laws Controlling Water Pollution

• Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974

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Dissolved Oxygen

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Nitrate-N in ppm

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Phosphate Test

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BOD

Biological (biochemical) O2 Demand

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Pb TestPb Test