Water Pollution

What Is Water Pollution?• Any physical,

biological or chemical

change in water

quality that adversely

affects living

organisms or makes

the water unsuitable

for desired uses.

Pollution Indicators

• 1) Hazardous bacterial levels, dead

fish, or lots of algae

Pollution Indicators

• 2) SERIOUS birth defects in almost

50% of animals studied

• 3) Exotic species present

Pollution Indicators

Point vs Nonpoint Sources

• Point: Discharged to env. via pipes/sewers specific places.

• Non-point: Pollutants entering water from large areas rather than a single point

– Mining wastes

– Agricultural runoff

– Urban runoff

Non-Point

Point

Largest pollutant by volume.

Sedimentation occurs b/c of erosion.

1) Sediment Pollution

• So what if there is more

dirt in the water…

Discuss with your

partner the ecological

problems with placing

sediment in the water.

Create a list!

Ecological Probs 1. Reduces light penetration in aquatic systems (Less PS = Less

Oxygen)

Ecological Probs 2. Transports toxic subs. into

water

Ecological Probs 3. Fills Waterways, Wetlands,

Reservoirs

Ecological Probs 4. Nutrient Loss From Soil =

More fertilizer use

Erosion• Process of soil particles being

removed by wind or water.

• Small particles easily moved.

• Soil contains nutrients!

Keeping Sediment In Place

Vegetate!!

2) Raw Sewage: untreated

material from water pipes

from homes/industry.

Sewage Spill. Guess

Where?

Video:

Sewage

Spill in

SLO!!

• Sewer Lines break releases

pathogens (disease causing agents)

into ground or surface water

• 25,000,000 deaths yearly

• Comes from untreated human wastes and animal wastes

• 2.5 billion lack sanitation

3) Disease-Causing Agents

Case Study: Schistosomiasis• Caused by a flatworm:

lives in snail.

• Host releases eggs from feces into water, eggs hatch, infest snail foot.

• Worm grows inside snail, then swims off snail onto human skin.

• Worm enzymes break down human skin enter. Eats RBC’s.

• Symptoms: ab pain, skin rash, anemia, tired

• Most

serious

water

pollutants

in terms

of health

4) Inorganic Plant Nutrients

•Excess nitrates, phosphates cause

eutrophication-excessive Algal growth

Ex: Red Tide: bloom of

dinoflagellates

• Red Tide at Night

Red Tide

Video

5) Organic Compounds: Oil

Exxon Valdez:

1989, Prince

William Sound

O Cpds: Plastics

Oil Spills

6) Inorganic Chemicals:

Metals

• Heavy metals: Hg, Cadmium, Ni, Pb

• Comes from: Lead pipes, Coal burning (Hg), Mining wastes, Tin, Cu on boat hulls

Case Study: Minamata Japan• 1932 Chisso Corp. made acetaldehyde. Hg: industrial byproduct discharged into

bay.

• 1st: Fish/cats began showing weird behaviors.

• 1956: Humans had

loss of motor

control partly

paralyzed and

contorted bodies.

Chisso Corp. Protesters

• 1963: “Minamata

disease” traced to

Hg from Chisso.

People ate fish w/

Hg.

• Forced to dredge

bay and pay victims

• 1,784 died, 86 mill

in compensation

Have You Ever Wondered Why

Power Plants are Near the

Water?

7) Thermal Pollution• Raising or lowering temp. from

normal levels

• From industrial coolant outflows (to cool electrical power plants)

Thermal Pollution• Cons: Lowers Dissolved Oxygen

levels (O in water)

• Thermal Shock: orgs killed by abrupt

change in temp of water.