Water Quality

Environmental ScienceMr. Mead

Water Quality Water Quality

• Water Quality is a very general term explaining how safe the water is for consuption, contact, and the wildlife that depends on it.

• Almost an immeasurable amount of things can and do effect water quality

• DQ - name a few.• Pollution, runoff, rain, erosion, wildlife,

bacteria, human needs, time of year, location, sunlight, …

• Water Quality is a very general term explaining how safe the water is for consuption, contact, and the wildlife that depends on it.

• Almost an immeasurable amount of things can and do effect water quality

• DQ - name a few.• Pollution, runoff, rain, erosion, wildlife,

bacteria, human needs, time of year, location, sunlight, …

Water PollutionWater Pollution

• An obvious thing that can effect water quality is pollution

• Water pollution - anything that degrades water quality

• Can be physical (ex. sedimentation), biological (ex. Bacteria), or chemical (ex. Nitrogen)

• An obvious thing that can effect water quality is pollution

• Water pollution - anything that degrades water quality

• Can be physical (ex. sedimentation), biological (ex. Bacteria), or chemical (ex. Nitrogen)

Water PollutionWater Pollution

• There are two types of sources of pollution.• Point - meets the body of water at a

specific location• Examples?

• Nonpoint - have no specific location where they discharge into the body of water.• Examples?

• DQ - Which would be harder to control and why?

• There are two types of sources of pollution.• Point - meets the body of water at a

specific location• Examples?

• Nonpoint - have no specific location where they discharge into the body of water.• Examples?

• DQ - Which would be harder to control and why?

Water pollutionWater pollution

• There are two main categories of pollutants based on what their effects are.

• Each of these categories have subcategories as well.

• 1. Causes Health Problems• 2. Causes Ecosystem Disruption

• There are two main categories of pollutants based on what their effects are.

• Each of these categories have subcategories as well.

• 1. Causes Health Problems• 2. Causes Ecosystem Disruption

Causes Health ProblemsCauses Health Problems• Subcategories - and sources• 1. Infectious agents - human waste

• Bacteria, viruses, parasites

• 2. Organic Chemicals - industrial waste, farms• Pesticides, plastics, oil

• 3. Inorganic Chemicals - Industrial waste, household cleaners• Acids, salts, metals

• 4. Radioactive Materials - mining, power plants• Radon, uranium, etc.

• Subcategories - and sources• 1. Infectious agents - human waste

• Bacteria, viruses, parasites

• 2. Organic Chemicals - industrial waste, farms• Pesticides, plastics, oil

• 3. Inorganic Chemicals - Industrial waste, household cleaners• Acids, salts, metals

• 4. Radioactive Materials - mining, power plants• Radon, uranium, etc.

Health problemsHealth problems

• These are a huge problem in developing countries

• But still some problems here in US as well as many other developed countries• Ex. China

• We will worry less about this category, because it deals more with humans

• These are a huge problem in developing countries

• But still some problems here in US as well as many other developed countries• Ex. China

• We will worry less about this category, because it deals more with humans

Ecosystem DisruptionEcosystem Disruption

• Subcategories - and sources• 1. Sediment - Land erosion

• Soil, silt

• 2. Plant Nutrients - fertilizers, sewage• Nitrates, Phosphates, Ammonium

• 3. Oxygen demanding waste - Sewage, food processing• Animal manure, paper waste

• Thermal - power plants, industrial cooling• Heated water

• Subcategories - and sources• 1. Sediment - Land erosion

• Soil, silt

• 2. Plant Nutrients - fertilizers, sewage• Nitrates, Phosphates, Ammonium

• 3. Oxygen demanding waste - Sewage, food processing• Animal manure, paper waste

• Thermal - power plants, industrial cooling• Heated water

Ecosystem disruptionEcosystem disruption

• DQ - How do each of these disrupt the ecosystem?• Look in your book to answer this question

• Sediment• Clouds water, not allowing

photosynthesis to take place• Lowering oxygen levels, and less food

• Covers gravel beds for fish spawning

• DQ - How do each of these disrupt the ecosystem?• Look in your book to answer this question

• Sediment• Clouds water, not allowing

photosynthesis to take place• Lowering oxygen levels, and less food

• Covers gravel beds for fish spawning

Ecosystem disruptionEcosystem disruption

• Plant nutrients• Eutrophication - too many nutrients

• Blooms of algae and other aquatic plants• When these die, oxygen levels tank

• Raise bacteria levels• Cause funny taste and/or odor of water

• Oxygen demanding waste - • Lower oxygen levels, killing off species• Can add bacteria and affect taste

• Plant nutrients• Eutrophication - too many nutrients

• Blooms of algae and other aquatic plants• When these die, oxygen levels tank

• Raise bacteria levels• Cause funny taste and/or odor of water

• Oxygen demanding waste - • Lower oxygen levels, killing off species• Can add bacteria and affect taste

Ecosystem DisruptionEcosystem Disruption

• Thermal• Aquatic organisms not adapted well

to temp. changes• Oxygen levels are affected• Some animals are attracted to

thermal plume during winter months

• Thermal• Aquatic organisms not adapted well

to temp. changes• Oxygen levels are affected• Some animals are attracted to

thermal plume during winter months

Water Quality TodayWater Quality Today

• In the USA we have legislation trying to keep our water clean and safe.

• The overall water quality of surface water in America has improved dramatically in the last 30-40 years.

• We have set standards of “acceptable” levels of different substances in our waters.

• In the USA we have legislation trying to keep our water clean and safe.

• The overall water quality of surface water in America has improved dramatically in the last 30-40 years.

• We have set standards of “acceptable” levels of different substances in our waters.

Water StandardsWater Standards

• All states a little bit different• These are Iowa DNR standards

• Nitrates• 15 ppm - maximum level to be

considered “healthy” water • 3-10ppm = optimum range• In drinking water it shouldn’t be more

than 5 ppm

• All states a little bit different• These are Iowa DNR standards

• Nitrates• 15 ppm - maximum level to be

considered “healthy” water • 3-10ppm = optimum range• In drinking water it shouldn’t be more

than 5 ppm

Water Quality StandardsWater Quality Standards

• Phosphorus• 30 ppm - maximum level to be considered

“healthy” water• 5 - 15 ppm - optimum range

• Ammonium• 5 ppm - max level• 1-3 ppm - optimum range

• Turbidity - how clear the water is• How much light gets through the water• http://dipin.kent.edu/tsi.htm

• Phosphorus• 30 ppm - maximum level to be considered

“healthy” water• 5 - 15 ppm - optimum range

• Ammonium• 5 ppm - max level• 1-3 ppm - optimum range

• Turbidity - how clear the water is• How much light gets through the water• http://dipin.kent.edu/tsi.htm

Water Quality StandardsWater Quality Standards

• pH• Standard 7.0 - 8.3• Life can survive 6.0 - 9.0

• Nitirite• 10 ppm - max level to be considered safe• 2 ppm - 6 ppm optimum range

• Dissolved Oxygen• 0-2 ppm - fish can’t survive, little advanced life• 2-5 ppm - Rough fish (carp, catfish)

invertabrates• 5-10 ppm - Healthy Ecosystem

• pH• Standard 7.0 - 8.3• Life can survive 6.0 - 9.0

• Nitirite• 10 ppm - max level to be considered safe• 2 ppm - 6 ppm optimum range

• Dissolved Oxygen• 0-2 ppm - fish can’t survive, little advanced life• 2-5 ppm - Rough fish (carp, catfish)

invertabrates• 5-10 ppm - Healthy Ecosystem

ActivityActivity

• In your notes, write a short paragraph to explain why the optimum range for these chemicals would not be 0 ppm.

• In your notes, write a short paragraph to explain why the optimum range for these chemicals would not be 0 ppm.

Water Quality TodayWater Quality Today

• The USA has improved its water quality dramatically the last 30 years.

• However, other countries have not had as much luck with water quality.

• China - over half of the water is not suitable for any human use because of pollution.

• Russia - only half of tap water is fit to drink straight from tap

• Developing countries - use their water sources as bathrooms, and landfills

• The USA has improved its water quality dramatically the last 30 years.

• However, other countries have not had as much luck with water quality.

• China - over half of the water is not suitable for any human use because of pollution.

• Russia - only half of tap water is fit to drink straight from tap

• Developing countries - use their water sources as bathrooms, and landfills

Sources of FreshwaterSources of Freshwater

• Surface water• Rivers, Streams, Lakes, etc.• Needs to be treated with several steps

• Groundwater• Aquifers - filtered by the soil• Usually cleaner, but once polluted, very hard

to clean.

• Ocean Water• Needs to be desalinated before it can be used

• Surface water• Rivers, Streams, Lakes, etc.• Needs to be treated with several steps

• Groundwater• Aquifers - filtered by the soil• Usually cleaner, but once polluted, very hard

to clean.

• Ocean Water• Needs to be desalinated before it can be used

Water Quality TodayWater Quality Today

• Overall water quality in the world is decreasing because of these problems

• Snowball effect• Little water available because we have

polluted many sources• But good sources get polluted by our

over use of them, since there is so little water

• Overall water quality in the world is decreasing because of these problems

• Snowball effect• Little water available because we have

polluted many sources• But good sources get polluted by our

over use of them, since there is so little water

Solutions Solutions

• Try to increase amount of fresh water• Can take a long time• Not cost effective

• Clean polluted water• Hard to do• Expensive• People still don’t trust it

• Conservation• Most people don’t want to do it

• Try to increase amount of fresh water• Can take a long time• Not cost effective

• Clean polluted water• Hard to do• Expensive• People still don’t trust it

• Conservation• Most people don’t want to do it

What can you do?What can you do?

• Activity - list 8 things that you can do to help improve water quality?

• Conserve• Don’t let water run when brushing teeth• Don’t water lawn• Low flow showers, shower less• Fix leaky faucets/toilets• Don’t flush every time• Wash large loads of laundry

• Activity - list 8 things that you can do to help improve water quality?

• Conserve• Don’t let water run when brushing teeth• Don’t water lawn• Low flow showers, shower less• Fix leaky faucets/toilets• Don’t flush every time• Wash large loads of laundry

What can you do?What can you do?

• Reduce pollution• Don’t dump chemicals down drain• No fertilizer on lawn• Car pool• Compost yard waste• Fix leaky car• Organize river clean up groups

• Reduce pollution• Don’t dump chemicals down drain• No fertilizer on lawn• Car pool• Compost yard waste• Fix leaky car• Organize river clean up groups

AssignmentAssignment

• Write a paragraph choosing one of the three solutions that you believe makes the most sense

• Write a second paragraph explaining the quality of your water sample, based on the levels of each that you found.

• Write a paragraph choosing one of the three solutions that you believe makes the most sense

• Write a second paragraph explaining the quality of your water sample, based on the levels of each that you found.