Alex Benvenuti Jada Rowe Madison Medina Alejandro Gonzalez KQ H4: I, II, III Alex Benvenuti Jada Rowe Madison Medina Alejandro Gonzalez

Groundwater pollution Mining can cause metals to be released and contaminate groundwater The use of chemicals in agriculture such as fertilizers can easily spread across vast areas and contaminate the groundwater greatly. Urban runoff such as power plants and gas stations can contaminate groundwater and introduce unnecessary chemicals The dumping of solid waste such as paint or leaded gas, which contains lead, can seep into the group contaminating the ground water MEDC: USA and China dump mining waste into lakes and rivers LEDC: Basically all of them dump everything into bodies of water because they lack the funds to afford equipment to collect waste.

Groundwater pollution

Nutrient Enrichment EUTROPHICATION HAPPENS NATURALLY Nutrient enrichment accelerates it More Nutrients in the water cause more algae to grow More algae=More oxygen consumed by the algae Algae blooms take up almost all the oxygen in the water, kills the wildlife MEDC: USA, Florida has algae blooms Due to runoff from fertilizers LEDC: Most Sub-Saharan African countries Have heavy pollution in their water.

Main sources of eutrophication Agriculture- Runoff from fertilizers put nutrients in the water and take up oxygen Storm water runoff- Storm water running off into the rivers and lakes Industry- Dumping waste (and nutrients in the waste) into the water Fossil Fuel combustion- acid rain puts nitrates in the water

Impact of sewage disposal Causes and accelerates eutrophication Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of harmful chemicals in the sewage occur Confined sewage plants have leaked into surrounding bodies of water and contaminated them

Sludge Sludge: Residual material produced during sewage treatment of industrial or municipal wastewater (human waste, manufacturing chemicals, or landfill runoff) Can contain pathogens, heavy metals, excess nitrogen and phosphorous, and other toxins

Affects on the Environment and Human Health May contain pathogenic organisms, organic compounds, heavy metals, excess phosphorus and nitrogen It was found that dumping sludge in the destroyed marine life, banned by EPA in 1988 Recognized infections as a result of sludge use: Hepatitis A/B/E(affect the liver), Giardia(diarrheal illness) and worm infestations, MEDC: USA disposes of sludge in sewage systems, but some does leak out into the environment. LEDC: India has basically no plumbing so waste and sludge is everywhere.