Chapter 14 Water Pollution

Water Pollution Water pollution- the contamination of streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, or groundwater with substances (typically produced through human activities) that negatively affect organisms (including human health). Point sources - distinct locations that pump waste into a waterway. (Can you point to where it came from?) Nonpoint sources - diffused areas such as an entire farming region that pollutes a waterway. http://www.epa.gov/polluted-runoff-nonpoint-source-pollution

Reasons scientists are concerned about human wastewater: Water produced by human activities such as human sewage from toilets and gray water from bathing and washing clothes or dishes. Reasons scientists are concerned about human wastewater: Bacteria in human waste increases the demand for oxygen (BOD) in the water. Nutrients that are released from wastewater decomposition can make the water more fertile causing eutrophication. Wastewater can carry a wide variety of disease-causing organisms (pathogens).

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) BOD- the amount of oxygen a quantity of water uses over a period of time at a specific temperature. Lower BOD values indicate the water is less polluted and higher BOD values indicate it is more polluted by wastewater.

Eutrophication Eutrophication is an abundance of fertility to a body of water - caused by an increase in nutrients, such as fertilizers. Eutrophication can cause a rapid growth of algae which eventually dies, causing the microbes to increase the BOD.

Biological Magnification The accumulation of pollutants at successive levels of the food chain. Notice how these concentrations increase as you go up the food chain (trophic levels)

Common Diseases from Human Wastewater Pathogens: disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses and parasitic worms often found in untreated waste water or animal feces. Resulting Illnesses: The vast majority of surface water on the planet is neither potable (fit for drinking) nor toxic. Approximately 25% of the world’s population has no access to potable water. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R_vpNQ0fJc Cholera Typhoid fever Stomach flu Diarrhea Hepatitis

Treatments for Human and Animal Wastewater Septic systems: homes that are not connected to a city’s water supply typically have a large container that receives wastewater from the house. They are supplied with bacteria that “digest” the waste before spreading the liquids under one’s property.

Treatments for Human and Animal Wastewater Sewage Treatment Plants - centralized plants in areas with large populations that receive wastewater via a network of underground pipes. The “effluent” our local Ironhouse Sanitary District puts back in the delta is actually cleaner than the delta itself! (transfer steps into personal diagrams)

Treatments for Human and Animal Wastewater Manure lagoons: large, human-made ponds lined with rubber to prevent the manure from leaking into the groundwater. After the manure is broken down by bacteria, it is spread onto fields as fertilizers. (these have been known to flood in heavy rains and over-flow into nearby streams/rivers).

s and other substances that can threaten human health and the environment Lead Arsenic Mercury Acids Synthetic compounds (pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and hormones)

How do these compare to the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico? Oil Pollution How do these compare to the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico? (see next slide…)

(ironically, on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day) April 20, 2010 (ironically, on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day) 4.9 million barrels (over 200 million gallons) – 21 times more than the Exxon Valdez spill, considered the worst human-caused environmental disaster in history.

Oil Pollution Contrary to shocking reports of disastrous oil spills in the ocean, nearly 85% of the oil pollution in the ocean today comes from surface run-off: accumulation of oil from cars on roadways. http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/oceanography-book/oilspills.htm

Ways to “Remediate” Oil Pollution Containment using booms to keep the floating oil from spreading. Bacteria that are genetically engineered to consume oil https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-microbes-helped-clean-bp-s-oil-spill/ Chemicals that help break up the oil, making it disperse before it hits the shoreline (also Dawn dish soap)…

Other Water Pollutants Solid waste pollution (garbage)

Other Water Pollutants Sediment pollution (sand, silt and clay)

Other Water Pollutants May result in a “fish kill”: a massive die-off due to pollution, lack of oxygen or sudden change of temperature. Thermal pollution

Simplify as a reference in your notes: Historical Events Cuyahoga River Simplify as a reference in your notes: A river on fire.  Until 1970, there were no laws to protect rivers and water quality. Industries used waterways as “waste disposal lines”. In 1952 and again in 1969, the polluted Cuyahoga River in Ohio caught fire after a spark ignited the film of industrial pollution that was floating on the surface of the water. (p.393)

Simplify as a reference in your notes: Historical Events Simplify as a reference in your notes: NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y.-- The Hooker Chemical Company used the Love Canal as an industrial dump for 82 chemical compounds, 11 of them suspected carcinogens (known to cause cancer). In 1953, the owners buried the canal and sold it to the city for one dollar. Since then, houses were built on top of the site, and chemicals have been percolating upward through the soil from drum containers rotting and leaching their contents into the backyards and basements of 100 homes and a public school built on the banks of the canal. Residents experienced a high rate of cancer and birth defects. In 1978, Lois Gibbs lead the march to get the EPA to declare the area as one of America’s first “superfund” sites. She continues to fight for other communities to this day. Love Canal The New York Times Nov. 26, 2013

Water Laws Clean Water Act- (1972) provided the “protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water”. The EPA issued water quality standards that defined “acceptable limits” of various pollutants in U.S. surface waterways.

(see examples on next slide) Water Laws Safe Drinking Water Act- (1974, amended in 1986 and 1996) sets the national standards for safe drinking water. It is responsible for establishing maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for 77 different elements or substances in both surface water and groundwater. (see examples on next slide)

Only ones needed in Notes Water Laws Absolutely Zero Tolerance! Only ones needed in Notes Note: these are just a few out of the list of 77 MCLs

Types of Water Pollution When you think of water pollution, what comes to mind? Not Needed in Notes

Not Needed in Notes