Water Chapter 5 Part III

I. Cleaning Up Water Pollution 1. The 1972 Clean Water Act was passed to “restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters.” a. the goal: make waters clean enough for fishing and swimming b. many states have passed stricter water quality standards since then. 2. Other legislation has also been passed: (list) *pg 138* a. Marine Protection Research & Sanctuaries Act b. Safe Drinking Water Act (1975) c. Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) 3. Despite these, nonpoint pollution continues to be a problem.

J. The Special Problem of Groundwater Pollution 1. Many things contribute to groundwater pollution: a. pesticides b. chemical fertilizers c. agricultural chemicals d. leaky chemical storage tanks e. industrial wastewater lagoons 2. It is hard to decontaminate aquifers because the water is among sand and rocks 3. Groundwater recharges so slowly that even if pollution was stopped today, it would still be polluted generations from now.

K. Bottled Water 1. Much bottled water is filtered and treated TAP WATER 2. Bottled water plants are regulated by the government 3. It is not tested for pollutants as often as the public water supply

III. Ocean Pollution A. How Pollution Gets Into Oceans 1. At least 85% of ocean pollution comes from land. a. rivers carry polluted water to the ocean b. pollution comes from coasts where much o f the world’s population lives 2. Pollutants are dumped directly into oceans a. sludge from wastewater treatment plants b. wastewater and garbage from ships

3. Accidental oil spills pollute the ocean a. major accidents make headlines (Exxon Valdez, Prince William Sound – 1989) (Exxon Valdez, Prince William Sound – 1989) b. responsible for about 5% of oil in oceans c. much of the oil pollution is from: i. small tanker leaks ii. spillage when tankers load and unload iii. leaks from offshore oil rigs… 4. Plastic is a major ocean pollutant. a. does not break down easily b. marine animals get tangled in fishing line c. turtles suffocate from eating plastic bags that look like jellyfish d. six-pack rings strangle sea birds and kill fish

B. Preventing Ocean Pollution 1. Laws regulate or prohibit ocean pollution. a. MARPOL = International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) prohibits discharge of oil and the disposal of plastics b. Helsinki Convention (1974) tried to control land-based sources of pollution Ex: toxic dumping, runoff, raw wastewater 2. Nations have created marine refuges to protect endangered species

3. U.S. has laws to protect oceans: a. Marine Mammals Protection Act - prohibits actions that would harm endangered mammals. b. Oil Pollution Act - requires all oil tankers coming to the U.S. to have double hulls to protect against oil spills. 4. Part of the problem is that no one “OWNS” the oceans. a. past laws permitted nation to control waters 3 miles off shore b. Law of the Sea Treaty: (U.S. did not sign) i. nations control territorial seas = 22 km out from shore (~15miles) ii. also control exclusive economic zone= 370 km out (~247 miles) iii. the rest is controlled by the International Sea Bed Treaty