1. Water Quality
Think for a few moments about each question. Try to answer them into your notes.
What is water quality?
Are all sources of water affected?
How do the pollutants get there?
What are some key pollutants?

2. Water Quality Physical, chemical, biological characteristics.
Concerns for drinking water, human safety, and ecosystem health.
Use scientific standards to test.
Water sources affected:
Most often surface water
Ground water is more difficult to detect

3. Sources of Pollution Industrial pollution is a major cause
Runoff from agricultural areas
Urban storm water runoff
Discharge of untreated sewage (especially in developing countries.)

4. Point Source Pollution
Comes from one specific location

5. Examples: Overflows of sanitary sewers
Overflows of animal agriculture waste storage
Illegal dumping
Oil spills from barges in the ocean
Smoke stacks from factories

6. Non-Point Source No specific dumping site
Runoff, leaky pipes (septic tanks), landfills, pollutants trapped in the water cycle are carried long distances.

7. Sources of Water Pollution Clean Water Act protects against both
Point Source
Non-Point Source
Similarities
Wide, diffuse, difficult to ID source of pollution
Identifiable, localized entry point of pollution
Clean Water Act protects against both
Cleanup is easier, depending on pollutant
Cleanup is very difficult of diffuse pollutants
Harmful to drinking water, wildlife, fisheries, recreation
Ex: Runoff or snowmelt of oil or pesticide
Ex: Oil Spill or Factory Smokestack

8. Eutrophication
Excess nutrients in the water cause explosive plant growth
When many plants die, they produce a toxin (red algae)
Decaying plants also reduce the amount of oxygen in the water
Plant growth (like algae) can suffocate other life in a lake or pond.

9. Gulf of Mexico

10. Solutions to the Problem
Clean Water Act
Desalination

11. Clean Water Act
Came about in 1972 when a river in Ohio was so polluted that it caught on fire and burned for several days
Goal was to make all surface water clean enough for fishing and swimming by 1983
Goal was not achieved, but lakes and rivers that are clean have increased by 30% and toxic metals are now removed from wastewater

12. Desalination Water comes from the ocean
Can use desalination to remove the salt from the salt water to have fresh water
Heat the salt water and collect the fresh water that evaporates
However, the process is very expensive and also requires lots of energy

13. Waterborne Disease Number one killer of children worldwide
About 80% of all diseases are water-related (WHO)
Often due to water infiltrated with sewage, spreading disease
Bacteria, virus, or protozoa are resposible – can’t be seen, smelled, or tasted and can be in “clean looking” water
Improvements in disposal and treatment have reduced number of illness in developed nations

14. San Diego, CA 11/30/08
This woman is drinking from a “Life Straw” –said to filter particles and bacteria from water.

16. But It’s Just a Bottle of Water
Read through the text.
UNDERLINE all important information.
Answer the questions in complete sentences on a separate sheet of paper.
Turn in by the END OF CLASS to receive full points.
Work turned in after the break will have an automatic 20 points taken off!