1. WATER POLLUTION

2. WATER POLLUTION
Introduction of any chemical, physical, or biological agent into water that degrades the quality of water and affects organisms that depend on it
Clean water act 1972…restore & maintain the chemical, physical, & biological integrity of the country’s water

3. CAUSES AGRICULTURE… LEADING CAUSE INDUSTRY MINING
HUMAN POPULATION EXPLOSION

4. TYPES OF POLLUTANTS TOXIC CHEMICALS SEDIMENTS
ORGANIC CHEMICALS…PESTICIDES/HERBICIDES/OIL/PETROLEUM
HEAVY METALS…LEAD/MERCURY/ARSENIC
INORGANIC CHEMICALS…ACIDS/BASES/SALTS
SEDIMENTS
HEAT (THERMAL POLLUTION)…REDUCES ABILITY OF WATER TO HOLD OXYGEN…comes from power plants & industries along rivers
OXYGEN DEMANDING WASTES…HUMAN/ANIMAL SEWAGE (nourishes growth of microorganisms…increases decomposition…which requires oxygen--bod: BIOCHEMICAL Oxygen Demand)
NUTRIENT POLLUTANTS…nitrates & phosphates…fertilizers (eutrophication)
PATHOGENS…disease causing organisms (over 500+ types); untreated wastewater

5. BIOMAGNIFICATION Pollutants in water
Become more concentrated as it moves up the food chain
Greater impact on top consumers
EX: eagles, pelicans

6. ARTIFICIAL (CULTURAL) EUTROPHICATION
Overload of nutrients in water systems
Cause algal blooms
Use up the oxygen
Other organisms in water die from lack of oxygen

7. SOURCE OF POLLUTION CLEAN WATER ACT 1977…
POINT SOURCE
NON-POINT SOURCE
COMES FROM MANY SOURCES
Ex: PESTICIDES, FERTILIZERS, OIL LEAKING FROM CAR, ANIMAL FECES, SALT ON ROADS TO MELT ICE
REACHES WATER THROUGH STREET & STORMS SEWERS
DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY/CONTROL/REGULATE
DISCHARGED FROM A SINGLE SOURCE
Ex: FACTORY SEWER PIPE, WASTER WATER TREATMENT DISCHARGE, OIL TANKER
EASY TO IDENTIFY/CONTROL/REGULATE
CLEAN WATER ACT 1977…
addressed point source pollution