1. Living in the Environment
Water Pollution
G. Tyler Miller’s
Living in the Environment
14th Edition
Chapter 22

2. Key Concepts Types, sources, and effects of water pollutants
Major pollution problems of surface water
Major pollution problems of groundwater
Reduction and prevention of water pollution
Drinking water quality

3. Types, Effects and Sources of Water Pollution
Point sources
Refer to Tables 22-1 and 22-2 p. 492 and 493
Nonpoint sources
Fig p. 494
Water quality

4. Point and Nonpoint Sources
Urban streets
Suburban development
Wastewater treatment plant
Rural homes
Cropland
Factory
Animal feedlot
POINT SOURCES
Fig p. 494

5. Pollution of Streams Oxygen sag curve Factors influencing recovery
Fig p. 496

6. Pollution of Lakes
Eutrophication
Fig p. 499

7. Case Study: The Great Lakes
Fig p. 500

8. Groundwater Pollution: Causes
Low flow rates
Few bacteria
Low oxygen
Cold temperatures
Hazardous waste injection well
Pesticides
Coal strip mine runoff
De-icing road salt
Buried gasoline and solvent tank
Pumping well
Cesspool septic tank
Gasoline station
Waste lagoon
Water pumping well
Sewer
Landfill
Leakage from faulty casing
Accidental spills
Discharge
Unconfined freshwater aquifer
Confined aquifer
Confined freshwater aquifer
Groundwater flow
Fig p. 502

9. Groundwater Pollution Prevention
Monitor aquifers
Find less hazardous substitutes
Leak detection systems
Strictly regulating hazardous waste disposal
Store hazardous materials above ground

10. Ocean Pollution
Fig p. 504

11. Case Study: Chesapeake Bay
Largest US estuary
Relatively shallow
Slow “flushing” action to Atlantic
Major problems with dissolved O2
Fig p. 506

12. Oil Spills
Sources: offshore wells, tankers, pipelines and storage tanks
Effects: death of organisms, loss of animal insulation and buoyancy, smothering
Significant economic impacts
Mechanical cleanup methods: skimmers and blotters
Chemical cleanup methods: coagulants and dispersing agents

13. Solutions: Preventing and Reducing Surface Water Pollution
Nonpoint Sources
Point Sources
Reduce runoff
Clean Water Act
Buffer zone vegetation
Water Quality Act
Reduce soil erosion

14. Technological Approach: Septic Systems
Require suitable soils and maintenance
Fig p. 510

15. Technological Approach: Sewage Treatment
Physical and biological treatment
Fig p. 511

16. Technological Approach: Advanced (Tertiary) Sewage Treatment
Uses physical and chemical processes
Removes nitrate and phosphate
Expensive
Not widely used

17. Technological Approach: Using Wetlands to Treat Sewage
Fig p. 513

18. Drinking Water Quality
Purification of urban drinking water
Protection from terrorism
Purification of rural drinking water
Safe Drinking Water Act
Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs)
Bottled water