Transcript Minerals in Water

Minerals in Water
Human Impact on the Environment
Nitrate
NO3-
› Byproduct of bacteria in the biological filter breaking
down ammonia and nitrite
› Used as a food source by aquatic plants and algae
› Can indicate sewage in the water or agricultural runoff
› Leads to bad tastes
› High levels = too much algae and health problems!
› Should be below 40ppm
Nitrite
NO2-
› A waste product produced by bacteria in the biological
filter as it breaks down ammonia
› Harmful in higher amounts!!
› Should be below 0.5ppm
› Contamination in drinking water due to agricultural
runoff and leaky septic tanks
Total Hardness
› Measure of calcium and magnesium
› Minerals dissolved in water as it moves through soil
and rock
› Water that is too hard leaves stains in bathtubs and
sinks and makes them harder to clean
› Help this problem by putting salt water softeners in
your house
› Preferable would be less than 120ppm
Chlorine
› Added to city water to kill bacteria and organisms in
drinking water
› Dissolve from rocks and sediments along the water
source
› High concentrations are harmful to young children
and pets
› Usually less than 100ppm
Alkalinity
› Maintains a constant pH in the water
› Main sources are rocks which contain carbonate,
bicarbonate, and hydroxide compounds.
› Ideal is between 120 and 180
pH
› Measure of H atoms in the water, or how acidic the
water is
› Neutral is Close to 7!!!
› High pH water can result from dissolved minerals,
wastewater contamination due to the presence of
chemical detergents and other cleaning agents.
Municipal processing plants artificially increase the pH
of water to prevent acid corrosion of pipes.
Low pH water can result from acid rain and dissolved
carbon dioxide.
Fluoride
› Added to drinking water to reduce tooth decay, build tooth
strength
› Important for children!
› Natural Sources: weathering of rocks, volcanoes and seawater.
› Human activities: mining and processing of phosphate rock and
its use as agricultural fertilizer, and various manufacturing
processes (aluminum, steel, copper, nickel, glass, brick, ceramic,
glues and adhesives).
Sodium
› Needed by cardiac and nervous systems to function
properly
› About 3,000 mg of sodium needed daily
› Natural: sodium-containing minerals.
› Human Activities: road salt, water treatment
chemicals and ion-exchange water softening units
Calcium
› Important for strong bones and teeth!
› Drinking water can fulfill 6-18% of your daily
calcium need
› Natural: dissolved from rocks
› Human Activity: industrial waste and sewage.
Magnesium
› Supports blood cell turnover and the immune system
› Used to make alloys, found in many electronic devices
› Natural: dissolved from rocks
› Human Activity: metal used in various industrial
processes
Things Removed from Water!
› Waste (sludge)
› Road runoff (wood, rocks, dead animals)
› Sediment
› Fertilizers
› Dissolved gases like hydrogen sulfide
› Scum (grease, oils, plastics, soap)
Phosphorous
› Filters waste in the kidneys, reduces muscle pain, needed for
growth, maintenance and repair of tissues, part of DNA
› Too much can be toxic to humans and can lead to kidney or
cardiovascular disease
› Natural: algal blooms causes eutrophication
› Eutrophication leads to a lower dissolved oxygen in the
water
› Organisms die 
› Can be dissolved into water from rock
› Human activity: sewage, agricultural runoff, pulp and paper
industry, chemical and fertilizer manufacturing, and
detergents
Resources!
› http://www.livestrong.com/article/345301-does-tap-waterhave-more-minerals-than-filtered-water/
› http://www.ngwa.org/Fundamentals/studying/Pages/Dissolve
d-mineral-sources-and-significance.aspx
› http://www.water.usgs.gov
› http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/phosph
orus