Transcript 11 - Mar 12 - California State University, Sacramento

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Management of Non-Point
Source Pollution
CE 296B
Department of Civil Engineering
California State University, Sacramento
Lecture #11, March 12, 1998
Sources of Pollutants - Part VII
2
Recall that we were looking at the six categories of
pollutants:
1. Toxic inorganics - e.g. metals
2. Synthetic organics - e.g. solvents
3. Biostimulants - BOD, nutrients
4. Sediment - clay, silt, sand, gravel
Left off here 
5. Pathogenic organisms - viruses, bacteria, protozoa
6. Trash - use your imagination
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And the framework for acquiring knowledge about
each category:
1. What are the sub-categories in each category
and what are representative members? and
here
2. What are the origins of pollutants?
3. How pollutants are introduced to the flow
stream?
4. How pollutants behave in water?
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VI.The fifth category of pollutant to examine is
pathogens. (cont.)
E. Other methods for counting indicator
organisms:
1. Membrane filters:
Pour through a measured amount of
sample or diluted sample
Incubate 24
hours at 35°C,
count colonies
Sample
Membrane filter treated with lactose and a chemical
that produces a green sheen when aldehyde is
produced as part of the fermentation of lactose.
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VI.The fifth category of pollutant to examine is
pathogens. (cont.)
E. Other methods for counting indicator
organisms:(cont.)
1. Membrane filters: Are the results, most
probable numbers?
2. High tech methods:
a. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) Looks for
specific sequences of DNA, specific to the
organism in question. In most techniques, the
cells are first lysed. Problem with this method
is that it picks up of the correct DNA, including
DNA that is just floating around.
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VI.The fifth category of pollutant to examine is
pathogens. (cont.)
E. Other methods for counting indicator
organisms:(cont.)
2. High tech methods: (cont.)
b. In situ hybridization. Does the PCR work
inside the cell. Promising but needs to be
better developed.
c. Co-prostinal detection. Analyze for the fatty
acid profile in fecal material of cholesterol
digestion. There is a different profile for
humans vs. different kinds of animals.
Problem with this is very demanding analytical
methods and inconclusive results.
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VI.The fifth category of pollutant to examine is
pathogens. (cont.)
F. Origins of pathogens as pollutants:
1. Of course, improper disposal of fecal
material.
2. Suggested sources of urban bacteria:
• dogs
• the homeless
• soil
3. Suggested sources of rural bacteria:
• poorly performing septic-leach field systems
• animal husbandry
• all the urban sources
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VI.The fifth category of pollutant to examine is
pathogens. (cont.)
G. How do pathogens behave in water?
1. Many of the indicator bacteria reproduce.
2. The amount of dilution may be great.
3. Protozoa, a topic we have been glossing
over, may indeed be a big problem. It does
not require a large dose to make one sick.
Protozoa may be quite persistent and are
very hard to detect. This is a topic that will
not go away or be dealt with soon.
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VI.The fifth category of pollutant to examine is
pathogens. (cont.)
G. How do pathogens behave in water? (cont.)
4. Recall an earlier diagram, a water body in
an arid area during a storm event:
Bacteria counts, indicator
organisms
such
as
total
Effluent, all
coliform or fecal coliform
storm water
are astronomical.
Receiving
Water, all
storm water
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Discussion Break
A major complaint from dischargers is that they are
being held to an impossible standard on bacteria
during storm events.
Why do you think this is?
What are some solutions? Problems with those
solutions?
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Discussion Break
We have seen most all of the pollutants, their
sources and potential impacts.
Where would you rank pathogens in this scheme of
things?
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Recall that we were looking at the six categories of
pollutants:
1. Toxic inorganics - e.g. metals
2. Synthetic organics - e.g. solvents
3. Biostimulants - BOD, nutrients
4. Sediment - clay, silt, sand, gravel
5. Pathogenic organisms - viruses, bacteria, protozoa
6. Trash - use your imagination on to here
13
And the framework for acquiring knowledge about
each category:
1. What are the sub-categories in each category
and what are representative members?
2. What are the origins of pollutants?
3. How pollutants are introduced to the flow
stream?
4. How pollutants behave in water?
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VII. The sixth category of pollutant to examine is
trash.
A. Not very exotic, but in urban areas, this can be
a substantial problem. What are some
examples of trash?
1. Litter - food containers, beer cans, etc.
2. Cigarette butts
3. Industrial material improperly disposed of.
4. Biomedical waste
5. Dead animals
6. Other ideas?
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VII. The sixth category of pollutant to examine is
trash. (cont.)
B. What are the origins of trash?
I know, a dumb question, my answer is
improper disposal of discrete objects of
human origin.
C. How is trash introduced to the flow stream?
A little more complicated, but not too much
so.
1. Item is lying on the ground where the
flow can push it to the receiving water.
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VII. The sixth category of pollutant to examine is
trash. (cont.)
C. How is trash introduced to the flow
stream? (cont.)
2. Item(s) are directly deposited in the
receiving water.
Malicious littering.
3. If the item is large enough and/or dense
enough, it will remain lodged in place
until a large storm moves it downstream.
Shock loading.
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VII. The sixth category of pollutant to examine is
trash. (cont.)
D. How does trash behave in water?
1. The trash can sink to the bottom. From
that location it can:
• Impede navigation
• Interfere with habitat
• Decompose, either a biostimulant or release
toxic compounds.
• Something like biomedical waste can
become a real health hazard.
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VII. The sixth category of pollutant to examine is
trash. (cont.)
D. How does trash behave in water? (cont.)
2. The trash can float on the surface. From
that location it can:
• Impede navigation
• Interfere with habitat
• Cause substantial damage to wildlife. The
soft drink plastic rings issue as an example.
• Interfere with aesthetics
• Decompose, either a biostimulant or release
toxic compounds.
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VII. The sixth category of pollutant to examine is
trash. (cont.)
D. How does trash behave in water? (cont.)
3. The trash can wash ashore. From that
location it can:
• Interfere with habitat
• Cause substantial damage to wildlife. The
soft drink plastic rings issue again.
• Interfere with aesthetics
• Decompose, either a biostimulant or release
toxic compounds.
• Something like biomedical waste can
become a real health hazard.
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Discussion Break
The economic impact of trash as a non-point source
pollutant can be very immediate.
What are some examples of these economic
impacts?
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Discussion Break
Some cynics, such as myself, believe that if the trash
issue was solved, the interest in non-point source
pollution would calm down.
Do you agree?
How would this reduced interest be a good thing?
How would this reduced interest be a bad thing?
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The End
Of the Sources of Pollutants Section