Transcript Water Pollution - Jefferson Forest High School

Water Pollution
Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Identify what pollutes water and the
source of the pollution.
 Identify the major pollution problems
affecting our waterways including
oceans, surface water and groundwater
 Determine methods to “clean up” water
 Describe state and federal water
legislation

Vocabulary Words
Water pollution
 point/non-point source
 Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
 Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
 sludge
 Safe Drinking Water Act
 Clean Water Act
 Oil Spill Prevention & Liability Act

Identifying Pollution

Which of the beakers on the front table
contain polluted water?
Chlorine, specific conductance
 Acid, pH
 Organic constituents, lab analysis
 Sediment, visual identification
 Surfactants, visual identification

We All Live Downstream

“Today, everybody is downstream from
somebody else,” William Ruckelshaus
What does that mean?
 How does that affect your water quality?

Questions will be recorded in your books
and turned in at the end of class
 http://media.oregonstate.edu/ramgen/db
ase/0000167/downstream.rm

Water Pollution

Water pollution is any chemical,
biological or physical change in water
quality that has a harmful effect on living
organisms or makes water unsuitable for
desired uses.
Who decides if water is “harmful”?
 What does “harmful” mean?
 Which “living organisms” matter?


“All substances are poisons, there is
none which is not a poison. The right
dose differentiates a poison and a
remedy.”
Paracelsus (1493-1541)
Toxicology

The study of the interaction between
chemical agents and biological systems.

Toxicity is the relative ability of a
substance to cause adverse effects in
living organisms.
Definitions of “harmful”
Toxic refers to a parameter, constituent
to pollutant that has an LD50; in other
words, it has been known to kill
organisms (usually humans)
 Hazardous refers to a compound which
causes acute or chronic health problems,
including, but not limited to, death.

The point is . . .

If the chemicals and biological agents
that we use and produce as waste
products were not “harmful” in some way
to some population, there would be no
point in studying water pollution.
The source of it all

Point source: pollution that comes from
a specific location
Sludge from a
copper mine.
Industrial discharge
Other Sources

Non-point source: pollution that occurs
from multiple sources with no single
polluter identified.
Who are the polluters?

The major source of 41-48% water
pollution is agriculture according to the
EPA.

Connect the dots from population growth,
food production, water use and water
pollution.
Industrial Facilities
 Municipal
 Mining

What is water polluted with?
Disease-causing agents
 Oxygen demanding waste
 Plant nutrients (NO3-, PO43-)
 Organic chemicals (solvents, petroleum)
 Inorganic chemicals (Fe, Pb, NH3)
 Sediment
 Heat

What are they polluting?
Types
Examples
Sources
 Infectious agents  Bacteria, viruses,  Human and
parasites
animal waste
 Oxygendemanding waste
 Biodegradable
animal waste &
plant debris
 Sewage, animal
feedlots, food
processing plants,
pulp mills
 Sewage, animal
waste, fertilizers
 Plant nutrients
 NO3, PO4, SO4
 Organic
chemicals
 Petroleum
 Industry, farms,
products, plastics, households
cleaners, etc.
What else are they polluting?
Types
Examples
 Inorganic
chemicals
 Acids, salts,
metal compounds
 Sediment
 Clay, sand, silt
 Thermal
 Heat
Sources
 Industry,
households,
surface runoff
 Erosion, farms,
industry
 Power plants,
nuclear facilities,
industry
Effects of Pollution

The two major effects of water pollution
are:
exposure to infectious agents from
contaminated drinking water; and,
 not having enough water for effective
sanitation.

Waterborne Diseases
Type of
Organism
Disease
Effects
Bacteria
 Typhoid fever  diarrhea, vomiting, inflammation
 stomach pain, nausea, vomiting
 Enteritis
Virus
 Hepatitis B
Parasites  Dysentery
 Giardiasis
Parasitic
worms
 Schistosomiasis
 fever, severe headache,
jaundice, enlarged liver
 diarrhea, abdominal pain
 diarrhea, cramps, fatigue
 Abdominal pain, rash, anemia,
chronic fatigue
What is “clean” or “safe”?

The definition of clean or safe water is
very dependent on it’s use and the laws
that affect the source and discharge of
the water.

Example: pH
RCRA: 2 > S.U. > 12.5
 SDWA: 6.5 > S.U. > 8.5
 HMTA: those substances which cause visible
destruction to skin tissue

The Water
Drinking Water: Safe Drinking Water Act
 Surface Water: Clean Water Act
 Groundwater: CWA, RCRA as Solid
Waste, CERCLA for clean-up

Surface Water

Surface Water is polluted by:
human activity
 industrial activity
 power plants

Freshwater Sources
Water Quality

There are two classes of water quality
standards:
biological
 chemical

Chemical Water Quality

Water Quality Index (WQI) is a set of
standard test parameters used to
compare water quality all around the
country.

An numerical WQI is assigned based on the
results of nine (9) separate parameters
WQI Parameters









Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
pH
Temperature Change (ΔT)
Fecal Coliform
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Nitrates
Total Phosphates
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Turbidity or Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
Q Value

Measurements of each parameter are
taken and recorded and then are
converted into a “Q value”
Water Quality Factor Weights

The “Q” value for each parameter is
determined and multiplied by a weighting
factor:
Dissolved oxygen
 Fecal coliform
 pH
 Biochemical oxygen demand
 Temperature change
 Total phosphate
 Nitrates
 Turbidity
 Total solids

0.17
0.16
0.11
0.11
0.10
0.10
0.10
0.08
0.07
Final calculation

The weighted “Q values” are added for
all of the parameters and compared to a
water quality index scale
The Scale

Water Quality Index Scale
91 - 100 : Excellent Water Quality
 71 - 90 : Good Water Quality
 51 - 70 : Medium or Average Quality
 26 - 50 : Fair Water Quality
 0 - 25 : Poor Water Quality

Dissolved Oxygen
Oxygen gas is not very soluble in water.
 As the temperature of a liquid increases,
the solubilities of gases in that liquid
decrease.


T, Solubility
Gas Solubility
We can use the Second Law of
Thermodynamics to explain why.
 Heating a solution of a gas enables the
particles of gas to move more freely
between the solution and the gas phase.
 The Second Law predicts that they will
shift to the more disordered, more highly
dispersed, and therefore, more probably
gas state.

Where does DO come from?

Most of the DO in surface water comes
from contact with the atmosphere.
Splashing and flowing water traps oxygen
 Photosynthetic organisms also produce
oxygen

DO Test
The test for DO determines the
availability of oxygen for aquatic life
 A high concentration of DO indicates
high water quality

Water
Quality
DO (ppm) at 20°C
Good
8–9
Slightly
polluted
6.7–8
Moderately
polluted
Heavily
polluted
Gravely
polluted
4.5–6.7
Below 4.5
Below 4
Fig. 21-3, p. 496
Reference
http://www.indiana.edu/~bradwood/eagles/waterquality.htm
Physical Influences on
Dissolved Oxygen

Water temperature and the volume of
water moving down a river (discharge)
affect dissolved oxygen levels. Gases,
like oxygen, dissolve more easily in
cooler water than in warmer water. In
temperate areas, rivers respond to
changes in air temperature by cooling or
warming.
Climate and DO

River discharge is related to the climate
of an area. During dry periods, flow may
be severely reduced, and air and water
temperatures are often higher. Both of
these factors tend to reduce dissolved
oxygen levels. Wet weather or melting
snows increase flow, with a resulting
greater mixing of atmospheric oxygen.
Human-Caused Changes in
Dissolved Oxygen

The main factor contributing to changes in
dissolved oxygen levels is the build- up of
organic wastes.

Organic wastes consist of anything that was
once part of a living plant or animal, including
food, leaves, feces, etc.

Organic waste can enter rivers in sewage, urban
and agricultural runoff, or in the discharge of
food processing plants, meat packing houses,
dairies, and other industrial sources.
Farming and Dissolved
Oxygen

A significant ingredient in urban and
agricultural runoff are fertilizers that
stimulate the growth of algae and other
aquatic plants. As plants die, aerobic
bacteria consume oxygen in the process of
decomposition. Many kinds of bacteria also
consume oxygen while decomposing
sewage and other organic material in the
river.
Changes in Aquatic Life

Depletions in dissolved oxygen can cause
major shifts in the kinds of aquatic
organisms found in water bodies.

Species that cannot tolerate low levels of dissolved
oxygen-mayfly nymphs, stonefly nymphs, caddisfly
larvae, and beetle larvae-will be replaced by a few
kinds of pollution-tolerant organisms, such as worms
and fly larvae.

Nuisance algae and anaerobic organisms (that live
without oxygen) may also become abundant in waters
with low levels of dissolved oxygen.
Calculating Percent Saturation

The percent saturation of water with
dissolved oxygen at a given temperature
is determined by pairing temperature of
the water with the dissolved oxygen value,
after first correcting your dissolved oxygen
measurement for the effects of
atmospheric pressure. This is done with
the use of the correction table and the
percent saturation chart.
Using the Conversion Charts

To calculate percent saturation, first correct your
dissolved oxygen value (milligrams of oxygen
per liter) for atmospheric pressure. Look at the
correction chart. Using either your atmospheric
pressure (as read from a barometer) or your
local altitude (if a barometer is not available),
read across to the right hand column to find the
correction factor. Multiply your dissolved oxygen
measurement by this factor to obtain a
corrected value.
The Meaning of Percent
Saturation

Rivers that consistently have a dissolved
oxygen value of 90 percent or higher are
considered healthy, unless the waters are
supersaturated due to cultural
eutrophication.

Rivers below 90 percent saturation may
have large amounts of oxygen-demanding
materials, i.e. organic wastes.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
(BOD)

When organic matter decomposes, it is
fed upon by aerobic bacteria. In this
process, organic matter is broken down
and oxidized (combined with oxygen).
Biochemical oxygen demand is a
measure of the quantity of oxygen used
by these microorganisms in the aerobic
oxidation of organic matter.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
(BOD)

When aquatic plants die, they are fed
upon by aerobic bacteria. The input of
nutrients into a river, such as nitrates and
phosphates, stimulates plant growth.
Eventually, more plant growth leads to
more plant decay. Nutrients, then, can be
a prime contributor to high biochemical
oxygen demand in rivers.
Sources of Organic Matter

There are natural sources of organic
material which include organic matter
entering lakes and rivers from swamps,
bogs, and vegetation along the water,
particularly leaf fall.

There are also human sources of
organic material. When these are
identifiable points of discharge into
rivers and lakes, they are called point
sources.
Point Sources of Organic Matter

Point sources of organic pollution
include:

pulp and paper mills;

meat-packing plants;

food processing industries;

wastewater treatment plants.
Non-point Sources of Organic
Matter

Urban runoff of rain and melting snow that
carries sewage from illegal sanitary sewer
connections into storm drains; pet wastes from
streets and sidewalks; nutrients from lawn
fertilizers; leaves, grass clippings, and paper
from residential areas;

Agricultural runoff that carries nutrients, like
nitrogen and phosphates, from fields;

Runoff from animal feedlots that carries fecal
material into rivers.
Changes in Aquatic Life

In rivers with high BOD levels, much of the
available dissolved oxygen is consumed by
aerobic bacteria, robbing other aquatic
organisms of the oxygen they need to live.

Organisms that are more tolerant of lower dissolved
oxygen may appear and become numerous, such
as carp, midge larvae, and sewage worms.
Organisms that are intolerant of low oxygen levels,
such as caddisfly larvae, mayfly nymphs, and
stonefly nymphs, will not survive.
Cause and Effect

As organic pollution increases, the ecologically
stable and complex relationships present in waters
containing a high diversity of organisms is replaced
by a low diversity of pollution-tolerant organisms.
Fig. 21-4, p. 497
pH

Water contains both H+ (hydrogen) ions
and OH- (hydroxyl) ions. The pH test
measures the H+ ion concentration of
liquids and substances.
Changes in pH

It is important to remember that for
every one unit change on the pH scale,
there is approximately a ten-fold change
in how acidic or basic the sample is.

The average pH of rainfall over much of
the northeastern United States is 4.3, or
roughly ten times more acidic than normal
rainfall of 5.0-5.6.

Lakes of pH 4 (acidic) are roughly 100
times more acidic than lakes of pH 6.
Human-Caused Changes in pH

In the U.S., the pH of natural water is
usually between 6.5 and 8.5, although
wide variations can occur. Increased
amounts of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and
sulfur dioxide (SO-2), primarily from
automobile and coal-fired power plant
emissions, are converted to nitric acid
and sulfuric acid in the atmosphere.
Acid Neutralization

Acid rain is responsible for thousands of
lakes in eastern Canada, northeastern
United States, Sweden, and Finland
becoming acidic. If limestone is present, the
alkaline (basic) limestone neutralizes the
effect the acids might have on lakes and
streams.

The areas hardest hit by acid rain and snow are
downwind of urban/industrial areas and do not
have any limestone to reduce the acidity of the
water.
Changes in Aquatic Life

Changes in the pH value of water are
important to many organisms. Most
organisms have adapted to life in water
of a specific pH and may die if it changes
even slightly. This has happened to
brook trout in some streams in the
Northeast.
pH Extremes

At extremely high or low pH values (e.g.,
9.6 or 4.5) the water becomes unsuitable
for most organisms. For example,
immature stages of aquatic insects and
young fish are extremely sensitive to pH
values below 5.

Very acidic waters can also cause heavy
metals, such as copper and aluminum, to be
released into the water.
Nitrates

Nitrogen is a much more abundant
nutrient than phosphorus in nature.

Blue-green algae, the primary algae of
algal blooms, are able to use N2 and
convert it into forms of nitrogen that
plants can take up through their roots
and use for growth: ammonia (NH3) and
nitrate (NO3-).
Nitrates

How do aquatic animals obtain the
nitrogen they need to form proteins?

they either eat aquatic plants and convert
plant proteins to specific animal proteins,

or, they eat other aquatic organisms which
feed upon plants.
Nitrates

As aquatic plants and animals die,
bacteria break down large protein
molecules into ammonia.

Ammonia is then oxidized (combined with
oxygen) by specialized bacteria to form
nitrites (NO2) and nitrates (NO-3). These
bacteria get energy for metabolism from
oxidation.
Nitrates

Excretions of aquatic organisms are very
rich in ammonia, although the amount of
nitrogen they add to waters is usually
small.

Duck and geese, however, contribute a
heavy load of nitrogen (from excrement) in
areas where they are plentiful. algae into
ammonia and nitrates.
Eutrophication

Eutrophication promotes more plant
growth and decay, which in turn
increases biochemical oxygen demand.

However, unlike phosphorus, nitrogen rarely
limits plant growth, so plants are not as
sensitive to increases in ammonia and
nitrate levels.
Sources of Nitrates

Sewage is the main source of nitrates
added by humans to rivers and lakes.

Septic systems are common in rural
areas.

In properly functioning septic systems, soil
particles remove nutrients like nitrates and
phosphates before they reach groundwater.
Sources of Nitrates

When septic system drainfields are
placed too close to the water table,
nutrients and bacteria are able to
percolate down into the groundwater
where they may contaminate drinking
water supplies.

Septic tanks must also be emptied
periodically, to function properly.
Problems with Nitrate
Contaminated Water

Water containing high nitrate levels can
cause a serious condition called
methemoglobinemia (met-hemo-glo-binemia), if it is used for infant milk formula.

This condition prevents the baby's blood
from carrying oxygen; hence the nickname
"blue baby" syndrome.
Water Temperature

The water temperature of a river is very
important for water quality.

Many of the physical, biological, and
chemical characteristics of a river are
directly affected by temperature.
Temperature Influences


the amount of oxygen that can be dissolved in
water;

the rate of photosynthesis by algae and larger
aquatic plants;

the metabolic rates of aquatic organisms;

the sensitivity of organisms to toxic wastes,
parasites, and diseases.
Remember, cool water can hold more
oxygen than warm water, because
gases are more easily dissolved in cool
water.
Human-Caused Changes in
Temperature

Thermal pollution is an increase in water
temperature caused by adding relatively
warm water to a body of water.

Industries, such as nuclear power plants,
may cause thermal pollution by discharging
water used to cool machinery.

Thermal pollution may also come from
stormwater running off warmed urban
surfaces, such as streets, sidewalks, and
parking lots.
Human Temperature

People also affect water temperature by
cutting down trees that help shade the river,
exposing the water to direct sunlight.

Soil erosion can also contribute to warmer
water temperatures. Soil erosion raises
water temperatures because it increases
the amount of suspended solids carried by
the river, making the water cloudy (turbid).
Cloudy water absorbs the sun's rays,
causing water temperature to rise.
Changes in Aquatic Life

As water temperature rises, the rate of
photosynthesis and plant growth also
increases.

More plants grow and die.

As plants die, they are decomposed by
bacteria that consume oxygen.

Therefore, when the rate of photosynthesis
is increased, the need for oxygen in the
water (BOD) is also increased.
Hot Animals

The metabolic rate of organisms also
rises with increasing water temperatures,
resulting in even greater oxygen
demand.

The life cycles of aquatic insects tend to
speed up in warm water.

Animals that feed on these insects can be
negatively affected, particularly birds that
depend on insects emerging at key periods
during their migratory flights.
Temperature Adaptations

Most aquatic organisms have adapted to
survive within a range of water
temperatures. Some organisms prefer
cooler water, such as trout, stonefly
nymphs, while others thrive under
warmer conditions, such as carp and
dragonfly nymphs.

As the temperature of a river increases, cool
water species will be replaced by warm
water organisms.
Temperature and Toxicity

Temperature also affects aquatic life's
sensitivity to toxic wastes, parasites, and
disease.

Thermal pollution may cause fish to become
more vulnerable to disease, either due to
the stress of rising water temperatures or
the resulting decrease in dissolved oxygen.
Turbidity

Turbidity is a measure of the relative
clarity of water: the greater the turbidity,
the murkier the water.

Turbidity increases as a result of suspended
solids in the water that reduce the
transmission of light.

Suspended solids are varied, ranging from
clay, silt, and plankton, to industrial wastes
and sewage.
Sources of Turbidity

High turbidity may be caused by soil
erosion, waste discharge, urban runoff,
abundant bottom feeders (such as carp)
that stir up bottom sediments, or algal
growth.

The presence of suspended solids may
cause color changes in water, from
nearly white to red-brown, or to green
from algal blooms.
Changes in Aquatic Life

At higher levels of turbidity, water loses its
ability to support a diversity of aquatic
organisms.

Waters become warmer as suspended particles
absorb heat from sunlight, causing oxygen levels
to fall (warm water, less O2).

Photosynthesis decreases because less light
penetrates the water, causing further drops in
oxygen levels.

The combination of warmer water, less light, and
oxygen depletion makes it impossible for some
forms of aquatic life to survive.
Suspended Solids

Suspended solids can clog fish gills, reduce
growth rates, decrease resistance to disease,
and prevent egg and larval development.

Particles of silt, clay, and organic materials can
smother the eggs of fish and aquatic insects,
as well as suffocate newly-hatched insect
larvae.

Material that settles into the spaces between
rocks makes these microhabitats unsuitable for
mayfly nymphs, stonefly nymphs, caddisfly
larvae, and other aquatic insects living there.
Fecal Coliform Bacteria

Fecal coliform bacteria are found in the
feces of humans and other warmblooded animals.

These bacteria can enter rivers directly or
from agricultural and storm runoff carrying
wastes from birds and mammals, and from
human sewage discharged into the water.
Pathogenic Organisms

Fecal coliform by themselves are not
dangerous (pathogenic) .

Fecal coliform bacteria naturally occur in the
human digestive tract, and aid in the
digestion of food.

In infected individuals, pathogenic
organisms are found along with fecal
coliform bacteria.
Presence of Both

If fecal coliform counts are high (over
200 colonies/100 ml of water sample) in
the river, there is a greater chance that
pathogenic organisms are also present.

Diseases and illness such as typhoid fever,
hepatitis, gastroenteritis, dysentery, and ear
infections can be contracted in waters with
high fecal coliform counts.
What to monitor?

Pathogens are relatively scarce in water,
making them difficult and timeconsuming to monitor directly. Instead,
fecal coliform levels are monitored,
because of the correlation between fecal
coliform counts and the probability of
contracting a disease from the water.
Municipal Monitoring

Sanitary wastes (from toilets, washers,
and sinks) flow through sanitary sewers
and are treated at the wastewater
treatment plant.

Storm sewers carry rain and snow melt from
streets, and discharge untreated water
directly into rivers.

Heavy rains and melting snow wash animal
wastes from sidewalks and streets and may
wash fecal coliform into the storm sewers.
Standards
Phosphorus

Phosphorus is usually present in natural
waters as phosphate .

Organic phosphate is a part of living plants
and animals, their by-products, and their
remains.

Inorganic phosphates are ions and are
bonded to soil particles; there are some
phosphates present in laundry detergents.
Phosphorus is essential

Phosphorus is a plant nutrient needed
for growth, and a fundamental element in
the metabolic reactions of plants and
animals.

Plant growth is limited by the amount of
phosphorus available.

In most waters, phosphorus functions as a
"growth-limiting" factor because it is usually
present in very low concentrations.
Phosphorus is scarce

The natural scarcity of phosphorus can be
explained by its attraction to organic
matter and soil particles.

Any unattached or “free" phosphorus, in the
form of inorganic phosphates, is rapidly taken
up by algae and larger aquatic plants.

Because algae only require small amounts of
phosphorus to live, excess phosphorus
causes extensive algal growth called
"blooms."
Eutrophication

Most of the eutrophication occurring
today is human-caused (cultural
eutrophication).

Phosphorus from natural sources
generally becomes trapped in bottom
sediments or is rapidly taken up by
aquatic plants. Forest fires and fallout
from volcanic eruptions are natural
events that cause eutrophication.
Sources of Phosphorus

Phosphorus comes from several
sources: human wastes, animal wastes,
industrial wastes, and human
disturbance of the land and its
vegetation.

Sewage effluent (out flow) should not
contain more than 1 mg/ L phosphorus
according to the U.S. EPA.
Sources of P

Storm sewers sometimes contain illegal
connections to sanitary sewers. Sewage
from these connections can be carried into
waterways by rainfall and melting snow.

Phosphorus-containing animal wastes
sometimes find their way into rivers and
lakes in the runoff from feedlots and
barnyards.
Erosion is a source

Soil erosion contributes phosphorus to
rivers.

The removal of natural vegetation for farming or
construction exposes soil to the eroding action of
rain and melting snow.

Draining swamps and marshes for farmland or
construction projects releases phosphorus that has
remained dormant in years of accumulated organic
deposits.

Drained wetlands no longer function as filters of silt
and phosphorus, allowing more runoff -and
phosphorus- to enter waterways.
Impacts of Cultural
Eutrophication

The first symptom of cultural eutrophication
is an algal bloom that colors the water a
pea-soup green.

The advanced stages of cultural
eutrophication can produce anaerobic
conditions in which oxygen in the water is
completely depleted.

These conditions usually occur near the bottom of a
lake or impounded river stretch, and produce gases
like hydrogen sulfide, unmistakable for its "rotten
egg" smell.
Changes in Aquatic Life

Cultural eutrophication causes a shift in
aquatic life to a fewer number of pollution
tolerant species.

The species that can tolerate low dissolved
oxygen levels include-carp, midge larvae,
sewage worms (Tubifex), and others.
Reversing the Effects of
Cultural Eutrophication

Aquatic ecosystems have the capacity to
recover if the opportunity is provided by:

Reducing our use of lawn fertilizers;

Encouraging better farming practices;

Preserving natural vegetation whenever possible,
particularly near shorelines; preserving wetlands to
absorb nutrients and maintain water levels; enacting
strict ordinances to prevent soil erosion;

Supporting measures (including taxes) to improve
phosphorus removal by wastewater treatment plants and
septic systems; treating storm sewer wastes if
necessary; encouraging homeowners along lakes and
streams to invest in community sewer systems;
Biological Monitoring

You can determine the toxicity of an
effluent or water sample to determine
the LD50
Ceriodaphnia dubia
 Daphnia pulex
 Pimephales promelas


Stream monitoring: collect samples of
organisms and collect data regarding
identification and numbers
Save Our Streams
http://www.vasos.org/pages/gettingstarte
d.html
 http://www.vasos.org/pages/documents/v
asosstandardoperatingprocedures.pdf

Using Insects to Study Stream
Health
A sample of stream insects, or
“macroinvertebrates” is collected,
identified and counted.
 http://www.vasos.org/ModifiedBugIDCar
doct2004.pdf

Sensitive Insects
# Types x 3
caddisfly larva
 hellgrammite
 mayfly nymph
 gilled snails
 riffle beetle adult
 stonefly nymph
 water penny larva

Somewhat Sensitive Insects
# Types x 2








beetle larva
clams
crane fly larva
crayfish
damselfly nymph
dragonfly nymph
scuds
sowbugs
fishfly larva
 alderfly larva
 blackfly larva
 atherix

Very Tolerant Organisms
# Types x 1
aquatic worms
 pouch (& other) snails
 leeches
 midge larva

The Quality Rating Scale
WATER QUALITY RATING
 Excellent (>22)
Good (17-22)
Fair (11-16)
Poor (<11)

What about groundwater?

Groundwater pollution caused by human
activities usually falls into one of two
categories: point-source pollution and
nonpoint-source pollution.

Point-source contamination originates from
a single tank, disposal site, or facility.
Industrial waste disposal sites, accidental
spills, leaking gasoline storage tanks, and
dumps or landfills are examples of point
sources.
Non-point Source Groundwater
Contamination

Chemicals used in agriculture, such as
fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides are
examples of nonpoint-source pollution because
they are spread out across wide areas.

Runoff from urban areas is a nonpoint source of
pollution.

Because nonpoint-source substances are used
over large areas, they collectively can have a
larger impact on the general quality of water in
an aquifer than do point sources,
Leaking
tank
Water
table
Groundwater
flow
Free gasoline
dissolves in
Gasoline
groundwater
leakage plume
(dissolved
(liquid phase)
phase)
Migrating
vapor phase
Contaminant plume moves
with the groundwater
Water well
Fig. 21-8, p. 502
Contamination can move!

Groundwater tends to move very slowly and
with little turbulence, dilution, or mixing.

Therefore, once contaminants reach
groundwater, they tend to form a concentrated
plume that flows along with groundwater.

Despite the slow movement of contamination
through an aquifer, groundwater pollution often
goes undetected for years, and as a result can
spread over a large area. One chlorinated
solvent plume in Arizona, for instance, is 0.8
kilometers (0.5 miles) wide and several km long!
Groundwater Migration

Groundwater migration models use
hydrology, geology and soil science to
predict the flow of the aquifer and the
subsequent contamination.
Methods are very complex.
 Computer based models are used to predict
the potential reach of the contaminated
plume.

Groundwater Laws

The two major federal laws that focus on
remediating groundwater contamination
include the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) and the
Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act (CERCLA), also known as
Superfund.
Groundwater Laws: RCRA and
CERCLA

RCRA regulates storage, transportation,
treatment, and disposal of solid and hazardous
wastes, and emphasizes prevention of releases
through management standards in addition to
other waste management activities.

CERCLA regulates the cleanup of abandoned
waste sites or operating facilities that have
contaminated soil or groundwater. CERCLA was
amended in 1986 to include provisions
authorizing citizens to sue violators of the law.
Groundwater Clean-up

The EPA decides who is responsible for
the clean-up process and monitors
progress.
Containment
 Removal
 Bioremediation
 Treatment

Ocean Pollution

80 percent of pollution to the marine
environment comes from land-based
sources, such as runoff pollution. Runoff
pollution includes many small sources,
like septic tanks, cars, trucks and boats,
plus larger sources, such as farms,
ranches and forest areas.
NOAA’s Role

The Commerce Department's National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) works
with the Environmental Protection Agency,
Department of Agriculture and other federal and
state agencies to develop ways to control runoff
pollution.

NOAA's Coastal Zone Management Program is
helping to create special non-point source
pollution control plans for each participating
coastal state. When runoff pollution does cause
problems, NOAA scientists help track down the
exact causes and find solutions.
Industry
Nitrogen oxides
from autos and
smokestacks,
toxic chemicals,
and heavy metals in
effluents flow into
bays and estuaries.
Cities
Toxic metals
and oil from
streets and
parking lots
pollute waters;
Urban sprawl
Bacteria and viruses
from
sewers and septic
tanks contaminate
shellfish beds
Construction sites
Sediments are washed into
waterways, choking fish and plants,
clouding waters, and blocking
sunlight.
Farms
Runoff of pesticides, manure, and
fertilizers adds toxins and excess
nitrogen and phosphorus.
Closed
shellfish beds
Closed
beach
Oxygen-depleted
zone
Red tides
Excess nitrogen causes
explosive growth of
toxicmicroscopic algae,
poisoning fish and
marine mammals.
Toxic sediments
Chemicals and toxic
metals contaminate
shellfish beds, kill
spawning fish, and
accumulate in the tissues
of bottom feeders.
Oxygen-depleted zone
Sedimentation and algae
overgrowth reduce sunlight,
kill beneficial sea grasses, use
up oxygen, and degrade habitat.
Healthy zone
Clear, oxygen-rich
waters promote growth
of plankton and sea grasses,
and support fish.
Fig. 21-10, p. 505
The Law

The Ocean Dumping Act has two basic aims: to
regulate intentional ocean disposal of materials,
and to authorize related research.

Title I of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act
of 1972, contains permit and enforcement provisions for ocean
dumping.

Research provisions are contained in Title II, concerning
general and ocean disposal research;

Title IV, which established a regional marine research program;
and

Title V, which addresses coastal water quality monitoring.

The third title of the MPRSA, authorizes the establishment of
marine sanctuaries.
Solutions

Dilution is NOT the solution to pollution!

Even though it rhymes!
Solutions
Water Pollution
• Prevent groundwater contamination
• Reduce nonpoint runoff
• Reuse treated wastewater for irrigation
• Find substitutes for toxic pollutants
• Work with nature to treat sewage
• Practice four R's of resource use (refuse,
reduce, recycle, reuse)
• Reduce air pollution
• Reduce poverty
• Reduce birth rates
Fig. 21-18, p. 517
Solutions
Groundwater Pollution
Prevention
Find substitutes for toxic
chemicals
Keep toxic
chemicals out of
the environment
Install monitoring wells
near landfills and
underground tanks
Require leak detectors
on underground tanks
Ban hazardous waste
disposal
in landfills and
injection wells
Store harmful liquids in
aboveground tanks with leak
detection and collection systems
Cleanup
Pump to surface,
clean, and return
to aquifer (very
expensive)
Inject
microorganisms
to clean up
contamination (less
expensive but still
costly)
Pump
nanoparticles of
inorganic compounds
to remove pollutants
(may be the cheapest,
easiest, and most
effective method but is
still being developed)
Fig. 21-9, p. 504
Solutions
Coastal Water Pollution
Prevention
Reduce input of toxic pollutants
Cleanup
Improve oil-spill cleanup
capabilities
Separate sewage and storm lines
Ban dumping of wastes and sewage
by maritime and cruise ships in
coastal waters
Ban ocean dumping of sludge and
hazardous dredged material
Sprinkle nanoparticles over an oil or
sewage spill to dissolve the oil or
sewage without
creating harmful by-products
(still under development)
Protect sensitive areas from
development, oil drilling, and
oil shipping
Require at least secondary
treatment of coastal sewage
Regulate coastal development
Recycle used oil
Use wetlands, solar-aquatic,
or other methods to treat sewage
Require double hulls for oil tankers
Fig. 21-14, p. 509
What Can You Do?
Water Pollution
• Fertilize garden and yard plants with manure or compost
instead of commercial inorganic fertilizer.
• Minimize your use of pesticides.
• Do not apply fertilizer or pesticides near a body of water.
• Grow or buy organic foods.
• Do not drink bottled water unless tests show that your tap
water is contaminated. Merely refill and reuse plastic bottles
with tap water.
• Compost your food wastes.
• Do not use water fresheners in toilets.
• Do not flush unwanted medicines down the toilet.
• Do not pour pesticides, paints, solvents, oil, antifreeze, or other
products containing harmful chemicals down the drain or
onto the ground.
Fig. 21-19, p. 517