Download WATER POLLUTION PART II

WATER POLLUTION
PART II
POLLUTION FROM SEWAGE
SEWAGE:
•poses a threat to public health because it carries diseasecausing agents (cholera bacteria, hepatitis, Eschericia coli
(coliform bacteria).
•Causes nutrient-loading (organically-rich) into surface
waters.
•Causes an increase in BOD (biological oxygen demand) or
BOD5 over five day period, which causes a decrease in
POLLUTION FROM SEWAGE
SEWAGE:
•poses a threat to public health because it carries diseasecausing agents (cholera bacteria, hepatitis, Eschericia coli
(coliform bacteria).
•Causes nutrient-loading (organically-rich) into surface
waters.
•Causes an increase in BOD (biological oxygen demand) or
BOD5 over five day period, which causes a decrease in DO.
This results in the lowering of photosynthesis and cellular
respiration.
MONITORING SEWAGE
Standard test for for total
coliform (TCOL) and fecal
coliform (FCOL) bacteria.
The number of colonies
formed are counted.
STANDARDS: (EPA)
1. Drinking Water – 1 coliform
bacteria:100 mL of water
2. Swimming Water – 200
coliform bacteria: 100 mL of
water
DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE
SLUDGE
1. ANAEROBIC DIGESTION – anaerobic bacteria break down
organics into methane gas (NH4) and CO2. Methane is trapped
and used to heat the digester to 95F.
END PRODUCT = Soil conditioner for gardens (humus).
2. FERTILIZER – sludge is rich in plant nutrients and can be dried
(pelletized) and sold as a fertilizer.
PROBLEM: Combined sewer (industrial, residential and storm water combined may be high in heavy
metals and PCB’s (NYC SLUDGE!)
WATER POLLUTION
CONTROL LAWS
1988 – Ocean Dumping Ban Act – barred ocean dumping of
sewage sludge at the 200 mile marker. All cities were in
compliance by 1988 EXCEPT for NYC, who were permitted to
dump until June, 1992.
1972 – Water Pollution Control Act – EPA established
regulations for the discharge of pollutants in the USA. It gave
the EPA authority to implement pollution control programs and
set ambient water quality standards for all contaminants entering
surface waters. It also funded the construction of sewage
treatment plants.
WATER POLLUTION
CONTROL LAWS
• The Federal Water Pollution Control Act
was amended in 1977 and came to be
known as the Clean Water Act. The ACT
does NOT address water quantity or
groundwater, ONLY water quality. Initially
addressed point source, since the 1980’s has
come to address nonpoint source issues as
well.
WATER POLLUTION
CONTROL LAWS
• Great Lakes Critical Programs Act, 1990,
put in place part of the Great Lakes Water
Quality Agreement between the USA and
Canada. This law required the EPA to
establish water quality criteria to address 29
toxic pollutants with maximum levels that
are safe for humans, wildlife, and aquatic
life.
GENETIC POLLUTION
(NON-NATIVE SPECIES)
• 1. Zebra Mussel – 1986 larvae of zebra
mussel arrived in ballast water discharged
from a European ship.
ZEBRA MUSSEL
DISTRIBUTION
QUAGGA MUSSEL
Invaded the Great Lakes area when it “hitch-hiked” it’s
way in on a Russian freighter.
More damaging than zebra mussel because it has a
greater tolerance range (can survive at greater depths and
tolerate more extreme temperatures).
There is concern that it will colonize Chesapeake Bay
and parts of Florida.
QUAGGA MUSSEL
DISTRIBUTION
BAD NEWS ON MUSSEL
INVASION
• * No known predators, out-competes food
supply of native shellfish, clogs irrigation
pipes, shuts down water intake systems for
power plants, fouls beaches, and grows in
huge masses on boat hulls and piers.
GOOD NEWS ON MUSSEL
INVASION
• Mussels are filter feeders and improve
water clarity tremendously.
• Water clarity stimulates and promotes
growth of subaquatic vegetation (primary
producers), therefore, increases energy flow
in the aquatic environment and reducing
waste matter!
WATER HYACINTH
• 1 woman from Florida took 1 plant from an
exhibit to put in her pond because the
flower was so beautiful.
• It reproduces rapidly and doubles it’s
population in two weeks.
• It is native to Central and South America
NOT Florida. It is now the #1 invasive
aquatic weed in the southeast!
PROBLEMS
• It as displaced natural species of plants and
fish and clogged ponds, streams and canals.
Scientists have introduced the non-native
water hyacinth beetle (primary consumer), a
snail from Puerto Rico and the grass carp
from Russia!
=
CHAOS!!!
+FBL
WATER HYACINTH
OTHER AQUATIC NONNATIVE SPECIES
• EURASIAN WATER MILFOIL
• SNAKEHEAD FISH
• GOBI FISH
THERMAL POLLUTION
• Thermal pollution occurs when heated water
produced during industrial processing or nuclear
energy generation is released into waterways.
• The water returned to the aquatic environment is
warmer than the surrounding water causing the
solubility of oxygen to decrease (DO drops).
• Organisms that have a limited tolerance range for
temperature variation or rapid thermal changes
will go into thermal shock and die.
THERMAL POLLUTION
RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION
• Wastes from mining of
uranium and plutonium
as well as refinement
of metals. These
materials go to
combined sewage
treatment plants or
directly enter surface
waters through runoff.
WAYS TO REDUCE WATER
POLLUTION
• Reduce the toxicity or volume of pollutants.
• Shift to pollution prevention instead of pollution
cleanup ($$$)
• Replace organic-based solvents and paint thinners with
water-based products.
• Reuse wastewater instead of discharging it.
• Set up artificial treatment wetlands for the wastewater
to pass through be fore discharge.
• Can’t do any of this without educating the public and
winning the support of BIG INDUSTRY. They must
view it as a profitable venture. THEN Govt. will be on
board!