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Water Pollution

Water Pollution. Types and Sources of Water Pollution. #1 problem - Eroded soils. Organic wastes, disease-causing agents. Chemicals, nutrients. Radioactive stuff, heat. Point and Nonpoint Sources. NONPOINT SOURCES. Rural homes. Cropland. Urban streets. Animal feedlot. POINT SOURCES.

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Water Pollution

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  1. Water Pollution

  2. Types and Sources of Water Pollution • #1 problem - Eroded soils • Organic wastes, disease-causing agents • Chemicals, nutrients • Radioactive stuff, heat

  3. Point and Nonpoint Sources NONPOINT SOURCES Rural homes Cropland Urban streets Animal feedlot POINT SOURCES Suburban development Factory Wastewater treatment plant

  4. Major Problem: Drinking Water • 1/2 of world’s people drink polluted water • Safe Drinking Water Act • EPA: Maximum contaminant levels (municipal, but not rural and private)

  5. Pollution of Surface Water: Streams • D.O., B.O.D., fecal coliform bacteria count

  6. Pollution of Surface Water: Lakes • Cultural eutrophication • Slow turnover • Accumulation of nutrients, excessive plant growth, algae blooms

  7. Case Study: The Great Lakes

  8. Mississippi River Basin Ohio River Missouri River Mississippi River LOUISIANA Mississippi River Depleted Oxygen Dead Zone Gulf of Mexico

  9. Thermal Pollution Suffocated fish Altered food web Low dissolved oxygen Decreased fish population

  10. Groundwater Pollution: Sources • Cold temperatures • Low flow rates • Few bacteria Hazardous waste injection well Pesticides Coal strip mine runoff De-icing road salt Buried gasoline and solvent tank Cesspool septic tank Pumping well 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

  11. Groundwater Pollution Prevention • Monitoring aquifers - expensive • Leak detection systems • Strictly regulating hazardous waste disposal • Protecting recharge areas - aquifer classifications

  12. Ocean Pollution: dumping and oil

  13. Oil Spills • Sources: offshore wells, tankers, pipelines and storage tanks • Effects: death of organisms, loss of animal insulation and buoyancy, smothering • Significant economic impacts • Short-term cleanup problems - beaches, wildlife • Long-term cleanup problem - persistence (decades)

  14. Case Study: Chesapeake Bay • Largest US estuary • Relatively shallow • Slow “flushing” action to Atlantic • Major problems with dissolved O2

  15. Solutions: Preventing and Reducing Surface Water Pollution Nonpoint Sources Point Sources • Reduce runoff • Water Pollution Control Act (1972) • Buffer zone vegetation • Clean Water Act (1977) - set effluent standards - secondary treatment • Reduce soil erosion

  16. Technological Approach: Septic Systems • Require suitable soils and maintenance

  17. Technological Approach: Sewage Treatment • Mechanical and biological treatment

  18. Technological Approach: Advanced Sewage Treatment • Removes specific pollutants

  19. Technological Approach: Using Wetlands to Treat Sewage

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