Module 5: Water Protection Unit1: Threats to Water

1. Module 5: Water Protection Unit1: Threats to Water Lough More Co. Monaghan

2. Objectives of this presentation • To help participants understand that some water “contaminants” occur naturally • To increase awareness of the main sources of contamination from human activities • To enable participants understand the way pollutants enter our waters • To examine other threats to water

3. When we talk about threats to water, we need to consider threats to the quality of water and threats to quantity.

4. Natural factors influencing water quality and quantity • Naturally present contaminants in the surrounding soil and rock have the potential to contaminate source water and cause harm to humans: • Water quantity can be affected by natural forces such as droughts and floods

5. What are the Human Threats to Water? Graphic by Gillian Cullen, DKIT

6. Types of Human Contaminants • Micro-organisms are one type of contaminant resulting from human activity. Bacteriological and parasitic organisms from human faeces enter water bodies via sewage treatment plants, faulty septic tanks and urban storm water. Animal manures pose a similar threat. Cryptosporidium E. coli

7. Types of Human Contaminants • Nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen): come from faecal matter, fertilisers, treated sewage effluent, landfill sites and agriculture • Nutrients in water will promote excessive growth of algae

8. Types of Human Contaminants • Dangerous Substances are contained in many everyday products used increasingly in households (e.g. medicines and cleaning products), industry, forestry, agriculture, manufacturing and services activities, mines, construction sites and water treatment works • Dangerous Substances may be toxic to people, plants and animals and be harmful to our waters Graphics by Gillian Cullen, DKIT

9. Types of Human Contaminants • Hormone-disrupting Substances: known sources include pharmaceuticals, pesticides, industrial effluents, urban waste waters and agricultural run-off containing natural hormones Graphic by Gillian Cullen, DKIT

10. How does pollution enter the environment? • Pollution enters the environment in two ways: • Point Source • Non-point (Diffuse) Source

11. Point Source Pollution (1) Industrial Discharges • High organic strength effluents from agri-food industries • Potentially toxic substances from metal workshops, dry cleaners, photo processors and printers • Petrochemical and pharmaceutical, waste • Heavy metals from mining and manufacturing

13. Point Source Pollution (2) Urban Wastewater/Sewage • Sewage treatment plants treat waste discharged from homes, businesses, industries and storm-water • The quality of effluent depends on: • Type of waste • Efficiency of treatment • Impacts most severe in low-flow conditions Monaghan Town Wastewater Treatment Plant

14. Point Source Pollution (3) On-site wastewater treatment systems (OSWTS) • OSWTS can create significant local contamination problems • Septic systems may be unable to treat certain contaminants • Some substances may actually damage the septic system • Poorly maintained, improperly installed or overloaded septic systems can contaminate surface or groundwater where untreated sewage leaks out

15. The septic tank and percolation system Graphic by Gillian Cullen, DKIT

16. Point Source Pollution (4) Landfill Sites • Modern landfill sites are highly engineered • Inputs now controlled • Leachate control and treatment systems • Polluter pays principle • Threat posed by older, abandoned sites • Leachate from older landfill sites may have seeped into the soil and polluted groundwater • Hazardous materials pose continuing threat Landfill Site Co Monaghan

17. Point Source Pollution (5) Illegal dumping

18. Point Source Pollution (6) Farmyards

19. Non-point (diffuse) source pollution • Diffuse Pollution is caused when water runs over land, picks up natural and human-made pollutants and deposits these directly into surface waters or groundwater through percolation • Diffuse sources will include: • Agriculture • Urban run-off • Airborne pollutants

20. Diffuse source pollution (1) Agriculture Agricultural run-off can contain fertilisers, pesticides, bacteria and nutrients from livestock and manure

21. Pollution Sources Rural Area - Local wells at risk

22. Diffuse source pollution (2) Urban Run-off • Urban run-off from buildings, streets and footpaths carry sediment, nutrients, bacteria, oil, metals, chemicals, pesticides, road salts, pet droppings and litter • Storm water is prone to picking up contaminants on its way to where it joins waterways, drains or storm sewer system

23. Diffuse source pollution (3) Airborne pollutants Sources include: • Industry (e.g. smelters emitting metals) • Burning fossil fuels (acid rain) • Persistent organic pollutants (e.g. pesticides and industrial chemicals and dioxins) Such pollutants can be transported across international boundaries and bio-accumulate through the food web and pose a risk to human health and the environment even in the Artic regions.

24. Other impacts on water: Climate Change • Warming of the Earth’s atmosphere could reduce the amount of water in lakes, rivers and streams due to reduced precipitation and increased evaporation • Increases in water temperature could change the numbers and types of bacteria and algae in lakes, as well as other forms of life • Extreme weather events present increased risks to contamination of water supply sources Heritage Council/Failte Ireland Report- Climate Change, Heritage and Tourism: Implications or Ireland’s Coast and Inland Waterways.

25. Alien Species Zebra mussel

26. Discussion Understanding how or day to day activities impact on water is an essential step in protecting and improving water. Too many of us are unaware of how we contribute to water pollution. Water pollution is generally considered someone else’s problem and there is often a “shock” factor at a pollution event yet everyone contributes to water pollution.