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Understanding Water Quality and Pollution Treatment Processes

Did you know the Golden Poison Dart frog is the most poisonous vertebrate? In environmental science, understanding water quality is crucial. This Friday, we explore wastewater treatment processes, including the 4 essential treatment steps to safely return cleaned water to the environment. We'll also discuss pollution types, focusing on point versus non-point pollution, and how they affect our water sources. Did you know that 1 in 5 Americans drinks water that doesn't meet EPA standards? Let’s also investigate the impact of bottled water on pollution.

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Understanding Water Quality and Pollution Treatment Processes

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  1. Friday, Mar 7th, 2014 • Did you know… • The Golden "Poison Dart" frog in S. America is the most poisonous vertebrate in the world. • The acceleration rate of a flea's jump is 20x that of a space shuttle’s launch.

  2. Do Now: Mar 7th • Where are estuaries located? • Is point pollution or non-point pollution easier to clean up? Explain why you think that. • List 3 things that can pollute a water source.

  3. YouTube Friday

  4. Wastewater Treatment • Clean used water/sewage to safely return to environment • Mimic natural treatment processes in environment • 4 Steps:

  5. Step 1: Preliminary/Primary Treatment • Removes 40-60% of solids • Rags, plastics, sand/small particles, etc.

  6. Step 2: Secondary Treatment • Removes ~90% of pollutants • Helpful bacteria consume organic matter, then are removed from water

  7. Step 3: Sludge Treatment • Sludge/biosolids are treated & disposed • If chemical-free, can be used as fertilizer

  8. Step 4: Release Water • Restore oxygen: must have enough O2 to support life when returned to rivers/lakes • Release water into wetland, stream, field, etc. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubVabIVnNXk

  9. Measuring Water Quality • Monitor orgs in water • Mayflies cannot tolerate pollution, leeches thrive • Measure dissolved oxygen (DO) • More DO = more life • Good fishing waters: 9+ ppm (parts per million) • Measure turbidity • Water cloudiness • Low turbidity = better quality water

  10. Drinking Water Quality • National water standards est by EPA • ~ 5.6 million Americans drink water that doesn’t meet EPA standards • Public water: groundwater treated & pumped out • Well-tested = most safe • Private wells aren’t required to meet standards • 1 in 5 Americans drinks water from treatment plant that violated 1+ safety standard

  11. Is Bottled Water the Answer? • Nope! • 1/3 bottled water contaminated w/ bacteria • IBWA (International Bottle Water Association) standards only • Less strict than EPA standards • Costs more • Plastic bottles: • 1.4 million metric tons thrown away • Fossil fuels used to make them (oil used in U.S. each year would fuel 100,000 cars)

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