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Water Quality

Water Quality. By Stephani Clark, Raphaelita Bishara , Jeff Worthington, and Brittany Willis. http://www.unit16.net/tie2pics/el_rio_grande_1180.jpg. Main Points and Common Themes:. Sources of Contamination Regulation of Contamination in Water Depletion of “Clean” Water

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Water Quality

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  1. Water Quality By Stephani Clark, RaphaelitaBishara, Jeff Worthington, and Brittany Willis http://www.unit16.net/tie2pics/el_rio_grande_1180.jpg

  2. Main Points andCommon Themes: • Sources of Contamination • Regulation of Contamination in Water • Depletion of “Clean” Water • Surface Water/Ground Water Interaction

  3. Surface Water/Ground Water Interaction

  4. All components of aquatic ecosystems are integrally connected, via surface water, groundwater, and other hydrological and ecological connections (Dernbach, J.C., 2009).

  5. Effects of Human Activities on SW and GW Interaction: ● Agricultural Development ◦ Irrigation Systems ◦ Agricultural Chemicals ● Drainage of Land Surface ● River Valley Modifications ◦ Construction of Levees ◦ Construction of Reservoirs ◦ Removal of Natural Vegetation ● Atmosphere Modifications ◦ Atmospheric Deposition ◦ Global Warming

  6. Chemical Interactions of Ground Water and Surface Water: ● Ground-water chemistry and surface-water chemistry cannot be dealt with separately where surface and subsurface flow systems interact. The movement of water between ground water and surface water provides a major pathway for chemical transfer between terrestrial and aquatic systems. This transfer of chemicals affects the supply of carbon, oxygen, nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and other chemical constituents that enhance biogeochemical processes on both sides of the interface. This transfer can ultimately affect the biological and chemical characteristics of aquatic systems downstream (Winter, 2008).

  7. Effects of coal mines on water quality

  8. Coal Mines • Coal is a valuable resource used in energy production • Produces $500,000,000 in revenue in the state of New Mexico every year. • Mined in New Mexico and worldwide • Can have serious environmental consequences

  9. Coal mines as Non-point source • Coal mines become non-point source pollutors if they are not operated, constructed or reclaimed adequately (http://www.water.ky.gov/sw/nps/). • Precipitation causes loose sediment to wash into streams with harmful substances naturally found with coal. http://www.brentnebeker.org/RaySnow.JPG

  10. Coal mines as point source • Regulated under Coal Mine Point Source category of CWA • Applies to active mines • Standards set for settable solids, heavy metal deposition and pH. So which is it ? • No real consensus. • In CWA part 434 as point source, yet treated as a non-point source also.

  11. Coal mines as sources of pollution • Coal mines affect water quality in two ways • Active mines • contribute to changes in pH in waterways. • Erosion • Heavy metals • Abandoned mines • can cause acid mine drainage and toxicity in surface and ground water. • Erosion • Heavy metals

  12. Active coal mines In New Mexico: • Coal mining companies are required to develop reclamation plans before beginning mining. • Coal mines must pay into abandoned mine regulation fund • Established by Surface Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. • Activities regulated by New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department, Mining and Minerals Division. emnrd.state.nm.us

  13. New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department Coal Mine Regulation Program (CMRP) • Involved in regulation, inspection, enforcement. • Developed in 1980’s under Surface Mine Control and Regulation Act (1977). • CMRP monitors active mines • Mines get Notice of Violation if they violate any rules • Can appeal or fix problem

  14. Abandoned Coal Mines • No regulations when many abandoned mines were developed. • Abandoned Mine Land Program • Partnership of state agency and Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining • Funded by Abandoned Mine Restoration Fund • Abandoned mine must qualify under one 0f three criteria http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/MMD/MMDNotes/fullsize/Story310_DillonCanyon_2006.JPG

  15. Environmental Damage • Erosion • Increased turbidity • Increased light filtration • Carries heavy metals • Acid Mine Drainage

  16. Acid Mine drainage • Coal occurs with rocks containing sulfide, commonly pyrite • Sulfide exposed to air and water during mining operations • Coal gob, or piles of waste rock, contain sulfide. • Oxidizes in presence of air and water • Creates sulfuric acid • Sulfuric acid transports heavy metals to ground and surface water • Poisons plant and animal life creating dead streams

  17. Acid Mine Drainage . From www.agf.gov.bc.ca/.../images/acid_mine_fig1.jpg

  18. Case study: Sugarite gob restoration • Located near Raton, NM • Coal mining operations from 1912 to 1942 • The Problem: • Extensive gob piles left behind • Gob piles had high saline levels, were moderately acidic, contained heavy metals and were actively eroding; in some places, channels cut 20 feet deep into gob piles. • Eroding into Chicorica Creek, causing excessive sedimentation and toxicity; Chicorica Creek is used for trout fishing and downstream irrigation. • In some cases, the gob piles were in contact with the creek. • Chicorica Creek located only 300 feet from the mine entrance • Coal mine waste impacted 22 acres of land

  19. Sugarite State Park • Remediation efforts began when Sugarite Canyon became a State Park in 1983 • New Mexico Abandoned Mine Land Bureau, under direction of Office of Surface Mining, began remediation • Driving factors: • Environmental • Water quality • Safety http://k41.pbase.com/g6/17/586817/2/86145046.yXCSBvc7.jpg

  20. The goal • Reduce acidic runoff • Reduce erosion • Reduce turbidity and sedimentation into Chicorica Creek

  21. The Remediation Plan • Main problem was erosion • Straw bale terraces built • Compost and fertilizer added to gob clay to make hospitable for plants • Seedlings planted To reduce acidic runoff • Lime incorporated into acidic gob to increase pH From Sugarite Canyon Reclamation Project Report

  22. What to do about coal mine pollution? • Monitoring active coal mines for pollutant release can help decrease pollution. • Reclaiming abandoned coal mines • Must find a balance between need for coal for energy production and health of the environment. http://ecotechdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/coal_pile_620.jpg

  23. Effects of Agriculture on Water Quality

  24. Largest nonpoint source of pollution due to human land use: AGRICULTURE! • Most abundant contaminant = soil • Includes manure, chemical fertilizers and pesticides • Fertilizers used on land add nitrogen and phosphorus thatwashback into the water supply • Pesticides used to control insects wash into water supply

  25. How do pollutants get into the water system? • Usually washed in due to water itself • Rainfall (natural) • Irrigation or diversion of water (human-induced) • Can come from point or nonpoint sources • Surface runoff (irrigation or rainfall) flows downhill until it meets a barrier- such as a body of water • Leaching(precipitation or irrigation) enters soil and can contaminate water table

  26. New Mexico Environment Department • Administered water quality laws for the state of NM • Includes: all waters sitting in or bordering the state whether it be public, private, surface or nonsurface • Numeric and narrative water quality standards established by WQCC • This includes criteria for toxic pollutants in water used for irrigation, domestic water supply and livestock watering

  27. Water Quality Control Commission • Established by NM State Water Quality Act • Adopt comprehensive water quality management programs • Develop continuing planning process • Adoption of water quality standards

  28. Designated uses for water by NM WQCC • Coldwater fisheries • Irrigation (including storage) • Livestock watering • Fish culture • Some warm water fisheries • Wildlife habitat • Industrial usage • Domestic uses • Municipal uses

  29. Water Quality Data: Belen 2008

  30. The Watershed Protection Section • Responsible for implementing nonpoint source management program • Implement best management practices to reduce non-point source pollutants from entering water • Workplans include: watershed association development, riparian area restoration, spill response, and treatment of abandoned mines

  31. Nonpoint Source Management Program • Principal sources of NPS pollution in NM include erosion from rangelands and agricultural activities • Currently implementing a dynamic and aggressive program to reduce human-induced pollutants for non point sources from entering the water supply • Providing education and outreach activities to promote NPS pollution reduction • Working together with Federal, State, tribal, regional, and local entities. http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/SWQB/WPS/index.html

  32. Best Management Practices (under NPSMP) • Structural practices: diversions, temporary sediment basins, animal waste lagoons, fencing, terraces, and other constructed means of reducing pollution. • Nonstructural practices: resource management techniques- timing and rate of fertilizer or pesticide application, conservation tillage methods, livestock grazing rotation, riparian planting, and upland revegetation.

  33. Structural BMP’s used in southwest • -includes Middle Rio Grande • Drain inlet inserts • Extended detention basins • Biofilters • Media filters • Infiltration • Largest contributer of bacteria load: anthropogenic including pets and livestock

  34. NM Pesticide Control Act • Rules for proper application and disposal of pesticide being used: • Only to be applied by a licensed certified applicator and pesticide to be used must be registered for use in New Mexico • Should be disposed of in permitted waste disposal sites • Any apparatus that has pesticide in it should be cleaned at waste site or in evaporation ponds so it will not get into water • No pesticide waste shall be disposed of in sewer or storm drain • But pesticides can still be washed into water system by rain or irrigation runoff

  35. Classes of Pesticides Insecticides • Used to control insect (and other animal control agents are similar) • Persist and remain in environment for a long period of time-also remain toxic longer • Can enter water system and accumulate in invertebrates, fish, birds, mammals, humans

  36. Classes of Pesticides Herbicides • Cause disruption or stop normal plant growth • Many characteristics are toxic to fish • Can cause harm to plants found in/near water system-important effects on food chain

  37. Classes of Pesticides Fungicides • Used to suppress or kill a variety of microorganisms • One of the most common chemicals used • Clearly a danger to pollution due to improper application, storage and disposal • Persistent and remain in environment for a long period of time • Target more than one biological process in target organisms

  38. What if people want to use it downstream? • Chemical contaminants in water include • Synthetic organic pollutants (pesticides) • Lead (from pipes) • Nitrates & Phosphates (fertilizers)

  39. What if people want to use it downstream? • Waterborne diseases include: • bacterial (Salmonella & E.coli) • viral (Hep A) • protozoans (Giardia)

  40. Federal Water Pollution Control Act-1948 • Restore & maintain chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters • Establish national policy for prevention, control and abatement of water pollution • Eliminate discharge of all pollutants in nation’s navigable waters • Achieve an interim level of water quality that protects fish, shellfish, and wildlife recreation • 1956-Amendments added to strengthen enforcements: state consent no longer needed for Federal intervention if health was endangered

  41. Safe Drinking Water Act-1974 • EPA must establish National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for contaminants that may be in water that cause adverse health effects • Regulations include Maximum Contaminant Levels and nonenforceable health goals for each contaminant found in water

  42. Safe Drinking Water Act-1974 • Maximum Contaminant Level- legal threshold limit on amount of hazardous substance allowed in drinking water • Establish Maximum Contaminant Levels for more than 80 biological, chemical and radioactive pollutants

  43. How should we control nonpoint source pollution due to agriculture? • Erosion control to reduce amount of pollutants entering water system due to runoff • Reduce the amount of nutrients (from fertilizers, manure etc.) that are applied to farmland, therefore reducing the amount that will be carried by runoff and into the water system • Decrease the amount of chemical pesticide used to control pest problems, including biological pest control

  44. Storm Water Management in Albuquerque

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