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Protecting Water Quality: Your Guide to Watersheds and Pollution Control

Learn about water sources, pollution, and conservation efforts. Understand the impact of pollutants like nutrients, oil, and sediment on water quality. Discover ways to reduce pollution and support clean water initiatives in your area.

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Protecting Water Quality: Your Guide to Watersheds and Pollution Control

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  1. Water and Watersheds Maia McGuire, PhD Marine Extension Agent

  2. Water…it’s all around us • 97% of the water on earth is SALT WATER • 2% of the water on earth is GLACIAL ICE • 1% of the water on earth is FRESH WATER that can be utilized

  3. The Water Cycle Vapor transport Precipitation Evaporation Transpiration Surface runoff Percolation Groundwater flow

  4. Florida’s water cycle • 150 billion gallons per day = rainfall • 26 billion gpd = surface water and groundwater inflow • Evapotranspiration = 107 billion gpd • 66 billion gpd = surface water and groundwater outflow to oceans • 2.7 billion gpd = consumptive use

  5. Watershed • The area of land that drains into a particular water body • Water can drain through natural (streams, rivers, porous rocks) and human-made waterways (canals, ditches) • As water flows, it picks up and carries particulate and dissolved materials

  6. Where does the water go? • Aquifers (underground lakes) • Florida’s primary source of fresh water • St. Johns River • Intracoastal waterway • Atlantic Ocean • Lakes, ponds, springs

  7. Water pollution • Point-source pollution • Source is known • Relatively easy to monitor and control • Non point-source pollution • Runoff/stormwater • Specific source not known • Difficult to regulate

  8. Controlling non point-source pollution • Designed to hold the first 1” of rainfall runoff • Biological or physical removal of contaminants • Stormwater retention/detention ponds

  9. Use semi-porous paving materials • As impervious surface increases, runoff increases and infiltration decreases

  10. Common pollutants • Nutrients • Petroleum products • Sediment • Chemicals & metals • Thermal pollution

  11. Nutrients (= fertilizer) • Nitrogen • Phosphorus

  12. Nutrient limitation • When the LIMITING NUTRIENT is added, it prompts rapid algal growth (BLOOM)

  13. Eutrophication • At night, algal bloom uses up oxygen rapidly • As algae die, they are decomposed by bacteria which also use up oxygen • Low oxygen conditions can kill shellfish, fish, etc.

  14. Sewage • Boaters dump toilet waste illegally • Septic tanks fail • Sewer pipes break • Animal wastes from land are washed into the water

  15. Oil pollution • 51% of oil entering the oceans comes from runoff • 5% is from big spills • 19% is from routine maintenance • 2% is from offshore drilling • 13% is from burning fuels (e.g. car exhaust) • 10% is from natural seeps

  16. Did you know…? • On average, ½ cup of gas is spilled into the water every time a boat is fueled • 2 cups of gas spilled on a lake will contaminate over 1,000,000 gallons of water • 2-stroke engines discharge up to 25% of the fuel into the water unburned Source: Maine DEP

  17. Sedimentation • Reduces ability of light to penetrate • Smothers benthic (bottom-dwelling) plants and animals • Often an indication that harmful things may be in the water (e.g. metals)

  18. Thermal pollution • Power plant effluent • Paper mill effluent

  19. “Water Quality” What we measure What affects the measurement Water Temperature Salinity Dissolved oxygen Nutrient concentrations Clarity (Turbidity) pH Chlorophyll a concentration Air Temperature, rain Rainfall, tide state Temperature, light, wind… Runoff, time of day, excretion Wind, runoff, boats Atmospheric conditions Nutrients, light

  20. Debris

  21. Drought/excessive water use • Reduces recharge of surface and groundwater • Increased salinity in estuaries and rivers • Saltwater intrusion into aquifers

  22. http://water.usgs.gov/ogw/gwrp/saltwater/fig5.html

  23. What can we do? • Reduce water consumption • In the house • Short showers vs. baths • Toilets • Dishwashers, washing machines • Brushing teeth, washing hands • Repair leaks/drips/running toilets • Use cold shower/tap water to water plants

  24. Restrict sprinkler usage (time of day and amount) • Use mulch • Use native, drought-tolerant plants • Reduce water consumption • Outdoors • Live with a brown lawn • Don’t wash car/pets on driveway • Cover your swimming pool

  25. Protect the watershed • Reduce pollution • Follow directions when using chemicals • Fertilizers • Pesticides • Household chemicals • Automotive products • Dispose of containers properly • Use non-chemical (biodegradable) products • Pick up pet wastes

  26. Boaters, please… • Use Pumpouts • Contain your garbage • Fuel responsibly • Use oil absorbing pads in your bilge

  27. Prevent the spread of exotics • Non-native species are easily transported in bilge water or on boat motors. • Empty your bilges before transporting your boat • Remove plant material from your prop and discard in the garbage

  28. Recycle… • Curbside recycling programs • Fishing line • Automotive/boat engine products • Mercury-containing devices • Office paper • Re-use containers when possible

  29. Volunteer opportunities • Coastal Cleanups—3rd Sat in Sept • St. Johns River Cleanup—Mid-March • Monofilament recycling program • Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Flagler • Clay • Putnam • Volusia www.fishinglinerecycling.com

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