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Water Pollution

Water Pollution. Morgan Fagan . Oxygen Demanding Waste . Organic matter that enters water ways and feeds the growth of microbial decomposers Affects Increases biological oxygen demand of water way Places strain on larger organisms Creates dead zones Examples Sewage Feedlot runoff.

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Water Pollution

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  1. Water Pollution Morgan Fagan

  2. Oxygen Demanding Waste • Organic matter that enters water ways and feeds the growth of microbial decomposers • Affects • Increases biological oxygen demand of water way • Places strain on larger organisms • Creates dead zones • Examples • Sewage • Feedlot runoff

  3. Nutrient Release • Nutrients entering the water way through runoff of farms • Affects • Eutrophication • Causes rapid growth of algae • Algae dies and an increase in decomposing microbes increases • Oxygen demand goes up • Larger organisms suffer • Examples • Chesapeake Bay • Mississippi River Dumping into the Gulf of Mexico

  4. Disease Causing Organisms • Bacteria, parasites, and viruses that cause disease in areas where sanitation is not what practices • Affects • Cholera • Claims thousands of lives worldwide yearly • Typhoid fever • Various types of stomach flue • Hepatitis • Common in places with substandard sanitation practices • Malaria • Indicator species of poor water quality • Fecal coliform bacteria

  5. Pharmaceuticals and Hormones • Most waterways do not have a high enough concentration to harm organisms (yet) • Increased estrogen and cause male fish to grow eggs in their testes • Extent of hormones is really not known

  6. Pesticides • Bioaccumulate in the environment and causes harm to larger organisms

  7. Oil and Other Petroleum Products • Highly toxic to marine birds, mammals, fish, microorganisms, and algae • Approximately 5,000 offshore oil platforms in the US • Examples • 2010 BP oil leak • 206 million gallons leaked into the Gulf of Mexico • 1989 Exxon Valdez • 11 million gallons spilled of the coast of Alaska • Most species have rebounded • Not all oil has been cleaned up

  8. Oil and Other Petroleum Products

  9. Oil and Other Petroleum Products • Remediating Oil Spills • Surface oil • Contain oil and suck it off the top • Apply chemicals that breaks up oil • Prevents oil from causing issues on the shoreline • Toxic • Genetically modified bacteria • Microbes that obtain their energy by consuming oil • Under water oil (plumes) • No agreed upon method to remove

  10. Solid Waste • Discarded materials from houses and industries • 1997 Scientists discovered a large area of floating garbage in the North Pacific gyre • Size of Texas • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUM58LIU2Lo • Dumping of garbage by cruise ships • 1970 – 1980 • Coal sludge • Mercury • Arsenic • Lead • “Special Waste” – not regulated

  11. Sediment Pollution • Sand, silt, and clay carried into waterways through runoff • Construction • Plowed agriculture fields • Removal of vegetation found on the bank • Domestic livestock entering and leaving streams • Affects • Decreased sunlight • Clog gills

  12. Thermal Pollution • Increased water temperatures decrease the amount of dissolved oxygen available • Cool water used to absorb heat in industrial processes and returned to the source too warm

  13. Noise Pollution • Sounds emitted from ships and submarines interfere with animal communication • Cases of beached whales in Bahamas, Canary Islands, and Gulf of California • 2003 • Navy was rejected on their request to install detecting systems • 2008 U.S. Supreme court ruled Navy was exempt from environmental laws

  14. Water Treatment • http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/water-treatment-improving-water-quality.html#lesson

  15. Clean Water Act • 1972 • Supports the “protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water” by maintaining and, when necessary, restoring the chemical, physical, and biological properties of natural water • Over time more and more categories of pollutants have been added • Feedlots • Storm runoff • Municipal sewer systems

  16. Safe Drinking Water Act • 1974, 1986, 1996 • EPA established maximum contaminant levels for 77 different elements or substances in both surface water and groundwater. • Microorganisms • Disinfectants • Organic chemicals • Inorganic chemicals • http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/the-clean-water-act-safe-drinking-water-act-legislation-for-clean-water.html#lesson

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