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Environmental Education

Environmental Education. Water Pollution. Content. Types of Water Pollution Dissolved Oxygen and Oxygen Depletion Petroleum Pollution Indicators of Water Pollution Water Pollution in Hong Kong Water Quality Control in Hong Kong Provision of Infrastructure. Types of Water Pollution [1].

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Environmental Education

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  1. Environmental Education Water Pollution

  2. Content • Types of Water Pollution • Dissolved Oxygen and Oxygen Depletion • Petroleum Pollution • Indicators of Water Pollution • Water Pollution in Hong Kong • Water Quality Control in Hong Kong • Provision of Infrastructure

  3. Types of Water Pollution [1] • Oxygen-demanding wastes • Diseases-causing agents • Thermal pollution • Sediments • Plant nutrients • Petroleum hydrocarbons • Inorganic chemicals and minerals • Synthetic organic compounds

  4. Types of Water Pollution [2] • Oxygen-demanding wastes • All organic materials and wastes • Sources • Sewage from domestic and animals sources • Industrial wastes from food processing, papermills, tanning operations, meatpacking plants, etc • Decay of dead plant and animals • Broken down or decomposed by bacterial and other biological activity (biodegradation) • It consumes oxygen (oxygen demanding) • It causes oxygen depletion in water

  5. Types of Water Pollution [3] • Importance of oxygen • Basic requirement of almost all plant and animal life-forms in water body • Insufficient amount of oxygen to support life and damage the ecosystem

  6. Types of Water Pollution [4] • Disease-causing agents • Pathogenic microorganisms • Sources: • Wastes from human and other animals (hosts) • Spreading diseases through drinking water consumption or through other water contact activities • Indicators • Fecal Coliform Count • e.g. E. coli

  7. Types of Water Pollution [5] • Thermal Pollution • Discharge of cooling water • Sources: • Industrial and commercial operations • Power Plants • Heating up the aquatic environment • Aquatic organisms may become physiologically stressed or even be killed • Interference of the natural life processes, e.g. reproduction, growth rates, distribution of species • Decreasing dissolved oxygen (DO) in water

  8. Types of Water Pollution [6] • Sediments • Release of weathered sediments through runoff to water bodies • Sources: • Clearing and developments adjacent to water bodies • Natural weathering of soils • Sewage discharge • Littering in water bodies • Directly smother and kill aquatic life • Directly destroy habitats and spawning areas • Reduce the sunlight penetrating into water

  9. Types of Water Pollution [7] • Plant nutrients • Phosphates, nitrates, potassium, etc. • Sources: • Fertilizers application in farming • Sewage treatment plant effluents • Leading to eutrophication and algal blooming

  10. Types of Water Pollution [8] • Petroleum hydrocarbons • Crude oil, petroleum, gasoline, etc. • Sources: • Wastewater discharges, leaching, • Recreational boating, • Underground tank leakage • Underground water supplies, direct smothering, toxic effects, loss of habitat

  11. Types of Water Pollution [9] • Inorganic chemicals and minerals • Heavy metal (cadmium, lead, mercury, copper, etc.), Cyanide, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, etc. • Sources: • Industrial discharges, like eletroplating, bleaching and dyeing, gold milling • Marine sediments • Toxic (direct or long term) • Odour • Disease and Death • Carcinogenic

  12. Types of Water Pollution [10] • Synthetic organic compounds • Pesticides, plastics, solvents, detergents, PCBs, paints, pharmaceuticals, etc. • Sources: • discharges of these compounds from domestic, agricultural, industrial and commercial operations, etc. • Resistant to biological breakdown and persist and accumulate in the environment • Directly toxic to aquatic life • Causing odours

  13. Dissolved Oxygen and Oxygen Depletion [1] • Processes Affecting Dissolved Oxygen in Water • Photosynthesis light 6 CO2 + 6 H2O  C6H12O6 + 6 O2 • Respiration C6H12O6 + 6 O2  6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Energy • Re-aeration • Decomposition

  14. Dissolved Oxygen and Oxygen Depletion [2] • Factors Affecting Dissolved Oxygen in Water • Temperature • Light • Turbidity • Color • Salinity • Turbulence • Aquatic organisms

  15. Dissolved Oxygen and Oxygen Depletion [3] • Oxygen Sag Curve

  16. Dissolved Oxygen and Oxygen Depletion [4] • Natural Purification Process

  17. Petroleum Pollution • Municipal and industrial wastewater discharges (31.1%) • Tanker operations (22%) • Other marine transportation (12.5%) • Tanker accidents (12.5%) • Atmospheric fallout (9.4%) • Natural seepage and erosion (7.8%) • Refinery wastewater discharges (3.1%) • Offshore oil production (1.6%)

  18. Indicators of Water Pollution • Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) Indicators • Amount of oxygen needed by aerobic decomposers to break down the organic materials in a given volume of water at a certain temperature over a specified time period. • Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) • Amount of oxygen needed in the oxidation of chemicals in a given volume of water at a certain temperature over a specified time period. • Fecal Coliform Count (FCC) • Dissolved Oxygen (DO) • Total Inorganic Nitrogen (TIN) • Living organisms in the water

  19. Water Pollution in Hong Kong [1] • Beach Water Quality • Beach Grading System • Situation in Hong Kong • Southern District • Sai Kung District • Islands District • Tuen Mun District • Tsuen Wan District

  20. Water Pollution in Hong Kong [2] • River Water Quality • Improved steadily since the late 1980s • Significant increase in dissolved oxygen and decreases in suspended solids, aggregate organics, nutrients and metals • The number of E. coli bacteria in many of the rivers remains fairly high (Source: EPD website, 16/4/2001)

  21. Water Pollution in Hong Kong [3] • Causes • Multiplicity of Sources • Anthropogenic (household, industrial, commercial, farming, construction, etc.) • Natural • Lack of Infrastructure • Treatment facilities • Sewerage provision • Insufficient Control • Illegal connection of wastewater pipes

  22. Water Pollution in Hong Kong [4] • Consequences • Economic Loss • Industries (tourism, mariculture), recreational facilities • Ecosystem Disruption • Ocean, rivers, streams • Coral, offshore habitats • Health Impacts • Food Poisoning

  23. Water Quality Control in Hong Kong [1] • Legislation • Waste Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO) • Water Control Zones (WCZs) • Water Quality Objectives (WQOs) • Technical Memorandum (TM)

  24. Water Quality Control in Hong Kong [2] Source: EPD website, 2001

  25. Water Quality Control in Hong Kong [3] • Water Quality Objectives • Define • the maximum levels of pollutants which are acceptable • the minimum levels of essential constituents which are required if designated resources and uses are to be maintained in rivers and marine waters • The values of the WQOs vary among WCZs and depend upon • the resource • the use to be protected

  26. Provision of Infrastructure [1] • Sewerage Master Plans (SMPs) Source: EPD website, 2001

  27. Treatment and Disposal Source: EPD website, 2001

  28. Provision of Infrastructure [3] • Strategic Sewage Disposal Strategy (SSDS) Source: EPD website, 2001

  29. Provision of Infrastructure [4] • Strategic Sewage Disposal Strategy (SSDS) Source: EPD website, 2001

  30. Discussion • What are the main types of water pollution in Hong Kong and what are the causes? • What is/are your opinion(s) about the pollution control carried out in Hong Kong? • With reference to the locations of beaches/streams, can you explain their differences of water quality? • Can you suggest other methods to improve the water pollution problem in Hong Kong? • According to the data from the EPD, the water quality in Hong Kong is improving, do you agree? Why?

  31. Relevant Websites • Environmental Protection Department (EPD) Webpage (http://www.info.gov.hk/epd) • Water Supplies Department (WSD) Webpage (http://www.info.gov.hk/wsd/)

  32. References • Schmitz, R.J., 1995, Introduction to Water Pollution Biology, Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, Texas, USA. ISBN 0-88415-927-2 • EPD, 2001 online, EPD Homepage – Water, EPD, http://www.info.gov.hk/epd/water

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