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Water Pollution Terminology Contamination Elevated concentrations of substances in water but with no measurable damaging effects Pollution Measurable damaging effects Some definitions require human agency Source Origin of contaminant/pollutant Receiving Waters
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Water Pollution • Terminology • Contamination • Elevated concentrations of substances in water but with no measurable damaging effects • Pollution • Measurable damaging effects • Some definitions require human agency • Source • Origin of contaminant/pollutant • Receiving Waters • Waters into which contaminant/pollutant is discharged • Mixing Zone • Area where contaminant/pollutant from source mixes with receiving waters
Water Pollution • Sources • Point sources • Discharge directly into receiving waters • Easier to characterize and regulate than NPS’s • Non-point sources • Pollutants from diffuse sources • Ex: Agricultural waste (manure, fertilizer, “cides”) • May vary regionally and seasonally • Ex: Runoff from streets during SoCal winter • May be difficult to distinguish anthropogenic from natural effects • Ex: Arsenic in groundwater in Bangladesh • Ex: Coliform bacteria in Mission Bay
Water Pollution • Types • Degradable • Organic material; can be decomposed by bacteria • Decomposition depletes oxygen (measured by BOD) • Ex: Urban sewage, agricultural & animal waste • Dissipating • Disperse/Diffuse in water • Effects usually local • Ex: Heat, acids, chemicals, nutrients (esp. phosphorus in FW) • Particulate • Usually inert (non-reactive) • Affects turbidity, may be abrasive, clogs gills/filters • Ex: Sediments, airborne particles (e.g. ash) • Conservative • Diverse pollutants, many toxic • Persistent; may facilitate oxygen depletion • Ex: Heavy metals, halogenated hydrocarbons (“cides”), radioactive materials • Biological • Microbes, sometimes pathogenic • Ex:Giardia, Cholera • Indicated by Fecal Coliform Count (FCC)
Water Pollution • Effects • Ecosystem • Loss of biodiversity (Ex: spp. sensitive to low DO) • Shift of species composition • Human • Interference with designated beneficial uses • Human Response • “The solution to pollution is dilution” • Solutions • Reduce inputs (volume, concentration) • Increase flow (volume, rate) • Ganges River • Major input: Sewage • Ganges Action Plan (1985)
Mean Monthly Rainfall (mm) from 1993-2007, Uppangala, Western Ghats Pèlissier et al. 2011
moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Status%20Paper%20-Ganga.pdfmoef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Status%20Paper%20-Ganga.pdf
FCC EPA Bathing Std: 126 MPN/100 ml GAP Bathing Std: 500-2500 Range: 12,000-43,000,000 BOD GAP Bathing Std: 3 mg/l Range: 3.6-44 www.friendsofganges.org
moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Status%20Paper%20-Ganga.pdfmoef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Status%20Paper%20-Ganga.pdf
PURITY AND POLLUTION IN HINDUISM sacred / pure / auspicious profane / impure & polluting / inauspicious physically clean (saf/svaccha) / ritually-spiritually pure (shuddha/pavitra) physically polluted (ganda/asvaccha) ritually-spiritually impure (ashuddha/apavitra)
Satya Yuga “Age of Truth,” Golden Age of PurityTreta Yuga Silver AgeDvapara Yuga Copper AgeKali Yuga Iron Age, Dark Age