Water Pollution: Causes, Effects, and Solutions

1. Chapter 21 Water Pollution and Treatment Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e

2. Look at charts in Text… Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e

3. Biochemical Oxygen Demand • The amount of oxygen required for biochemical decomposition process • 3 zones • A pollution zone • An active decomposition zone • A recovery zone Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e

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5. Waterborne Disease • Outbreaks of waterborne diseases • Milwaukee, WI • Cryptosporidium Flu-like symptoms • Fecal Coliform Bacteria • Includes E. Coli (200/100ml for swimming) • Walkerton, ON • E. Coli outbreak (manure in water system) • Not advised to boil • Very young and old suseptable • Gastrointestinal illness • Vigilant about testing Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e

6. Nutrients • Eutrophication • The process by which a body of water develops a high concentration of nutrients • Oligotrophic • Low concentration of nutrients • Cultural Eutrophication • When eutrophication is accelerated by human processes that add nutrients to a body of water Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e

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8. Exxon-Valdez • 1989 – oil spill recovery inadequate • 11 million gallons oil spilled • 14% collected • Seals, otters, seabirds died • Jessica – spill near Galapagos Ils. • Concern for environment, winds carried most away Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e

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10. Acid Mine Drainage • Water with a high concentration of sulfuric acid that drains from mines • Serious water pollution problem • Damages aquatic ecosystems, pollutes bodies of water and degrades water quality Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e

11. Surface Water Pollution • Water Pollutants are emitted from • Point Sources • Distinct and confined sources such as pipes from industrial or sites • Nonpoint Sources • Diffused and intermittent • Ex) runoffs from streets Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e

12. Groundwater Pollution • Bioremediation: • a method of treating groundwater pollution problems that utilizes microorganisms in the ground to consume or break down pollutants Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e

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16. Wastewater Treatment • Septic Tank Disposal Systems • Waste Treatment Plants • Primary Treatment (large organic matter) • Secondary Treatment (aerobic bacteria) • Advanced Treatment (discharged to surface) • Chlorine Treatment (disinfectant) Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e

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18. Wastewater Renovation and Conservation Cycle • Steps: • 1. Return of treated wastewater to crops • 2. Renovation or natural purification by slow percolation of the wastewater into soil to eventually recharge the groundwater resource with clean water • 3. Reuse of the treated water Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e

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22. Water Reuse Inadvertent: • water is withdrawn, treated and returned to the environment Indirect: • Ex) the wastewater renovation and conservation cycle Direct: • The use of treated wastewater that is piped directly from a treatment plant to the next user Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e

23. Water Pollution and Environmental Law • Environmental Law • The branch of law dealing with conservation and use of natural resources and control of pollution Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e