Water pollutionBiological Water Pollution 1. Infectious Disease Indirect (Water breeding carriers): malaria, yellow fever, west nile virus… (Pathogens) 2. Oxygen-Demanding Waste

Water pollutionWater pollution

Available WaterAvailable Water••Total = Total = 326 326 million million

cubic miles cubic miles

••9797% of Earth% of Earth’’s water s water is in oceansis in oceans

••22..997997% is locked up in % is locked up in ••22..997997% is locked up in % is locked up in ice caps and glaciersice caps and glaciers

••00..003003% is easily % is easily accessible accessible

––Soil moistureSoil moisture

––GroundwaterGroundwater

––Water vaporWater vapor

––LakesLakes

––StreamsStreams

Water Supply & UseWater Supply & Use

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/waterdistribution.html

What is Water Pollution?What is Water Pollution?

any physical (temperature, oxygen), chemical (mercury),

or biological (disease, sewage) change to water that

adversely effects its use by living thingsadversely effects its use by living things

Types of Water PollutionTypes of Water Pollution

1. BiologicalMeasured in:

Percent (%)1. Biological

2. Chemical

3. Physical

Percent (%)

Parts per thousand (‰)

Parts per million (ppm)

Parts per billion (ppb)

Biological Water PollutionBiological Water Pollution

1. Infectious Disease

Direct (microbes in water):

Typhoid, cholera,

dysentery, hepatitis…1. Infectious Disease

(Pathogens)

2. Oxygen-Demanding

Waste

Entamoeba histolytica

Biological Water PollutionBiological Water Pollution

1. Infectious Disease

Indirect

(Water breeding carriers):

malaria, yellow fever,

west nile virus…1. Infectious Disease

(Pathogens)

2. Oxygen-Demanding

Waste

Treehole mosquito

(carried La Crosse ensephalitis)

Biological Water PollutionBiological Water Pollution

1. Infectious Disease1. Infectious Disease

(Pathogens)

2. Oxygen-Demanding

Waste

� Sewage

� Animal Waste

� Food Waste

� Paper Pulp

Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen

Added by: turbulent water and photosynthesis

Removed by: Increased temperature

(exsolution) and respiration/decomposition

Good: > 6 ppm

Oxygen SagOxygen Sag

Chemical Water PollutionChemical Water Pollution

3. Nutrients (Fertilizers)3. Nutrients (Fertilizers)

4. Toxic Inorganic

Materials

5. Persistent Organic

Pollutants (POP’s)

Nitrogen, phosphorous

Chemical Water PollutionChemical Water Pollution

3. Nutrients (Fertilizers)

1. Heavy metals

� mercury,lead, tin…

2. Super Toxic Elements

� Arsenic, selenium…3. Nutrients (Fertilizers)

4. Toxic Inorganic

Materials

5. Persistent Organic

Pollutants (POP’s)

� Arsenic, selenium…

3. Acids, salts, chlorine

4. Radioactive Isotopes

Chemical Water PollutionChemical Water Pollution

3. Nutrients (Fertilizers)3. Nutrients (Fertilizers)

4. Toxic Inorganic

Materials

5. Persistent Organic

Pollutants (POP’s) Aldrin, Chlordane, DDT, Dieldrin, Endrin,

Heptachlor, Hexachlorobenzene

Physical Water PollutionPhysical Water Pollution

6. Sediment

7. Thermal Pollution

8. Solid Waste

Physical Water PollutionPhysical Water Pollution

6. Sediment

7. Thermal Pollution

8. Solid Waste

Causes:

� industry

� dams

� removal of vegetation

Physical Water PollutionPhysical Water Pollution

6. Sediment

7. Thermal Pollution

8. Solid Waste

Pollution Sources:Pollution Sources:Point SourcePoint Source

1. Sewage pipes

2. Leaky gas tanks

3. Industrial sites

4. Injection wells

Pollution Sources:Pollution Sources:Nonpoint SourceNonpoint Source

1. Agriculture (soil, fertilizer,pesticides)

2. Urban runoff (from pavement)

3. Construction sites

4. Air Pollution4. Air Pollution

Controlling Water QualityControlling Water Quality

What can we do?What can we do?

SolutionsSolutions

1. Legislation

2. Source Reduction

3. Improved Land Use Practices3. Improved Land Use Practices

4. Remediation

5. Sewage Treatment

SolutionsSolutions

1. Legislation

2. Source Reduction

3. Improved Land Use

1. Remove lead from gasoline

2. Reduce road salting

3. Decrease erosion

4. Banning phosphates in detergents

5. Reduce fertilizer use, etc.3. Improved Land Use

Practices

4. Remediation

5. Sewage Treatment

5. Reduce fertilizer use, etc.

SolutionsSolutions

1. Legislation

2. Source Reduction

3. Improved Land Use

1. Reduce clear cutting

2. Preserve wetlands

3. Better construction practices

3. Improved Land Use

Practices

4. Remediation

5. Sewage Treatment

SolutionsSolutions

1. Legislation

2. Source Reduction

3. Improved Land Use 3. Improved Land Use

Practices

4. Remediation

5. Sewage Treatment

Water hyacinths absorb arsenic

SolutionsSolutions

1. Legislation

2. Source Reduction

3. Improved Land Use 3. Improved Land Use

Practices

4. Remediation

5. Sewage Treatment

West Point Treatment Plant, Seattle