Water Pollution • Terminology 1. Contamination • Elevated concentrations of substances in water but with no measurable damaging effects 2. Pollution • Measurable damaging effects • Some definitions require human agency 3. Source • Origin of contaminant/pollutant 4. Receiving Waters • Waters into which contaminant/pollutant is discharged 5. Mixing Zone • Area where contaminant/pollutant from source mixes with receiving waters
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 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Water Pollution• Terminology
1. Contamination• Elevated concentrations of substances in water
but with no measurable damaging effects
2. Pollution• Measurable damaging effects• Some definitions require human agency
3. Source• Origin of contaminant/pollutant
4. Receiving Waters• Waters into which contaminant/pollutant is
discharged
5. Mixing Zone• Area where contaminant/pollutant from source
mixes with receiving waters
Water Pollution• Sources
1. Point sources• Discharge directly into receiving waters• Easier to characterize and regulate than NPS’s
2. 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
1. Degradable• Organic material; can be decomposed by bacteria• Decomposition depletes oxygen (measured by BOD)• Ex: Urban sewage, agricultural & animal waste
2. Dissipating• Disperse/Diffuse in water• Effects usually local• Ex: Heat, acids, chemicals, nutrients (esp. phosphorus in FW)
3. Particulate• Usually inert (non-reactive)• Affects turbidity, may be abrasive, clogs gills/filters• Ex: Sediments, airborne particles (e.g. ash)
4. Conservative• Diverse pollutants, many toxic• Persistent; may facilitate oxygen depletion• Ex: Heavy metals, halogenated hydrocarbons (“cides”),
radioactive materials5. 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”