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

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Chapter 21

Water Pollution and Treatment


Look at charts in Text…


Biochemical Oxygen Demand

• The amount of oxygen required for biochemical decomposition process

• 3 zones– A pollution zone– An active decomposition zone– A recovery zone


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


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


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


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


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


Groundwater Pollution

• Bioremediation: – a method of treating groundwater pollution

problems that utilizes microorganisms in the ground to consume or break down pollutants


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)


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


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Inadvertent: – water is withdrawn, treated and returned to the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


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 Chapter 21 Water Pollution and Treatment.

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