Chapter 22 Water Pollution Types of Water Pollution
Any physical or chemical change in water that adversely affects the
health of humans and other organisms Eight categories
____________________ _____________________ 1. Sewage Wastewater
from drains or sewers
Causes 2 serious environmental problems: 1. _____________________
Fertilization of water by high levels N and P 2. Increase in
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
__________________________________________________________________________________
___________________ Sewage Sewage: Eutrophication
Oligotrophic Unenriched, clear water that supports small
populations of aquatic organisms Sewage: Eutrophication
Slow-flowing stream, lake or estuary enriched by inorganic plant
and algal nutrients such as phosphorus 2. Disease-causing
Agents
Infectious organisms that cause diseases from wastes of infected
individuals Examples:
____________________________________________________________________________
India 3. Sediment Pollution Excessive amounts of suspended soil
particles. From: _____________________ Why Is This Bad? Limits
light penetration Covers aquatic animals and plants Brings
insoluble toxins into waterways 4. Inorganic Plant and Algal
Nutrients
N and P that stimulate the growth of plants and algae Harmful in
large concentrations Sources:
__________________________________________________________________________
Causes: Inorganic Plant and Algal Nutrients: The Dead Zone 5.
Organic Compounds Chemicals that contain carbon atoms
Dangerous! Chemicals that contain carbon atoms Natural examples:
sugars, amino acids, and oils Human-made examples:
_____________________________________ Volatile Organic Compounds in
Groundwater 6. Inorganic Chemicals Contaminants that contain
elements other than carbon Do not degrade easily Examples: Lead-
Mercury- Found in old paint, industrial pollutants, leaded gasoline
bioaccumulates in the muscles of top predators of the open ocean 7.
Radioactive Substances
Unstable isotopes that emit radiation Sources: Mining Processing
radioactive materials Nuclear power plants Natural sources 8.
Thermal Pollution Factories release heated water into
waterways
Why is this bad? Organisms affected
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________ Two Types of Water
Pollution
1. Point Source Pollution
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Non-point Source Pollution
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________ Water Pollution from
Agriculture
Agriculture is ____________________ Animal wastes and plants
residues have high BOD Chemical pesticides Almost all streams and
rivers are polluted with agricultural pesticides Important****
There is NO regulation!!!! Municipal Water Pollution Industrial
Wastes in Water
Different industries generate different pollutants Food processing
plants- high BOD Paper mills- High BOD and toxic compounds Many
industries recover toxins before they go into the waste stream
Green Chemistry Groundwater Pollution Water Pollution in Other
Countries
Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela Po River, Italy Ganges River, India Used
for bathing and washing clothing Sewage and industrial waste
discharged into river Ganga Action Plan initiated by government
Construction of 29 sewage treatment plants Purification of Drinking
Water
In US most municipal water supplies are treated Purification of
Drinking Water
Treated water distributed to customers Purification of Drinking
Water
Chlorine Dilemma Chlorine byproducts are linked to numerous
cancers, miscarriages and birth defects Peru Fluoridation Prevents
tooth decay Linked to cancer, kidney disease Municipal Sewage
Treatment Laws Controlling Water Pollution
Citizen Watchdogs to Monitor Pollution Safe Drinking Water Act
(1974) Set uniform federal standards for drinking water including
maximum contaminant level Clean Water Act (1972) EPA sets up and
monitors National Emissions Limitations Effectively improved water
quality from point sources
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