Water Quality
Environmental ScienceMr. Mead
Water Quality Water Quality
• Water Quality is a very general term explaining how safe the water is for consuption, contact, and the wildlife that depends on it.
• Almost an immeasurable amount of things can and do effect water quality
• DQ - name a few.• Pollution, runoff, rain, erosion, wildlife,
bacteria, human needs, time of year, location, sunlight, …
• Water Quality is a very general term explaining how safe the water is for consuption, contact, and the wildlife that depends on it.
• Almost an immeasurable amount of things can and do effect water quality
• DQ - name a few.• Pollution, runoff, rain, erosion, wildlife,
bacteria, human needs, time of year, location, sunlight, …
Water PollutionWater Pollution
• An obvious thing that can effect water quality is pollution
• Water pollution - anything that degrades water quality
• Can be physical (ex. sedimentation), biological (ex. Bacteria), or chemical (ex. Nitrogen)
• An obvious thing that can effect water quality is pollution
• Water pollution - anything that degrades water quality
• Can be physical (ex. sedimentation), biological (ex. Bacteria), or chemical (ex. Nitrogen)
Water PollutionWater Pollution
• There are two types of sources of pollution.• Point - meets the body of water at a
specific location• Examples?
• Nonpoint - have no specific location where they discharge into the body of water.• Examples?
• DQ - Which would be harder to control and why?
• There are two types of sources of pollution.• Point - meets the body of water at a
specific location• Examples?
• Nonpoint - have no specific location where they discharge into the body of water.• Examples?
• DQ - Which would be harder to control and why?
Water pollutionWater pollution
• There are two main categories of pollutants based on what their effects are.
• Each of these categories have subcategories as well.
• 1. Causes Health Problems• 2. Causes Ecosystem Disruption
• There are two main categories of pollutants based on what their effects are.
• Each of these categories have subcategories as well.
• 1. Causes Health Problems• 2. Causes Ecosystem Disruption
Causes Health ProblemsCauses Health Problems• Subcategories - and sources• 1. Infectious agents - human waste
• Bacteria, viruses, parasites
• 2. Organic Chemicals - industrial waste, farms• Pesticides, plastics, oil
• 3. Inorganic Chemicals - Industrial waste, household cleaners• Acids, salts, metals
• 4. Radioactive Materials - mining, power plants• Radon, uranium, etc.
• Subcategories - and sources• 1. Infectious agents - human waste
• Bacteria, viruses, parasites
• 2. Organic Chemicals - industrial waste, farms• Pesticides, plastics, oil
• 3. Inorganic Chemicals - Industrial waste, household cleaners• Acids, salts, metals
• 4. Radioactive Materials - mining, power plants• Radon, uranium, etc.
Health problemsHealth problems
• These are a huge problem in developing countries
• But still some problems here in US as well as many other developed countries• Ex. China
• We will worry less about this category, because it deals more with humans
• These are a huge problem in developing countries
• But still some problems here in US as well as many other developed countries• Ex. China
• We will worry less about this category, because it deals more with humans
Ecosystem DisruptionEcosystem Disruption
• Subcategories - and sources• 1. Sediment - Land erosion
• Soil, silt
• 2. Plant Nutrients - fertilizers, sewage• Nitrates, Phosphates, Ammonium
• 3. Oxygen demanding waste - Sewage, food processing• Animal manure, paper waste
• Thermal - power plants, industrial cooling• Heated water
• Subcategories - and sources• 1. Sediment - Land erosion
• Soil, silt
• 2. Plant Nutrients - fertilizers, sewage• Nitrates, Phosphates, Ammonium
• 3. Oxygen demanding waste - Sewage, food processing• Animal manure, paper waste
• Thermal - power plants, industrial cooling• Heated water
Ecosystem disruptionEcosystem disruption
• DQ - How do each of these disrupt the ecosystem?• Look in your book to answer this question
• Sediment• Clouds water, not allowing
photosynthesis to take place• Lowering oxygen levels, and less food
• Covers gravel beds for fish spawning
• DQ - How do each of these disrupt the ecosystem?• Look in your book to answer this question
• Sediment• Clouds water, not allowing
photosynthesis to take place• Lowering oxygen levels, and less food
• Covers gravel beds for fish spawning
Ecosystem disruptionEcosystem disruption
• Plant nutrients• Eutrophication - too many nutrients
• Blooms of algae and other aquatic plants• When these die, oxygen levels tank
• Raise bacteria levels• Cause funny taste and/or odor of water
• Oxygen demanding waste - • Lower oxygen levels, killing off species• Can add bacteria and affect taste
• Plant nutrients• Eutrophication - too many nutrients
• Blooms of algae and other aquatic plants• When these die, oxygen levels tank
• Raise bacteria levels• Cause funny taste and/or odor of water
• Oxygen demanding waste - • Lower oxygen levels, killing off species• Can add bacteria and affect taste
Ecosystem DisruptionEcosystem Disruption
• Thermal• Aquatic organisms not adapted well
to temp. changes• Oxygen levels are affected• Some animals are attracted to
thermal plume during winter months
• Thermal• Aquatic organisms not adapted well
to temp. changes• Oxygen levels are affected• Some animals are attracted to
thermal plume during winter months
Water Quality TodayWater Quality Today
• In the USA we have legislation trying to keep our water clean and safe.
• The overall water quality of surface water in America has improved dramatically in the last 30-40 years.
• We have set standards of “acceptable” levels of different substances in our waters.
• In the USA we have legislation trying to keep our water clean and safe.
• The overall water quality of surface water in America has improved dramatically in the last 30-40 years.
• We have set standards of “acceptable” levels of different substances in our waters.
Water StandardsWater Standards
• All states a little bit different• These are Iowa DNR standards
• Nitrates• 15 ppm - maximum level to be
considered “healthy” water • 3-10ppm = optimum range• In drinking water it shouldn’t be more
than 5 ppm
• All states a little bit different• These are Iowa DNR standards
• Nitrates• 15 ppm - maximum level to be
considered “healthy” water • 3-10ppm = optimum range• In drinking water it shouldn’t be more
than 5 ppm
Water Quality StandardsWater Quality Standards
• Phosphorus• 30 ppm - maximum level to be considered
“healthy” water• 5 - 15 ppm - optimum range
• Ammonium• 5 ppm - max level• 1-3 ppm - optimum range
• Turbidity - how clear the water is• How much light gets through the water• http://dipin.kent.edu/tsi.htm
• Phosphorus• 30 ppm - maximum level to be considered
“healthy” water• 5 - 15 ppm - optimum range
• Ammonium• 5 ppm - max level• 1-3 ppm - optimum range
• Turbidity - how clear the water is• How much light gets through the water• http://dipin.kent.edu/tsi.htm
Water Quality StandardsWater Quality Standards
• pH• Standard 7.0 - 8.3• Life can survive 6.0 - 9.0
• Nitirite• 10 ppm - max level to be considered safe• 2 ppm - 6 ppm optimum range
• Dissolved Oxygen• 0-2 ppm - fish can’t survive, little advanced life• 2-5 ppm - Rough fish (carp, catfish)
invertabrates• 5-10 ppm - Healthy Ecosystem
• pH• Standard 7.0 - 8.3• Life can survive 6.0 - 9.0
• Nitirite• 10 ppm - max level to be considered safe• 2 ppm - 6 ppm optimum range
• Dissolved Oxygen• 0-2 ppm - fish can’t survive, little advanced life• 2-5 ppm - Rough fish (carp, catfish)
invertabrates• 5-10 ppm - Healthy Ecosystem
ActivityActivity
• In your notes, write a short paragraph to explain why the optimum range for these chemicals would not be 0 ppm.
• In your notes, write a short paragraph to explain why the optimum range for these chemicals would not be 0 ppm.
Water Quality TodayWater Quality Today
• The USA has improved its water quality dramatically the last 30 years.
• However, other countries have not had as much luck with water quality.
• China - over half of the water is not suitable for any human use because of pollution.
• Russia - only half of tap water is fit to drink straight from tap
• Developing countries - use their water sources as bathrooms, and landfills
• The USA has improved its water quality dramatically the last 30 years.
• However, other countries have not had as much luck with water quality.
• China - over half of the water is not suitable for any human use because of pollution.
• Russia - only half of tap water is fit to drink straight from tap
• Developing countries - use their water sources as bathrooms, and landfills
Sources of FreshwaterSources of Freshwater
• Surface water• Rivers, Streams, Lakes, etc.• Needs to be treated with several steps
• Groundwater• Aquifers - filtered by the soil• Usually cleaner, but once polluted, very hard
to clean.
• Ocean Water• Needs to be desalinated before it can be used
• Surface water• Rivers, Streams, Lakes, etc.• Needs to be treated with several steps
• Groundwater• Aquifers - filtered by the soil• Usually cleaner, but once polluted, very hard
to clean.
• Ocean Water• Needs to be desalinated before it can be used
Water Quality TodayWater Quality Today
• Overall water quality in the world is decreasing because of these problems
• Snowball effect• Little water available because we have
polluted many sources• But good sources get polluted by our
over use of them, since there is so little water
• Overall water quality in the world is decreasing because of these problems
• Snowball effect• Little water available because we have
polluted many sources• But good sources get polluted by our
over use of them, since there is so little water
Solutions Solutions
• Try to increase amount of fresh water• Can take a long time• Not cost effective
• Clean polluted water• Hard to do• Expensive• People still don’t trust it
• Conservation• Most people don’t want to do it
• Try to increase amount of fresh water• Can take a long time• Not cost effective
• Clean polluted water• Hard to do• Expensive• People still don’t trust it
• Conservation• Most people don’t want to do it
What can you do?What can you do?
• Activity - list 8 things that you can do to help improve water quality?
• Conserve• Don’t let water run when brushing teeth• Don’t water lawn• Low flow showers, shower less• Fix leaky faucets/toilets• Don’t flush every time• Wash large loads of laundry
• Activity - list 8 things that you can do to help improve water quality?
• Conserve• Don’t let water run when brushing teeth• Don’t water lawn• Low flow showers, shower less• Fix leaky faucets/toilets• Don’t flush every time• Wash large loads of laundry
What can you do?What can you do?
• Reduce pollution• Don’t dump chemicals down drain• No fertilizer on lawn• Car pool• Compost yard waste• Fix leaky car• Organize river clean up groups
• Reduce pollution• Don’t dump chemicals down drain• No fertilizer on lawn• Car pool• Compost yard waste• Fix leaky car• Organize river clean up groups
AssignmentAssignment
• Write a paragraph choosing one of the three solutions that you believe makes the most sense
• Write a second paragraph explaining the quality of your water sample, based on the levels of each that you found.
• Write a paragraph choosing one of the three solutions that you believe makes the most sense
• Write a second paragraph explaining the quality of your water sample, based on the levels of each that you found.
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