WATER POLLUTION PART II

POLLUTION FROM SEWAGE

SEWAGE:

•poses a threat to public health because it carries disease-causing agents (cholera bacteria, hepatitis, Eschericia coli (coliform bacteria).

•Causes nutrient-loading (organically-rich) into surface waters.

•Causes an increase in BOD (biological oxygen demand) or BOD5 over five day period, which causes a decrease in

POLLUTION FROM SEWAGE

SEWAGE:

•poses a threat to public health because it carries disease-causing agents (cholera bacteria, hepatitis, Eschericia coli (coliform bacteria).

•Causes nutrient-loading (organically-rich) into surface waters.

•Causes an increase in BOD (biological oxygen demand) or BOD5 over five day period, which causes a decrease in DO. This results in the lowering of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

MONITORING SEWAGEStandard test for for total

coliform (TCOL) and fecal coliform (FCOL) bacteria. The number of colonies formed are counted.

STANDARDS: (EPA)

1. Drinking Water – 1 coliform bacteria:100 mL of water

2. Swimming Water – 200 coliform bacteria: 100 mL of water

DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE SLUDGE

1. ANAEROBIC DIGESTION – anaerobic bacteria break down organics into methane gas (NH4) and CO2. Methane is trapped and used to heat the digester to 95F.

END PRODUCT = Soil conditioner for gardens (humus).

2. FERTILIZER – sludge is rich in plant nutrients and can be dried (pelletized) and sold as a fertilizer.

PROBLEM: Combined sewer (industrial, residential and storm water combined may be high in heavy metals and

PCB’s (NYC SLUDGE!)

WATER POLLUTIONCONTROL LAWS

1988 – Ocean Dumping Ban Act – barred ocean dumping of sewage sludge at the 200 mile marker. All cities were in compliance by 1988 EXCEPT for NYC, who were permitted to dump until June, 1992.

1972 – Water Pollution Control Act – EPA established regulations for the discharge of pollutants in the USA. It gave the EPA authority to implement pollution control programs and set ambient water quality standards for all contaminants entering surface waters. It also funded the construction of sewage treatment plants.

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL LAWS

• The Federal Water Pollution Control Act was amended in 1977 and came to be known as the Clean Water Act. The ACT does NOT address water quantity or groundwater, ONLY water quality. Initially addressed point source, since the 1980’s has come to address nonpoint source issues as well.

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL LAWS

• Great Lakes Critical Programs Act, 1990, put in place part of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the USA and Canada. This law required the EPA to establish water quality criteria to address 29 toxic pollutants with maximum levels that are safe for humans, wildlife, and aquatic life.

GENETIC POLLUTION(NON-NATIVE SPECIES)

• 1. Zebra Mussel – 1986 larvae of zebra mussel arrived in ballast water discharged from a European ship.

ZEBRA MUSSEL DISTRIBUTION

QUAGGA MUSSEL

Invaded the Great Lakes area when it “hitch-hiked” it’s way in on a Russian freighter.

More damaging than zebra mussel because it has a greater tolerance range (can survive at greater depths and tolerate more extreme temperatures).

There is concern that it will colonize Chesapeake Bay and parts of Florida.

QUAGGA MUSSEL DISTRIBUTION

BAD NEWS ON MUSSEL INVASION

• * No known predators, out-competes food supply of native shellfish, clogs irrigation pipes, shuts down water intake systems for power plants, fouls beaches, and grows in huge masses on boat hulls and piers.

GOOD NEWS ON MUSSEL INVASION

• Mussels are filter feeders and improve water clarity tremendously.

• Water clarity stimulates and promotes growth of subaquatic vegetation (primary producers), therefore, increases energy flow in the aquatic environment and reducing waste matter!

WATER HYACINTH

• 1 woman from Florida took 1 plant from an exhibit to put in her pond because the flower was so beautiful.

• It reproduces rapidly and doubles it’s population in two weeks.

• It is native to Central and South America NOT Florida. It is now the #1 invasive aquatic weed in the southeast!

PROBLEMS

• It as displaced natural species of plants and fish and clogged ponds, streams and canals.

Scientists have introduced the non-native water hyacinth beetle (primary consumer), a snail from Puerto Rico and the grass carp from Russia!= CHAOS!!! +FBL

WATER HYACINTH

OTHER AQUATIC NON-NATIVE SPECIES

• EURASIAN WATER MILFOIL

• SNAKEHEAD FISH

• GOBI FISH

THERMAL POLLUTION

• Thermal pollution occurs when heated water produced during industrial processing or nuclear energy generation is released into waterways.

• The water returned to the aquatic environment is warmer than the surrounding water causing the solubility of oxygen to decrease (DO drops).

• Organisms that have a limited tolerance range for temperature variation or rapid thermal changes will go into thermal shock and die.

THERMAL POLLUTION

RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION• Wastes from mining of

uranium and plutonium as well as refinement of metals. These materials go to combined sewage treatment plants or directly enter surface waters through runoff.

WAYS TO REDUCE WATER POLLUTION

• Reduce the toxicity or volume of pollutants.• Shift to pollution prevention instead of pollution cleanup ($$

$)• Replace organic-based solvents and paint thinners with

water-based products.• Reuse wastewater instead of discharging it.• Set up artificial treatment wetlands for the wastewater to

pass through be fore discharge.• Can’t do any of this without educating the public and

winning the support of BIG INDUSTRY. They must view it as a profitable venture. THEN Govt. will be on board!