WATER POLLUTION

Introduction to Sustainable Engineering

Seminar presentation

Enfa Rose George

RET16IT032

S1 Information Technology

Rajagiri School of Engineering And Technology

INTRODUCTION

Vitality of Water ‘n’ current scenario

STATISTICS

Every day, 2 million tons of sewage and industrial

and agricultural waste are discharged into the

world’s water

The UN estimates that the amount of wastewater

“produced” annually is 1500 km3

Lack of adequate sanitation contaminates

watercourses worldwide and that is 2.5 billion

people.

18% of the world population ie 1.2 billion people ie

1 in 3 ppl in rural areas defecate in open.

Waterborne diseases are the number one killer of

children under five years old.

More people die from unsafe water annually than from all

forms of violence, including war. (WHO 2002)

Unsafe or inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene

cause approximately 3.1% of all deaths worldwide and

3.7 % of DALYs (disability adjusted life years)worldwide.

(WHO 2002)

Unsafe water causes 4 billion cases of diarrhoea each

year, and results in 2.2 million deaths,.

15% of child deaths each year are attributable to

diarrhoea – a child dying every 15 seconds.

CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION

PATHOGENS

Coliform bacteria is used as bacteria indicator

High levels of pathogens from on-site sanitation

systems (septic tanks, pit latrines) or inadequately

treated sewage discharges, sanitary sewer

overflows

Some cities also have combined sewers, which

may discharge untreated sewage during rain

storms.

Muddy river polluted by sediment.

Also by poorly managed livestock operations.

ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS

Detergents, Disinfection agents chloroform

Food processing waste, which can include oxygen-

demanding substances, fats and grease

Insecticides and herbicides, a huge range of

organohalides and other chemical compounds

Petroleum hydrocarbons,and lubricants (motor oil),

and fuel combustion byproducts, from storm water

runoff.

Volatile organic compounds, such as industrial

solvents, from improper storage.

ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS (CONT..)

Chlorinated solvents, which are dense non-

aqueous phase liquids, may fall to the bottom of

reservoirs, since they don't mix well with water and

are denser.

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs)

Trichloroethylene

Perchlorate

Various chemical compounds found in personal

hygiene and cosmetic products

Drug pollution involving pharmaceutical drugs and

their metabolites

INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS

Acidity caused by industrial discharges (especially sulfur dioxide from power plants)

Ammonia from food processing waste

Chemical waste as industrial by-products

Fertilizers containing nutrients--nitrates and phosphates—which are found in storm water runoff from agriculture, as well as commercial and residential use

Heavy metals from motor vehicles and acid mine drainage

Silt (sediment) in runoff from construction sites, logging, slash and burn practices or land clearing sites.

MACROSCOPIC POLLUTANTS

Large visible items polluting the water

Trash or garbage (e.g. paper, plastic, or food waste)

Nurdles, small ubiquitous waterborne plastic pellets

Shipwrecks, large

derelict ships.

THERMAL POLLUTION

The rise or fall in the temperature of a natural body

of water caused by human influence

Changes in the physical properties of water

Decrease oxygen levels, which can kill fish and

alter food chain composition, reduce species

biodiversity, and foster invasion by new

thermophilic species

AND THE AFTEREFFECTS

ECOSYSTEM

Throws the Ecosystem off balance

Causes Eutrophication

Interrupts natural food chain esp in aquatic

ecosystem

Kills the much needed microbes

BOD levels are altered

Consumption of infected aqualife can cause serious

illness

Oil spills poses death threats to water birds

Bioaccumalation and biomagnification of chemicals

in animal body

A wide range of diseases are caused

Heavy metal poisioning cause permenant nural

damage

Pesticide contamination cause reproductive and

endocrine damage

CONTROLLING POLLUTION

SEWAGE TREATMENT

Domestic sewage is typically treated by centralized

sewage treatment plants

Remove 90 % or more of the pollutant load

ENGINEERING APPROACHES

Utilizing a green infrastructure approach to improve

storm water management capacity throughout the

system, and reduce the hydraulic overloading of the

treatment plant

repair and replacement of leaking and

malfunctioning equipment

increasing overall hydraulic capacity of the sewage

collection system (often a very expensive option).

A household or business not served by a municipal

treatment plant may have an individual septic tank,

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Pre-treatment system to remove the toxic

components

Send the partially treated wastewater to the

municipal system

Their own complete on-site treatment systems

Redesigning their manufacturing processes to

reduce or eliminate pollutants, through a process

called pollution prevention

Heated water generated can be controlled by

cooling towers, cooling tower and cogeneration

AGRICULTURAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Sediment (loose soil) washed off fields is the

largest source of agricultural pollution

Contour plowing, crop mulching, crop rotation,

planting perennial crops and installing riparian

buffers.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques

(which can include biological pest control)

CONTROL OF URBAN RUNOFF (STORM WATER)

Pollution prevention practices include

1. low-impact development techniques

2. installation of green roofs and improved chemical

handling

3. Runoff mitigation systems include infiltration

basins

4. Bioretention systems

5. Constructed wetlands, retention basins and similar

devices.

LEGISLATIONS

THE VERY FIRST…

Stockholm Conference on Human Environment

from 5th June to 16‘th June 1972.

Every country submitted reports

The Act aims to prevent and control water pollution

and to maintain/ restore wholesomeness of water

by establishing Central and State Pollution Control

Board to monitor and enforce the regulations

IN INDIA…

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,

1974 has 64 sections

i) Preliminary

ii) Central and State Boards for the Prevention and

Control of Water Pollution

iii) Joint Boards

iv) Powers and Functions of Boards

v) Prevention and Control of Water Pollution

vi) Funds, Accounts and Audit

vii) Penalties and Procedures

viii) Miscellaneous.

THE ACT PROHIBITS…

Knowingly doing certain acts which cause water pollution.

Causing or permitting the entry into any stream or well or sewer or on land of- any poisonous matter, -any noxious matter, - any polluting matter as per standards laid by State Board - any other matter tending to impede the proper flow of water of a stream

Establishment of any industry or any treatment and disposal system likely to lead to discharge of sewage, or bringing into use any new discharge or sewage, or beginning to make any new discharge or sewage.

CONCLUSION

What can you and I do?

BAN KI MOON, UN SECRETARY GENERAL

"Our indispensable water resources have proven

themselves to be greatly resilient, but they are

increasingly vulnerable and threatened.

Our growing population's need for water for food,

raw materials and energy is increasingly competing

with nature's own demands for water to sustain

already imperilled ecosystems and the services on

which we depend.

Day after day, we pour millions of tons of untreated

sewage and industrial and agricultural wastes into

the world's water systems.

Clean water has become scarce and will become

even scarcer with the onset of climate change.

And the poor continue to suffer first and most from

pollution, water shortages and the lack of adequate

sanitation."

THANK YOU!