Botkin & Keller: Environmental Science: Earth as a Living Planet- 8th Ed.

APESChapter #19- Water Pollution and Treatment- Guided Reading Read: Case Study: Americas First River: A Success Story Summarize the story of the Hudson River and PCBs: The Hudson River is considered as the first river due to the exploration that discovered it. In 950 to 1975, General Electric Company dumped tons of PCBs because it was considered safe. It polluted the river and created a lack of jobs for fishermen. Water Pollution 1: How is water pollution defined? It refers to degradation of water quality. 2: What are some of the common water pollutants? They are arsenic, cadmium, lindane, and other contamiants. 3: What is the primary water pollution problem in the world today? It is the lack of clean, disease free drinking water. 4: How many people are exposed to waterborne diseases worldwide? There are several billion people that are exposed. 5: Name 3 sources of Surface Water and 3 sources of Groundwater Pollution from the chart (19.1) -Urban runoff -Accidental spills of chemicals including oil -Runoff Ground Water Pollution-Leaks from waste-disposal site -Seepage from agriculture activities -Saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers A Closer Look 19.1: What is the Value of Clean Water to New York City? What is the main idea of this story? The main idea of the story is water is precious. It must be preserved as seen from New York for its benefits. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) 1: What is BOD and what are some sources of it? BOD is the biological oxygen demand for water-quality management. Sources of it include dead organic matter. 2: Where does approximately 33% of all BOD in streams come from? They come from streams results from agricultural activities. 3: What about in urban areas (BOD)? They are from older sewer systems. 4: What is the relationship between BOD and dissolved oxygen levels? (What happens when BOD is high?) With BOD too high, there is less dissolved oxygen level. 5: Explain the 3 zones of BOD: * Pollution Zone: where high BOD exists. Waste decomposes, microorganisms use the oxygen. * Active Decomposition Zone: dissolved ocygen reaches minimum owing to rapid decomposition * Recovery Zone: where dissolved ocygen increases and BOD is reduced Waterborne Disease 1: What is Fecal Coliform Bacteria and where does it come from? It is a standard measure and indicator of disease potential. It comes from fecal material of families. Nutrients 1: How do urban streams get high concentrations of Nitrogen and Phosphorus? From

sources of land. Eutrophication 1: Define Eutrophication: process by which a body of water develops a high concentration of nutrients 2: What is the solution to artificial or cultural eutrophication? The solution is using phosphate-free detergents, controlling nitrogen runoff, and disposing treated wastewater. A Closer Look 19.2: Cultural Eutrophication in the Gulf of Mexico What is a dead zone and how is it created? A dead zone is when there is no oxygen for the water and it happens with too much nutrients in the water. Oil 1: Which Environmental Act was created after the Exxon Valdez disaster? The Oil Pollution Act. Sediment 1: Why is sediment pollution considered to be a two-fold problem? It is from erosion and reduces quality of the water resources it enters. 2: What are some of the techniques employed by a sediment control program? Change from agricultural, forested, or riral land o urbanized land more dramatic affects. Acid Mine Drainage 1: Define Acid Mine Drainage and explain how it occurs: It is when water with a high concentration of sulfuric cid drains from mines. It occurs when acidic water runs off. 2: What is the general equation for acid mine drainage? Pyrite+Oxygen+Water+Ferric Hydroxide+Sulfuric Acid 3: What site was once designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the nations worst hazardous waste site? The site is Tar Creek. Surface Water Pollution 1: What are some point sources of surface water pollution? Some are pipes from industrial and municipal sites. 2: What are some non-point sources of surface water pollution? These include runoff from streets and heavy metals. 3: What are the 2 approaches to dealing with surface water pollution? We can reduce the sources and to treat the water to remove pollutants. Groundwater Pollution 1: 75% of the 175,000 known waste disposal sites in the United States may be producing plumes of hazardous chemicals that are migrating into groundwater resources. 2: What is bioremediation? It is the use of microorganisms to dispose extraction. 3: What are the 5 important points about groundwater pollution? The five points are: some pollutants are lighter than water, some pollutants have multiple phases, some pollutants are heavier than water, method to treat a water pollutant, and cleanup is expensive can be undetected. 4: What is saltwater intrusion of well water? The salty water is restricted by the freshwater moving inland. Wastewater Treatment 1: Summarize how Septic Tank Sewage Disposal Systems work. The waste is stored spreads but ends up filtered. 2: What happens during primary treatment of sewage? Incoming raw sewage enters plant and passes through screens to remove large floating organic material. 3: What happens during secondary treatment of sewage? Activated sludge for living

organisms. 4: When is advanced wastewater treatment used? For treated water still with pollutants. 5: What are some of the risks associated with Chlorine treatment of wastewater that is later discharged? Some risks are potentially hazardous chemical by products and cancer. Land Application of Wastewater 1: Explain the process of wastewater renovation and conservation cycle. It is when we recycle the water. Wastewater and Wetlands 1: How can applying treated sewage to wetlands be helpful to the wetland ecosystem? It is cheaper for communities. Water Reuse 1: What is the difference between indirect and direct water reuse? The indirect reuse is planned, and direct water reuse refers to use of treated wastewater. Environmental Laws Clean Water Act Federal Safe Drinking Water Act Water Quality Act Make sure to memorize the following laws: How safe do you believe the drinking water is in your home? How did you reach your conclusion? Are you worried about low-level contamination by toxins in your water? What could the sources of contamination be? I think the water within my home is safe enough to drink. I knew of my tap water company. I am a bit worried by toxins yet do not think much due to the safeness of it. Read, Is Water Pollution from Pig Farms Unavoidable and answer the following: 1: Why was pig farming such a controversy in North Carolina during this time? It was a controversy due to many pigs overpopulating. 2: What did pig farmers do with the pig waste? Why was this allowed? They were allowed to put it in the open because it was not regulated. 3: What is the lesson learned from North Carolinas Bay of Pigs? The lesson is to watch what we produce. 4: What legislation has been created as a result of this catastrophe? The legislation is the Hog Roundtable. Study Questions: 1: Do you think outbreaks of waterborne diseases will be more common or less common in the future? Why? Where are outbreaks most likely to occur? The outbreaks will be less common as we are more educated than before. 2: How does water that drains from coal mines become contaminated with sulfuric acid?Why is this an important environmental problem? Water is drained to streams and rivers nearby. It is important because it can cause more problems with the environment such as contamination of drinking water. 3: Do you think our water supply is vulnerable to terrorist attacks? Why? Why not? How could potential threats be minimized? No not really because they are more focused on outer buildings rather than targeting unpopular water. Threats can be minimized by monitoring and making sure water is clean.

4: How would you design a system to capture runoff where you live before it enters a storm drain? I would design a system that would filter it out by technology of our century.