Water Pollution and The Application of Science for Drinking Water

Water Pollution has been a major problem for the human society and has affected the ecosystem significantly
by destroying the aquamarine life and destroying the opportunity to create clean and safe drinking water for
all the human beings in the world. [ CITATION Wor17 \l 1033 ]

The substances which we have found in polluted water are made of deadly chemicals which could harm us
severally if taken in for a long duration of time. There are two types of water pollutants which have been
found:
Toxic Metals - which consists of Arsenic, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead and Mercury. This
causes either immediate illness following short-term exposure to high concentrations or delayed effects
after long term exposure at lower levels. Many of these materials cause birth defects,
gene mutation and/or cancer. (Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Water Quality - Pollutant
Sources and Impacts: Toxic Substances)
Persistent Organic Pollutant The word persistent, which could well be applied to both classes of
toxic substances, is important because it means that the chemical hangs around long enough to enter
the food chain and cause harmful effects. which consists of PCBs/PBDEs, DDT, Aldrin/Dieldrin and
Dioxins/Furans. (Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Water Quality - Pollutant Sources and
Impacts: Toxic Substances)
Keeping the above in mind, the most crucial part of providing clean water is the removal of these kinds of
pollutants that may not be immediately visible to the eye.
There are different forms of toxic wastes such as metals,
non-metals or organic waste. The general procedures is
common, that is other chemicals may be added which
coagulate these toxics as they become heavier and sink to
the bottom. These heavy particles are then filtered out.

The main sources of waste materials in water are-

Complex organic chemicals industry
Electric power plants
Food industry
Iron and steel industry
Mines and quarries
Nuclear industry
Pulp and paper industry
Industrial oil contamination
The metals released are in cationic form and can be
removed by Reverse osmosis, but as shown in the image
this is an expensive method. Other methods developed are
the use of synthetic resins based on the principle of
selective ion exchange method.

The most commonly used method for toxic metal removal is

the coagulation method, as discussed above.

Source: Image 1 - comparative cost of each kind of treatment 1

1 Micropollutants.com- http://micropollutants.com/Portals/0/Downloads/Cost-of-treatment-water-micropollutants.pdf By PrimOzone. The picture shows the different cost for treating
wastewater to make it fit for human consumption along with the amount of residue that is still left in the treated water after leaving the treatment plant.
Water Pollution and The Application of Science for Drinking Water
The method of coagulation has the issue of generating another problem, the sludge that is now produced by
the waste treatment needs to be either stored since heavy metals cannot be destroyed completely or
incinerated for the disposal.
To over come this; issue another method is now being tested, although this is yet to become a part of the usual
waste water treatment plants- The AOP (Advanced Oxidation Process)

Source: Image 2
A pilot-scale investigation of ozonation and advanced oxidation processes at Choa Chu Kang
Waterworks
Jenny Wang, Achim Ried, Harald Stapel, Yaning Zhang, Minghui Chen, Wui
Seng Ang, Rongjing Xie, Ankur Duarah, Lifeng Zhang, Mong Hoo Lim
Water Practice and Technology Mar 2015, 10 (1) 43-49; DOI: 10.2166/wpt.2015.006

The water treatment plant with the AOP is still in trial phases and there are no environmental regulations that
make it mandatory for the the water treatment plants to have this process. Therefore, the process and new
technologies are not being implemented immediately.

The hazardous chemicals which were found in these sludges were:

The tests also found perfluorooctane sulfonate, an ingredient in Scotchgard stain-fighting coatings; bisphenol A, a
hormone-like plastics additive; and tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate, a flame retardant chemical.

"Our very awareness of trace amounts of these chemicals comes in large part because we are aggressively
conducting research on water quality and safety," said Tom LaPorte, a spokesman for the Chicago Department of
Water Pollution and The Application of Science for Drinking Water
Water Management. (www.chicago tribune.com, Odd chemicals turn up in drinking water, Michael Hawthrone,
Tribune reporter, August 6, 2011)2

Source:
Journal-
Advanced Oxidation Processes for
Antibiotics Removal: A Review
Author(s): Giusy Lofrano, Roberta
Pedrazzani, Giovanni Libralato, Maurizio
Carotenuto.
Accessed on: August 30, 2017

The above clearly highlighted the fact the that legislation and research has to be implemented together for the
changes that have to made in the safe drinking water policy. Due to numerous human activities like residue of
antibiotics that are excreted by humans, from livestock, houses, agriculture, hospitals, excreta and flushed down
the toilet, Stain removers like Scotchguard, etc. the problem has become fairly common in all parts of the world.

The economic Implication for the implementation of science:

2 Copyright 2017, Chicago Tribune This article is related to-

Medical Research Medicine, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Water Supply, Public Officials, Environmental Politics
It highlights the issue of pure water cannot be solved with the political and research aspect working together.
Water Pollution and The Application of Science for Drinking Water

Key: O&M-
Operations and
Maintenance
R&R- Repair
and Replacement
Source:

https://futureofschaumburg.wordpress.com3
The figure above highlights the economic costs that have to be borne in order to implement the solution that
has been created by science. Not all countries have the allocated budget or the infrastructure to implement
the same properly, the classic example being countries like Nepal and Egypt.

The political implication of the solution:

Erin Brockovich, movie highlighting The Hinkley groundwater contamination claim, as part of the debate about
pollution on ground water by heavy metals, it is worth mentioning that this case marked a turning point in
legislation, and settlement that had to be paid out. It also show cased the nexus between the politicians and
the big giants running such companies PG&E been on the forefront.
Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinkley_groundwater_contamination
In July 2014 California became the first state that started looking at chromium-6 as a potential carcinogenic
and set limits about its presence in drinking water. (Source-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinkley_groundwater_contamination)

Environmental impact of the procedures for waste water treatment

Journal: Environ Health Perspectv.27; 1978 Dec; PMC 1637302
The general method of disposal of waste residue was the landfilling procedure, this could be done with the
sludge from the waste water treatment, the issue that nowadays the contamination of the waster water also

3 Schaumburgs Sustainable Future is a collaborative project focused on the Village of Schaumburg, Illinois, that analyzes its
environmental and cultural history, evaluates its present status as an archetypal edge city within American suburbia, and assesses
its future prospects as a sustainable community.
Water Pollution and The Application of Science for Drinking Water
includes the heavy metals, this makes it hazardous waste, the land filling method can be applied only if the
landfill has been designed as a hazardous landfill facility.
Incineration: this method is used when the landfill is either far or not capable to handle the heavy metals in
the waste. This procedure of burning uses various techniques like flash burn etc., but ultimately the exhaust
from these have to be monitored and checked that the air quality is fit for humans. The ash produced has to be
stored in special lined containers and stored.

Bibliography:
Ten Low-Cost Ways to Treat Water. Engineering For Change, 15 Nov. 2016,
www.engineeringforchange.org/ten-low-cost-ways-to-treat-water/
Hydratelife. Wastewater Solutions: Artificial Wetlands. HydrateLife, HydrateLife, 18 Apr.
2012, www.hydratelife.org/wastewater-solutions-artificial-wetlands/.
HydrateLife. Are Nanoparticles the Water Detox Solution WeVe Been Looking
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detox-solution-weve-been-looking-for/
Ms. Joan Chadde. MTU Tech Alive Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Web Module
Index. Tech Alive, Ms. Joan Chadde, 2006, techalive.mtu.edu/meec_index.htm.
ehf., Raf. Ozone Equipment. Raf Ehf., www.rafehf.is/en/ozone_equipment/sewage_treatment.
Drinking Water Innovations at RUs Schaumburg Campus.Schaumburg's Sustainable Future,
15 Jan. 2013, futureofschaumburg.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/drinking-water-innovations-at-
rus-schaumburg-campus/.
Wang, Jenny, et al. A Pilot-Scale Investigation of Ozonation and Advanced Oxidation Processes
at Choa Chu Kang Waterworks.Water Practice and Technology, IWA Publishing, 1 Mar. 2015,
wpt.iwaponline.com/content/10/1/43.full
Primozone. Alternative Technologies for the Removal of Micropollutants from
Wastewater. Micropollutants.com, Primozone, micropollutants.com/Solutions/Other.
Giusy Lofrano, et al. Advanced Oxidation Processes for Antibiotics Removal: A
Review. Http://Www.eurekaselect.com, Bentham Science,
www.eurekaselect.com/148893/article.