Water Pollution & Cleanup

Water pollution
Classes of pollution, pollutants
Pathogens, parasites Oxygen-demanding wastes Inorganic chemicals Inorganic plant nutrients Organic chemicals Sediments Radioactive material Heat (thermal pollution)

Water pollution
Pathogens, parasites
Usually from sewage, feedlots, slaughterhouses Viruses Bacteria (cholera, ...)
Coliform bacteria usually not pathogenic, Used as indicators of pollution

Protozoan parasites (Giardia, Cryptosporidium)

Water pollution
Oxygen-demanding wastes
Organic materials from sewage, slaughterhouses, etc. Decomposed by bacteria
Bacteria require, consume dissolved oxygen

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

Measure of water quality Low in pristine water

Water pollution
Inorganic chemicals
Mostly from industry Heavy metals
Lead, arsenic, mercury, copper ions, etc.

Ammonia Acids
Sulfuric acid, nitric acid from acid deposition Also from industry

Bases (caustic alkalines)

Water pollution
Inorganic plant nutrients (fertilizers)
From agriculture, lawns & gardens
Leaching into groundwater Run-off into surface waters

Stimulate growth of algae (algal blooms), eutrophication

Algae die, sink, become oxygen-demanding waste

Water pollution
Inorganic plant nutrients (fertilizers)
From agriculture, lawns & gardens Eutrophication
Natural process Accelerated by excess nutrient input Algae die, sink, become oxygen-demanding waste

Water pollution
Organic chemicals
from industry, restaurants, cars, households, farms Gasoline, oil Engine coolant (ethylene glycol) Solvents Detergents Pesticides
insecticides, herbicides, fungicides

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Water pollution
Sediments
Erosion from construction sites, streets & roads, farms, sewage Dense sediments sink, accumulate
Sedimentation in reservoirs

Less dense sediments may stay in water

Reduce clarity (increase turbidity) Reduce light penetration & photosynthesis

Water pollution
Radioactive material
From spills, waste from atomic weapons production
Hanford, Washington Savannah River Plant, South Carolina

From nuclear power plants (minor)

Closely regulated

Heat (thermal pollution)

Heated water from cooling of electrical generating equipment Alters ecosystem of river, lake