Chemistry and Water

Pollution

Group Members
Mikelle Sinnette (00033871)
Nadia Richards (00054966)
Genevieve Sebastien
(00029379)
Shamila Harricharan (00051290)
Gillian P- Gardiner (00025843)
CRN 86946 CHEM 092

Introduction:
Environmental degradation in Trinidad and Tobago
has historical roots that are not too dissimilar
from those in the rest of the world, attributed
largely to economic growth and the development
and growth of human population. The problem of
water pollution is widespread, and caused mainly by:
human activities resulting from littering,
unsettled quarry wash,
industrial plant and factory waste,
over use of fertilizers and pesticides,
bush fires, slash and burn and deforestation,
waste oils and untreated or poorly treated sewerage.

Chemical Properties Of Water

(H2O)
Water is bonded covalently by
two hydrogens (H) and one
oxygen (O) molecule.
This diagram represents:
The covalent bonds.
Pink dots
(O)electrons
Yellow dots (H)electrons.

Water Cycle

What is Water
Pollution?
Definition:
Water Pollution is the contamination
of water. This generally refers to the
adverse changes in water quality,
usually as a result of human
activities.
The substances that cause water
pollution are called pollutants.

Some examples of Pollutants

Factories & Refineries (Oil and industrial waste)
Agriculture (Pesticides, fertilizers, Eutrophication)
Human Sewage (Failing septic tanks, pit latrines)
Marine Dumping
Mining (sediment run off)
Agriculture (Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers)
Household chemicals (soap, oven cleaners etc.)
Dumping (non-biodegradable (plastic bottles)

Types of water pollution

Point-Source
Pollution Water
pollution coming from
a single point, such as
a sewage-outflow
pipe.
From factories,
industries, municipal
treatment plants.

Types of water pollution

Cont.
Non-point Source
Pollution
Is associated with storm
water or runoff
A widely spread source
of pollution that cant
be tied to a specific
point of origin is called
nonpoint source
pollution.
Example: Runoff from
a farm field, a street, or
a construction site

Types of water pollution

Cont.
Surface Water Pollution: For
example, a spill from an oil tanker
creates an oil slick that can affect a vast
area of the ocean.

Ground Water Pollution: Water

stored underground in aquifers (is an
underground layer of water bearing
permeable rock, gravel sand slit)is
known asgroundwater.

Other forms of water

pollution
Thermal Pollution caused by heat
from power plants and factories raising
the temperature it reduces oxygen
levels in the water thus reducing
aquatic life.
Sediments (fine-grained powders) The
extra sediment can block the gills of
fish, effectively suffocating them
effecting the supply of fish.

Three major sources of water

pollution

*Industrial waste *Human waste *Chemical

runoff.

Industrial Waste & Water

Pollution
Industries cause huge water pollution with their activities.
These come mainly from:
Oils
Phosphates
Petrochemicals
Mercury (Hghydrargyrum) commonly known as quick silver.
Asbestos Chrysotile (White), Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Amosite/Grunerite (Brown) Fe7Si8O22(OH)2
Crocidolite (Blue) Na2(Fe,Mg)5Si8O22(OH)2

Human Waste & Water

Pollution
Sewage is the term used
for wastewater that often
contains faeces, urine
and laundry waste
Untreated sewage can
often carry harmful
viruses and bacteria into
the environment causing
health problems such as
diarrhea and cholera.
Littering & Dumping

Chemical run off and Water Pollution

Chemical pollution, since the sources are so
varied, can be more difficult to remove (nonbiodegradable) and neutralize. There are
numerous types of chemicals that pollute
water.

Pesticides
Fertilizers
Household cleaners
Paints
Industrials
Metals

Atmosphere and Water

pollution
Acid rain is rain or
another form of
precipitation that is
more acidic than
normal.
Acid rain can affect
fish, harm trees,
and eat away the
stone of buildings
and statues.

Oil Pollution
Oil spills cause a very localized problem
but can be catastrophic to local marine
wildlife such as fish, birds and sea
otters.
Oil cannot dissolve in water and forms a
thick sludge in the water. This suffocates
fish, gets caught in the feathers of
marine birds stopping them from flying
and blocks light from photosynthetic
aquatic plants.

Nuclear Waste
Nuclear waste is
produced from industrial,
medical and scientific
processes that use
radioactive material.
Nuclear waste can have
detrimental effects on
marine habitats.

Effects of Water Pollutio

DEATH OF AQUATIC (WATER) ANIMALS
DISRUPTION OF FOOD CHAINS

DISEASES (hepatitis, cholera, cancers &

death)
DISRUPTION OF ECO-SYSTEM (algae
blooms)

Algae Blooms
Together, sewage and fertilizers can cause a massive
increase in the growth of algae or plankton that
overwhelms huge areas of oceans, lakes, or rivers.
This is known as aharmful algal bloom(also known
as an HAB or red tide, because it can turn the water
red). It is harmful because it removes oxygen from
the water that kills other forms of life, leading to what
is known as adead zone.

How can we stop Water

Pollution?
Laws- Environmental and conservation
laws for industries (fishing, boating,
chemical).
Education- promoting programs e.g.
involving recycling and proper disposal
in schools and in the work place.
Economics- for example clean up
plans and programs.

Preventative Measures

Preventative
Measures
Dispose of rubbish correctly. Think before
you toss!
Use water wisely.
Do not throw chemicals, oils, paints and
medicines down the sink drain, or the toilet.
Buy more eco-friendly products.
Plant a lot of trees and flowers around your
home.

Quick Facts
According to2004 figuresfrom the World Health
Organization, some 1.1 billion people (16 percent of
the world's population) don't have access to safe
drinking water, while 2.6 billion (40 percent of the
world's population hasn't improved much since.
According to a WASA report, it is estimated that farm
waste has been estimated to produce over (55%) of
the total waste load. Trinidad and Tobago was also
estimated as 10.4 million kilograms/year with 45%
being contributed from domestic sources & 55% from
live stock. Mean while, Tobago accounts for 4% of both
the domestic waste and live stock waste.

Conclusion:
Water pollution arising from accidental
ordeliberate disposal of harmful substances on
land, dumping of petro-chemicals at sea, overuse of pesticides and fertilizers and poor
sewage systems, all of which results in
contamination of both surface and ground
water. Water Pollution is a serious issue and
preventive measures are essential
Are You Water Wise?

TRINIDAD WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution in
Trinidad & Tobago port

References
http://eschooltoday.com/pollution/wate
r-pollution/causes-of-water-pollution.
html
http://
www.greenstudentu.com/encyclopedia/
pollution
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natura
l-sciences/environment/water/wwap/
http://www.who.int/en/
http://en.unesco.org/
http://