Catalyst

• Recently, there was a large oil spill in the Gulf. –What were some impacts of the oil spill on the

ecosystem?–What steps did/could people take to clean up

the oil spill?–What can be done to prevent future spills?

*Please turn in Zork lab report*

Water Pollution

• Point Sources: Pollute from specific locations– Examples?– Problems?

• Non-Point Sources: Diffuse area of pollution– Examples? Atmospheric Deposition– Problems?

Types of water pollution: Examples and sources

• Infectious agents• Organic Chemicals• Inorganic Chemicals• Radioactive materials• Sediment• Plant nutrients• Oxygen demanding wastes• Thermal

Water Quality Controls

• TMDL: Total maximum daily loads for pollutants

• Groundwater is hard to monitor and clean• Much of the world has serious water quality

problems• Point source is easier than nonpoint source

Cleaning waste

• Natural Processes: Septic tank systems• Municipal Systems: – Primary Treatment-Physical separation/filtration– Secondary Treatment: Disinfection– Tertiary Treatment: Chemical/physical removal of

plant nutrients

Using online resources, in your groups…

• Come up with materials and procedures to clean up an oil spill.

• Think about – what the consequences of different cleaning

techniques might be– How long each technique might take– How “clean” it would be able to get your

ecosystem

• http://www.ceoe.udel.edu/oilspill/cleanup.html

• http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/cleaning-oil-spill.htm

• http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/science-scope/whats-the-best-way-to-clean-up-the-oil-spill-in-the-gulf/2399