Freshwater Freshwater PollutionPollution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgLIMaZAJj0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNdbj3PbX6o

Will the pollution reach your wells?

Supplies needed: A partner (the person

sitting next to you from your group)

Permanent Marker Aquifer (coffee filter) Paper plate (do not throw

away)

Artificial rain Pollution (food coloring)

Think about this before it rains…

Which wells could be affected by the pollution?

Are all wells affected the same?

What is water pollution? (1st)What things could make water polluted?

Factory waste

Car exhaustChemicals from landfills

plastics

fuel

litter

sewage

styrofoam

Scrap metals

What is water pollution?(2nd) What things could make water polluted?

sewage

Oil/fuel leaks

plastics

Toxic waste

pesticides

Household waste

Scrap metal

Medical waste

Heavy metals

What is water pollution?(3rd) What things could make water polluted?

Factory waste

fertilizers

Nuclear waste

sewage

drilling

fracking

Waste water

landfills

What is water pollution?(4th) What things could make water polluted?

Plastic

Oil

Trash/Litter

Scrap Metal

Toxic Waste

Sewage

Chemicals

Landfills

What is water pollution?(6th) What things could make water polluted?

sewage

Factory waste

Smoke/exhaust

Nuclear waste

plastics

Bio-waste

Marine waste

Residential garbage

What is water pollution?

• Water pollution is the addition of any substance that has a negative effect on water or the living things that depend on the water.

• It can affect surface water, groundwater, and rain.

• It can result from both natural causes and human activities.

Origins of Water Pollution

• Human wastes

• Industrial wastes

• Agricultural chemicals

• Runoff from roads

Point vs. Nonpoint Sources

• Each source of pollution can be a point source or nonpoint source, depending on how the pollution enters a body of water.

• Point source = a specific source of pollution that can be identified (ex. A pipe gushing dirty water into a river)

• Nonpoint source = a widely spread source of pollution that is difficult to link to a specific point of origin (ex. road runoff)

Problem solving…

Explain why finding the source of water pollution can be difficult.

• The pollution source may be widespread and/or far away from the polluted water.

• Pollutants may dissolve and move throughout a body of water.

• Sources such as gasoline tanks may be hidden underground.

Point or Nonpoint?

point source nonpoint source

Point or Nonpoint?

nonpoint source point source

Point or Nonpoint?

point source nonpoint source

Human Wastes

• Our wastewater is treated before being released to the environment but some viruses and parasites resist the treatment processes.

• During a flood, sanitary sewers can overflow into storm sewers and pollute surface waters.

• Septic tanks must be located in the right spot to avoid wastewater leakage.

• Waste from farm animals can pollute water.

Something to think about…

What is wrong with this picture?

Drinking water should be kept separate from sewage. Sewage contains bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause disease.

Industrial Pollutants

Types of Industrial Pollutants

Chemicals Smoke/Exhaust Heat Pollution

Industrial Wastes• Chemicals are released into rivers/lakes and

also stored in ways that are a hazard.

• Factories burn coal or oil while cars, trucks, and buses burn gasoline = acid rain

• Factories release warm water into rivers raising the temperature of the water.

Agricultural Chemicals

• Farmers use fertilizer, it rains, some chemicals wash away as runoff.

• Extra fertilizer encourages the growth of plants and algae around water.

• Pesticides are chemicals intended to kill insects and other organisms that damage crops. They may end up as run off or be sprayed directly on ponds.

Agricultural question for you…

• How can chemicals used in agriculture reach streams, ponds, and lakes?

When rain falls on the fields, it washes some of the chemicals away as runoff. The runoff eventually reaches streams, ponds, and lakes.

Runoff from Roads• Cars leak gasoline and oil. When it rains

these oily substances are washed off along with the runoff.

• In the winter, runoff picks up salt that is sprinkled on roads and sidewalks to melt ice.

• These substances can pollute rivers and lakes and seep down into groundwater and pollute wells or aquifers.

Create a chart to show how gasoline, oil, or salt can travel from the surface of the road to a lake or aquifer (a source of drinking water).

Car leaks oil onto the road

Rain washes the oil into a permeable area

Water and oil seep down into an aquifer

A well is installed into the aquifer

This well provides you with your drinking water

Cleaning Up Polluted Waters

• Some pollutants are eventually removed from freshwater naturally. Living things in lakes, streams, and wetlands filter out and break down waste materials.

• Some pollutants are difficult to remove so just avoid causing the pollution in the first place!

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWC0c0h2jSM

What can you do?

You can keep pollutants from entering the environment by:

• Don’t litter!• Help clean up litter.• Properly disposing of toxic

substances such as paint and motor oil.

• Recycle plastics! • What else?