Water PollutionMorgan Fagan

Oxygen Demanding WasteOrganic matter that enters water ways and

feeds the growth of microbial decomposersAffects

Increases biological oxygen demand of water way

Places strain on larger organismsCreates dead zones

ExamplesSewage Feedlot runoff

Nutrient ReleaseNutrients entering the water way through runoff

of farms Affects

Eutrophication Causes rapid growth of algae Algae dies and an increase in decomposing microbes

increases Oxygen demand goes up Larger organisms suffer

ExamplesChesapeake BayMississippi River Dumping into the Gulf of Mexico

Disease Causing OrganismsBacteria, parasites, and viruses that cause disease

in areas where sanitation is not what practicesAffects

Cholera Claims thousands of lives worldwide yearly

Typhoid feverVarious types of stomach flueHepatitis

Common in places with substandard sanitation practicesMalaria

Indicator species of poor water qualityFecal coliform bacteria

Pharmaceuticals and HormonesMost waterways do not have a high enough

concentration to harm organisms (yet)Increased estrogen and cause male fish to

grow eggs in their testesExtent of hormones is really not known

PesticidesBioaccumulate in the

environment and causes harm to larger organisms

Oil and Other Petroleum ProductsHighly toxic to marine birds, mammals, fish,

microorganisms, and algaeApproximately 5,000 offshore oil platforms in

the USExamples

2010 BP oil leak 206 million gallons leaked into the Gulf of Mexico

1989 Exxon Valdez 11 million gallons spilled of the coast of Alaska Most species have rebounded Not all oil has been cleaned up

Oil and Other Petroleum Products

Oil and Other Petroleum ProductsRemediating Oil Spills

Surface oil Contain oil and suck it off the top Apply chemicals that breaks up oil

Prevents oil from causing issues on the shoreline Toxic

Genetically modified bacteria Microbes that obtain their energy by consuming oil

Under water oil (plumes) No agreed upon method to remove

Solid WasteDiscarded materials from houses and industries1997 Scientists discovered a large area of floating

garbage in the North Pacific gyreSize of Texas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUM58LIU2Lo

Dumping of garbage by cruise ships 1970 – 1980

Coal sludge MercuryArsenicLead“Special Waste” – not regulated

Sediment PollutionSand, silt, and clay carried into waterways

through runoffConstructionPlowed agriculture fieldsRemoval of vegetation found on the bankDomestic livestock entering and leaving

streams Affects

Decreased sunlightClog gills

Thermal PollutionIncreased water temperatures decrease the

amount of dissolved oxygen available Cool water used to absorb heat in industrial

processes and returned to the source too warm

Noise PollutionSounds emitted from ships and submarines

interfere with animal communicationCases of beached whales in Bahamas, Canary

Islands, and Gulf of California 2003

Navy was rejected on their request to install detecting systems

2008 U.S. Supreme court ruled Navy was exempt from environmental laws

Water Treatmenthttp://

education-portal.com/academy/lesson/water-treatment-improving-water-quality.html#lesson

Clean Water Act1972

Supports the “protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water” by maintaining and, when necessary, restoring the chemical, physical, and biological properties of natural water

Over time more and more categories of pollutants have been added Feedlots Storm runoff Municipal sewer systems

Safe Drinking Water Act 1974, 1986, 1996

EPA established maximum contaminant levels for 77 different elements or substances in both surface water and groundwater. Microorganisms Disinfectants Organic chemicals Inorganic chemicals

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/the-clean-water-act-safe-drinking-water-act-legislation-for-clean-water.html#lesson