Unit 1: Impact on Earth's Resources

Tertiary Treatment

Tertiary Treatment

Reverse osmosis

Secondary Treatment

Incorporates aeration tanks

Primary Treatment

Uses a bar screen to remove large waste pieces

Water Conservation Examples

Ultra low flush toilets low flow faucets short cycles on dishwashers/washing machines less grass - more native plants Car Washes Dry Cooling Towers at elec. power plants Irrigation Ditches Drip Irrigation instead of sprinklers Water recycling Desalinization

Dry Cooling Towers

Circulates water in pipes rather than evaporating into open air

Irrigation Ditches

Lined w/ cement, plastic, or closed pipes. Unlined ditches can lose 40-50% of water.

Water Recycling

reusing or reclamation. Treated wastewater either mixed w/ surface water or used for drinking purposes

Desalination

Using saltwater to get freshwater (very costly)

Disease Causing Agents Examples

Bacteria, parasites, and viruses

Water Pollutants

Disease Causing Agents Synthetic Organic Compounds Radioactive Materials Inorganic Chemicals Fertilizers Thermal Pollution Sediments Oxygen-Using Wastes

Inorganic Chemicals

Chemicals without carbon - can lead to biomagnification

Biomagnification

Increase up the food chain of a pollutant

Bioaccumulation

The individual chemical magnification in a SINGLE organism/thing

Synthetic Organic Compounds

Carbon based

Artificial Eutrophication

Increase in the amount of nutrients in a body of water

1. Excess nutrients released in water

2. Algal bloom - Huge growth of algae

3. Algae die and fall to the bottom

4. Bacteria feed on dead algae

5. Bacteria use up available oxygen in water

6. Fish and aquatic wildlife die (dead zones)

Fertilizers

A chemical or natural substance added to soil or land to increase its fertility

Sediments

Solid material that is moved and deposited in a new location

Oxygen Demanding Wastes

Wastes that deplete dissolved oxygen needed by aquatic species

Radioactive Materials

unstable materials that decay into stable

Thermal Pollution

A temperature increase in a body of water that has a harmful effect on water quality and on wildlife.

Non Point Source Pollutant

Pollution that comes from many different sources that are often hard to identify.

Water Cycle Steps

1. Evaporation

2. Transpiration

3. Condensation

4. Precipitation

5. Runoff

6. Groundwater

7. Surface water

Disease Causing Agents Sources

Often found in water contam. w/ human/animal feces

Disease Causing Agents Impacts and Treatments

Impacts: causes sickness/disease

Treatment: Chlorine - gets rid of DCA

Can't get rid of viruses in water!!!

Disease Causing Agents

Infectious organisms that cause diseases

Inorganic Chemicals Examples

Salts, acids, toxic metals, roadsalt, heavy metals (lead, mercury, copper, arsenic, chromium)

Inorganic Chemicals Sources

Sources: Some human use (road salt), some natural

Inorganic Chemicals Impacts

Biomagnification and Bioaccumulation (pollutants accumulate)

Synthetic Organic Compounds Examples

Soaps, detergents, oils, industrial wastes, pesticides (DDT, Atrizine), solvents

Synthetic Organic Compounds Sources

Cars, offshore drilling, pipeline leaks, agriculture, etc.

Synthetic Organic Compounds Effects

Pesticides cause biomagnification.

Detergents and soaps contain phosphates (artificial eutrophication)

Kills off birds, fish, etc.

Fertilizers Examples

Phosphorus, Potassium , Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulphur Fertilizers

Fertilizers Sources

Applied to lawns and farms - washed away by rain and ends up in streams, lakes, ponds, etc.

Fertilizers Effects

Contains nitrate/phosphate ions: encourages growth of bacteria and algae

Sediments Examples

Soil, Silt, Sand, Clay

Sediments Sources

Erosion, irrigation from farms, etc.

Sediments Effects

1. Increases turbidity

2. Reduces sunlight to water

3. Stops photosynthesis

4. Decreases oxygen

5. Lack of plant growth, clogs gills, wildlife dies, etc.

Oxygen Demanding Wastes Examples

Sewage, Industrial Wastes, Artificial Eutrophication, Decaying Vegetation, Food Processing Plants, Paper Mills, Oil Refineries, Manure

Oxygen Demanding Wastes Sources

Dumping/leaking by industrial plants, food processing plants, paper mills, oil refineries, etc. Manure from farms/agriculture A.E. from detergents, soaps, etc.

Oxygen Demanding Wastes Effects

Impacts: Depletes oxygen in water which kills off aquatic plants and animals.

Radioactive Materials Examples

Radon, Iodine, Cobalt, etc.

Radioactive Materials Sources

Nuclear power plants, nuclear weapons testing, mining and processing of radioactive materials

Radioactive Materials Effects

Causes certain cancers,

Thermal Pollution Examples

Steam, hot water, hot excess materials from manufacturing facilities

Thermal Pollution Sources

Industrial and electric power plants, spinning turbines (they release steam), etc.

Thermal Pollution Effects

Dissolved oxygen increases Cold water fish cannot survive

Polymers

Large organic compounds made of many smaller bonded units

Plastic Environmental Impacts

Kills 1.1 million marine creatures each year Takes 450 years to biodegrade Food gets plastic in it High carbon footprint for production

Plastic Energy Use

Uses 5.6 - 10.2 million joules of energy per liter produced

Uses less energy than bioplastics