Water pollution

Discuss legislation that protects water quality​ Describe common point and non-point sources of pollution and “common” pollutants in water resources​ Discuss methods of pollutant reduction pertaining to point and nonpoint sources. ​ Describe municipal sewage treatment, onsite wastewater treatment, and industrial waste treatment systems; and best management practices for agricultural and urban runoff​ Relate water quality pollution issues to public health​ Describe basic water treatment processes to mitigate public health damages​ ​

in 1972 Congress passed Federal Water Pollution Control Act; in 1977 its name was changed to the Clean Water Act​, What was the goal of this act? “ res_ and ma_ the ch_ phy_ and bi_ intergrity of the nations w_)

Goal of the Act is to “restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters

Before the clean water act was passed what % of watersheds were regarded as polluted​?(high)

95%`

What are the two general types of water pollution coined by Congress? (ps and nps)

Point sources and non-point sources

Where do point sources enter?

Enter waterways at well-defined locations (e.g., a pipe, ditch, or outfall)​

Approx. 100,000 traditional point sources of water pollution in the US​

What are ex of point sources?(fac_, sew_ tr_pl_, )

Examples include factories, sewage treatment plants, and storm sewer outfalls​

What are the 2 major categories of point sources? (sew_ tr_ pl_, and ind_ dis_)

Sewage treatment plants and industrial discharges​

Were NPS taken seriously pre 1980?

Until the 1980s, nonpoint source (NPS) pollutants were largely overlooked as significant pollutant contributors​

How can both Both point sources and NPSs degrade water quality? (releases pol_ into the en_)

by releasing pollutants into the environment​. ex- Nitrogen and phosphorus (collectively called nutrients)​

• Sediment​

• Organic matter (leaves, seeds, grass clippings, bark, etc.)​

• Bacteria​

• Heavy metals (lead, zinc, copper, chromium, etc.)​

• Pesticides​

• Pharmaceuticals and personal care products ​

• Road salts​

• Asbestos​

• PCBs​

• Mercury​

• Fluorides​

  • Temperature​

What is the leading source of water pollution? (A_ think of industries, like farming)

Agriculture = Leading source of water pollution - negatively affects 50-70% of nation’s water quality

How many approx. hog lagoons are in NC and specifcally where (what area?)

Approx. 3,800 hog lagoons in North Carolina, mostly in Eastern northen carolina

What are CAFOs?

Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)​

What are the most common pollutants from CAFOs? (nutr_ N_ P_, bac_ heavy me_ )

​

Nutrients​, Nitrogen & Phosphorus​, Bacteria​, Heavy metals​, BOD,​ Antibiotics​

NPS Impact on Water Quality​ is a significant source of what? (sed_)

Significant source of sediment, 10 – 20 times more than agricultural lands after adjusting for area differences​

> 500 tons of sediment per acre per year​

What is the purpose of secondary treatment? (stim_ nat_ dec_ but greatly acc_)

Designed to simulate natural decomposition but it is greatly accelerated​

What is the goal of wastewater treatment? (improve ww enough)

improve wastewater enough such that discharging effluent does not seriously disrupt aquatic habitat or cause human health problems​

What does Human Wastewater Treatment​ do? ( relies on k_ path_ org_ pre)

Relies on killing pathogenic organisms present as best as possible and to remove organic wastes or convert them to inorganic forms​

Where would you see a Municipal Sewage Treatment​? How much % is found in the US population? (3/4)

In cities, Approximately 70 – 75% of the US population is served by municipal sewer treatment systems​

What is BOD?(bioc_ o2_ de_, think of aquatic hab_ im_)

biochemical oxygen demand

Tertiary Treatment is an Advanced treatment that incorporates what to remove what chemicals? bio_,che_, chemicals= P, N, NH3, )

has several biological, chemical, or physical processes to remove phosphates, nitrates, ammonia, and organic chemicals​

Is tertiary treatment required?

not always

When is tertiary treatment needed? (3 things, think of the process before,

what is the most common method of wastewater treatment in rural areas?

onsite wastewater treatment systems 25-30% of us population

How many components do onsite system/septic systems have?

5

What is the first component of septic systems?

septc tank. Tanks are watertight containers made of concrete or fiberglass with a minimum capacity of 750 gal​septic

What happens in the septic tank? (prim_ t_ where solids settle to the b_ this is called sl_ la_ and fats, oils, and grease float to the t_ sc_ layer)​

Anaerobic environment, Primary treatment occurs in the septic tank where solids settle to the bottom (sludge layer) and fats, oils, and grease float to the topic (scum layer)​

What is 2nd component of onsite system/septic and what does it do (dis_ dev_ that dis_ eff_ to the t_)

distribution device that distributes effluent to the trenches

What is effluent? (lw discharged into a ri_ s_)

liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea

What is the 3rd component of onsite system/septic and what does it do (dr_ tr_.ww st_ until it in_ the so_)

Drainfield trench – wastewater stored until it infiltrates the soil​

What is the 4th component of onsite system/septic and what does it do? (so_ beneath trench is a think of environment rich of CO2 fil_ large poll_,)

Soil – beneath trench is aerobic, filters large pollutants, most important component for pollutant treatment​

What is the 5th/last component of onsite system/septic and what does it do? (se_ dis_, required from ss componets to we_, sur wa_, pr_ li_)

Setback distances – required from septic system components to wells, surface waters, property lines and other areas of interest​

What is the Second major point source of water pollution​? (in_ dis_)

industrial discharges

What does a NPDES permit allow for companies to do(dir_ dis_)

Direct discharge → waste flows directly into receiving stream or lake​

What does a stilling basin do?(get r_ of en_ and allows se_)

Get rid of energy and allows​ sediment (especially sand and​ larger silt) to settle.​

Clearer liquid discharges​

Stores water for 24 – 48 hours​

Finer clay particles still in suspension​

in outflow​

A lined stilling basin with a rock baffle approximately 1/3 of the length of the outlet on the far end​

How do permeable pavements serve as Urban Stormwater Management​?(allow wa_ to in_ thr_ pav_ thus red_ ro_)

Allow water to infiltrate through pavement, thus reducing runoff​

What are some examples of Urban Stormwater Management​?(sb, ra_ gard_, sto_ we_ wp_, pp)

Stilling Basin​,Rain Gardens​,Stormwater Wetlands​, Wetponds​, Permeable Pavements​

What is controlled drainage?(wa_ management practice that uses water con_ str_ to adjust dr_ outlet ele_)

Water management practice that utilizes water control structures such as a flashboard riser to adjust (raise or lower) drainage outlet elevation​. Reduces nutrients, pesticides, and sediment transport – holds it in the channel or field​

What is the most notorious bacterial enteric diseases​?

Typhoid fever and cholera

Viruses are more what to disinfection with chlorine than bacteria?

resistant

What is usually used to disinfect for water purification(think pool)

Chlorine

the 3 major steps of municipal wastewater treatment with their correct definition. primary

Mechanical/physical process of sedimentation and settling of suspended solids; lowering of biological oxygen demand

the 3 major steps of municipal wastewater treatment with their correct definition. secondary

Aerobic stimulation of microorganisms to aid in breaking down organics and removing some pathogens

the 3 major steps of municipal wastewater treatment with their correct definition. teritary

Advanced treatment of wastewater that includes more efficient removal of nutrients

4 basic steps of water treatment with their corresponding definitions/descriptions.Coagulation

adding chemicals (e.g., alum) to help precipitate smaller solids

Filtration

using beds of sand, coal, or diatomaceous earth to screen water