Studied by 3 people
Domestic sewage
The most universal pollutant, consisting mainly of organic matter from households, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and pathogens.
Industrial discharge
Wastewater from industries that varies in composition and may contain organic matter, toxic metals, or synthetic non-biodegradable compounds.
Agricultural run-off
Water that carries pesticides, fertilizers, and organic material from farms, especially from intensive farming practices.
Urban run-off
Polluted water resulting from rainwater accumulating pollutants from urban areas as it flows into nearby water systems.
Landfill sites
Areas where waste is disposed of, potentially leading to leachates that contaminate groundwater or surface waters.
Acid mine drainage
Pollution resulting from rainwater interacting with iron pyrite in mines, leading to acidic water that dissolves toxic metals.
Eutrophication
The enrichment of waters with nutrients leading to excessive plant growth and subsequent depletion of oxygen in the water.
Synthetic compounds
Man-made substances, often non-biodegradable, which can accumulate in the environment and have harmful biological effects.
Bioaccumulation
The buildup of substances, such as toxic metals, within organisms over time.
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
A measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen used by microorganisms in breaking down organic material in water.
Biotic index
A method used to assess water quality based on the diversity of living organisms in the water.
Pathogens
Microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, often found in sewage effluent, which can pose health risks if water is consumed.
Suspended solids
Small particles in water that reduce light penetration and can smother aquatic organisms, affecting photosynthesis.
Toxic metals
Heavy metals that, at high concentrations, can be harmful to aquatic life and may accumulate through the food chain.
Organic pollution
Pollution resulting from organic materials like sewage and agricultural waste, which can deplete oxygen levels in water.
Outfall pipes
Pipes used to discharge material, such as sewage or wastewater, directly into the sea or water bodies.
Hot water discharge
Release of heated water from power stations that can elevate local water temperatures, impacting aquatic ecosystems.
Invasive species
Non-native species introduced to new environments, often disrupting local ecosystems and causing ecological harm.
Indicator species
Species used to assess the health of an aquatic environment based on their sensitivity to pollution levels.
Leachates
Liquid that has percolated through waste and leached out various substances, potentially contaminating groundwater.
Accidental discharges
Unintentional release of pollutants, such as oil or hazardous materials, into water systems.
what percentage of earth is covered by water
70%
what percentage of earths water salt water and fresh water
97% salt water, 3% fresh water
where is freshwater stored (+how much percent)
0.3% in lakes and rivers
2.7% ice caps, ground water, lakes, soil water, atmospheric water, biota
hydrological cycle
process whereby water is constantly recycled between sea, air and land
storages in the water cycle
snow and ice
groundwater
lakes and rivers
oceans
atmosphere
gas = water vapour
liquid = water droplets
soil
flows in the water cycle
precipitation
melting
interception
Infiltration
surface run offs
groundwater flow
percolation
evapotranspiration
evaporation
condensation
discharge
Interception
process of interrupting the flow of water into streams
Infiltration
physical process of moving water into soil (accumulates minerals and nutrients)
percolation
movement of water through the soil (through gravity and capillary forces)
evapotranspiration
processes by which water moves from the land surface to the atmosphere via evaporation and transpiration
transpiration
the process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts, such as leaves, stems and flowers
discharge
the volumetric amount of water carried by a body of water
ocean currents play an important role in…
global energy distribution
how are surface currents moved?
wind
how are deep water currents moved?
oceanic conveyor belt
upwellings
warm water can hold less salt than cold water
therefore warm water rises
downwellings
cold water rises to replace the rising warm water
warm water replaces cold water
El nino
above-average sea surface temperatures that periodically develop across the east-central equatorial Pacific
La nina
periodic cooling of sea-surface temperatures across the east-central equatorial Pacific
why do el nino and la nina occur?
result from interactions between the ocean surface and the atmosphere over the tropical Pacific
changes in the ocean surface temperatures affect tropical rainfall patterns and atmospheric winds over the Pacific ocean
which impacts the ocean temperatures and currents
how often do el nina and el nino occur?
every 3-5 years
water stress
when demand exceeds the available supply over a certain time period or when the quality of water restricts its use
parameters of water stress
when supply is less than 1700 cubic meters/person/year (m3/person/year)
water scarcity
water supplies fall below 1000 m3/person/year
water scarcity issues
Growing population increases need for water and food
Climate change affecting precipitation rates and changing monsoons
Agricultural practices can produce high evaporation rates
Low water levels in many surface water sources
Aquifers being exhausted due to over pumping
water scarcity large scale solutions
Build dams
Desalination
Rainwater harvesting
•Artificially recharged aquifers
water scarcity small scale solutions
More efficient domestic use (low flow applications and faucets)
Grey water recycling
Rainwater harvesting
Drought resistant crops
Drip irrigation
water degredation issues
Water Degradation Issues
Contamination of aquifers with arsenic, salt and other substances
Salinization of top solid due to high evaporation rates
Use of fertilizers and pesticides
Industrial release of pollutants
Water Degradation Solutions
•Using organic farming methods
•Use highly selective pesticides
•Industry must remove pollutants from wastewater
•Regulate the temperature of water being released from cooling towers
Main goal of a dam and reservoir system
Capture and store runoff
Release runoff as needed to control
Flood control
Fisheries
Hydropower
Supply irrigation water
Recreational, aesthetic and scenic value
Navigation
What drives the hydrological cycle
solar radiation
How does deforestation impact the hydrological cycle?
Reduces interception, allowing rainfall to directly impact the soil, increasing erosion
Speeds up surface run-off, reducing infiltration and percolation
Decreases transpiration, reducing local air moisture and rainfall, potentially causing drier climates
increasing evaporation
How does urbanisation affect the hydrological cycle?
Replaces permeable surfaces with impervious materials, preventing infiltration and increasing surface run-off
Channels water into drainage systems, leading to higher river flow and flood risks
Polluted run-off from streets and roofs degrades water quality and aquatic ecosystems
How does agriculture affect the hydrological cycle?
Excessive irrigation uses up water and makes soil salty due to evaporation.
Farm run-off carries fertilizers and pesticides into water, causing eutrophication
Livestock waste adds nutrients and organic matter to water, lowering oxygen levels and harming aquatic life
what is the relationship between the hydrological cycle and ecosystem
Precipitation patterns determine ecosystem distribution and agricultural potential
water security
The ability to ensure sustainable access to adequate quantities of safe, clean water for people, ecosystems, and agriculture
what are the 2 types of water scarcity
physical scarcity
economic scarcity
what factors impact water security?
Population growth
climate change
pollution
overuse
infrastructure
political/economic factors
what is a water footprint
blue water (surface and groundwater)
green water (rainwater for crops)
grey water (water to dilute pollutants)
what causes water stress?
Rapid urbanization
industrialization
overextraction of groundwater
pollution
what are domestic water conservation techniques?
fixing leaks
using greywater for irrigation
rainwater harvesting
What are some industrial water conservation techniques?
recycling water
adopting water-efficient technologies
implementing zero-liquid discharge systems
What role do phytoplankton play in aquatic ecosystems?
form the foundation of aquatic food webs by converting sunlight and nutrients into organic matter
What are the areas of highest aquatic productivity?
coastlines
shallow seas
upwellings
aquaculture
The farming of aquatic organisms to meet increasing demand for seafood
pros of aquaculture
increased food supply
economic benefit (job opportunities)
efficient use of resources (max sustainable yield, less water and land than lifestok farming
reduces overfishing of wild species
cons of aquaculture
loss of habitat
pollution
spread of diseases
introduction of non-native species, that competes with wild species
fishing methods
trawler fishing
purse-seine net
long-lining
drift net
Trawler fishing
fishing vessel drags a trawl through water behind one or more trawlers
trawler fishing evaluated (selectivity, sea bed damage, yield)
selectivity = medium
sea bed damage = high
yield = high
purse-seine net evaluated (selectivity, sea bed damage, yield)
selectivity = low
sea bed damage = none
yield = high
long-lining evaluated (selectivity, sea bed damage, yield)
selectivity = high
sea bed damage = none
yield = medium
long-lining evaluated (selectivity, sea bed damage, yield)
selectivity = high
sea bed damage = none
yield = low
what is water pollution?
water pollution occurs when harmful substances contaminate water, degrading the quality of the water
types of water pollution
inland and coastal pollution
marine based
inland and coast polution
domestic sewage
industrial discharge
agricultural run off
urban run off
land development
landfill sites
accidental discharges
acid mine drainage
atmospheric input
marine based
materials dumped at sea
shipping activities
exploitation of resources
effects of water pollution
organic pollution
inorganic plant nutrients
eutrophication
toxic metals
synthetic compounds
inert suspended solids
thermal pollution
oil
pathogens
plastic debris
light pollution
noise pollution
invasive species
assessing water quality (physical and chemical parameters)
Ph
temperature
suspended solids
total dissolved solids and conductivity
dissolved oxygen (DO2)
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
Nutrients
Metals
assessing water quality (biological parameters)
kick sampling of macro-invertebrates
biotic index
microbial test
measuring suspended solids
filtering known volume of water sample using pre-weighed filter paper
drying out the filter paper and collected residue
weighing the dried filter paper and residue
calculate the weigh of the dried residue (final weigh of filter paper - initial weight of the filter paper) in mg/l
total dissolved solids (TDS) what does it measure?
indicates the amount of salts present, geology and type of effluent
total dissolved solids (TDS) how is it measured?
measured indirectly using conductivity meter
increasing levels of TDS …
higher conductivity readings
turbidity meter what does it measure?
amount of light scattered by particles in the water
secchi disk what does it measure?
water transparency
the greater the amount of suspended solids …
the lower the light transparency of the water
Dissolved Oxygen (DO2) how is it measured?
filling bottle with water sample
add reagents to sample to fix oxygen by converting it to acid
titrating the sample in which reagent is gradually added to neutralize the acid
amount of reagent used to neutralize the acid is used to calculate the amount of dissolved oxygen levels
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) what does it measure?
the amount of dissolved oxygen used to breakdown the organic material in a given volume of water through aerobic activity
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) how is it measured?
initial dissolved oxygen reading of the sample is taken in mg/l
one litre bottle is filled with the sample and sealed
bottle is incubated in the dark at 20C for 5 days
dissolved oxygen levels are measured again
difference between the initial and final oxygen readings is BOD5
BOD5 < 2 mg/l
unspoilt water
BOD5 = 20mg/l
badly polluted water
nutrients test what does it measure
measures amount of nutrients such as nitrates, phosphates and silica
nutrients test how is it measured
measured using chemical analysis methods
on-site testing kits differ but rely on nutrients reacting with reagents to produce a color change
limitations to testing for physical and chemical parameters
provides information for that specific sample at that particular time
does not indicate whether the water is safe for drinking
why is examination of only physical and chemical parameters not sufficient to determine if the water is safe to use
pathogens may be present in the water
pollutants may be washed away even though they may have severely damaged ecosystem
why are macro-invertebrates used for biological monotoring
stationary, representative of the environment they are found in
relatively long life history providing summary of conditions over time
abundant
relatively easy to sample
consists of diverse groups of organisms
biological monitoring what is it?
using biological organisms to indicate whether water quality decline and whether there have been episodes of pollution between samples
kick sampling
bottom of stream is agitated by kicking the riverbed, organisms are swept into net for analysis
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