APES UNIT 8 LETS GO

fresh water

only 2.78% and only .5% available

water pollution

the contamination of ponds, river,streams, oceans and groundwater by substances due to human activities that negatively affect living organisms

point-sources

distinct locations that pump waste into a waterway

non-point sources

diffuse areas such as an entire farming region that pollutes a waterway

1st major cause of water pollution

agriculture (erosion, fertilizers, pesticides, bacteria.)

eutrophication

the excessive growth of algae due to high amount of excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) in the water

hypoxia

deficiency in amount of oxygen reaching the tissue

solutions to reduce eutrophication

phosphate-free detergents

more vegetation

treat wastewater

reduce amount of fertilizers

algae filtration

UV radiation

BOD (biochemical oxygen demand)

amount of oxygen used by a quantity of water over a period of time at a specific temperature

DO (dissolved oxygen)

dissolved oxygen levels decrease as BOD increases

septic systems

large container that receives wastewater from the house

primary treatment

some pathogen bacteria and solids are removed
-large debris is filtered out through screens or filters
- solid waste is allowed to settle out of waste, dried and then disposed as sludge

secondary treatment

viruses, more waste, more pathogens and some dissolved organics removed and BOD is lowered
-break down 85-90% of organic matter
- perform aeration (more oxygen for more decomposition)

tertiary treatment

phosphorous and nitrogen lowered, dissolved oxygen and pathogenic bacteria lowered and all solid waste removed
-disinfection by chlorine, ozone or ultra violet

manure lagoons

large, man- made ponds lined with rubber to prevent contamination of groundwater

2nd major source of water pollution

Industrial use (food processing plants, paper mills, textile.)

lead

found in old paint, industrial pollutants, leaded gasoline, lead pipes

* can cause brain, nervous system and kidney damage*

mercury

most comes from burning fossil fuels, incinerating garbage, medical waste, dental supplies and construction

* can cause nervous system damage, impairment of coordination or senses

arsenic

found naturally in earth's crust, mining, found in well water

*causes skin, kidney, lung and bladder cancer*

water pollution from mining

low pH levels in water causes iron to precipitate from pirate and create rusty red color
* heavy metal contamination and leeching*

oil pollution

spills, leaks runoff and natural seeps

ways to remediate oil pollution

containment booms

chemical to break down oil

genetically engineered bacteria

underwater oil plumes

clean wildlife by hand

coal ash

waste from coal mining that contains mercury, arsenic and lead

sediment pollution

excessive amounts of soil particles

thermal pollution

occurs when heated water used in industrial plants is released into waterways

thermal shock

temperature affects digestive rates, heart rates and respiration rates

noise pollution

sounds from ships and submarines

sonar can also harm wildlife

clean water act of 1972

supports the "protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water".

Issued water quality standards that defined acceptable limits of various pollutants in U.S. waterways.

Effectively improved water quality from point sources

safe drinking water act

*sets the national standards for safe drinking water. *

It is responsible for establishing maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for 77 different elements or substances in both surface water and groundwater.

surface tension

result of cohesion of water molecules at the surface of a body of water

capillary action

when cohesion of water is stronger to a surface than cohesion of molecules

watershed

land area that delivers water to a river or stream

runoff

movement of water to rivers, lakes and streams

groundwater

water that is stored underground in aquifers

surface water

precipitation that stays on the surface and does not seep into ground

tributary

a smaller river that flows into a bigger one

riparian

riverside/stream that are productive and species rich

floodplain

area bordering a river channel that has the potential to flood

wetlands

systems that combine freshwater and dry land

freshwater marshes

shallow water allows plants to grow above water surface

swamps

shallow waters surrounded by forested areas

bogs

ponds covered with layer of thick vegetation

littoral zone

region ringing the end of a body of water

benthic zone

extends along entire bottom of body of water

limnetic zone

areas of shallow water where sunlight penetrates

profundal zone

areas where sunlight cannot penetrate

aquifers

small spaces within layers of permeable rock and sediment where water is found

unconfined aquifers

aquifers that is porous rock covered by soil

confined aquifer

aquifer covered by layer of impermeable rock and clay

artesian well

well that uses aquifer water that is under pressure

zone of saturation

spaces in soil filled with water

water table

the uppermost level of at which the water fully saturates the rock or soil

aquifer recharge

the input process of water percollating the aquifer

springs

water from an aquifer that naturally percolates up to surface

cone of depression

an area where there is no longer any groundwater.

saltwater intrusion

when the pumping of fresh water out of a well is faster than the recharge. Near coastal areas this can cause salt water to infiltrate the aquifer.

oligitrophic

low amount of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous

mesotrophic

a moderate level of productivity

eutrophic

high levels of productivity which tend to fill in the lake with high amounts of sediment

levees

an enlarged bank built up on each side of the river.

dikes

similar to a levee but built to prevent ocean waters from flooding adjacent land.

dams

a barrier that runs across a river or stream to control the flow of water.

reservoir

the area where water is stored behind the dam, allows for suspended matter to settle

aqueducts

canals or ditches used to carry water from one location to another.

desalinization

removal of salt from salt water to create fresh water

distilling

hastens evaporation and condenses the vapor

reverse osmosis

forces water through membranes to filter out salts

brine

salty water waste from desalinization

irrigation method \#1: furrow

dug trenches along crop rows which are filled with water (65% efficient)

irrigation method \#2: flood

flooding the entire field with water (70-80% efficient)

irrigation method \#3: spray

water pumped into apparatus which sprays water across crops (75-95% efficient)

irrigation method \#4: drip/trickle

uses a slowly dripping hose laid on or beneath soil supplying water too roots (95+% efficient)

* most efficient

grey water/ reclaimed water

Wastewater from baths, showers, sinks, washing machines that can be used for lawns, washing cars, and toilets

DDT

man made chemical designed to target nerve transmissions

PCBs

cause brain damage, are lethal and carcinogenic

cadmium

builds up and causes kidney damage

plastic pollution

can release harmful chemicals into the water

does not decompose

Plastic breaks up into extremely tiny pieces that is mistaken for food

solid waste

sediment

\-organic waste depletes oxygen, inorganic waste adds toxins

\-sand, silt, land erosion-→disrupt photosynthesis

petrochemicals

Synthetic Organic Compounds

\-oil, gasoline, cleaning solvent--→ adds toxins to aquatic systems

\-plastics, MTBE, gasoline-→ hormonally active agents & cancerous

Nanofilter

example is LifeStraw & converting water for drinking can be expensive

bottled water

either contaminated with bacteria or is just regular tap water(expensive)