Unit 12: Water Quality Management

What are the sources of water management

point source and non-point sources

what are point sources

any single identifiable source from which pollutants are released

example of point sources?

factory, sewage treatment plants, oil spills, power plants

what are non-point sources?

a source can not be identified accurately and degrades the environment in a diffuse, indirect way

example of non-point source?

agricultural runoff ( pesticides ) or atmospheric deposition ( acid rain ), construction sites

How many types of water pollution

8 types

What is sewage water pollution?

occur when untreated or partially treated wastewater - discharged into water bodies

What are sources of sewage?

wastewater from drains of sewers

Example of sewage pollution?

human wastes, soaps, detergents

what are effects of sewage pollution?

Threaten public health, causes of enrichment and high BOD

What are disease-causing agents pollution?

Water become contaminated with harmful microrganism ( bacteria, parasites )

What are the sources of disease-causing agents?

Bacteria, viruses, parasitic worms

effects of disease-causing agents?

Spread infectious diseases

What is the sediment pollutions ?

occur when excessive amounts of soil particles, sand, mineral that enter water bodies.

What are the sources of sediment pollution?

erosion of agricultural lands, forest soils, exposed by logging degraded stream banks

Example of sediment pollution

clay, silt, sand, gravel

Effects of sediment pollution

reduce light penetration, limit photosynthesis and disrupt food chain

what is inorganic plant and algal nutrients

Excessive amounts of nutrients ( nitriogen, phosphorus )

What are the sources of Inorganic plant and algal nutrients?

human and animal wastes, plan residues, atmospheric deposition

Effects of inorganic plant and algal nutrients?

Stimulate growth of excess plants and algae, disrupt the natural balance between producers and consumers and causes enrichment, bad odors

what are organic compounds?

organic pollutants ( human-made )

sources of organic compounds?

landfills, agricultural runoff, industrial wastes

example of organic compounds?

synthetic chemicals: Pesticides, industrial chemicals, plastics

What are the effects of organic compounds?

contaminate groundwater, surface water, threaten drinking water supply

What are the sources of Inorganic chemicals pollution ?

industeies, mines, irrigation runoff, oil drilling

example of inorganic chemicals?

acids, salts, heavy metals ( lead, mercury, arsenic )

the effects of inorganic chemicals?

contaminate groundwater and surface water, threaten drinking-water supplu

Sources of the radioactive substances pollution?

nuclear power plants, weapons industry

example of radioactive substances?

uranum, thorium

Sources of thermal pollution?

industrial runoff

example of thermal pollution

heated water produced during industrial processes → released into waterways

effects of thermal pollution?

depletes water of oxygen + reduce oxygen

What is BOD

•  BOD is a measure of the amount of oxygen required by microorganisms to decompose organic matter in a body of water.

• Significance: High BOD levels indicate a high level of organic pollution, which can lead to oxygen depletion and harm aquatic life.

what is eutrophication?

the process by which a body of water becomes enriched with nutrients, often leading to excessive plant and algae growth. This can have severe consequences for aquatic ecosystems.

problems - control point and nonpoint sources?

1.Cost-ineffective decision making: use command-and-control policies

→ market-based sollution: effluent fee ( MEF )

2. Limit of national per unit effluent fee

what is watershed?

a hyrdologically defined land area that drains into a particular water body

what is watershed approach?

comprehensive framework - holistic approach

what is watershed-based permit?

 Allows for permitting of multiple point sources within a watershed.