Envirothon - Non-Point Source Pollution

Synthetic fertilizers mainly contain which two elements:

Nitrogen and Phosphorus

N and P are vital for

Plant growth

Eutrophication is. . .

The process where excessive amounts of nutrients containing Phosphorus and Nitrogen, from runoffs, leads to rapid algae blooms and overgrowthin aquatic ecosystems, which depletes oxygen and harms aquatic life.

The Steps to Eutrophication

1.  Fertilizers wash into the waterway leading to an algal bloom.

2. The dense mat of algae can block sunlight from the plants beneath the surface.

3. The algae will eventually reach a carrying capacity in the water way and begin to die back, providing an abundant food source for decomposers like aerobic bacteria that use oxygen to break them down.

4. The dissolved oxygen in the water begins to drop as the decomposers use it to break down the algal bloom.  

5. Aquatic organisms like fish and amphibians begin to suffer and potentially die as the oxygen levels drop.

6. This can create a hypoxic environment that keeps this cycle going (positive feedback).

7. Eutrophication is often seasonal – worse in the summer when dissolved oxygen is already low (Heat makes oxygen naturally escape the water).  

The Native Americans documented fish kills that could have been caused by. . .

RED TIDE

What is a Red Tide?

A single cell, microscopic algae, when they reach harmful concentrations can cause harmful algae blooms. ex: Karenia Brevis

How long can Red Tide last?

Can last up to years or months

Has been observed as far up the East Coast as. . .

North Carolina

Red Tide usually starts:

During Summer or Fall

Which two things are important to its growth?

Sunlight temp. and salinity

Karenia Brevis produces a suit of toxins called

Breve toxins

Breve toxins are harmful to animals and humans, what do they do to us?

Create respiratory irritation

In shellfish (oysters and clams) it accumulates in what part of the body?

It accumulates in their bodies, which if eaten can infect the consumer with poison

Accumulates where in fin fish?

The organs

What association works with scientists to scan for Red Tide?

Florida Fish and Wildlife Association

What do they use to predict the Red Tide?

Satellites and Underwater Samplers

Non-Target Species

The species that the pesticide is not designed to kill, but kills them anyway.
- if the organism has a nervous system, it can be harmed

Two types of Water Way Non-Target Species

Fish and Amphibians

Endocrine Disruptors

• Can cause mutations

• Ex: male frogs adopting more feminine characteristics (population dip)

[Blank] wrote Silent Spring, first put pesticides on our radar, especially on those that are washing into our waterways

Rachel Carson

The Endocrine System includes:

Hormones

How does sediment (soil) impact waterways?

• Can change the flow of the waterway, can hinder the flow

• Increase in murkiness

• PH change

Turbidity

When sediment washes in, the water becomes more murky and cloudy

Affects of Turbidity

• Causes the waterway to heat significantly, affects coldblooded organisms 

• Sediment has a lot of metal and minerals, can essentially “hold heat”

• Much less sunlight is unable to find its way to the floor

• Affects plant life, unable to grow without sunlight

• Less oxygen in water because of heat

DDT(Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) - Rachel Carson

• Infantile paralysis epidemic - DDT

• Every suspected spot is sprayed, even the streams are disinfected

• DDT is used to fight against the disease, sprayed people and places

What are some effects of Eutriphication?

Forms an impenetrable roof and uses up the nutrients of the waterway

Then the algae decomposes after the nutrients are gone, taking up the Oxygen in the decomposition process (this suffocates fish)

This can ultimately lead to coral bleaching and the take over of invasive species

Also, this can be caused by clearcutting and construction

Causes of Eutrophication

Human settlements, construction, clearcutting

What is this all started by?

Runoff which is caused by fertilizers from foarms and golf courses

What is the cycle order?

1. Runoff

2. Algal Bloom

3. Carrying Capacity is reached

4. Algae starts to die

5. Bacteria use up O to decompose algae

6. Oxygen levels drop

7. Aquatic life dies

5 - 7 create a feed back loop, keeping the cycle going

How often does this happen?

Usually seasonal

Consequences of toxic runoff and the cycle?

It can create dead zones and can bleach coral reefs

What is the Clean Water Act?

An act that protects waterways from point source pollution

Point Source Pollution

Released waste water into a stream or waterway

/What was the catalyst for the CWA and Federal Water Pollution Control Act amend?

Cuyahoga River, which caught fire due to the amount of pollutants it contained

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

• Only point source

• Must have the polluted water body connect to a bigger waterway

Any Violation can end up as:

Either 32500 a day or 15 years in prison

Allows citizens to:

“citizen sue”

What is “impaired water”?

Water that is not up to water quality standards

What is TMDL?

The Total Maximum Daily Load - how much one substance can be put into a waterday per day

Redulates ground water treatment plants, sewage, etc

The NPDES allows

certain waste into waterways

What is a NPDES permit?

What is okay to release in a waterway

• Specific to facility/area

• Amount of dessired O2

• Hg

• Turbidity

• Cl

The more facilities using a single waterway means

Tighter restrictions

People who write these permits are on the . . . level

State (SCDES)

• does not include groundwater or non-point source pollution

What is a silt fence?

A black tarp that is used around fences in construction sites to limit the amount of silt runoff that gets into the waterways