16.

Water Pollution 1
Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008
Spring 2002
Water Pollution
Ohio
1950s-1970s
Organic flammable compounds were
commonly disposed in rivers (sewer
systems).
1960 common children pastime was to
set small fires on the water.
1968 Cuyahoga River, flowing
through Cleveland set on fire
destroying seven bridges
Many areas of the Great Lakes
(rivers, channels, bays) heavily
polluted as the Cuyahoga.
LOVE CANAL (Niagara Falls, NY)
Canal excavated in 1892
by W. T. Love for
commercial purposes.
Canal not completed.
Served as a recreation
area after failure.
LOVE CANAL
(Niagara Falls, NY)
1930 - 1950s Hooker Chemical (Occidental)
used ditch to dump chemical wastes in barrels
(over 80 different chemicals, 20,000 tons)
1953 Land sold to city for $1
City develops area, builds schools and houses
around area, playgrounds over the site.
LOVE CANAL
Winter 1976 Winter 1976 - - 77 Heavy rain/snow 77 Heavy rain/snow
vegetation dies, rubber disintegrates vegetation dies, rubber disintegrates
dogs develop sores dogs develop sores
appearance of puddles of toxic or appearance of puddles of toxic or
noxious substance, basement flooded noxious substance, basement flooded
claims of miscarriages, birth defects, claims of miscarriages, birth defects,
blood and liver abnormalities blood and liver abnormalities
Beverly Beverly Paigen Paigen does systematic study, does systematic study,
and find link between and find link between wet wet homes and homes and
the above the above
16. Water Pollution 2
Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008
Spring 2002
LOVE CANAL
1978 State identified
numerous toxic and
noxious chemicals
benzene, dioxin,
dichloroethylene,
chloroform
1978 State identified
numerous toxic and
noxious chemicals
benzene, dioxin,
dichloroethylene,
chloroform
LOVE CANAL
Families (600)
demand state to
relocate them (at
state expense).
LOVE CANAL
State and Federal
government buy and
destroy over 200 homes.
By 1990 $275 million spent
in cleanup
Site lined with thick plastic and covered with impermeable
clays. Barriers to prevent groundwater movement built
around site.
Contaminated soil and sediment removed and treated.
Area considered clean. Homes back in the market.
Area being monitored permanently.
LOVE CANAL - Remediation
Life of container not known. Integrity of containers
holding chemicals was compromised
Bureaucracy lost track of site history.
Construction practices increased infiltration accelerated
problem.
LOVE CANAL - What went wrong? Love Canal - Benefits
Raised citizen awareness about hazardous waste
Triggered or aided critical environmental legislation
(superfund sites - CERCLA: Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act)
Brought attention to the numerous potential problem
sites and need for sound and safe waste management
practices.
You can now buy a house there for a really cheap
price ;)
16. Water Pollution 3
Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008
Spring 2002
Water Pollution
Pollutant
Any substance that does not belong in
the natural system and disrupts the
natural balance
Water Pollution
Degradation of water quality in a manner
that disrupts/prevents its intended or
original use.
Surface Water
Groundwater
HAZARDOUS
WASTE
1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
A waste/combination of wastes, which b/c of its concentration,
quantity, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics
may
1. Cause or significantly contribute to an increase in
mortality or an increase in serious irreversible or
incapacitating reversible illness, or
2. Pose a substantial present or potential hazard to
human health or the environment when improperly
treated, stored, transported, or disposed of.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS -
HAZMAT
Listed waste
(recognized as hazardous by prior legislation/testing.)
Characteristic waste that exhibits one or more of
the following:
FLAMABLE
EXPLOSIVE
IRRITANT OR SENSITIZER
ACIDIC OR CAUSTIC
TOXIC
Mixture of nonhazardous and hazardous waste
Not specifically excluded from regulation
(i.e. if we dont know we assume it to be hazardous).
TOXIC MATERIALS
A material is said to be toxic if it is in one
of the following categories:
Allergens and immune system depressants
Neurotoxins
Mutagens
Teratogens
Carcinogens
Ricin, a protein found in castor beans, is
the most toxic substance known
Hazardous Substances
Heavy Metals
(neurotoxins)
Lead, Mercury Mercury, Arsenic Arsenic,
Cadmium, Tin,
Chromium, Zinc,
Copper
Arsenic Arsenic
Skin numbness, thickening, Skin numbness, thickening,
discoloration, cancer discoloration, cancer
Hazardous Substances
Non-biodegradable Synthetic and
Natural Organic Chemicals
Most troublesome are Halogenated
Hydrocarbons. Contain: Chlorine, Fluorine,
Bromine, or Iodine. Chlorinated
hydrocarbons most common.
Developmental problems due
to their ability to mimic
Hormones, or disrupt
metabolic pathways.
16. Water Pollution 4
Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008
Spring 2002
Water pollution contaminant types
Infectious agents
Oxygen-demanding Wastes
Plant nutrients and cultural
eutrophication
Toxic tides
Inorganic Pollutants
Metals, nonmetallic salts, acids and
bases
Organic Chemicals
Sediment
Thermal Pollution and thermal shocks
MCL and secondary MCL
MCL=Maximum Contaminant Level
The highest concentration of a pollutant
allowed in drinking water by law
Concentration above which adverse
health affects are believed to occur
Secondary MCL
Concentration of a pollutant above which
the water is unpleasant in odor or taste
May not be hazardous to your health at
that level
Hormesis
Threshold
Linear
Pollution Sources
Point-source
Smokestack /
industrial effluent
Oil Tanker spill
Non point source
Atmospheric
deposition
Farm field runoff
Surface Water
Sustains numerous ecosystems
that fulfill important roles in
biogeochemical cycles and the
water cycle.
Source (major?) of food.
Major source of drinking water.
Recreational/aesthetic value
16. Water Pollution 5
Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008
Spring 2002
Surface Water
Photosynthetic organisms (light is
essential).
Phytoplankton - microscopic,
floaters.
green algae, diatoms, cyanobacteria.
Benthic Plants
Submerged (plant fully under water)
pond weed, muskgrass
Emergent (plants partial above water)
water lilies, cattails
Surface Water
Non photosynthetic organism -
consumers. Includes floating,
swimmers, benthic.
Zooplankton - microscopic, floaters
Fish, Amphibians (froggies..), Reptiles
(Crocs, Turtles, Snakes)
Mollusks (snails, clams), Crustaceans
(crayfish)
Birds (ducks, geese, swans, etc.)
Mammals (otters, raccoons,
muskrats..)
Essentials
Light - essential for primary
producers.
Oxygen - essential for all
consumers.
Nutrients - in balanced quantities
to maintain equilibrium between
populations.
Light
Photic or Euphotic Zone
Depth to which adequate light for
photosynthesis can penetrate.
Controlled by amount of particulate
matter (sediment, plankton, and
organic debris) in the water column.
16. Water Pollution 6
Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008
Spring 2002
Oxygen
Dissolved Oxygen DO
Amount of oxygen available in the water.
Oxygen in water maintained by
exchange with the atmosphere
Production of oxygen by photosynthetic organisms
(vegetation)
Circulation of water (essential to maintain oxygen
levels in deeper portions)
Oxygen consumed by decaying organic
matter and oxygen breathing organism.
BOD
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Measure of the amount of oxygen
required for the aerobic degradation
of organic and non-organic
compounds in the water.
Highly polluted waters have very
high BOD implying that oxygen is
consumed rapidly.
Note: this diagramis specifically for a point source on a stream
Nutrients
Supplied by
Recycled internally through
decay of the organic matter.
Sediments and particulate
matter from land sources.
Oligotrophic Condition
Under normal conditions (pre-
anthropogenic perturbation)
most surface water are:
1. low in nutrients (particularly
phosphorous and nitrogen)
2. well oxygenated
3. have few particulates in the
water column
16. Water Pollution 7
Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008
Spring 2002
Pollution Effects
Excess suspended sediments and
particulate matter, and nutrient rich
runoff (rich in phosphorous and
nitrogen) upset balance of surface
water.
Suspended sediments and particulate
matter cutoff light to benthic
photosynthetic plants and diminish
oxygen production at depth.
Pollution Effects
Excess nutrients in runoff and
incoming water stimulates high
production of plankton. Turbidity of
water increases further decreasing
light penetration. Benthic plants die
and epiphytic algae are the only
bottom plant.
Plankton productivity results in
excess accumulation of organic
matter at the bottom.
Pollution Effects
Oxygen is not replenished and
oxygen breathing organism die off.
Excess organic matter in the bottom
causes bacteria population to
increase further limiting oxygen
availability.
Water is only capable of sustaining
phytoplankton/algae, bacteria and few
organism which do not require
oxygen or light.
Eutrophic Condition
Caused by the excess nutrient and
sediments (sequence of event outlined
in prior slides).
Major cause is the use of fertilizers,
excess erosion from farmland or
nutrient rich soils (deforestation), and
disposal of phosphate bearing
compounds (many detergents) through
sewer systems.
16. Water Pollution 8
Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008
Spring 2002
Chemical
impact
Ecological
impact
Indirect
effect
Direct
effect
Pollutant
DO falls
BOD
rises
Kills benthic
plants and
algae decays
Blocks
light to
the
bottom
Causes
algae to
bloom
Nutrients
DO falls
BOD
rises
Less
photosynthesis
and more
decay of
organic material
Kills
benthic
plants
Blocks
light to
the
bottom
Sediment
Eutrophicationin a nutshell
Reducing Eutrophication
Reduce nutrients and
sediments
Chemical Treatment
Aeration
Harvesting plants
Dredging
Sediment Pollution
Sediment carried at bottom of rivers
(bedload) and deposited in bottom of
water bodies greatly modify bottom
characteristics.
High bedloads or high sedimentation
rates prevent a diverse bottom dwelling
fauna and flora.
Sediment pollution is the major
environmental problem in rivers and
lakes.
Aggradation
16. Water Pollution 9
Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008
Spring 2002
Acid Mine Drainage
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14
Battery
acid
Lemon
juice
Vinegar
Cola
Normal
rain
Distilled
water
Baking
soda
Ammonia
Bleach
Largest variety of animals (trout, mayfly nymphs,
Stonefly nymphs, caddisfly larvae)
Snails, clams, mussels
Bass, bluegill, crappie
Carp, suckers, catfish, some instects
Bacteria
pH tolerance of
various organisms
Yellowboy
Artificial wetland construction
16. Water Pollution 10
Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008
Spring 2002
Water Color
Clear may or may not be of high quality, but other
colors may indicate certain conditions
Brown usually due to eroded soil
Green often indicates lots of algae
Oily Sheen can be caused by petroleum or chemical
pollution
Reddish or orange usually due to iron oxides often in
areas of historic acid mine drainage
Blackish may look bad, but is common in the fall with
leaf fall. Leached pigments from leaf packs can make
the water look murky
Chalky usually caused by salts or detergents in the
water
Ocean pollutants
Toxins
PCBs and heavy metals
Petroleum
Sewage
Solid waste
Sediment
16. Water Pollution 11
Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008
Spring 2002
Valdez
16. Water Pollution 12
Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008
Spring 2002
Groundwater pollutant types
Aqueous dissolved
pollutants
DNAPL
Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid
LNAPL
Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid
Environmental Legislation
Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA)- 1965.
Regulate municipal waste, protect health,
reduce waste.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
of 1969. Creates NEQ council, and later
EPA
Ports and Waterways Safety Act. (1972)
Clean Water Act (1985 Amendment to
SDWA).
16. Water Pollution 13
Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008
Spring 2002
Environmental Legislation
Occupational Safety and Health Act
(OSHA) - 1970. Protection of health
and safety of employees in the
workplace.
Clean Air Act (CAA) - 1963 (amended in
70, 77, 90).
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) -
1974, amended in 1986. Sets MCLs
(Maximum Contaminant Level)
Environmental Legislation
Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act (CERCLA) - 1980. Superfund.
Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act (SARA) - 1986.