Sewage Runoff and Thermal Pollution By Olwyn Scarbeary
What Is It? Sewage Runoff The dumping of hazardous industrial sewage, domestic waste, and sludge into the ocean Thermal Pollution The dumping of heated wastewater into oceans
Sources of Impact Sewage There are two major types of sewage. Industrial sewage, which can contain harmful chemicals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic Domestic sewage, which consists of mostly human waste, and can carry disease such as Hepatitis
Sources of Impact How it reaches the oceans direct disposal to the ocean (which is illegal) leaking underground tanks travel to the ocean through streams and rivers Sewage can also contain contain things harmful to the ecosystem such as viruses, chemicals, bacteria, and parasites
Sources of Impact In cities that can afford it, sewage is processed in sewage treatment facilities in an attempt to make sewage runoff less harmful. What is unknown is that this can result in the release of even more harmful pollutants in the ocean Sludge A semi-liquid byproduct of sewage treatment Contains all of the harmful aspects of sewage, but concentrated This results in black deserts, which is the dominance of an area by a select few species, in some serious cases just worms and other small but durable life forms.
Sources of Impact Thermal Pollution Thermal pollution is the slow heating of the ocean, and a product of cooling power plants and oil refineries. It is done by withdrawing water from nearby water sources, which is passed through power plants and refineries in order to cool them, and then returned to the original source of the water. Since the water that is returned to the environment is then a higher temperature, it results in a higher overall temperature of that particular body of water.
Sources of Impact The combination of sewage and sludge runoff and thermal pollution create a deathly trap. Why does this happen?
Why Does This Happen? 1. The cycle begins with thermal pollution. As the temperature of the oceans is increased, the water has a decreased ability to dissolve oxygen. 2. With less oxygen in the water, species need to work harder to obtain the amounts of oxygen they require.
Why Does This Happen? 3. As species increase their respiration and the consumption rates of oxygen, they become more susceptible to harmful toxins, parasites, and viruses. 4. Sewage and sludge runoff increase the levels of viruses, toxins, bacteria, parasites, and chemicals in the ocean 5. The harmful viruses, toxins, and bacteria attack species immune systems faster and easier due to the repercussions of thermal pollution.
Affects Biotic Factors Sewage and sludge runoff increase the levels of viruses, toxins, bacteria, parasites, and chemicals in the ocean, which then attack species immune systems faster and easier due to the repercussions of thermal pollution. Black Deserts In species unable to adapt to temperature change, thermal pollution can cause death from thermal shock. Sewage can be harmful to reproductive cycles in certain species, and among all things can cause sex changes
Affects Biotic Factors Cont Can cause tumors, erosion of fins, and a concentration of bad bacteria, which harms immune systems and causes death Problems such as these can hurt species further by impairing the ability prey and obtain food, as well as the ability to survive against stronger predators.
Affects Abiotic Factors On top of global climate change, thermally polluted water does cannot cool, and the temperature of all the worlds oceans continues to rise. This increases the harmful material in water, which can reach humans via waterborne pathogens. Waterborne pathogens enter human systems through direct contact to skin and eyes, as well as accidental ingestion. When sewage runoff reaches oceans and contaminates water; it becomes dangerous for vacationers and swimmers, deterring tourists.
Affects Coming back around to the producers of it, sewage runoff can also be dangerous for human health. Certain marine species that are harvested for human consumption can carry viruses and diseases, which if not cooked out properly can result in human illness and the spreading of diseases found in waste and sewage For example, the spreading of Hepatitis through human waste
Laws All wastewater disposal systems must be approved by the local board of help, and are subject to inspection. Several regulatory acts have been put in place regulating disposal of waste over the past couple decades. Ocean Dumping Act and Clean Water Act of 1972 Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988 Banning of sewage and industrial waste in the ocean in 1991
Laws Several regulations are put in place by the Environmental Protection agency Sometime may include the usage of processing plants, which still creates sludge and excess chlorine Laws cannot prevent illegal dumping of sewage or sludge into the ocean
Can It Be Fixed? Reversing the affects of sewage and sludge runoff is not something that can be easily done. The best hope for reversal of the affects is probably stopping the disposal of sewage and sludge into the ocean altogether, allowing the oceans to come back on their own. In some areas where dumping has stopped, ecosystems are still trying to recover
Can It Be Fixed? There are also several alternative uses for sewage that can help stop the disposal of hazardous waste into the ocean. Further investigation of these alternatives may be a viable option Water in waste could be cleaned and recycled, allowing sludge to be converted for the use of construction blocks, compost, fertilizer, electricity, and possibly even fuel
Can It Be Fixed? As for thermal pollution, there is little that can be done to prevent it. At best we could attempt to lower the current consumption rates of energy. Unless certain energy restriction laws were to be put in place, especially for domestic use, it is unlikely enough people and industries could reduce energy consumption rates enough for it to make a difference.
Can It Be Fixed? With consideration of all other forms of pollution in the ocean such as oil and radioactive waste, humans have had an undoubtedly irreversible impact on the world s oceans. The environment may never fully recover, but it is important that further destruction is halted, and that the human race find ecofriendly ways to cope with the product of increasing consumption of natural resources. This way we can not only create healthier, thriving oceans, but also prevent detrimental repercussion on human life.
Bibliography Castro, Peter, and Michael E Huber. Eighth Edition Marine Biology. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print. Neves, Rute, and Silvia Lourenco. Thermal Pollution. Web. 24 Nov. 2012. http://www.rpi.edu/dept/chem-eng/biotech-environ/environmental/thermal/tte1.htm. Pollution of the Ocean by Sewage, Nutrients, and Chemicals. Water Encyclopedia. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/po-re/pollution-of-the-ocean-by-sewage- Nutrients-and-Chemicals.html#b. Laws and Rules for Sewage Treatment, and Disposal Systems. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Article 11, Chapter 130A. General Statutes of North Carolina. Web. 24 Nov. 2012. http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/osww_new/new1/images/rules/99_law.pdf.