Environmental Science 101 Chapter 11 Water Pollution
Water Pollution Any change in water quality that causes harm to humans and other living organisms. Review Renewable vs nonrenewable Hydrological cycle C/N/P Cycles Good solvent Nutrients Pollutants Habitat Basics Fresh water Salt water Problems Usage Alter landscape Alter natural process/cycles *Water pollution Solutions Front of Pipe (Prevention) End of Pipe (Cleanup) Economic Political
Water/Hydrologic Cycle Solar powered Evaporation, transpiration, precipitation Storage Surface, aquifers, oceans Recycled and Purified
Carbon Cycle Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) 0.039% atmosphere Climate change Increase temperature Feedback loop Ocean Acidification
Nitrogen Cycle Nitrate (NO 3 ) Doubled since 1950 Fertilizers Algae/Dead zones Phosphorus Cycle Phosphates (PO 4 3 ) Fertilizers/detergents Algae/Dead zones
Water Universal Solvent Solvent = ability to dissolve other compounds Universal = better than the best! Nutrients Pollution
Water as a Habitat 4 Factors Temperature Light Dissolved Oxygen *Nutrients Trophic Levels (Ch. 1) Producers Consumers Decomposers Layers Top warm, ample light Middle colder, less light Bottom coldest, no light Producers Make nutrients from E/C + energy Plants *Algae *Phytoplankton Ecosystem *Complex *Efficient Resources Natural Process
Oligotrophic Low nutrients Cool temperature High oxygen Clear Water Small Ecosystem Freshwater Habitat I Eutrophication Amount NO 3 /PO 4 3 Temperature Oxygen Eutrophic High nutrients Warm temperature Low oxygen Muddy/Green Water Large ecosystem
Freshwater Habitat II Wetlands Marshes grass/reeds Swamps trees, shrubs High biodiversity Water purification Protection (Flooding/Erosion) Streams and Rivers Sedimentation Nutrient Transport Purification
Nutrient Rich Ample Sunlight Protect Coastline Symbiosis Complex Habitat High Biodiversity 1/0 fish Coastal Zones (1) 10% Ocean 90% Species Estuary Coastal Wetlands Marshes Mangrove forests Sea grass beds Coral Reefs River/Sea Nutrient Rich 60+ species plants Fish Protect Coastline
Ocean Bottom (3) Decomposers Break down dead/decaying organisms Open Ocean (2) 3 main zones (depth/sunlight/temp/nutrients) Euphotic Bathyal Abyssal Industrial Fishing Fleets Absorbs CO 2
Problems Human use a lot of water Alter landscape Alter natural process/cycles Water pollution (8 Types) Location Specifics (Lakes, Oceans, Underground)
1 Human Consumption We use a lot (Ch. 2) Renewable/Nonrenewable Chapter 10.
2 Alter Landscapes Deforestation (Ch. 9) Soil Erosion (Ch. 4/9) Farmlands (Ch. 4) Artificial Surfaces Roads, parking lots, buildings volume me floods Drain/Fill Wetlands Slow drainage/purification Recharge aquifers Blue rural Green urban
3 Alter Process Carbon Dioxide (Ch. 13) Nitrogen/Phosphorus (Ch. 4) Climate Change (Ch. 13) Temperature Flooding Drought Ocean Acidification Dead Zones (Ch. 4) Algal Blooms Eutrophication
Eutrophication map
4 Pollution Definition: Any substance or heat energy. Major Sources 8 Types 3 Locations: Rivers and Lakes/Oceans/Groundwater 3 Most Significant Sources #1 Agriculture #2 Factories # 3 Mines Point Source Single Identifiable Source Ex: Waste Heat, Factory Pipe, Sewage, Mines, Oil Spills Non point Source No single identifiable source. Diffuse. Ex: Agriculture, Feedlots, Urban Runoff, Sediments, Air pollution
4 Types of Pollution Pick a couple to focus on and answer questions about.
5a Rivers and Lakes 50% of 500 major rivers heavily polluted Fertilizer/Pesticides Rich/Laws Accidental Less developed (China, Latin America, Africa) More developed (USA, Canada, Europe) Untreated Trash Poor/No Laws China 66/33% Some Examples from the Book Toxic Metals Eutrophication Algal blooms Dead zones Trash Pb/Hg Bio magnification USA 33% lakes China 50% lakes China Ch. 10
5b Oceans 40% people reside near oceans Poisoning 60,000/yr Bio magnification Slow/precise conditions 45% damaged/destroyed Another 25 33% by 2050 Chapter 13 Unregulated Dumping Size small cities More vs Less Developed Algal Blooms Dead zones *Chapter 4 Ocean Acidification Coral Reefs Oil Spills Ships Plastics *Repeat of previous slide 80 90% untreated *Review Ch. 4 Pages 99 100 Toxic Coat Animals Destroy ocean floor Great Pacific Garbage Patch 1 million birds/yr. 100,000 mammals/yr.
5c Fertilizer Pesticides gasoline/oil Septic Hazardous Chemicals Toxic Metals 26,000 ponds ( leak) 200 deep injection wells 500,000 gasoline tanks Studies contradictory Political $$ Involved Groundwater 70% people depend on groundwater Common Pollutants Slow Process USA Difficult/Expensive Fracking Natural Cleansing Process Biodegradable vs Non biodegradable Costs lots of $$ Difficult in many cases Still lots to learn
2 Main Classes of Solutions Front of Pipe (Prevention) End of Pipe (Cleanup)
Front of Pipe Solutions Legal Technical Economic and Political Ocean Acidification
1 Legal Solutions Set limits Enforcement/Fine $$ Ex: Clean Water Act (1972) Sewage plants 33 75% Safe Swimming (36 60%) Ex: Oil Tankers Double hulls etc. Traffic Spills
2 Technical Solutions Sedimentation Terracing Contour Plotting Alley Cropping Windbreaks Minimum Tillage Conservation Tillage Technical Solutions Sewage control Substitutes for toxic chemicals Ecological Systems
3 Economic and Political Solutions Discharge trading policy Integrated coastal management True cost pricing
4 Ocean Acidification CO 2 Burn less fossil fuels Alternative Energies More research Education Political Pressure Do it now, do it fast!!
Case Study Chesapeake Bay Largest Estuary USA 6 states, 9 rivers, 141 streams/creaks 3.7 million to 17 million (50 years) Phosphates and Nitrates Fishing Industry Crashed Low water flow (1%) Bay Report Card http://www.cbf.org/about the bay/state of the bay report 2014
Example: Oil/Gas Spills Expensive Energy Intensive Significant Damage Ecosystem 15% effective vs. Stronger regulations More inspections
Example: Eutrophication of Lakes End of Pipe Mechanically remove weeds Spray Herbicides Pump Oxygen Expensive Energy Intensive Significant Damage Ecosystem Front of Pipe Decrease phosphates Protect watersheds C, N added C, P, N added