Pollution: Water – wasteJun YuRobbieYew JieTeng KiatJames

Pollution•Introduction of substances into

environment▫Unpleasant effects

•Natural and Human•Found in waste

Water Pollution•Pollutants discharged

▫Directly▫From land

•Poisonous

Water Pollution - Waste•General causes:

▫Release of sewage▫Industrial waste

•Response▫Sewage treatment plants

However, some substances are non-biodegradable

Case Study 1: The Ganga, IndiaCauses Impacts ResponsesDomestic and industrial wastes

Carried major health risks (eg.Bilharziasis infection)

The Ganga Action Plan in April 1985

Solid garbage thrown directly into the river

Affected 400 million people who live close to the river

It was a colossal failure which cost $US 226 million

Animal carcasses human corpses thrown into the river

Health costs of water pollution is 3% of India's GDP

World Bank agreed to loan India US$ 1 billion

Defecation on the banks by the low-income people

Attributed to 80% of all illnesses in India and 33% of deaths

Indian traditions and beliefs continue to take place

Mass bathing and ritualistic practices

Lack of support from religious authorities

The Ganga Action Plan:•Control of non-point pollution from

agricultural run off, human defecation, cattle wallowing and throwing of unburnt and half burnt bodies into the river.

•Research and Development to conserve the biotic, diversity of the river to augment its productivity.

The Ganga Action Plan:•New technology of sewage treatment

[eg.Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB)] and sewage treatment through afforestation has been successfully developed.

•Rehabilitation of soft-shelled turtles for pollution abatement of river have been demonstrated and found useful.

The Ganga Action Plan:•Resource recovery options like production

of methane for energy generation and use of aquaculture for revenue generation have been demonstrated.

•To act as trend setter for taking up similar action plans in other grossly polluted stretches in other rivers.

Case Study 2: River Damodar, India

Causes Impacts ReponsesBoth its water and its sand are infested by coal dust and waste from these industries

The river and its tributaries are the largest source of drinking water for the huge population that lives in the valley

The Damodar Action Plan

polluted with minerals, mine rejects and toxic effluents

On April 2, 1990, about 200,000 litres of furnace oil spilled into the river from the Bokaro Steel Plant. This oil traveled 150 km downstream

For a week after the incident, five million people drank contaminated water

The Damodar Action Plan:•Extension of the Ganga Action Plan•Revitalise 38 key Indian rivers•Conducted in four phases

▫Installation of electric crematoriums (1)▫Construction of gardens, children's parks

and bathing ghats with modern facilities (2)▫Improving solid and liquid waste

management (3 and 4)

Thank you