Water Pollution• Terminology

1. Contamination• Elevated concentrations of substances in water

but with no measurable damaging effects

2. Pollution• Measurable damaging effects• Some definitions require human agency

3. Source• Origin of contaminant/pollutant

4. Receiving Waters• Waters into which contaminant/pollutant is

discharged

5. Mixing Zone• Area where contaminant/pollutant from source

mixes with receiving waters

Water Pollution• Sources

1. Point sources• Discharge directly into receiving waters• Easier to characterize and regulate than NPS’s

2. Non-point sources• Pollutants from diffuse sources• Ex: Agricultural waste (manure, fertilizer, “cides”) • May vary regionally and seasonally• Ex: Runoff from streets during SoCal winter• May be difficult to distinguish anthropogenic from

natural effects• Ex: Arsenic in groundwater in Bangladesh• Ex: Coliform bacteria in Mission Bay

Water Pollution• Types

1. Degradable• Organic material; can be decomposed by bacteria• Decomposition depletes oxygen (measured by BOD)• Ex: Urban sewage, agricultural & animal waste

2. Dissipating• Disperse/Diffuse in water• Effects usually local• Ex: Heat, acids, chemicals, nutrients (esp. phosphorus in FW)

3. Particulate• Usually inert (non-reactive)• Affects turbidity, may be abrasive, clogs gills/filters• Ex: Sediments, airborne particles (e.g. ash)

4. Conservative• Diverse pollutants, many toxic• Persistent; may facilitate oxygen depletion• Ex: Heavy metals, halogenated hydrocarbons (“cides”),

radioactive materials5. Biological

• Microbes, sometimes pathogenic• Ex: Giardia, Cholera• Indicated by Fecal Coliform Count (FCC)

Water Pollution• Effects

• Ecosystem• Loss of biodiversity (Ex: spp. sensitive to low DO)• Shift of species composition

• Human• Interference with designated beneficial uses

• Human Response• “The solution to pollution is dilution”

• Solutions• Reduce inputs (volume, concentration)• Increase flow (volume, rate)

• Ganges River• Major input: Sewage• Ganges Action Plan (1985)

www.uwec.edu

Pèlissier et al. 2011

Mean Monthly Rainfall (mm) from 1993-2007, Uppangala, Western Ghats

moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Status%20Paper%20-Ganga.pdf

Ganga Water Quality - VaranasiMay 2009

0

10

20

30

40

50

Mah

adev

Ghat

Aghor

eshw

ar G

hat

Naray

an G

hat

Nagwa

Tulsi G

hat

R.P. G

hat

Panch

Gang

a

Varuna

Dis

solv

ed O

2 &

BO

D (

mg

/l)

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

50000

FC

C (

no

. x

1000

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DO

BOD

FCC

www.friendsofganges.org

FCCEPA Bathing Std: 126 MPN/100 mlGAP Bathing Std: 500-2500Range: 12,000-43,000,000

BODGAP Bathing Std: 3 mg/lRange: 3.6-44

moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Status%20Paper%20-Ganga.pdf

The River Ganges

Ganga Devi / Ganga Ma

Varanasi / Banaras

Ganga Arati Banaras

PURITY AND POLLUTION IN HINDUISMPURITY AND POLLUTION IN HINDUISM

sacred / pure / auspicioussacred / pure / auspiciousprofane / impure & polluting / inauspiciousprofane / impure & polluting / inauspicious

physically clean (physically clean (saf/svacchasaf/svaccha) /) /

ritually-spiritually pure (ritually-spiritually pure (shuddha/pavitrashuddha/pavitra))

physically polluted (physically polluted (ganda/asvacchaganda/asvaccha) )

ritually-spiritually impure (ritually-spiritually impure (ashuddha/apavitraashuddha/apavitra))

Satya Yuga Satya Yuga “Age of Truth,” Golden Age of Purity “Age of Truth,” Golden Age of PurityTreta Yuga Treta Yuga Silver Age Silver Age

Dvapara Yuga Dvapara Yuga Copper Age Copper AgeKali Yuga Kali Yuga Iron Age, Dark Age Iron Age, Dark Age