Water: Putting Resources Back Into Place

Eutrophication, Pollution and Waste Water Treatment

Delaware River BasinLow flow in the Delaware River during the mid-1960s and in the early 1980s threatened the drinking and industrial water supplies of Camden, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

What is Pollution?

1. Describe water pollution that you have seen2. Why do you believe that it was pollution?3. What sensory cues did you use?4. Why did this info tell you it was pollution?

Pollution• A resource that is out of place; too much of a

substance in a particular location

• Any chemical, biological, or physical change in water quality that has a harmful effect on living organisms or makes water unsuitable

How would you define a point source and a nonpoint source?

Where does the pollution come from?

• Point source= single, identifiable

source

-can you point your finger at the polluter?

• Nonpoint source= many sources, hard to

identify

-the pollution could be from many sources –hard to point your finger at the culprit

Point vs. Nonpoint Pollution• Point Sources – Pipes, ditches, sewers into bodies

of surface water– Factories, sewage treatment plants, landfills,

mines, oil wells, etc.

• Nonpoint Sources – Runoff, subsurface flow, air– Storm drains, croplands, streets, lawns, livestock

lots (feces, fertilizer, soil, oil leaks, chemicals, etc.)

Water Pollution Types• Pathogens• Organic Wastes• Chemical

– Inorganic chemicals• Heavy metals, acids, road salts• Plant nutrients

– Organic chemicals • Petroleum, pesticides, detergents

• Sediments*• Thermal • Genetic Pollution

What do you see?

Eutrophication

• Environment is enriched with nutrients which overstimulates autotrophic growth

• Natural vs. Cultural• Chain reaction of events leading to death of

lake organisms

Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone

The Value of Wetlands• Swamp Lands Act of 1849 – wetlands are

wastelands

• Ecological and economic services

Laws• Clean Water Act – surface water

– 1972 – make water swimmable and fishable by regulating point sources

– 1977 and 1987 – storm water runoff– Section 404 – requires permit for draining,

dredging, filling wetlands• Mitigation banking

• Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) – monitors levels of contaminants in groundwater

Take Home Message:Most water pollution can be described as resources out of place. Water pollutants are pathogenic organisms, chemicals, substances that alter

habitat, and various kinds of nutrients. Natural eutrophication occurs much less often than cultural eutrophication. Eliminating eutrophication is most effective if we eliminate the root causes. Sewage management and treatment, along with sludge treatment, have been

extremely effective in the elimination of a variety of forms of pollution. Sewage treatment can be accomplished using methods that enhance

wetlands and groundwater.