Understanding the basis of water pollution Basis of

Understanding the basis of water pollution. Basis of Water Pollution

What is Pollution? Placing unwanted substances (pollutants) into the ecosystem 2. Pollution has negative impact on living things 3. Ex. Oil, trash, human/animal wastes, nuclear wastes from factories, acid rain, etc. 4. Sources of pollution: human activity, natural causes 1.

What is the source of pollution? Point source pollution: the place where the pollution originates can be identified 2. Nonpoint source pollution: the origin of pollution can not be identified easily 1.

Examples of Point/Nonpoint Sources 1. Point source pollution: septic sewage tank; damaged sewer pipes, release of raw sewage from wastewater treatment plants 2. Nonpoint source pollution: runoff near a lake or stream, waste runoff from feedlots, runoff from streets (sand, grit, oil, & gasoline)

Natural Pollution v/s Human Activity 1. Disease-causing organisms (Cryptosporidium); caused by human wastes & runoff livestock pens 2. Pesticides & fertilizers: DDT, nitrates, phosphates caused by runoff from farms fields, golf courses 3. Industrial chemicals: PCBs, carbon tetrachloride, dioxin caused by factories & waste disposal sites

Natural Pollution v/s Human Activity � 5. Radioactive wastes such as uranium and carbon-14 caused by medical & scientific disposal sites & nuclear power plants � 6. Petroleum products such as oil, gasoline caused by road runoff, leaking & underground storage tanks �Log on to Edmodo. com and answer the following question: Why might it be helpful to know the source of a particular pollutant detected in a body of water?