Water Pollution Treatment Water Pollution Treatment Pollution can

Water Pollution & Treatment

Water Pollution & Treatment Pollution can affect both surface waters ? and groundwater

Water Pollution & Treatment Pollution can come from either a point source or a non-point source F F Agricultural fields Road salt

Water Pollution & Treatment Common sources of groundwater pollution Damage depends on: F F F F Nature of pollutant Quantity added Duration of addition Area affected Residence time Reservoir size Permeability s s Flow/plumes Flushing to clean

Water Pollution & Treatment Water pollutants (a selected list): 1) Decay of Organic Matter F F F Consumes O 2 (usually) BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) = a measure of bacterial activity (in mg O 2/liter of water consumed in 5 days at 20 o. C) 1/3 of all BOD in USA is from agriculture

Water Pollution & Treatment The relationship between BOD and O 2

Water Pollution & Treatment 2) Pathogenic organisms F F F Microbes that cause disease US: human fecal coliform bacteria s EPA: safe drinking water < 2 E. Coli/cup USA treats sewage, separates it from drinking water, and chlorinates drinking water

Water Pollution & Treatment 1854 London cholera outbreak

Water Pollution & Treatment Water pollutants (a selected list): 3) Nutrients F P, N from fertilizers, detergents, sewage (even if treated)

Water Pollution & Treatment Water pollutants (a selected list): 3) Nutrients

Water Pollution & Treatment A typical pollution plume from a point source (Otis AFB, MA. 1984) Groundwater flow direction

Water Pollution & Treatment High nutrients eutrophication: plant (usually algae) blooms which can O 2 depletion Lake Tahoe Algal mats accumulate on bottom, resulting in prolonged effects

Water Pollution & Treatment Also see in marine seaweed and coral-killing algae

Water Pollution & Treatment Water pollutants (a selected list): 4) Oil spills F F F Santa Barbara 1950 s offshore well leaks, again in Mexican Gulf in 70’s Tanker spills: Exxon Valdez, & numerous others War: Persian Gulf

Water Pollution & Treatment Water pollutants (a selected list): 4) Oil spills - On land too: F F Russia 1994: 50, 000 gal. from corroded pipeline Alaskan pipeline has had several minor ones so far ~ 60% of US car owners change their own oil ~ 180, 000 gal (16 x Exxon Valdez) poured down storm drains streams What can you do?

Water Pollution & Treatment Water pollutants (a selected list): 5) Toxic substances

Water Pollution & Treatment Water pollutants (a selected list): 5) Toxic substances F F Hazardous chemicals, radwaste, heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Zn, Cd) Much gets into our food chain

Water Pollution & Treatment Water pollutants (a selected list): 5) Toxic substances

Water Pollution & Treatment Water pollutants (a selected list): 5) Toxic substances: surface disposal sites: 1991

EPA Drinking Water Standards, 1989 Contaminant Health Effects Max. Permissable Amount (ppm) Sources Microbiological Colliform Bacteria Not necessarily disease-producing, but may indicate other organisms that cause gastric infections Turbidity Interferes with digestion 1/100 ml 1 -5 turbidity units Human and animal feces Erosion, runoff, and sediment discharges Inorganic Chemicals Arsenic Skin and nervous system toxicity, possible cancer risk. 0. 05 Pesticides, industrial wastes, smelter operations, rocks Barium Cardiac, gastrointestinal, and neuromuscular effects. 1 Coal-fired power plants, automotive paints, specialty compounds in bricks-tiles-jet fuel. Cadmium Kidney effects, hypertension, anemia, liver. 0. 01 Mining, smelting, fossil fuel use, fertilizers, sewage. Chromium Liver, kidney effects. 0. 05 Abandoned mines, electroplating, rocks. Lead Nervous system, kidneys. Highly toxic to infants and pregnant women. Brain damage. 0. 015 Lead pipes and solder joints, paint, airborne Pb from gasoline combustion. Mercury Nervous system, kidneys. 0. 002 Manufacture of paint, paper, vinly chloride. Used in fungicides. Rock and hydrothermal areas. N - Nitrate “Blue-baby syndrome”- asphyxia, cancer risk. Silenium Gastrointestinal effects. 0. 01 Coal burning, mining, smelting, selenium refining, glass manufacture, fuel oil, combustion, rocks. Silver Skin discoloration. 0. 05 Mining and processing, rocks. Fluoride Skeletal damage. 10 4 Fertilizer, sewage, feedlots, rocks. Additive to drinking water, toothpaste, processed food

EPA Drinking Water Standards, 1989 Contaminant Health Effects Max. Permissable Amount (ppm) Sources Organic Chemicals Endrin Nervous system, kidney effects. 0. 0002 Insecticide: cotton, grains, orchards - illegal in US Lindane Nervous system, kidneys, carcinogen. 0. 0004 Insecticide: seeds and soil, foliage, wood. Methoxychlor Nervous ssytem, kidney effects. 0. 01 Insecticide: fruits and vegetables. 2, 4 -D Liver-kidney effects. 0. 01 Herbicides in agriculture, forestry, pastures, aquatic. 2, 4, 5 -TP Silvex Liver-kidney effects 0. 01 Herbicide: cancelled in 1984. Toxaphane Carcinogen. 0. 0005 Insecticide: cotton, corn, grains. Benzene Carcinogen. 0. 005 Fuel tanks, solvents, manufacture of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, pesticides, paints, plastics. Carbon Tetra-Cl Possible carcinogen. 0. 005 Common cleaning agent. Coolant manufacture. p-Dichlorobenzene Possible carcinogen. 0. 075 Insecticides, moth balls, air deoderizers. 1, 2 -Dichloroethane Possible carcinogen. 0. 005 Manufacture of insecticides. 1, 2 -Dichloroethelyne Liver-kidney effects. 0. 007 Manufacture of plastics, dyes, perfume, paint. 1, 1, 1 -Trichloroethane Nervous system effects. 0. 2 Manufacture of food wrappings, synthetic fibers. Trichloroethane Possible carcinogen. 0. 005 Dry-cleaning materials. Manufacture of pesticides, paints, waxes, varnishws, paint stripper, degreaser. Vinyl Chloride Carcinogen. 0. 002 PVC pipes and solvents used to join them. Industrial waste from manufacture of plastics and syn-rubber.

EPA Drinking Water Standards, 1989 Contaminant Health Effects Max. Permissable Amount (ppm) Sources Organic Chemicals Chloroform and other trialomethanes Carcinogens. 0. 01 Created when surface water containing organic wastes is treated with chlorine. Radioactive Materials Gross alpha particle Carcinogens. Gross beta particle Carcinogens. Radium 226 and 228 Carcinogens. 15 x 10 -9 curies/liter 4 mrem/yr 5 x 10 -9 curies/liter Radioactive waste, uranium deposits. Radioactive waste, rocks. Pollution sources: • US Gov’t (secret, but military > 1 million lbs/yr) • Chemical plants and oil refineries • Sanitary landfills • Pesticides • Sewage and septic systems • Radioactive waste • Petroleum waste • Acid mine drainage

EPA Drinking Water Standards, 1989 Pollution sources: • Mineral processing • Farm animal waste • Feed lots • Fertilizers • Pulp mills • Roadway salt • Cemetaries (even musicians decompose)

Water Pollution & Treatment Water pollutants (a selected list): 5) Toxic substances F Biological Magnification

Water pollutants: 6) Salt water intrusion F Subject to both salt water intrusion at depth and shallow pollution 7) Sediment pollution (covered before)

Water Pollution & Treatment Water pollutants (a selected list): 8) Thermal pollution

Water Pollution & Treatment Groundwater Treatment Methods of treatment:

Water Pollution & Treatment Wastewater Treatment F Rural method = septic systems septic tank: solids settle out biological “curtain”

Water Pollution & Treatment Wastewater Treatment usually all that is required Removes 30 -40% of pollutants ~ 90% of pollutants removed Doesn’t remove N, P, heavy metals, pesticides… Cl or O 3 Aerobic bacteria breaks down most of remaining organics Anaerobic bacteria that hits sludge …or recycled if irrigation soil (filter) intake again I’d say many towns are recycling without knowing it! chemical treatment and filters 95% clean (lot of work & $ for the final 5%)

Water Pollution & Treatment State Water Laws Surface waters: F Riparian Doctrine (mostly in East…pre-1850 law) s s s Right to use water (not own it) goes to land owner adjoining stream, lake… Right to reasonable use (? ), but must return to stream before it leaves property A property owner has the right to receive flow undiminished in quantity and quality but cannot diminish either for those downstream either (tough to interpret!)

Water Pollution & Treatment State Water Laws Surface waters: Prior Appropriation Doctrine more common in West s s First person to divert and use has the primary water right (and it may be passed on) Right to use water is separate from other property rights Some states have regulations on how used and primacy: s s s 1983 California Supreme Court decision over Mono Lake diversions LA Public Trust Doctrine in which state must protect common heritage such as lakes, wetlands… Decided LA must curtail some of use of diverted water (Prior Appropriation)

Water Pollution & Treatment State Water Laws Groundwater: F Absolute Ownership Doctrine s F Landowners can pump as much as they like (works ~ OK in wet climates like East) Reasonable Use Doctrine (or American Rule) s s Amount of groundwater withdrawn based on reasonable use for aquifer and application Problems with what is reasonable and managed by permits (control? )

Water Pollution & Treatment State Water Laws Groundwater: F Correlative Rights Doctrine (California) s s F Like absolute rights, but divides between all landowners in area sharing resource Requires determination of safe yield for aquifer Prior Appropriation Doctrine s As in surface waters adopted by many states in West

Water Pollution & Treatment Federal Water Laws F Refuse Act of 1899 s F F Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1956 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 s F Water resource projects must coordinate with U. S. Fish & Wildlife National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 s F Can’t discharge refuse into streams (except streets and sewers) Requires EIS Water Quality Improvement Act of 1970 s s Expanded 1956 Act to include oil and hazardous pollution Generated R&D funds for mine drainage and Great Lakes

Water Pollution & Treatment Federal Water Laws F Clean Water Act of 1972 s s F Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980 s F Established Superfund to clean up hazardous waste sites Hazardous Solid Waste Amendments of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1984 s F Clean up nation’s waters Funds for sewage treatment and technology Regulates underground storage tanks Water Quality Act of 1987 s Established policy & control of non-point sources of pollution