Midterm #2 Flashcards
Issues with spatial distribution of water
Americas have higher water than people, opposite in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Oceania has little of both. Increasing demand for water in cities, especially in the Mountain West requires transport over greater distances and causes water conflicts between urban population centers and rural agricultural centers
Assumed water usage and WW production for a typical American
100 gal/day
Nutrients (water pollutant)
Sources: fertilizer, municipal wastewater, runoff, detergents. Effects: eutrophication, brown & slimy waters
Pathogens (water pollutant)
Sources: un- or poorly- treated sewage, CSOs. Effects: disease (cholera, diarrhea) and/or death
Toxic organics/emerging contaminants (water pollutant)
Sources: pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, sunscreen and other personal care products, endocrine disruptors. Effects: poisoning of humans and other species, disrupt metabolism and reproduction
Oxygen-depleting substances (water pollutant)
Sources: organic matter (BOD), municipal WW. Effects: fish death
Toxic metals (water pollutant)
Sources: Industrial discharge, mine tailings. Effects: poisoning of humans and other species
Suspended solids (water pollutant)
Sources: Soil erosion, industrial processes. Effects: murkiness, clogging of bed
Acid rain
Sources: contaminants due to power plants. Effects: acidification, human & ecosystem health impacts, damage to monuments
Point source pollution
Pollution that comes from a distinct source and be tracked and regulated easily
Nonpoint source pollution
Diffuse pollution that comes from many smaller sources and is harder to track and regulate
BOD
A measure of the potential for oxygen depletion from a pollutant; the amount of O2 needed to decompose organic matter
BOD5
5-day BOD measured after 5 days in a BOD bottle. = (DOi - DOf) / dilution factor
uBOD/L0
Maximum amount of O2 required to consume all organic matter in a sample after an infinite amount of time
CBOD
Amount of O2 required to decompose all carbon-containing OM
NBOD
Amount of O2 required to decompose all nitrogen-containing OM
ThOD
CBOD + NBOD
BODt
(DOi - DOt)/dilution factor
BODt
L0(1-e^-kt)
L0
BODt + Lt
kT
k20 * (theta^T-20)
BOD lab procedure
Add a mixture of nutrients, distilled water, and bacteria to two 2 BOD bottles, then add a WW sample to one such that the total volume of liquid in each bottle is the same. Store them in darkness at 20 C for 5 days and measure the DO before and after.