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Enviro 1000 > Unit 6 > Flashcards

Unit 6 Flashcards

1
Q

Properties of Water

A
  • High heat capacity – holds lots of heat, slowly releases heat
  • Moderates climate
  • Ice floats on water!
  • Ice expands when it freezes and decreases in density, maximum water density of the water is in liquid form (4 degrees Celsius)
  • Universal solvent-dissolves a lot, used as a physiological solvent in the body
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2
Q

Hydrologic Cycle

A

Water is continuously cycling through the environment and purified

  • Evaporation (goes to the atmosphere, liquid to vapour)
  • Condensation (vapour to liquid)
  • Precipitation (rain/snow)
  • Transpiration (occurs through plants and trees, stomata, equivalent to evaporation)
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3
Q

Water Quality

A

The physical, chemical (other chemicals in the water, oxygen), and biological characteristics of water necessary to sustain desired water uses

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4
Q

Water Pollution

A

Contaminants discharged into water that adversely affects humans and aquatic life
Local Problem
-Lake Winnipeg
Global problem (UN)
-87% of world’s population without safe drinking water

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5
Q

Point source pollution

A

out of a pipe concentrated discharge such as sewage effluent

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6
Q

Non-point source

A

over a large area within the watershed, diffuse and much more difficult to control and regulate
-Example Lake Winnipeg

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7
Q

Lake Processes

A

Particles in the water deflect the sunlight, so sunlight can’t get all the way down

  • More particles, less sunlight
  • Where there is light there are plants that generate oxygen (dissolved oxygen) (produce)
  • Plants in the bottom of the lake are likely dead and eaten by decomposers
  • Fish and bacteria are respiration and decomposition activities (consume oxygen)
  • You have to have enough oxygen and light, and a balance between photosynthesis and respiration
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8
Q

Sediment Pollution

A

Soil particles enter a water body likely due to erosion along a shoreline
These eventually settle out and accumulate on the bottom of a body of water.
Problems include:
-Turbidity - reduces light penetration and photosynthesis
-Siltation that destroys fish habitat (spawning)
-Adhered pollutants (fertilizers, pesticides)

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9
Q

Protect Stream Banks from Erosion

A
  • Examples of sediment pollution

- Construction workers will lay down juke fabric to allow growth and stabilization of banks

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10
Q

Eutrophication

A
  • Release of nitrogen and phosphorus
  • Chemicals stimulate plant photosynthesis and production
  • Removes limiting factors that would otherwise restrict the carrying capacity for the plant population
  • Large mats of plants produced which overall reduce the health of the ecosystem
  • Eutrophication is a Big Problem in Lake Winnipeg
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11
Q

Eutrophication Process

A
  • Oligotrophic=low nutrients, lots of biodiversity
  • Nutrients added, algae growth is promoted, and taking all the sunlight, other plants are lost, fish community begins to suffer
  • Dead algae die and sink to the bottom, decomposers over work and deplete the oxygen for the fish
  • Sewage, runoff, fertilizers, are all sources of nutrients inputs
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12
Q

Eutrophication Occurring in Marine Ecosystems Due to Land Runoff

A
  • Starting to occur in oceans, not just in land water masses

- Chlorophyll biomasses=dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico, west coast

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13
Q

Decomposition and Oxygen Sag

A
  • Any time we stimulate decomposition, we reduce the availability of oxygen within the aquatic food web
  • Adding any potential energy to the water will contribute to the increase of decomposition
  • Relates to the quantity of organic matter in the water body
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14
Q

Decomposition and Oxygen Sag Natural sources

A

include wastes from aquatic organisms, debris from the surrounding watershed such as leaf litter, fallen trees and branches and the occasional terrestrial animal that meets its demise by drowning

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15
Q

Decomposition and Oxygen Sag Human sources

A

include point and nonpoint sources of manure and sewage associated with agricultural activities and urban centers, as well as industrial discharges of organic wastes.

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16
Q

Decomposition and Oxygen Sag Eutrophied water

A

generates organic loads because of the excessive plant growth

17
Q

Measure Bacterial Demand for Oxygen in Decomposition

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

A

Determine rates of decomposition through an assessment of the DO consumed by bacterial community
-Fill a bottle with a sample from the lake, ensure there is no oxygen or atmosphere exchange
The amount of oxygen that is used by decomposers over a period of time to break down organic material present in a given water sample

18
Q

BOD Values

A

1-2=very good-there will not be much organic matter present in the water supply
3-5=fair-moderately clean
6-9=poor-somewhat polluted, usually indicates that organic matter present and microorganisms are decomposing that waste
100 or more=very poor-very polluted, contains organic matter

19
Q

Organic Loading and Influence on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

A
  • O=point of release (a pipe), point source

- Measure the dissolved oxygen, oxygen consumption from the bacteria close to the point source, called BOD spike

20
Q

High BOD Leads to Winter Fish Kill in Northern Locations

A
  • Not enough oxygen during winter months kill hundreds of fish
  • Oxygen is restricted from the atmosphere due to ice, decomposers take all the oxygen
21
Q

Pathogens and Water Quality

A

Three types of disease-causing micro-organisms: bacteria, viruses and protozoa
Fecal coliforms are pathogens originating from fecal materials from sewage, manure, water treatment failure
-One example is E. coli
Bacterial Counts performed by growing a population or colony on a petri plate.

22
Q

Water quality guidelines state how many colonies are permitted in a 100 mL sample

A
  • Water contaminated with greater than 200 coliform colonies per 100 mL will be deemed unsafe to swim
  • Safe drinking water cannot contain any colonies
23
Q

Cyanobacterial Dominance

A

Dominance related to the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles (remember):

  • Cyanobacteria fix nitrogen gas to form ammonia
  • All plants will be stimulated to grow when phosphorus added to water and the limiting factor removed
  • The species that is able to obtain its own source of ammonia has the competitive advantage over others in the community and it will dominate when phosphorus is available but ammonia is limited.
  • Often consider the ratio of Nitrogen : Phosphorus
24
Q

Save my Lake-Case Study on Water Quality (Lake Winnipeg)

. How will we fix this problem? What strategies offer hope in the future?

A
  • Lab research on the Namao
  • Hydro draw down on lake every 5-7 years of water level to help restore the marsh and plant growth
  • Inject the fertilizer deeper into the ground reducing the runoff of phosphorous
  • Slow the nutrient runoff by catching the runoff with small dams and increasing marsh development around the holding ponds
  • Control sewage through filter basins
25
Q

Maintaining Water Quality

A

Point Source Sewage Treatment
Non-Point source treatment
-Storm Water runoff in cities
-Agricultural Run-off

26
Q

Stages in Wastewater Treatment

A

Primary Treatment – removal of solids that are further treated and sent to landfill or land application
Secondary Treatment – removal of organic material that could contribute to a high BOD
Tertiary Treatment – further treatment to remove nutrients, pharmaceuticals and other contaminants
-Biological Nutrient Removal (remove N and P using microorganisms in various environmental conditions) in Winnipeg

27
Q

Non-Point Source Pollution Issues in Surface Water Quality - Urban Centers

A

Greater likelihood that contaminants enter tributaries leading to water pollution (sediments, toxic substances, increased BOD, eutrophication)
31% of the city serviced by combined sewers.
Separate sewers service 70% of the city.

28
Q

Separate Sewer Systems - Conventional Retention Ponds

Newer Subdivisions in Winnipeg

A

By retaining water before it enters a natural water body, there is opportunity to remove some of the pollutants:
-sediments
-lawn fertilizers and animal wastes
-gasoline, oils, antifreeze and salt
As well, we don’t need to build so many pipes to carry runoff to the rivers.

29
Q

Conventional Retention Ponds FAIL!

A

Problems include:

  • Heavily eutrophied with N/P and MASSIVE algal growth
  • Extremely high concentrations of neuro/hepatotoxins develop! (remember these ponds are in residential communities where you walk your dog!)
  • Requires herbicide or mechanical removal of excess vegetation
  • Pungent odours – these stink because of all of the decomposition without a lot of oxygen
  • Attract Geese (that poop EVERYWHERE….yuck!)
30
Q

Royalwood Development – An Urban Example of Promoting Healthy Riparian Zones

A

-Trees, shrubs and grasses along a riverbank, grasses along a ditch or culvert
They typically have high productivity because of the soil conditions and available moisture to support plant biomass

31
Q

Riparian areas

A

transitional zones along stream banks, lake shores and wetlands that promote the development of unique communities with lush vegetation and foodwebs.

32
Q

Ecosystem Services of Riparian Zones

A
  • Trap Sediments
  • Filter Water of pollutants and pathogens
  • Build and stabilize stream banks
  • Store floodwater and energy
  • Recharge groundwater
  • Enhance biodiversity
  • Increase plant production that contributes to sustainable harvesting
  • Government promoting restoration of wetlands and riparian zones
33
Q

Challenges with Non-Point Pollution Sources

A

Where are the nutrients originating
What activities and events are contributing to runoff and nutrient loading
-agricultural runoff
-flooding – 1997 flood
-Manitoba Hydro reservoir dam and nutrient retention
-Faulty lagoons and sewage treatment

34
Q

Sources of Nutrients to Lake Winnipeg

A
  • Red River commonly above guidelines for N and P
  • Saskatchewan River about 45% of the time for P;
  • Winnipeg River never above guidelines for study period
35
Q

Lake Winnipeg Watershed Research

Examples

A
  • Grassed
  • Permanent forage areas
  • Grazing management practices
  • Construct water storage projects
  • Sub-surface filter treatment technology
  • Alternate watering sources for cattle
  • Working with Indigenous communities to -create a new management system designed to more effectively spread cattle manure.
  • Remediating sludge in decommissioned wastewater lagoons using phyto- and bio-remediation methods.
  • floating cattails
36
Q

4 Rs of Nutrient Stewardship

A
  • Right source-matches fertilizer type to crop needs
  • Right rate-matches amount of fertilizer to crop needs
  • Right time-makes nutrient available when crops need them
  • Right place-keeps nutrients where crops can use them

Enviro 1000 (11 decks)

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