Unit ED11: Water Resources Management Flashcards
A company has a water discharge permit to discharge waste water into a river under the environmental permitting regulations 2016 - describe the management controls that are required to ensure compliance
- monitoring
- control of discharge
- responsibility
- training and information
- emergency response
A company has a water discharge permit to discharge waste water into a river under the environmental permitting regulations 2016 - Outline the actions that could be taken by the Environment Agency if the
organisation breaches the conditions of the permit.
- formal letter indicating problem and possible solutions
- enforcement notice indicting contravention and deadlines for rectification
- prosecution of directors and managers
- implementing remedial action by EA and claiming costs from permit holder
What is Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
is a measure of the potential for water de-oxygenation as the pollutant is metabolised by microbes.
What is Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
measure of the potential of organic and inorganic chemicals to de- oxygenate water by chemical means.
What is a A Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ
A Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) is an area of surface water or groundwater that has, or is at risk of having a high nitrate concentration (greater than 50mg/l
What is Eutrophication
When a body of water has too many nutrients in it, eutrophication has occurred. Higher than natural nutrient levels can cause plant growth, especially the growth of algae. Algae remove oxygen from the water, which makes it difficult for other plants and animals to get enough oxygen to survive
Trade effluent includes:
- Waste chemicals, including oils.
- Liquid process wastes
- detergents
- Condensate water from compressed air installations.
- Cooling water.
- Biodegradable liquids.
- Wash water.
- Liquid wastes or wash waters, other than domestic sewage, discharged using sinks, basins or toilets.
- Contaminated mine or quarry water.
What is an Abstraction License.
An abstraction licence gives the right to take a certain quantity of water from a source of supply (inland water such as rivers or streams or an underground source). There are
three types of licenses that are available
There are three types of abstraction licenses that are available:
- Full abstraction Licence: For most types of abstraction over 20 cubic metres a day
- Transfer licence: For moving water from one location to another with no intervening use.
- Temporary Licence: For abstractions over 20 cubic metres a day over a period of less than 28 consecutive days.
It is an offence under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010, except under the extent authorised by a permit, to cause or knowingly permit a water discharge activity or groundwater activity. Water discharge activities are defined as:
- The discharge or entry to inland freshwaters, coastal waters or relevant territorial waters of
poisonous, noxious or polluting matter, waste matter, trade effluent or sewage effluent - The discharge from land through a pipe into the sea outside the seaward limits of relevant territorial waters of any trade effluent or sewage effluent
- The removal from any part of the bottom, channel or bed of any inland freshwaters of a deposit accumulated by reason of any dam, weir or sluice holding back the waters, by causing it to be carried away in suspension in the waters;
- Flood prevention or navigation;
- The cutting or uprooting of a substantial amount of vegetation.
The Water Treatment Process
The main methods of treatment to ensure that water is fit for drinking are:
- Screening (To remove sticks, weeds and large particulates.)
-Aeration: To eliminate certain odours.
To remove objectionable dissolved gases.
To oxidise some metal salts to enable them to be filtered out.
-Coagulation: To enable finely divided matter to be settled out, in order to entrap bacteria and absorb colour. - Clarification: To settle out sediment to provide clear water.
- Filtration: to remove particles
- pH adjustment: To ensure that it is chemically neutral
- Disinfection: To remove pathogenic or disease-causing bacteria.
- Softening: to remove excess calcium and magnesium salts
Sources of Water Pollution
Water pollution is often caused by some, or all, of the following:
-Point sources, such as outfalls from sewage systems.
-Factory wastes, e.g. contamination deposited on drained surfaces.
-Wrong connections of foul or surface water drains.
What is the The UK Red List
The UK Red List is a list of 23 substances, whose release to water is controlled by the environmental permitting regime.
The Effects of Pollution
- Deoxygenation
- Suspended Solids
- Turbidity/Colour
- Toxicity
- Eutrophication
- Nitrates
- Infection with Harmful Micro-Organisms
- Endocrine-Disrupting Substances
- Phosphate
Options for Waste Water Disposal
A number of options are available to companies who need to dispose of waste effluents, for example:
-To discharge directly to a controlled water.
-To discharge to a controlled water after treatment.
-To discharge directly to a foul water sewer.
-To discharge to a foul water sewer after pre-treatment.
