Water Pollution: Causes and Effects

Question 1

Water Pollution Definition

Answer 1

Any change in water quality that can harm living organisms or make the water unfit for human uses such as drinking, irrigation, and recreation.

Question 2

Point Pollution (examples)

Answer 2

Discharge pollutants into bodies of surface water at specific locations often through drain pipes, ditches, or sewer lines. (Examples: sewage treatment plants, oil wells, open- pit mines, and oil tankers).

Question 3

Non-Point Pollution (examples)

Answer 3

Broad and diffuse areas where rainfall or snowmelt washes pollutants off the land into bodies of surface water. (Examples: runoff of eroded soil, fertilizer, and pesticides from cropland, animal feedlots, construction sites, city streets, lawns, and golf courses.)

Question 4

Major Water Pollutants

Answer 4

Plastics
Infectious bacteria from human waste
Sewage
Oil, pesticides, and cleaning solvents from agriculture
Soil and silt
Lead, mercury, and arsenic from landfills and household chemicals
Salts and acids from mining
Heat from electric power and industrial plants

Question 5

Major Effects of Water Pollution

Answer 5

Exposure to infectious bacteria:

This bacteria can be transferred back into water from the waste of 2.3 billion people who lack access to toilets. 1.6 million people die a year from drinking contaminated water.

Depletion of dissolved oxygen:

Sewage, food processing facilities, and paper mills deplete the dissolved oxygen that is needed by aquatic species

Question 6

Effects

Answer 6

Plastics harm wildlife
Bacteria causes diseases
Sewage causes excessive algae
Oil/pesticides add toxins to systems
Soil and silt disrupt photosynthesis
Heavy metals cause cancer
Salts and acids add toxins to systems
Heat makes some species vulnerable to disease

Question 7

Water Testing
(what to look for)

Answer 7

Bacteria
Ex. E Coli can cause diseases if consumed by humans
Water is safe if has 0 coliform bacteria
200 coliform or less safe for swimming

Raw sewage has millions of coliform

Dissolved oxygen (DO) levels
Water quality is bad if low levels – mean a lot of oxygen demanding waste
DO levels of 2-3 can kill marine organisms

Question 8

Methods of Water Testing

Answer 8

Chemical Analysis: Determines how much of certain organic chemicals in water

Use Indicator species (analyzing animals reactions) to test for pollution

Measure about of sediment in water

Measure the wavelengths of light shine through water

Question 9

Pollution in Lake Livingston

Answer 9

Elevated levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls

Environmental pollutants like PCBs, mercury and dioxins can build up in the bodies of fish over time and lead to health consequences for people who eat contaminated fish.

Question 10

DuPont Chemical Dump Crisis

Answer 10

Citizens in Wood County, West Virginia learned that their water was contaminated with C8

C8 had been dumped into the Ohio River

Cancer and reduced immune function

Question 11

What are ways in our personal lives that we can help prevent pollution?

Answer 11

Throwing away trash, disposing of chemicals the proper way, reporting oil spills, and trying natural pesticides.