Introduction to Introduction to Water ChemistryWater Chemistry

Why Water?Why Water?

• Water dissolves more substances than any other liquid, so Water dissolves more substances than any other liquid, so it carries chemicals, minerals and nutrients as it travelsit carries chemicals, minerals and nutrients as it travels

• The U.S. uses ~346 billion gallons of fresh water every The U.S. uses ~346 billion gallons of fresh water every day; the average American uses 80-100 gallons every dayday; the average American uses 80-100 gallons every day

• The overall amount of water on our planet has remained The overall amount of water on our planet has remained the same for two billion yearsthe same for two billion years

• 80% of the Earth’s surface is water and humans can drink 80% of the Earth’s surface is water and humans can drink only 2.5% of available wateronly 2.5% of available water

Water Quality Key TermsWater Quality Key Terms

• Contamination: Contamination: The presence of a minor The presence of a minor component in another chemical or mixture.component in another chemical or mixture.

• Purification: Purification: To make something pure or to cleanse.To make something pure or to cleanse.• Remediation: Remediation: To correct something that has gone To correct something that has gone

bad or defective.bad or defective.• Adsorption: Adsorption: The adhesion of atoms, ions or The adhesion of atoms, ions or

molecules from a gas, liquid or dissolved substance molecules from a gas, liquid or dissolved substance to a surface. to a surface.

How do we purify water?How do we purify water?

• Larger-scale methodsLarger-scale methods– reverse osmosisreverse osmosis– ultra-filtrationultra-filtration– electro-deionizationelectro-deionization

• Smaller-scale methodsSmaller-scale methods– filtersfilters– boilingboiling

Reverse OsmosisReverse Osmosis

FiltersFilters

Activated CarbonActivated Carbon

Boiling WaterBoiling Water

Contamination SourcesContamination Sources

• leaking sewageleaking sewage• leaking underground fuel storage tanksleaking underground fuel storage tanks• pesticide and herbicide runoffpesticide and herbicide runoff• landfills and dumpslandfills and dumps• industrial wasteindustrial waste• and more…and more…

Sewage SpillsSewage Spills

Underground Storage Tanks Underground Storage Tanks

Pesticides and HerbicidesPesticides and Herbicides

Industrial Waste SpillsIndustrial Waste Spills

~ Remediation Methods ~~ Remediation Methods ~Pump-and-TreatPump-and-Treat

Permeable Reactive BarrierPermeable Reactive Barrier

Nanoparticle InjectionNanoparticle Injection