Water Pollution

Water PollutionBy: Isabella Iacona, Micaiah Battle, and Rebecca Freedman

What is the problem?If the the pollution is coming from just one source: single source pollutionMany sources: non-point pollution7 types of water pollution: surface water pollution, oxygen depleting pollution, ground water pollution, nutrient pollution, microbiological pollution, suspended matter pollution, and chemical pollutionSurface Water PollutionFound on the exterior of the earths crust, surface waters are natural resources on earth:LakesOceansRiversWhen these waters become polluted, it becomes surface water pollution

Oxygen DepletingMicroorganisms in the water eat biodegradable substancesToo much biodegradable material added to the water, amount of microorganisms increase, using up all the oxygenWhen oxygen levels are lowered, aerobic microorganisms die and anaerobic microorganisms population increasesThey are harmful to people, animals, and the environment, due to harmful toxins they produce Ground Water PollutionA large amount of earths water is found in aquifers under groundTo get access to these aquifers, you have to build wellsIt becomes ground water pollution when this water becomes pollutedCaused by pesticide contamination from soil, causes health problems by infecting drinking waterNutrient PollutionNutrients are essential for development and plant growthMany are found in fertilizers and wastewater, causing excessive algae and weed growthThis can:Clog filtersContaminate drinking waterAlgae uses up the oxygen, leaving none for the other marine lifeMicrobiological PollutionNatural form of water pollution caused by microorganismsUsually only affect health of people in poorer countries, due to the lack of treatment of waterMicroorganisms in water cause animals, fish, and humans to become illMicroorganisms include:BacteriaVirusesProtozoaSuspended Matter PollutionSome pollutants cant dissolve in water and are too big to mix between the water moleculesSuspended particles settle at bottom. Harmful to marine life that lives on the floor of lakes and/or riversBiodegradable substances increase the amount of anaerobic microorganisms, which decreases oxygenToxic chemicals suspended in water can effect the development and survival of marine lifeChemical PollutionSolvents and metals from industrial work are poisonous to aquatic life and slow development and cause infertility mainly in rivers and lakesPesticides from farms run-off into the water and poison aquatic life. Birds, humans, and other animals can be effected if they eat infected fishPetroleum comes from oil spills and can cause the death of many fish. They also stick to feathers of seabirds, causing them to lose the ability to flyWhat is causing it?There are 8 main causes of water pollution:Sewage and wastewaterMarine dumpingIndustrial wasteRadioactive wasteOil pollutionUnderground storage leakagesAtmospheric depositionGlobal warmingEutrophicationSewage and wastewaterWater that contains feces, urine, and laundry wasteSewage contaminates the environment and causes diseaseSewage is carried away from the home and put through sewage pipesIt is then treated and the waste is put into the seaMarine dumpingLitter takes large amounts of times to degradeQuick Facts:Newspaper: 6 weeks to degradeStyrofoam: 80 years to degradePlastic packing: 400 years to degradeGlass takes so long to degrade that scientists are still unknown about how long it takesIndustrial wasteMany industrial facilities use fresh water to take away the waste, putting it in rivers, lakes, and oceansPollutants include:LeadMercuryOilsPhosphatesRadioactive wasterProduced from scientific, medical, and industrial processesNuclear-fuel reprocessing plants in northern Europe have the biggest source of man-made nuclear wasteOil pollutionOceans are polluted by oil almost everydayOil spills make up 12% or oil in the oceanOil spills are usually localized, and are terrible for the surrounding marine lifeOil cannot dissolve in water and forms thick sludgeUnderground storage leaksOften, a tank underground hold petroleum and is harmful to the environment that surrounds itOvertime, the steel corrodes and causes leaksGlobal warmingThe death of aquatic life is due to the increase in temperatureCoral bleaching is caused by a rise in water temperatureCreates damage to the reef, which is what much of the aquatic life depends onEutrophicationWhen the environment becomes rich with nutrients, becomes eutrophicationCauses algal blooms in lakesAtmospheric DepositionPollution of water caused by air pollutionExample: Acid RainHow do human interferences connect?"Acid rain" is a broad term referring to a mixture of wet and dry deposition (deposited material) from the atmosphere containing higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. The precursors, or chemical forerunners, of acid rain formation result from both natural sources, such as volcanoes and decaying vegetation, and man-made sources, primarily emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides resulting from fossil fuel combustion (What Is Acid Rain?)Acid rain continuedSo basically, acid rain happens due to the emissions from cars. These gases react in the atmosphere with oxygen, water, and other chemicals. It results in sulfur acid and nitric acid, which is carried by the wind, occasionally blowing hundreds of milesDangers of water pollutionHarmful to health of animals and humansIt disrupts the food chain by poisoning marine life that humans and animals consumeIt harms our water supply, which we need to live and plants need to surviveWater pollution in ChinaMany rivers that are needed for water and fishing are constantly contaminated by nearby factories and dumping by localsThis March, more than 2,000 dead pigs were found floating in a Shanghai river, a main water source for the city's 23 million residents.Polluted water sources have been linked to a rise in "cancer villages," or areas where cancer rates are high among people who live along tainted waterways.Pictures of China

What if it continues?If water pollution continues, many species could be wiped outThe chemicals could kill many of the aquatic marine lifeA vital food source would also be lost due to the large amount of fish deathsMany animals would lose their source of food and waterThe water cycleThe most obvious cycle that would be effected is the water cycleIf the water cycle starts out with polluted water in rivers, lakes, and oceans, those chemicals could circulate throughout the earthThey could eventually get into the water we drink and get us sickWays you can helpTurn off your water. This reduces the amount of water that needs treatmentDont throw litter and oils down the drainDont overuse pesticides and fertilizers because it will cause run-offsAnd obviously, dont throw littler into rivers, lakes, and oceansWebsites"What Is Acid Rain?" EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 01 June 2013."Water Pollution." Water Pollution. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 June 2013."If You Think China's Air Is Bad, You Should See The Water." Business Insider. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 June 2013."Ocean Waves Wallpaper - HD Wallpaper." Ocean Waves Wallpaper. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 June 2013.