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Increases in nutrient loading may lead to triplication. Organic wastes such as sewage impose high oxygen demands on the achieving water leading to oxygen depletion with potentially severe impacts on the whole CEO-system. Industries discharge a variety of pollutants in their wastewater including heavy metals, resin pellets, organic toxins, oils, nutrients, and solids. Discharges can also have thermal effects, especially those from power stations, and these too reduce the available oxygen.
Silt- bearing runoff from many activities including construction sites, deforestation and agriculture can inhibit the penetration of sunlight through the water column, restricting photosynthesis and causing blanketing of the lake or river deed, in turn damaging ecological systems. Pollutants in water include a wide spectrum of chemicals, pathogens, and physical chemistry or sensory changes. Many of the chemical substances are toxic. Pathogens can produce waterborne diseases in either human or animal hosts. Alteration of water’s physical chemistry include acidity, electrical conductivity, temperature, and triplication.
Triplication is the fertilization of surface water by nutrients that were previously scarce. Even many of the municipal water supplies in developed countries can present health risks. Water pollution is a major problem in the global context. It has been suggested that it is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily. [J Causes Sewage and Wastewater Domestic households, industrial and agricultural practices produce wastewater that can cause pollution of many lakes and rivers. Sewage is the term used for wastewater that often contains faces, urine and laundry waste. ; There are billions of people on Earth, so treating sewage is a big priority. ; Sewage disposal is a major problem in developing countries as many people in these areas don’t have access to sanitary conditions and clean water. Untreated sewage water in such areas can contaminate the environment and cause diseases such as diarrhea. ; Sewage in developed countries is carried away from the home quickly and hygienically through sewage pipes. ; Sewage is treated in water treatment plants and the waste is often disposed into the sea. Sewage is mainly biodegradable and most of it is broken down in the environment. In developed countries, sewage often causes problems when people flush chemical and pharmaceutical substances down the toilet. When people are ill, sewage often carries harmful viruses and bacteria into the environment causing health problems. Industrial Waste Industry is a huge source of water pollution, it produces pollutants that are extremely harmful to people and the environment. ; Many industrial facilities use freshwater to carry away waste from the plant and into rivers, lakes and oceans. Pollutants from industrial sources include: o Asbestos – This pollutant is a serious health hazard and carcinogenic. Asbestos fibers can be inhaled and cause illnesses such as asbestosis, Mesopotamia, lung cancer, intestinal cancer and liver cancer. O Lead This is a metallic element and can cause health and environmental problems. It is a non-biodegradable substance so is hard to clean up once the environment is contaminated. Lead is harmful to the health of many animals, including humans, as it can inhibit the action of bodily enzymes. Mercury – This is a metallic element and can cause health and environmental problems.
It is a non-biodegradable substance so is hard to clean up once the environment is contaminated. Mercury is also harmful to animal health as it can cause illness through mercury poisoning. O Nitrates – The increased use of fertilizers means that nitrates are more often being washed from the soil and into rivers and lakes. This can cause triplication, which can be very problematic to marine environments. O Phosphates – The increased use of fertilizers means that phosphates are more often being washed from the soil and into rivers and lakes.
This can cause triplication, which can be o Sulfur – This is a non- metallic substance that is harmful for marine life. O Oils – Oil does not dissolve in water, instead it forms a thick layer on the water surface. This can stop marine plants receiving enough light for photosynthesis. It is also harmful for fish and marine birds. O Petrochemicals – This is formed room gas or petrol and can be toxic to marine life. Oil pollution Oceans are polluted by oil on a daily basis from oil spills, routine shipping, run-offs and dumping. Oil spills make up about 12% of the oil that enters the ocean. The rest come from shipping travel, drains and dumping. ; An oil spill from a tanker is a severe problem because there is such a huge quantity of oil being spilt into one place. ; Oil spills cause a very localized problem but can be catastrophic to local marine wildlife such as fish, birds and sea otters. ; Oil cannot dissolve in water and forms a thick sludge in the water. This suffocates sis, gets caught in the feathers of marine birds stopping them from flying and blocks light from photosynthetic aquatic plants.
Nuclear Waste Nuclear Waste is produced from industrial, medical and scientific processes that use radioactive material. Nuclear waste can have detrimental effects on marine habitats. Nuclear waste comes from a number of sources: ; Operations conducted by nuclear power stations produce radioactive waste. Nuclear-fuel reprocessing plants in northern Europe are the biggest sources of man-made nuclear waste in the surrounding ocean. Radioactive traces from these plants have been found as far away as Greenland. Mining and refining of uranium and thorium are also causes of marine nuclear waste. Waste is also produced in the nuclear fuel cycle which is used in many industrial, medical and scientific processes. Atmospheric Deposition Atmospheric deposition is the pollution of water caused by air pollution. ; In the atmosphere, water particles mix with carbon dioxide sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, this forms a weak acid. ; Air pollution means that water vapor absorbs more of these gases and becomes even more acidic. ; When it rains the water is polluted with these gases, the is is called acid rain. ; When acid rain pollutes marine habitats such as rivers and lakes, aquatic life is harmed.
Triplication Triplication is when the environment becomes enriched with nutrients. This can be a problem in marine habitats such as lakes as it can cause algal blooms. ; Fertilizers are often used in farming, sometimes these fertilizers run-off into nearby water causing an increase in nutrient levels. ; This causes phytoplankton to grow and reproduce more rapidly, resulting in algal blooms. ; This bloom of algae disrupts normal ecosystem functioning and causes many problems. The algae may use up all the oxygen in the water, leaving none for other marine life.
This results in the death of many aquatic organisms such as fish, which need the oxygen in the water to live. ; The bloom of algae may also block sunlight from photosynthetic marine plants under the water surface. ; Some algae even produce toxins that are harmful to higher forms of life. This can cause problems along the food chain and affect any animal that feeds on them. Dangers to Health Virtually all types Of Water pollution are harmful to the health Of humans and animals. Water pollution may not damage our health immediately but can be armful after long term exposure.
Different forms of pollutants affect the health of animals in different ways: ; Heavy metals from industrial processes can accumulate in nearby lakes and rivers. These are toxic to marine life such as fish and shellfish, and subsequently to the humans who eat them. Heavy metals can slow development; result in birth defects and some are carcinogenic. ; Industrial waste often contains many toxic compounds that damage the health of aquatic animals and those who eat them. Some of the toxins in industrial waste may only have a mild effect whereas other can be fatal. They can cause immune suppression, reproductive failure or acute poisoning. Microbial pollutants from sewage often result in infectious diseases that infect aquatic life and terrestrial life through drinking water. Microbial water pollution is a major problem in the developing world, with diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever being the primary cause of infant mortality. ; Organ nice matter and nutrients causes an increase in aerobic algae and depletes oxygen from the water column. This causes the suffocation of fish and other aquatic ; Sulfate particles from acid rain can cause harm the health of organisms. Urine life in the rivers and lakes it contaminates, and can result in mortality. Suspended particles in freshwater reduces the quality of drinking water for humans and the aquatic environment for marine life. Suspended particles can often reduce the amount of sunlight penetrating the water, disrupting the growth Of photosynthetic plants and micro-organisms. Dangers to the Environment There are many different types of water pollution and all have a different adverse effect on the environment. and rivers. These are toxic to marine life such as fish and shellfish, and can affect the rest of the food chain. This means that entire animal communities can be badly affected by this type of pollutant. Industrial waste often contains many toxic compounds that damage the health of aquatic animals and those who eat them. Some toxins affect the reproductive success of marine life and can therefore disrupt the community structure of an aquatic ; Microbial pollutants from sewage often result in infectious environment. Diseases that infect aquatic life and terrestrial life through drinking water. This often increases the number of moralities seen within an environment. ; Organic matter and nutrients causes an increase in aerobic algae and peoples oxygen from the water column.
This is called triplication and causes the suffocation of fish and other aquatic Organisms. ; Sulfate particles from acid rain change the pH of water making it more acidic, this damages the health of marine life in the rivers and lakes it contaminates, and often increases the number of moralities within an environment. Suspended particles can often reduce the amount of sunlight penetrating the water, disrupting the growth of photosynthetic plants and micro-organisms. This has subsequent effects on the rest of the aquatic community that depend on these organisms to survive.
Dangers to the Economy Water pollution can be damaging to the economy as it can be expensive to treat and prevent contamination. Waste that does not break down quickly accumulates in the Earth’s waters and eventually makes its way to the oceans. Water pollution can be prevented by stopping pollutants from contaminating nearby waters. There are a number of water treatments to prevent pollution such as: ; Biological filters ; Chemical additives ; Sand filters These simple techniques cost money to maintain, but prevention is much cheaper than cleaning up water pollution that has already occurred.
The cost f a pollution clean-up depends on many factors: ; The location of the pollution is important in determining how much the clean-up will cost. If the contamination is in an area that is easy to get to, then the clean up cost will be cheaper. ; The contamination size also needs to be considered, the larger the area of contamination, the more expensive the cost of the clean- ; The type of pollutant may also have an effect on the clean-up cost, up. Some pollutants are more difficult to clean up than others, and therefore more expensive. What Can You Do?
If you want to help keep our waters clean, there are many things you can do o help. You can prevent water pollution of nearby rivers and lakes as well as groundwater and drinking water by following some simple guidelines in your everyday life. ; Conserve water by turning off the tap when running water is not necessary. This helps prevent water shortages and reduces the amount of contaminated water that needs treatment. ; Be careful about what you throw down your sink or toilet. Don’t throw paints, oils or other forms of litter down the drain. Use environmentally household products, such as washing powder, household cleaning agents and toiletries. ; Take great are not to overuse pesticides and fertilizers. This will prevent runoffs of the material into nearby water sources. ; By having more plants in your garden you are preventing fertilizer, pesticides and contaminated water from running off into nearby water sources. ; Don’t throw litter into rivers, lakes or oceans. Help clean up any litter you see on beaches or in rivers and lakes, make sure it is safe to collect the litter and put it in a nearby dustbin.
Laws and Conventions There are many laws that protect the world’s oceans, rivers and lakes from unnecessary water pollution. Each continent and country may differ in which saws they enforce but they aim to have the same overall positive influence. In Europe, there have been a number laws enforced to protect the surrounding ocean from marine dumping. ; In 1 989, the dumping of industrial waste was terminated in all countries in North-Western Europe, apart from the KICK. Dumping was terminated in the UK in 1993. ; In 1990, the dumping of sewage sludge was terminated in all countries in North-Western Europe, apart from the ELK.
Dumping was terminated in the UK in 1998. ; Guidelines have been developed and are currently being reviewed regarding the dumping of polluted materials. Dumping of nuclear waste in European waters has been terminated since 1986. There are a number of directives given in the European Union Environmental Legislation: ; The proposed water framework directive aims to achieve a number of objectives regarding health and environmental issues: o Enforce sufficient drinking water provisions. O Enforce sufficient provisions if water for other economic requirements. Protection of the environment from water pollution. O Provide alleviation of the adverse impacts of floods and droughts. The directive aims to achieve a good status for ground waters and surface eaters in Europe by the year 2010. ; The urban waste water directive aims to protect surface inland waters and coastal waters from pollution by regulating the collection and treatment of urban waste water. ; The nitrate from agricultural sources directive aims to protect waters against pollution caused by nitrates, especially nitrates from agricultural sources such as fertilizers.
This will enable marine and freshwater to be protected from triplication. ; The drinking water directive aims to establish strict standards regarding the quality of drinking water. The directive provides ramset’s and analysis methods, these standards must be met to ensure safe drinking water. ; The surface water for drinking water abstraction directive and measurement and sampling of surface waters directive and information exchange decision are integrated to form a framework that deals with Water protection of all waters, not just those used by humans. Sis water directive and shell water directive aims to protect waters from pollution that are primarily used for fishing. ; The groundwater directive aims to protect groundwater from dangerous pollute ants by controlling the erect and indirect discharges of certain substances into the groundwater. The bathing water directive aims to keep good standards in the quality of bathing water in freshwater and coastal water areas. Agencies and Organization There are a number of agencies and organizations that work to prevent water pollution and provide relevant information. Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea (SCOOPS) ; www. Scoops. Org ; Clean Ocean Action – www. Accelerations. Org ; Friends of the Earth – www. Foe. Co. UK ; Greenback – win. Greenback. Org/oceans ; International Water Association – www. Awash. Rig. UK ; Marine Conservation Society – YMMV. Mucus. Org ; Save Our Seas – womb. Asseverates. Org ; Wetlands International – www. Wetlands. Org ; WFM – www. Panda. Org Industrial Treatment Before raw sewage can be safely released back into the environment, it needs to be treated correctly in a water treatment plant.
In a water treatment plant, sewage goes through a number of chambers and chemical processes to reduce the amount and toxicity of the waste. ; The sewage first goes through a primary phase. This is where some of the suspended, solid particles and inorganic material is removed by the use of liters. ; The secondary phase of the treatment involves the reduction of organic, this is done with the use of biological filters and processes that naturally degrade the organic waste material. ; The final stage of treatment is the tertiary phase; this stage must be done before the water can be reused.
Almost all solid particles are removed from the water and chemical additives are supplied to get rid of any left-over impurities. Septic Tanks Septic tanks treat sewage at the place where it is located, rather than transporting the waste through a treatment plant or sewage system. Septic inks are usually used to treat sewage from an individual building. ; Untreated sewage from a property flows into the septic tank and the solids are separated from the liquid. ; Solid material is separated depending on their density.
Heavier particles settle at the bottom of the tank whereas lighter particles, such as soap scum, will form a layer at the top of the tank. ; Biological processes are used to help degrade the solid materials. ; The liquid then flows out of the tank into a land drainage system and the remaining solids are filtered out. Identification Identification is an ecological approach that can be used to prevent the caching of nitrates in soil, this in turn stops any ground water from being contaminated with nutrients. Fertilizers contain nitrogen, and are often applied to crops by farmers to help plant growth and increase the yield. ; Bacteria in the soil convert the nitrogen in the fertilizer to nitrates, making it easier for the plants to absorb. ; Inflammation is a process where the nitrates become part of the soil ; When oxygen levels are low, another form of bacteria organic matter. Then turns the nitrates into gases such as nitrogen, nitrous oxide and nitrogen dioxide. ; The conversion of these nitrates into gas is called nitrification.
This prevents nitrates from leaching into the soil and contaminating groundwater. Ozone Wastewater Treatment Ozone wastewater treatment is a method that is increasing in popularity. An ozone generator is used to break down pollutants in the water source. ; The generators convert oxygen into ozone by using ultraviolet radiation or by an electric discharge field. ; Ozone is a very reactive gas that can oxides bacteria, moulds, organic material and other pollutants found In ; Using ozone to treat wastewater has many benefits: water. O Kills bacteria effectively.