Catagories of Water Pollution: Blog Entry

Water pollution is so great, that it has to be divided into equally dangerous catagories, as follows...

Types of Pollutants that reduce the Quality of Water

Biological pollutants consist of the bacteria and worms that are found in water sources. Most of the time these pollutants are made during the decomposition of organic matter. This material is usually supplied by runoff from barnyards and dumps. There is a new class of organic pollutants called man-made organic compounds. Of these the most well known for its damage to the environment is the pesticide DDT.

Chemical pollution is simply pollution created through substances in a chemical form. These pollutants that cause chemical pollution are those such as chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, arsenic, and mercury. Another part of chemical pollution is the pollution known as photochemical pollution. This type of pollution is air pollution that contains ozone and other chemicals made from nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons absorbing the energy from sunlight, like those found in car exhaust.

Physical pollution is damage done to an environment through the introduction of hazardous materials. The pollutants that cause this type of pollution effect the environment through thermal alteration and electromagnetic radiation. One of the most obviously hazardous forms of physical pollution is an oil spill. Probably the most well known and most publicized spill was the oil that rushed from the Exxon Valdez. The Exxon Valdez caused one of the worst environmental tragedies in the world’s history. The volume of oil that spilled in to Prince William Sound was nearly 250,000 barrels, which is equal to 10 million gallons of. The Exxon company paid over 10 billion dollars in fines and lawsuits. This is the broadest form of pollution.

Thermal pollution causes excess in the raising and lowering of the water temperature in lakes, rivers, and streams. Thermal pollution also affects the volume of dissolved oxygen in water sources by decreasing the solubility of oxygen. This pollution reduces the volume of dissolved oxygen by causing respiration in aquatic life to occur faster decreasing the oxygen level of the water. Also, much of the world’s marine and aquatic life have a range of tolerance for the temperatures that they can survive in. When thermal pollution occurs the fluctuation of the water temperature may travel outside of the organism’s range of tolerance causing them to die from what is known as thermal shock.

Classification of each

The definition of chemical pollution is unwelcome or unnatural chemicals are released into the land, water and air. They can have minor to severe environmental impacts. Some examples of chemical pollution are poorly treated or untreated municipal and industrial wastewater, pesticide and fertilizer run-off from agriculture, spills and other ship-related releases, and/or mining. Some counter active measures include creating artificial wetlands to treat water for municipal and regional.

Thermal pollution is variation of temperature caused by humans to a water body or to the air. This can cause large-scale death to the marine animals. It depends on the kind thermal pollution, for cold-water pollution created by releases of water from reservoirs, can cause the local extinction of native fish species. If the thermal pollution increases the temperature to the water then it causes many species to either die or migrate if possible. This starts a domino effect when the prey leaves so does the predator next on the food chain and this creates a major environmental problem caused by a few degree change in water.

Physical Pollution is damage done to an environment though the introduction of hazardous materials. There are many different kinds of physical pollution
1. 6 pack plastic holder
2. Metal (Barrels, bolts, nuts,
3. Spray paint cans
4. Outdated Electronics

Each one of these examples cause their own unique problem to the environment. The plastic can choke sea turtles and cause young albatross birds to die from starvation. The metal, in the water, corrodes releasing an excess of mineral into the water
1. Zinc
2 Nickel
3 Copper
4 Chromium
5 Iron

The spray paint cans release toxic materials that poison the water and the organism that live there. Outdated Electronics may contain materials that are banned now, ie. Lead. It has about the same effect of metal but releases less minerals, but the mineral released are much more devastating.

Thermal pollution occurs when manufacturing plants and power plants have excess heat that they must release. Unfortunately, the cheapest way to do this is the take water from a body of water, run it through the plant to absorb the heat, and release it back into the body of water that it came from. This warmer water decreases the solubility of oxygen in water and makes organisms in this water breathe faster. This can cause them to die or become more prone to disease. Because of this, one way of detecting this type of pollution is by monitoring organisms in the environment. If their reparation rate increases, it is likely that they are suffering from thermal pollution. Another way of detecting this is by using a piece of technology used by the military. This is the aerial inferred technology. Surveying water with this technology, they will see different shades of black and white. These colors are formed from different chemicals and heat from factories that leak water into the bodies. This is because when polluted waters mix with other waters, they can be seen because they will differentiate in shade.

Methods of Detection; cause and affect

One of the main ways to detect chemical water pollution is by using African Clawed frog tadpoles. They light up because of a protein in their body and can detect many different kinds of chemicals in the water. They light up because the pollutants cause them stress.

Physical pollutants can be found in many forms including organic and inorganic materials. Usually, they can easily be seen with the naked eye. Another way to detect this kind of pollution is by using a filter that can catch macroscopic objects. Not only will this detect the objects, but it will also catch the pollution. All that is needed is the flow of water.

One way of detecting biological pollution in water is by using a type of filter. This filter detects oils, one of the main biological pollutants in water. It deals with using a specific flow rate and specific amount of water that flows through this mechanism. It separates the oil and water and makes the oil very visible. Another kind of biological pollution is bacteria. Bacteria can be detected in water by using the R2A agar method. This process includes placing water in Petri dishes and incubating them in a certain temperature, causing chlorine-tolerant bacteria to grow and make it very visible.

Repercussions of Each

Improper sewage disposal affects the environments and leads to water-related illnesses. One common example of a water related disease is diarrhea, which kills 3-4 million children each year. While developed countries have sewage systems that take sewage waste quickly and hygienically away from homes, the real problem of biological water pollution occurs when this sewage leaves the sewage treatment plant and is not disposed of properly. One ineffective and unsafe way of disposing of this waste is by pumping it while it is untreated into the sea. In fact, until the early 1990s, around 5 million tons of raw sewage was dumped from barges in New York City each year. Also, some of Britain’s 300 million daily gallons of sewage is still pumped untreated into the sea. Finally, The New River that crosses from Mexico into California carries 20-25 million gallons of raw sewage each day. While sewage is a completely natural substance that breaks down in the environment and 90 percent of sewage waste is water, sewage also contains chemicals, such as pharmaceutical drugs and paper, plastic, and other wastes PEOPLE flush down the toilet. Viruses can also be carried into an environment through one’s waste. Diseases such as Hepatitis, Typhoid, and Cholera can be transmitted through raw sewage waste.

Physical water pollution occurs when harmful pollutants accumulate when sediment is deposited in a body of water. These pollutants result in increased risks of cancer, neurological and IQ impairment in people who consume contaminated fish. These chemicals can persist for many years in the sediment, and will continue to be hazardous for the environment and public health. In addition, other chemicals accumulate in the sediment when they are released into surface waters from industrial, municipal, urban and agricultural areas.

Thermal pollution can entirely change the ecosystem of an aquatic environment. This type of water pollution can lead to a decrease in dissolved oxygen in the water and increases the biological demand of aquatic organisms that produce oxygen. This heated water reduces the ability of the aquatic system to hold oxygen, and encourages the growth of warm water species.

All organisms that live in water are adapted to temperatures within a certain range and when water temperatures in an area warm and exceeds the range, species that cannot move, such as rooted plants and shellfish, will die. Species that can move, such as fish, will leave the area in search of cooler conditions, and they will die if they cannot find a cooler area or cannot leave the area quickly enough. Cold waters make better habitats for plants and animals because cold waters contain more dissolved oxygen. While these waters are sometimes replenished with new species that can tolerate the new temperature range, these new organisms are often far less desirable.
Many freshwater fish species that are valued for sport and food, some examples being trout and salmon, do poorly in warm water. While some organisms do thrive in warm water, they often cause undesirable effects. Algae and other plants grow more rapidly in warm water than in cold and as a result, die more rapidly. The bacteria that decompose their dead tissue uses up oxygen, only further reducing the viable amount of oxygen for animals. As a result of the decaying matter, these waters often look, taste, and smell unpleasant.

Proactive Measures of each

The greatest source of pollution is organic waste. Although chemical pollutants may become diluted, they can also radically alter the ecosystem to allow the overproduction of certain forms of algae and bacteria that pollute the water with respect to its use by humans. Water purification seeks to convert this polluted water into water that is acceptable for drinking and recreation. This is attained by techniques such as filtration and exposure to chemicals that will kill the microorganisms in the water. The most commonly used method of purification is chlorination however; other options include the use of ultraviolet radiation, the use of filters with small pores, and the use of ozone. Depending on the situation and the intended use of the finished water, combinations of these techniques can be used. If the intended use of the reused water is for drinking consumption, as many bacteria are removed as possible, and bacteria of intestinal origin are eliminated. On the other hand, recreational waters are not held to as high of a standard.

Thermal pollution is defined as the degradation of water quality by any process that changes ambient water temperature. This process usually occurs when water with an increased temperature is released into a stream, lake, or ocean from industrial processes, such as the generation of electricity. There are several proactive measures taken to prevent thermal water pollution. One method is to install a diffuser system in the water. These dilution systems are effective and are monitored by thermal infrared imaging systems. Also, cooling towers have been used on small rivers and streams that do not have the capacity to absorb the heat from the contaminated waste. These cooling towers use a repeating cascade of water inside the tower, with a large column of upwardly rising air that carries the heat to the atmosphere through evaporative cooling. These towers have been used extensively at nuclear generating stations in the United States and France. One drawback of cooling towers is the potential for local changes in meteorological conditions. This is a result of large amounts of this warm air entering the atmosphere.

Chemical water pollution is contained in run-off that enters the water system. There are several proactive measures that can be taken to help curb water pollution. In schools, students can be educated and informed how to control and contain any and all spills. Also, we must demand harsher penalties for pollution offenders from our governmental leaders. We must also make sure that governments strictly enforce laws that are already in place, regardless of politics. Citizens need to be proactive in reporting all spills.

The main form of physical water pollution is sediment. Solid fragments of inorganic or organic materials that do not dissolve in water. Sources of sediment include erosion, deforestation, and agricultural and hydroelectric projects. Sediment chokes and fills lakes, reservoirs, harbors, and other aquatic environments, reducing photosynthesis and disrupting aquatic food webs. Sediment may also carry pesticides, bacteria, and other harmful substances, and it can destroy the feeding and spawning grounds of fish.

Health Risks

The four types of water contaminants have different types of diseases that go with them. Biological contaminants can include bacteria, molds, mildew, and anything else that ca come from the environment. Some minor illnesses that can occur are allergic reactions to whatever is in the water, and elevated forms of asthma. Some major ailments can include the flu, measles and chicken pox. Younger children and the elderly are more prone to acquire these illnesses.
Chemical contaminants are any chemical or compound that can harm any organism in the environment; common chemical contaminants can include pesticides and heavy metals. Pesticide exposure can cause a vast array sickness. Pesticides can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, skin and eye irritation and headache. Some heavy metals in drinking water can include iron, aluminum, lead or mercury. When in the body, the metals become toxic and can cause irritation, headache, and nausea.
Physical contaminants are when foreign objects enter a water system. They can also be found in raw cooking ingredients. Some diseases that are caused by physical contaminants are as follows; E. coli enteroinvasive (EIEC)Listeria monocytogenes
Mycobacterium bovis. These diseases are caused by improper treatment of raw cooking ingredients that are leaked into the water supply.
The final form of contamination is thermal. This pollution can be seen when highly heated water is dumped into a waterway. Thermal pollution is much more harmful to animals then to humans. When the hot water is spilled into, for example a river, the life in the river is most likely going to go into shock and die. For people, it can also be harmful because the heat source is mostly coming from nuclear waste. The nuclear waste can cause all ailments that are associated with exposure to nuclear products.

Preventive Measures or Strategies of each

As stated earlier, biological pollutants are mostly organic organisms that cause harm to other organisms that they are near. There are some basic preventive measures that people could do so these pollutants will no longer be harmful. Some things can be done such as maintaining a clean household and having low moisture. When low moisture is kept various types of mold will not be able to grow and the health of a community will be well. If these responsibilities are done then pollutants will not seep into water supplies.
Organizations are doing some important things to prevent chemical water pollution. For example, UNDP is doing various different tasks to eliminate chemical water pollution. Some projects UNDP is doing are introducing cleaner technologies, controlling the release of mercury by siding with an anti gold mining policy, and by engineering wetlands that treat municipal wastewater. The most basic way to prevent chemical pollution is to not dump chemicals in water in the first place. Fighting the problem at the source is the easiest way to prevent any problem not just pollution.
Physical pollution is the broadest form of pollution. In turn there should be more ways to fix the problems that this pollution presents. Probably the simplest way one can help stop this pollution is to put a filter or some form of screen in the drain for your sink. This then stops any unneeded trash or junk from leaving the house and ending up in some kind of waterway. Another way to solve this pollution problem is to stop ships and planes from dumping their scraps and wastes into our water and air. When planes dump waste at altitude some of the gas escape straight into the air and fall back into our waterways as ac id precipitation.
Thermal pollution is dramatic shift in the temperature of our waterways. Houses wasting electricity usually cause this pollution. So, obviously the simplest way to stop thermal pollution is to stop wasting electricity in your homes. When you are not in a room turn off the lights. This may seem like it does nothing but it is actually helping the environment, and saving you money as well. One way for large companies to help prevent thermal pollution is to manage the volume of heated or cooled water that is dumped into a single body of water. By limiting the volume of water, heated or cooled, that is dumped into lakes and streams we can keep the surrounding ecosystems relatively balanced.

Catagories of Water Pollution: Content Depth

Socioeconomic Considerations on the Health of a Society

Biological pollutants cause specific health issues that harm the population in affected areas. Companies can cause some factors that allow these contaminants in the water supply. Companies do this so they can receive more money then if they didn’t and when this happens, it causes the society to get illnesses. Chemical is a major factor with health on a society level. Factories dump their chemical waste in close waterways so they do not have to spend as much money. These factories are so greedy that they are willing to damage the society to make more money. Physical contaminants are the greatest cause from the society. People on a community level cause the most physical waste. Physical waste is done mostly of pure laze, or because people cannot dispose of something properly. Thermal is again at a factory level. Thermal is mostly from nuclear waste which is mainly caused from factories and large corporations. Companies, corporations, and factories are so selfish and greedy that they put peoples health on the line just so they can make more money.

Cultural Beliefs

Ganges River is an important part of the Hindu religion and culture. It very sacred and is believed to have been in heaven before being forced onto earth. It is also believed once you have bathed in it all sins are washed away. In addition, ashes of the dead or spread into the water. Unfortunately it has now become polluted and can carry waterborne dieses such as dysentery, hepatitis, and cholera. All of which can be fatal. It also has several heavy metals, one of which is chromium. Chromium can be absorb thought the skin, ingestion or even breathed in. It can cause something as miner as skin rashes and upset stomachs to ulcer, weaken immune systems, kidney and liver damage, respiratory problems, alternation of genetic material, lung cancer and eventually death. . There are toxins like arsenic and plutonium floating around as well has excrements, both human and animal pollute this sacred waterway. Arsenic is a poison that can kill very quickly once absorbed into the human system, plutonium emits a low amount of radiation but once it taken into the body as small particles it can cause lung cancer, the excrements are produces the body has rejected and can cause different health effects depending on how much as been in contact with. The Ganges River supports nearly 500 million people from any where from drinking water, agriculture, and river rafting. Something as to be done to stop further pollution and then efforts should be put to reducing the terrible pollution of this might river. To the people of India, the river from the heavens is now, no more than a sewer.

Environmental Factors

Pollution effects the environments greatly. The various bacteria and microorganisms can cause disease and harm the environment. For example, invasive organisms in water habitats can destroy the food chain. Ballast water contains numerous organisms that harm the environment like what is happening at the Great lakes. Zebra mussels are just one of the many organisms that torment the Great lakes. There are also some species of fish, crustaceans, and plants. They can include White Perch fish, Rusty Crayfish that is a crustacean, and the Flowering Rush plant. Invasive species are a major biological pollutant even if they are organisms.
A main environmental factor caused by chemical pollution is eutrophication. This occurs when chemical such as fertilizers and pesticides flow into the water. This can cause algae blooms that cause many organisms to die on the effected areas. Algae blooms occur when vast amounts of algae die and suck up great amounts of oxygen in the area. All of the organisms in the region die; this can include many fish species, aquatic plant life, and microorganisms.
Physical pollution is basically any garbage that is in the water. For example the marine bird, the osprey, the young are only eating garbage. The parents can only find trash as food, but the sad part is that they think it is actually food. The osprey babies die rapidly because of the lack of food. When the ospreys die, their stomachs are actually full, but full of garbage. The major source of this death is in the Pacific Ocean in an area of the ocean where there is not a great amount of sea travel. Also, other animals such as seals or penguins get caught in garbage and ingest it also which could cause death.
Thermal pollution is mostly heat related. This type of pollution causes the fish to go through a type of shock that causes death. For example, when nuclear waste is dumped into the water, the temperature is changed greatly and the fish die from the dramatic change. This can also affect any other marine organisms that are in the vicinity of the thermal pollution.

Catagories of Water Pollution: Works Consulted

Works Consulted

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Water Pollution Sources: Blog entry

As this blog dives deeper in the dangers of water pollution, it seems that water pollution becomes even more detailed. It’s not just the leftover soda cans you see in the ocean at the beach. Water pollution takes many forms, with each, its own repercussions, methods of detection, and much much more…


Classifications of Water Pollution Sources

Each classification of waste in water has specific health risks that go with them.
Industrial waste is anything that factories contribute to pollution. Factories use waterways to transport their waste away from the site. This act can cause many illnesses. Mesothelioma is caused from asbestos being dumped in the water and then being consumed by people. Two other pollutants such as Lead and Mercury can cause disease as well. Mercury and Lead will lead to poisoning and can have deadly effects. Factories must do something to change their ways.
Domestic waste is also harmful to humans; domestic waste is anything that can be caused by regular people. Domestic waste is considered to be cleaning products and other household chemicals. When the chemicals are mixed in the water supply, the products will create a volatile combination. Some of their effects include eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea, damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system, nose and throat discomfort, headache, allergic skin reaction, dyspnea, declines in serum cholinesterase levels, nausea, emesis, epistaxis, fatigue, dizziness. Everyone needs to pay attention to what they are doing.
Agricultural waste is anything that is caused by people in that profession. One major pollutant with agricultural waste is pesticide. Pesticides often flow into water from runoff caused by the farmers. That is not the only way pesticides can leak into the body. Pesticides can be absorbed through the skin, and by ingestion. Exposure to pesticides leads to many bad side effects. These side effects can lead to cancers, genetic damage, and fertility issues. Even though most farmers are taking preventive measures, some are still causing harm.


Methods of Detection; Cause & Effect

These types of water pollution are dangerous, and can be found in various laces. But how can one detect these different pollutions? The most obvious way is to look at the water source. ‘Dirty water’ is a common method of detecting pollution in the water. This water could be filled with any type of pollutant and could be dangerous to your health. Even if it isn’t limpid, that doesn’t mean it’s only chemicals that pollute it. It could also be dirt or other natural occurrences. That still doesn’t mean you should drink it before cleaning it.
Although this is a common method, there are many other ways to test if water is polluted. Pollutants in water are commonly measured and reported as parts per million (ppm) or parts per billion (ppb). Scientists have developed many different technologies and chemicals to find the pollution in the water. Specialized analytical equipment allows technicians to monitor pollutants. In the field, pH meters are used to measure acidity or bring samples back to the lab to test. They import the data they own on the water into the computer, and the computer then determines if the water has any impurities.
Living organisms are also used to detect water pollution. If these organisms should show any odd behavior or characteristics, it’s a good sign that something is wrong with the water. Also if some species are reproducing less and dieing out, it is also a good chance that pollution has affected their environment so much that it is beyond their tolerance zone.
Other than those traditional methods, today’s scientists and engineers have created new technology to find water pollution. Scientists have developed a robotic fish that ‘swims’ in the waters. It detects pollution and then seeks out the source. It will then transmit the data using Wi-Fi technology and the problem can be fixed. Another new technology is the modified tadpoles. These tadpoles will light up to different concentrations of water, showing if there is pollution or not. One last new project are the Microsystems. These are small robots that flow in the water and can detect harmful chemicals, bacteria and other pollutions and relay the information back to headquarters. Unfortunately, it takes a large amount of resources and energy to keep the Microsystems working and in sync. This may be solved in the future. All of these projects are in production and might be released worldwide in a matter of months or years.
One project that is near completion is the wiring of an Irish river known as the River Lee. The DEPLOY project is fundamentally one of the greatest river protection projects to this date. Throughout the large river that support many species of salmon, trout and crayfish, scientist have placed wired boxes that regulate chemicals and the cleanliness of the water. Placed at equal distances from each other, these boxes have saved the river from pollution many times over. Above is a picture of one of the boxes at the water source.
The detection of pollutants in water is critical to the cleanliness of the water and further prevention. If we can find the source, we can combat the cause.



Repercussions of each

The repercussions of water pollution are numerous and felt throughout the food chain.
To start, Agricultural pollution is the leading source of impairment to rivers and lakes. The most widespread source of pollution in the agricultural spectrum is soil that is washed off of fields. This occurs when rainwater carries sediment and deposits them in nearby bodies of water. This clouds the water, reduces the amount of sunlight that reaches photosynthesizing plants, and kills them. Also, the sediment clogs the gills of fish and smoother their larvae. In addition, fertilizers, pesticides and heavy metals are contained in this runoff that originate in chemical fertilizers, manure and sludge. This causes algal blooms and depletes oxygen, killing aquatic life.
Furthermore, water pollution can also be felt in every home. Drinking water can contain contaminants that harm human health, and change the color and odor of water. These heavy metals accumulate in groundwater and enter the drinking supply. The effects of these materials include slow development, birth defects, and cancer. Microbial pollutants can cause disease such as cholera, typhoid fever and Cryptosporidiosis.
Finally, Industrial waste has a traumatic effect on the environment. Many factories use fresh water to carry waste away from these sites. Included in these wastes are pollutants that include asbestos, lead, mercury, nitrates, phosphates, sulfur, oils and petrochemicals. Asbestos is a health hazard and a carcinogen. When inhaled, this material causes asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer, intestinal cancer and liver cancer. Lead harms the health of most animals and inhibits the actions of bodily enzymes. Mercury is a hard material to remove from an ecosystem after it is exposed because it is biodegradable and causes poisoning. Nitrates and phosphates cause eutrophication, which is very problematic to marine environments. Oils and petrochemicals form a thick layer on the water surface, killing plants, marine birds and fish.


Proactive measures of each
The pollution of the Earth is a serious matter. Human civilization would be nothing without the resources we gained from the Earth. To stop the pollution now taking place there are several different options. For runoff, which is now causing massive algae blooms in Lake Erie, trees can be planted between the farmers’ fields, which would help intercept and absorb the runoff. Also buffer zones and fields could be used to stop the runoff from getting to streams, rivers, or lakes. Another form of pollution is industrial pollution. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency have designed a factory that would take waste from vessels in the Port of Limón and Moin and recycle the waste. The two methods used would be DCR asphalt technology and Cement-Lock to create asphalt and cement while cleaning the Ocean. Some domestic pollution is chemically infected water. To prevent this you can keep chemicals away from drains. Also when you get rid of chemicals, or oil does it in a responsible manner. To learn how, check with your local authority. Also, when you use pesticides do it as far away from drains as possible and use it as lightly as possible.


Health Risks

Agricultural waste pollution is one of the leading causes of pollution in the modern United States. On its own, pollution from agricultural waste accounts for 48% of pollution in running water, such as rivers and streams. Of the pollution on today’s lake water 41% of it is attributed to waste from agricultural sites. Even though this form of pollution can harm humans, it is more closely related to environmental problems. Many environmental problems come from farmland runoff that contains fertilizer and nitrates. When these pollutants hit the open oceans, or any other standing bodies of water, they create an unnaturally high amount of nutrients in the area. In the worlds standing water the unnaturally high amounts on nutrients in the water could cause higher a number of the water plants and algae of the area. This increase of algae and plants, due to the water being artificially nutrient boosted, is known as eutrophication. This, in turn, stretches the ecosystem to the limit of its carrying capacity. The sudden increase throws the entire ecosystem and the surrounding areas out of whack.
Domestic waste pollution is anything that runs down your drains. Basically this means sewage. By weight this accounts for only a small fraction of sewage but it is a large amount by volume. According to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI, during 2004 there were 850 billion gallons of untreated sewage that ran throughout our waterways. As one would expect sewers over flow during many storm systems, this then drops the sewage into nearby rivers and streams without being treated. Some of the more serious parts of this pollution source are numerous form of detergents that run down our drains from cleaning and sanitizing our houses. One major issue related to domestic pollution is biochemical oxygen demand or BOD. The BOD is the volume required for a certain amount natural material to rot in sewage. This then translates into the fact that the BOD is higher when there is more natural material. A high BOD is better for the environment and when raw sewage is dumped into our waterways the BOD is lowered, lessening the quality of the water.
Industrial waste is a large contributor to water pollution. Industrial plants and factories use nearby sources of fresh water to carry their waste away from the site. Inland streams all around world all end up in the same place, the oceans. As the streams make their way toward the oceans they carry the pollutants from the factories and any other sources they come into contact with. Of the copious pollutants dumped into water by power plants some of the most hazardous would include asbestos, lead, and mercury. Asbestos is an extremely hazardous carcinogenic that is responsible for causing Mesothelioma and many deadly forms of cancer. Lead and mercury are metallic elements that are hazardous to both human health and the environment. Both of these elements are non-biodegradable and so make it very difficult to clean up an area that has been affected by them.


Preventive Measures or Strategies of each
When it comes to pollution, prevention of this occurrence is the best way to deal with this problem. For each of the different sources of pollution (Agricultural, Domestic and Industrial) some different and similar methods of preventing pollution have been created.
For Agricultural pollution, many farmers can implement processes and different management strategies that will reduce runoff of harmful chemicals and nutrients. Also, organic farmers that do not use plant-helping pollutants, such as nitrogen, will also use methods such as ladybugs to eat pests instead of pesticides. The methods of organic farmers are some of the best ways to combat agricultural pollution.
Domestic waste comes from the general populations such as homeowners. The chemicals the population uses to clean and upkeep their homes, such as cleaning fluids, are entered into the water system. Many cleaning products, air fresheners, and other household products come in organic, non-harmful forms that work very well and if used in place of harmful products can make a difference. Also reduction of use of harmful products can help reduce domestic water pollution. Reducing amounts of domestic pollution comes down to the cooperating of the general population of the globe.
Industrial pollution is from manufacturers and their poor processes of creating goods, packaging them. Processing can cause many different harmful effects to the water. Many wastes are produced in manufacturing and they are not always disposed of properly. Often, they are put in the ocean, rivers and lakes. Manufacturers need to start disposing of wastes properly. Also, manufacturing and processing generally uses chemical that shouldn’t be in water. Exchanging of these chemicals for organic alternatives could help dissolve this problem. Many improvements to industrial processes but eliminating wastes can help. Properly doing most industrial processes can help reduce waste a lot.


As detailed as Water pollution can get, there is one main point that all types, causes, and repercussions create. The murder of the biosphere, by destroying what life on Planet Earth needs most. Water.

Water Pollution Sources: Content Depth

Environmental Factors

Agricultural waste is a one of largest contributors to water pollution in today’s society. One of the most harmful effects on the environment that is caused by agricultural runoff is Eutrophication. Eutrophication occurs when nitrogen and phosphorus rich pollutants such as chemical fertilizers make their way in to our water. When this happens the added nutrient cause an extreme overgrowth of algae and other aquatic plants. This then virtually chokes the water with organic materials. The volume of organic material then surpasses the carrying capacity of the water source. When this matter dies, it fill the water with large amounts of decaying material basically poisoning the water.
Domestic waste plays a large role in determining the Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of a water source. The BOD of water is the volume of oxygen required to allow organic material to decompose. The composition of the organic material releases dissolved oxygen, which is extremely important in determining the quality of the water. The water quality is best when the amount of dissolved oxygen is high. The sewage hit our waterways there is more material for microorganisms to break down. As they break down the sewage they use up oxygen more and more oxygen. This could possibly drain the water of all oxygen suffocating the organisms that are supposed to be there.
Industrial waste even though when driving through the outskirts of a large city you see an abundance of factories built on marshes and think what a terrible thing, it is actually the best place for them to be. First off when factories are built on marshes they do not have the soundest foundations. Second as the waste leaves the factory and heads into the surrounding environments it is in the best place for that. When waste is dumped into marshes they acts as a sponge and filter. The marshes tend to drain out the more toxic material and leave closer to the factory as apposed to letting it drift away. Even though this is better then what could happen there will obviously be negative effects on the surrounding ecosystem.

Socioeconomic Considerations on the Health of Society

Polluted water brings many kinds of socioeconomic cost. First and foremost, pollution limits the total amount of adequate, safe water for domestic consumption and agricultural and industrial usage. More simply, this is the cost of water that is held back from the amount of supply. Also, there are costs related to the use of polluted water for consumption and production.
The costs of using contaminated water for production in the industrial sector leads to a decrease in both quality and quantity of products. The same is true in the agricultural usage section. Crops may accumulate heavy metals or toxic substances that dissolved in the wastewater, therefore, making them unhealthy for consumption. At the same time, the polluted water may affect the level of nutrients and vitamins the crops would normally have if the water were unpolluted. To conclude, if any industry is exposed to polluted water during the production process, it is likely to face a decrease of the product quality or may be forced to stop production entirely. This ultimately leads to a large economic loss from water pollution.

Cultural Beliefs

Culture can affect how a people deal with their waste products. For example, the Onondaga Nation, which is in New York, has been developing a system that is to deal with their waste. The system is a transfer station that has bins that collect and sort various waste products such as car batteries, paper, glass, and paper. This nation is an advocate for recycling, and all of this is done so, the trash does not go into the water supply. The belief of the Onondaga people is not to hurt the planet.

Water Pollution sources: Works Consulted

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Classifications of Water Pollution: Blog entry

Team 3-2
Introduction
Water pollution is one of the greatest man-made threats to our biosphere, our planet, and ourselves. This first post covers the two main classifications of water pollution.



Classifications of Water Pollution

Water pollution occurs in many different forms and for many different reasons. However water contamination is divided into two main classes of pollution point and non–point pollution. Point pollution comes from stationary sources of contaminants like factories and sewage plants and is directly dumped into the water. Most pollutants from point sources are found in plumes meaning that the concentration of pollutants decreasing the farther away from the source an area is. Point source pollution may also be found in groundwater as volatile organic compounds. The compounds are some of the most persistent forms of pollution in groundwater. These compounds include solvents, paints, and fuel products from near by factories.

Non–point pollution sources include those such as run from agricultural sites, mining, and other activities like it. The pollutants from these activities are picked up by water as it moves across the land. Non–point sources are the harder sources of pollution to trace because they are most likely to be spread out across large areas of land. Residential runoff may also contain numerous amounts of pollutants such as lawn chemicals, gasoline, and residues from other daily activities.



Methods of detection

There are many ways to tell whether water is polluted or not including using the naked eye. Water can be murky, have color, or have small, see-able objects floating in it. Sometimes, however, we cannot see pollution in water with the naked eye. There are some ways to see this in labs, but they can be harmful to our environment. There are also some good ways that use nature or don’t affect it that can seek out pollutants. The first method is by using genetically altered African clawed frog tadpoles with a protein that lights up when the tadpoles are stressed. They become stressed from being in non-pure, polluted water. This is one quick working way to seek pollutants. Another effective way that uses organisms is by using algae. This method is called “listening” to algae. When algae are in water, we can shine a light on them, causing them to photosynthesize. Their photosynthesis creates waves of sound that we can pick up using technology to determine the health of the algae, which is determined by how pure the water is. The next way, which uses technology, is by using robotic fish. These fish are very lifelike in that they can be programmed to travel with schools of real fish. As they enter streams, lakes, rivers, and oceans, they detect water pollution in nature by using chemical sensors. When they dock up to charge their batteries, they transfer the information that they collect to a computer. All of these ways are very beneficial and don’t harm other organisms.
It is commonly known that oil and water do not mix. Water is heavier than oil, and they slide over each other. This is because of the pull of gravity, surface tension, and affinity. People take advantage of this by using several different techniques to remove oil, which can be dangerous to the environment. If the contaminated area is still and has no water flow, then a wastewater sump can be used to recycle the water, oil, and grease while the water goes through the mechanism. If the contaminated area is on the open ocean, then boats pulling containers collect the top layer of oil while filtering the water. Other types of skimmers are belt, disk, drum, mop, large and mini tubes, and floating suction. All skimmers collect a certain amount of oil, but each type is most effective in certain situations. Most skimmers are meant for large-scale use, but there are hand held models as well. Limitations to skimmer effectiveness are if the oil is on fire or near explosive vapors, then air motors and explosion proof skimmers must be used. These types of skimmers are much more expensive. Also, if the water and oil are frozen, then skimmers cannot be used. However, the frozen water can be heated, but this is both costly and potentially dangerous.



Causes and Affects

Pollution is defined as 'to make foul, unclean or dirty'. Water pollution occurs when a body of water is affected due to the addition of large amounts of materials to the water. There are several sources of water pollution. Many cases of water pollution are a result of sewage waste and fertilizers contained in soil wash off from plowed fields, construction and logging sites, urban areas, and eroded riverbanks. These materials contain nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates, which harm the environment and its organisms. Other causes of water pollution include petroleum from transportation accidents and offshore drilling, radioactive substances, and heat. Clearly, water pollution is not only an issue of preserving our environment, but is also an economical and ethical issue that business and everyday people need to address.
This pollution over-stimulates the growth of aquatic plants and algae. This excessive growth clogs waterways, removes oxygen from the water as they decompose, and block light to deeper waters. This harms aquatic organisms and reduces their respiration ability. As a result, as oxygen is used up aquatic organisms that live in large numbers in an area die, disrupting the food chain. This occurs when levels of dissolved oxygen drop below two to five parts per million gallons of water. Petroleum pollutes water bodies and shorelines as a result of oil spills. One recent an example of an oil spill that devastated an ecosystem is the Exxon Valdez spilled that occurred in 1989. In fact, one ton of oil is spilled for every million tons of oil. (0.0001%) Waste from nuclear power plants such as uranium and thorium mining and refining also entered the waterway.



Repercussions and Proactive Measures
There are many repercussions due to water pollution. The main concern is the numerous gallons of oil lost each year into the water. It is commonly known that oil and water do not mix. Water is heavier than oil, and they slide over each other. This is because of the pull of gravity, surface tension, and affinity. People take advantage of this by using several different techniques to remove oil, which can be dangerous to the environment. If the contaminated area is still and has no water flow, then a wastewater sump can be used to recycle the water, oil, and grease while the water goes through the mechanism. If the contaminated area is on the open ocean, then boats pulling containers collect the top layer of oil while filtering the water. Other types of skimmers are belt, disk, drum, mop, large and mini tubes, and floating suction. All skimmers collect a certain amount of oil, but each type is most effective in certain situations. Most skimmers are meant for large scale use, but there are hand held models as well. Limitations to skimmer effectiveness are if the oil is on fire or near explosive vapors, then air
motors and explosion proof skimmers must be used. These types of skimmers are much more expensive. Also, if the water and oil are frozen, then skimmers cannot be used. However, the frozen water can be heated, but this is both costly and potentially dangerous.
If you find any source of water pollution, such as a polluted lake or oil spill, make sure the rigt people know about. Contact local environmental groups, and cleaning agencies. Water pollution needs to be cleansed as soon as possible, to reduce its impact on the ecosystem.



Health Risks

Even though some water borne diseases are rare in the United States, they can be affecting you and your family. These health risks need to be known. Cholera is an infection of the intestine. The disease can be caught by ingesting water that contains the bacteria Vibrio cholera. SARS can also be linked to water contaminants; the disease is derived from the Corona virus. Watching what you drink is not enough to prevent water borne diseases, diseases such as swimmers ear happen just by being in the contaminated water. The disease is caused by certain bacteria and fungi that could be in the water that you are swimming in. These are only three of numerous health risks that have to do with polluted water.



Prevention Strategies

Water pollution is a completely preventable harm to the world. Many ways exist to reduce the pollution to the water. Some of those ways include conserving, educating, proper disposal of wastes, and improvement of failing infrastructure. When people conserve water, less is used and less has to go through processes that may add both microbial and chemical pollutants to water. Through educating people, they can realize the true harm of their daily activities such as house cleaning using toxins and over fertilizing their lawns. By seeing the horrible repercussions, the people may indeed change their ways in order to save the water of world and implement other ways of preventing water pollution. If proper disposal of wastes were to be implemented, lease toxins would be released into waterways such as rivers, groundwater, and also the ocean. If littering, which is a form of improper disposals of waste, stopped, the amount of water pollutants would decrease. Finally, by improving the infrastructure, many leaky vessels and second rate filtering systems could be diminished and causing less pollution. If all the methods above for stopping water pollution were implemented, the water of the world would be much cleaner.