Chapter #19 Reading Questions
APES- Chapter #19- Water Pollution and Treatment- Guided Reading
Read: Case Study: America’s “First River”: A Success Story
Summarize the story of the Hudson River and PCB’s:
The Hudson River was named as America's first river. However, there has been a lot of pollution since many companies and factories are built near it. As a result, making the water unsafe for the people that depend on the river. The company was fined and new laws helped clean up the river and helped regulate it better so that it could not get contaminated, making companies more aware for the amount of pollution they produce and reliable for cleanup. Over 100 tons of PBC's still in Hudson River. There are health restrictions on women and children about eating fish fished from the river. There are arguments on whether or not we should let the river clean itself up naturally or dredge areas where the concentrations are high. This story shows us of how powerful a group of individuals can change the fate of something so beautiful, like a river.
Water Pollution
1: How is water pollution defined?
Water pollution is degradation of water quality. Look at the intended use of water, how far the water departs from the norm, its effects on public health or its ecological impacts.
2: What are some of the common water pollutants?
Some common water pollutants are heavy metals, sediments, radioactive isotopes, heat, fecal coliform, and nitrogen.
3: What is the primary water pollution problem in the world today?
The primary water pollution problem in the world today is the lack of clean disease-free drinking water.
4: How many people are exposed to waterborne diseases worldwide?
Several billion people are exposed to waterborne diseases worldwide.
5: Name 3 sources of Surface Water and 3 sources of Groundwater Pollution from the chart (19.1)
Surface water: Urban runoff, agricultural runoff, accidental spills of chemicals.
Groundwater: Leaks from waste-disposal sites, leaks from buried tanks and pipes, seepage from agricultural activities.
A Closer Look 19.1: What is the Value of Clean Water to New York City?
What is the main idea of this story?
The main idea of the story is that people must not undervalue the power of natural ecosystems to give us a variety of important services such as improved water and air quality.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
1: What is BOD and what are some sources of it?
BOD is the amount of oxygen required for biological decomposition process. Some sources include streams and rivers and dead leaves from a forest.
2: Where does approximately 33% of all BOD in streams come from?
Approximately 33% of all BOD in streams come from agricultural activities.
3: What about in urban areas (BOD)?
Urban areas with older combined sewer systems increase BOD in streams.
4: What is the relationship between BOD and dissolved oxygen levels? (What happens when BOD is high?)
When BOD levels are high dissolved oxygen content of the water become too low to support life in the water.
5: Explain the 3 zones of BOD:
* Pollution Zone: High BOD in this zone. When waste decomposes, microorganisms use the oxygen, decreasing dissolved oxygen.
* Active Decomposition Zone: Dissolved oxygen reaches a minimum owing to rapid decomposition by microorganisms.
* Recovery Zone: Dissolved oxygen increases and BOD is reduced because oxygen demanding organic waste has decomposed and natural stream processes are replenishing water's dissolved oxygen
Waterborne Disease
1: What is Fecal Coliform Bacteria and where does it come from?
Fecal Coliform Bacteria is the presence of fecal coliform bacteria in water indicates that fecal material from mammals or birds is present. It is a standard measure and indicator of disease potential. Fecal coliform Bacteria is present in all of animals and human intestines.
Nutrients
1: How do urban streams get high concentrations of Nitrogen and Phosphorus?
Urban streams get high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus because of fertilizers detergents and products of sewage treatment plants.
Eutrophication
1: Define Eutrophication:
Process by which a body of water develops a high concentration of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.
2: What is the solution to artificial or cultural eutrophication?
The solution to artificial or cultural eutrophication is to make sure that high concentrations of nutrients do not enter the water or lakes.
A Closer Look 19.2: Cultural Eutrophication in the Gulf of Mexico
What is a dead zone and how is it created?
A dead zone is an area where organic matter decomposes, oxygen is reduced and benthic community dies. It is created when the nitrogen levels are too high.
Oil
1: Which Environmental Act was created after the Exxon Valdez disaster?
After the Exxon Valdez disaster, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 was created.
Sediment
1: Why is sediment pollution considered to be a two-fold problem?
Sediment pollution results from erosion, which depletes a land resource and it reduces the quality of the water resource it enters.
2: What are some of the techniques employed by a sediment control program?
Some of the techniques employed by a sediment control program are applying soil conservation procedures to farmland which can minimize but not eliminate soil loss. Also, sediment control programs can minimize on-site erosion control.
Acid Mine Drainage
1: Define Acid Mine Drainage and explain how it occurs:
Acid mine drainage is water with a high concentration of sulfuric acid that drains from mines mostly coal mines but also metal mines.
2: What is the general equation for acid mine drainage?
4FeS2 + 15O2 +14H20 --> 4Fe(OH)3 + 8H2SO4
Pyrite + Oxygen + Water --> Ferric Hydroxide + Sulfuric Acid
3: What site was once designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the nation’s worst hazardous waste site?
Tar Creek area of Oklahoma was once designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the nation’s worst hazardous waste site
Surface Water Pollution
1: What are some point sources of surface water pollution?
Some point sources of surface water pollution are pipes from industrial and municipal sites that empty into streams or rivers.
2: What are some non-point sources of surface water pollution?
Some non-point sources of surface water pollution are runoff from streets or fields.
3: What are the 2 approaches to dealing with surface water pollution?
2 approaches to dealing with surface water pollution is to reduce the sources and to treat the water to remove pollutants or convert them to forms that can be disposed of safely.
Groundwater Pollution
1: 75% of the 175,000 known waste disposal sites in the United States may be producing plumes of hazardous chemicals that are migrating into groundwater resources.
2: What is bioremediation?
Treatment that can be accomplished underground by microorganisms that consume the gasoline.
3: What are the 5 important points about groundwater pollution?
pollutants are lighter than water, so they float
Pollutants have multiple phases: liquid, vapor and dissolved
Pollutants are heavier than water and sink to the ground
Method used to treat water pollutant must take into account the physical and chemical properties of the pollutants
Emphasis of environmental damage should be on preventing pollutants from entering the groundwater in the first place.
4: What is saltwater intrusion of well water?
Saltwater intrusion is where subsurface salty water migrates to wells being pumped.
Wastewater Treatment
1: Summarize how Septic Tank Sewage Disposal Systems work.
In rural areas central sewage systems are not available so people have to get a septic tank sewage disposal system. This tank is designed to separate liquids from solids. They store organic matter through a period of detention and allow the clarified liquid to discharge into the drain field from a piping system which the treated sewage seeps into the surrounding soil. As the wastewater moves through the soil, it is treated more and more by the natural processes. By the time the water moves through the soil, it is safe for other uses.
2: What happens during primary treatment of sewage?
During the primary treatment of sewage, raw sewage passes through a series of screens to remove large floating organic material. Then it enters the grit chamber where sand and small stones and grit are removed and disposed of. Then it goes into the primary sedimentation tank where particulate matter settles to form sludge. Sludge is removed and transported to digester. This step removes 30-40% of BOD from wastewater.
3: What happens during secondary treatment of sewage?
Wastewater from the primary stage enters the aeration tank where it is mixed with air and with some of the sludge from the final sedimentation tank enters the aeration tank where it is mixed with air and with some of the sludge from the final sedimentation tank. The sludge consumes the organic material in the waste. Wastewater then enters the final sedimentation tank where sludge settles out. Some of the sludge is recycled. Most of it transported to the sludge digester. There it is treated by anaerobic bacteria which further degrades the sludge by microbial digestion. Wastewater is disinfected by chlorination and treated wastewater is discharged into a river, lake, or ocean. Sludge is dried and disposed of in a landfill or applied to improve soil.
4: When is advanced wastewater treatment used?
It is used when it is particularly important to maintain good water quality.
5: What are some of the risks associated with Chlorine treatment of wastewater that is later discharged?
Male fish sampled downstream from wastewater treatment plants had tests containing both egg and sperm. They pose a risk of cancer and other human health effects.
Land Application of Wastewater
1: Explain the process of wastewater renovation and conservation cycle.
This is when wastewater moves through vegetation and the soil which can eventually get returned into the environment.
Wastewater and Wetlands
1: How can applying treated sewage to wetlands be helpful to the wetland ecosystem?
Applying treated sewage is very effective for a wetland. It is a effective alternative that is less costly than a traditional treatment that will help water quality in areas that are widely dispersed.
Water Reuse
1: What is the difference between indirect and direct water reuse?
Indirect reuse is a planned endeavor. Direct water reuse is the use of treated wastewater that is pumped directly from a treatment plant to the next user.
Read, “Is Water Pollution from Pig Farms Unavoidable” and answer the following:
1: Why was pig farming such a controversy in North Carolina during this time?
There was a large population of pigs and as the number of commercial pig farms grew, the state allowed the hg farmers to build automated and very confining farms housing hundreds or thousands of pigs. There were no restrictions on farm location and many farms were constructed on floodplains.
2: What did pig farmers do with the pig waste? Why was this allowed?
The waste was flushed out of the pig barns into the open lagoons about the size of football fields. This was allowed because there were no regulations.
3: What is the lesson learned from North Carolina’s “Bay of Pigs”?
We are vulnerable to environmental catastrophes caused by large scale industrial agriculture.
4: What legislation has been created as a result of this catastrophe?
A legislation had been created to ban construction or expansion of new waste lagoons and encouraged pig farms to teat pig waste to extract methane as and energy source.
Study Questions:
1: Do you think outbreaks of waterborne diseases will be more common or less common in the future? Why? Where are outbreaks most likely to occur?
I think that outbreaks of waterborne diseases will be more common if we continue to contaminate out water. I think that people living in areas such as Africa or South America would be more susceptible to getting this disease.
2: How does water that drains from coal mines become contaminated with sulfuric acid? Why is this an important environmental problem?
Water that drains from coal mines become more contaminated with sulfuric acid because the water running through the mines contains sulfuric acid. It is an important environmental problem because sulfuric acid can affect your respiratory system and is also associated with cancer.
3: Do you think our water supply is vulnerable to terrorist attacks? Why? Why not? How could potential threats be minimized?
I think that our water supply is vulnerable to terrorist attacks because it seems like it would be very easy to contaminate water. There are not enough systems and regulations to ensure safe drinking water. These threats could be minimized by making a system that will ensure 100% safe drinking water for everyone.
4: How would you design a system to capture runoff where you live before it enters a storm drain?
I would design one where there would be a filter inside which could convert the runoff water to safe drinking water. Since it does not rain often in San Diego, we would not have to change the filter often, which would also save time and money.
Read: Case Study: America’s “First River”: A Success Story
Summarize the story of the Hudson River and PCB’s:
The Hudson River was named as America's first river. However, there has been a lot of pollution since many companies and factories are built near it. As a result, making the water unsafe for the people that depend on the river. The company was fined and new laws helped clean up the river and helped regulate it better so that it could not get contaminated, making companies more aware for the amount of pollution they produce and reliable for cleanup. Over 100 tons of PBC's still in Hudson River. There are health restrictions on women and children about eating fish fished from the river. There are arguments on whether or not we should let the river clean itself up naturally or dredge areas where the concentrations are high. This story shows us of how powerful a group of individuals can change the fate of something so beautiful, like a river.
Water Pollution
1: How is water pollution defined?
Water pollution is degradation of water quality. Look at the intended use of water, how far the water departs from the norm, its effects on public health or its ecological impacts.
2: What are some of the common water pollutants?
Some common water pollutants are heavy metals, sediments, radioactive isotopes, heat, fecal coliform, and nitrogen.
3: What is the primary water pollution problem in the world today?
The primary water pollution problem in the world today is the lack of clean disease-free drinking water.
4: How many people are exposed to waterborne diseases worldwide?
Several billion people are exposed to waterborne diseases worldwide.
5: Name 3 sources of Surface Water and 3 sources of Groundwater Pollution from the chart (19.1)
Surface water: Urban runoff, agricultural runoff, accidental spills of chemicals.
Groundwater: Leaks from waste-disposal sites, leaks from buried tanks and pipes, seepage from agricultural activities.
A Closer Look 19.1: What is the Value of Clean Water to New York City?
What is the main idea of this story?
The main idea of the story is that people must not undervalue the power of natural ecosystems to give us a variety of important services such as improved water and air quality.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
1: What is BOD and what are some sources of it?
BOD is the amount of oxygen required for biological decomposition process. Some sources include streams and rivers and dead leaves from a forest.
2: Where does approximately 33% of all BOD in streams come from?
Approximately 33% of all BOD in streams come from agricultural activities.
3: What about in urban areas (BOD)?
Urban areas with older combined sewer systems increase BOD in streams.
4: What is the relationship between BOD and dissolved oxygen levels? (What happens when BOD is high?)
When BOD levels are high dissolved oxygen content of the water become too low to support life in the water.
5: Explain the 3 zones of BOD:
* Pollution Zone: High BOD in this zone. When waste decomposes, microorganisms use the oxygen, decreasing dissolved oxygen.
* Active Decomposition Zone: Dissolved oxygen reaches a minimum owing to rapid decomposition by microorganisms.
* Recovery Zone: Dissolved oxygen increases and BOD is reduced because oxygen demanding organic waste has decomposed and natural stream processes are replenishing water's dissolved oxygen
Waterborne Disease
1: What is Fecal Coliform Bacteria and where does it come from?
Fecal Coliform Bacteria is the presence of fecal coliform bacteria in water indicates that fecal material from mammals or birds is present. It is a standard measure and indicator of disease potential. Fecal coliform Bacteria is present in all of animals and human intestines.
Nutrients
1: How do urban streams get high concentrations of Nitrogen and Phosphorus?
Urban streams get high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus because of fertilizers detergents and products of sewage treatment plants.
Eutrophication
1: Define Eutrophication:
Process by which a body of water develops a high concentration of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.
2: What is the solution to artificial or cultural eutrophication?
The solution to artificial or cultural eutrophication is to make sure that high concentrations of nutrients do not enter the water or lakes.
A Closer Look 19.2: Cultural Eutrophication in the Gulf of Mexico
What is a dead zone and how is it created?
A dead zone is an area where organic matter decomposes, oxygen is reduced and benthic community dies. It is created when the nitrogen levels are too high.
Oil
1: Which Environmental Act was created after the Exxon Valdez disaster?
After the Exxon Valdez disaster, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 was created.
Sediment
1: Why is sediment pollution considered to be a two-fold problem?
Sediment pollution results from erosion, which depletes a land resource and it reduces the quality of the water resource it enters.
2: What are some of the techniques employed by a sediment control program?
Some of the techniques employed by a sediment control program are applying soil conservation procedures to farmland which can minimize but not eliminate soil loss. Also, sediment control programs can minimize on-site erosion control.
Acid Mine Drainage
1: Define Acid Mine Drainage and explain how it occurs:
Acid mine drainage is water with a high concentration of sulfuric acid that drains from mines mostly coal mines but also metal mines.
2: What is the general equation for acid mine drainage?
4FeS2 + 15O2 +14H20 --> 4Fe(OH)3 + 8H2SO4
Pyrite + Oxygen + Water --> Ferric Hydroxide + Sulfuric Acid
3: What site was once designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the nation’s worst hazardous waste site?
Tar Creek area of Oklahoma was once designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the nation’s worst hazardous waste site
Surface Water Pollution
1: What are some point sources of surface water pollution?
Some point sources of surface water pollution are pipes from industrial and municipal sites that empty into streams or rivers.
2: What are some non-point sources of surface water pollution?
Some non-point sources of surface water pollution are runoff from streets or fields.
3: What are the 2 approaches to dealing with surface water pollution?
2 approaches to dealing with surface water pollution is to reduce the sources and to treat the water to remove pollutants or convert them to forms that can be disposed of safely.
Groundwater Pollution
1: 75% of the 175,000 known waste disposal sites in the United States may be producing plumes of hazardous chemicals that are migrating into groundwater resources.
2: What is bioremediation?
Treatment that can be accomplished underground by microorganisms that consume the gasoline.
3: What are the 5 important points about groundwater pollution?
pollutants are lighter than water, so they float
Pollutants have multiple phases: liquid, vapor and dissolved
Pollutants are heavier than water and sink to the ground
Method used to treat water pollutant must take into account the physical and chemical properties of the pollutants
Emphasis of environmental damage should be on preventing pollutants from entering the groundwater in the first place.
4: What is saltwater intrusion of well water?
Saltwater intrusion is where subsurface salty water migrates to wells being pumped.
Wastewater Treatment
1: Summarize how Septic Tank Sewage Disposal Systems work.
In rural areas central sewage systems are not available so people have to get a septic tank sewage disposal system. This tank is designed to separate liquids from solids. They store organic matter through a period of detention and allow the clarified liquid to discharge into the drain field from a piping system which the treated sewage seeps into the surrounding soil. As the wastewater moves through the soil, it is treated more and more by the natural processes. By the time the water moves through the soil, it is safe for other uses.
2: What happens during primary treatment of sewage?
During the primary treatment of sewage, raw sewage passes through a series of screens to remove large floating organic material. Then it enters the grit chamber where sand and small stones and grit are removed and disposed of. Then it goes into the primary sedimentation tank where particulate matter settles to form sludge. Sludge is removed and transported to digester. This step removes 30-40% of BOD from wastewater.
3: What happens during secondary treatment of sewage?
Wastewater from the primary stage enters the aeration tank where it is mixed with air and with some of the sludge from the final sedimentation tank enters the aeration tank where it is mixed with air and with some of the sludge from the final sedimentation tank. The sludge consumes the organic material in the waste. Wastewater then enters the final sedimentation tank where sludge settles out. Some of the sludge is recycled. Most of it transported to the sludge digester. There it is treated by anaerobic bacteria which further degrades the sludge by microbial digestion. Wastewater is disinfected by chlorination and treated wastewater is discharged into a river, lake, or ocean. Sludge is dried and disposed of in a landfill or applied to improve soil.
4: When is advanced wastewater treatment used?
It is used when it is particularly important to maintain good water quality.
5: What are some of the risks associated with Chlorine treatment of wastewater that is later discharged?
Male fish sampled downstream from wastewater treatment plants had tests containing both egg and sperm. They pose a risk of cancer and other human health effects.
Land Application of Wastewater
1: Explain the process of wastewater renovation and conservation cycle.
This is when wastewater moves through vegetation and the soil which can eventually get returned into the environment.
Wastewater and Wetlands
1: How can applying treated sewage to wetlands be helpful to the wetland ecosystem?
Applying treated sewage is very effective for a wetland. It is a effective alternative that is less costly than a traditional treatment that will help water quality in areas that are widely dispersed.
Water Reuse
1: What is the difference between indirect and direct water reuse?
Indirect reuse is a planned endeavor. Direct water reuse is the use of treated wastewater that is pumped directly from a treatment plant to the next user.
Read, “Is Water Pollution from Pig Farms Unavoidable” and answer the following:
1: Why was pig farming such a controversy in North Carolina during this time?
There was a large population of pigs and as the number of commercial pig farms grew, the state allowed the hg farmers to build automated and very confining farms housing hundreds or thousands of pigs. There were no restrictions on farm location and many farms were constructed on floodplains.
2: What did pig farmers do with the pig waste? Why was this allowed?
The waste was flushed out of the pig barns into the open lagoons about the size of football fields. This was allowed because there were no regulations.
3: What is the lesson learned from North Carolina’s “Bay of Pigs”?
We are vulnerable to environmental catastrophes caused by large scale industrial agriculture.
4: What legislation has been created as a result of this catastrophe?
A legislation had been created to ban construction or expansion of new waste lagoons and encouraged pig farms to teat pig waste to extract methane as and energy source.
Study Questions:
1: Do you think outbreaks of waterborne diseases will be more common or less common in the future? Why? Where are outbreaks most likely to occur?
I think that outbreaks of waterborne diseases will be more common if we continue to contaminate out water. I think that people living in areas such as Africa or South America would be more susceptible to getting this disease.
2: How does water that drains from coal mines become contaminated with sulfuric acid? Why is this an important environmental problem?
Water that drains from coal mines become more contaminated with sulfuric acid because the water running through the mines contains sulfuric acid. It is an important environmental problem because sulfuric acid can affect your respiratory system and is also associated with cancer.
3: Do you think our water supply is vulnerable to terrorist attacks? Why? Why not? How could potential threats be minimized?
I think that our water supply is vulnerable to terrorist attacks because it seems like it would be very easy to contaminate water. There are not enough systems and regulations to ensure safe drinking water. These threats could be minimized by making a system that will ensure 100% safe drinking water for everyone.
4: How would you design a system to capture runoff where you live before it enters a storm drain?
I would design one where there would be a filter inside which could convert the runoff water to safe drinking water. Since it does not rain often in San Diego, we would not have to change the filter often, which would also save time and money.