Warm-Up: What’s the Impact?Warm-Up: What’s the Impact?

• Describe what is Describe what is going on in this going on in this picture.picture.

• What is the What is the environmental environmental impact?impact?

• Where is the Where is the pollution?pollution?

Warm-Up: What’s the Impact?Warm-Up: What’s the Impact?

• Water lost to the Water lost to the atmosphere or blown atmosphere or blown away from the crops.away from the crops.

• Water carries Water carries pollutants from the pollutants from the fertilizers into the fertilizers into the ground and can seep ground and can seep into the water supply.into the water supply.

Water PollutionWater Pollution

• 1.2 billion people worldwide 1.2 billion people worldwide do not havedo not have access to clean wateraccess to clean water

• Each dayEach day almost 10,000 children <5 years old almost 10,000 children <5 years old in Third World countries in Third World countries diedie as a result of illnesses as a result of illnesses contracted by use of contracted by use of impure waterimpure water. .

Water PollutionWater Pollution

• Water Pollution Water Pollution = degradation of water quality= degradation of water quality(biological, chemical, or physical)(biological, chemical, or physical)– Judged according to the use of the waterJudged according to the use of the water

• PollutantPollutant = any substance that in excess is known to be = any substance that in excess is known to be harmful to lifeharmful to life

Surface-Water Pollution & TreatmentSurface-Water Pollution & Treatment• Point Source Point Source = specific, confined pollution= specific, confined pollution

Image: EPA

Surface-Water Pollution & TreatmentSurface-Water Pollution & Treatment

• Non-point SourceNon-point Source = diffuse, intermittent pollution = diffuse, intermittent pollution

– Influenced by:Influenced by:• Land-use HydrologyLand-use Hydrology• Native vegetationNative vegetation• TopographyTopography• GeologyGeology

– Difficult to control, contains multiple pollutantsDifficult to control, contains multiple pollutants

Hydrologic Cycle and PollutantsHydrologic Cycle and Pollutants

PollutantsPollutants

• Oxygen-demanding wasteOxygen-demanding waste• Disease causing organismsDisease causing organisms• NutrientsNutrients• OilOil• Hazardous ChemicalsHazardous Chemicals• Heavy MetalsHeavy Metals• Radioactive MaterialsRadioactive Materials• Thermal PollutionThermal Pollution

Oxygen-Demanding WasteOxygen-Demanding Waste

• Bacteria in water consume organic matter and use Bacteria in water consume organic matter and use oxygen in the process.oxygen in the process.

• Too much bacteria in the water causes oxygen Too much bacteria in the water causes oxygen shortage so fish and other organisms die.shortage so fish and other organisms die.

• Urban sewage is prime breeding ground for Urban sewage is prime breeding ground for bacteriabacteria– may wash into natural systems via flood, may wash into natural systems via flood,

earthquake, human error, etc.earthquake, human error, etc.

Pathogenic OrganismsPathogenic Organisms

• MicroscopicMicroscopic• Disease-causing: cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, dysenteryDisease-causing: cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, dysentery• Monitor: Monitor: E. coliE. coli

– Found in human or animal waste Found in human or animal waste

• May wash into natural May wash into natural systems via flood, systems via flood, earthquake, human error, earthquake, human error, etc.etc.

E. coli

NutrientsNutrients

• Phosphorus & nitrogenPhosphorus & nitrogen– used in fertilizers, used in fertilizers,

detergents, sewage-detergents, sewage-treatment plantstreatment plants

• Results in rapid growth of Results in rapid growth of algae which:algae which:– covers water surface covers water surface

blocking light from blocking light from reaching plants belowreaching plants below

– consumes oxygen, killing consumes oxygen, killing off organismsoff organisms

Image: The SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, & ORBIMAGE

The green color along the coast is an algal bloom-Fish die

NutrientsNutrients• Mississippi Dead ZoneMississippi Dead Zone

– Offshore in Gulf of MexicoOffshore in Gulf of Mexico– Area ~size of New Jersey every summerArea ~size of New Jersey every summer– Mississippi River drains ~40% of continental U.S. – Mississippi River drains ~40% of continental U.S. –

high levels of nutrientshigh levels of nutrients

OilOil• Exxon ValdezExxon Valdez, Alaska, Alaska

– March 1989March 1989– Worst oil spill in U.S. historyWorst oil spill in U.S. history– Ran agroundRan aground– >250,000 barrels of oil spilled >250,000 barrels of oil spilled – area was one of most pristine area was one of most pristine

and ecologically rich in worldand ecologically rich in world– Short-term impacts:Short-term impacts:

• Many seabirds and Many seabirds and mammals were killedmammals were killed

• Fishing and tourism Fishing and tourism disrupteddisrupted

– Long-term impacts: ???Long-term impacts: ???

Environmental HazardSymbol

Image: NOAA Office of Response & Restoration

High line of oil at Herring Bay

1999

Hazardous ChemicalsHazardous Chemicals

• Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) additive leaking into Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) additive leaking into groundwater:groundwater:– Underground gas leaksUnderground gas leaks– Storm runoff from gas tanks/leaks on surfaceStorm runoff from gas tanks/leaks on surface

• Santa Monica, California, 1997Santa Monica, California, 1997– MTBE pollution forced city to stop pumping groundwater MTBE pollution forced city to stop pumping groundwater

eliminating 50% of drinking water supply.eliminating 50% of drinking water supply.

Heavy MetalsHeavy Metals• Lead, mercury, zinc, and cadmiumLead, mercury, zinc, and cadmium

– metals can dissolve and become incorporated into metals can dissolve and become incorporated into plants, crops, and thus animals and humans.plants, crops, and thus animals and humans.

• Sources: some natural, others burning fossil fuels, Sources: some natural, others burning fossil fuels, incinerating waste, processing metals.incinerating waste, processing metals.

• It is believed that human activity has increased mercury It is believed that human activity has increased mercury levels in the atmosphere 2-3x and 1.5% per yearlevels in the atmosphere 2-3x and 1.5% per year– Particles in the atmosphere get rained out and soak Particles in the atmosphere get rained out and soak

into soilinto soil

Thermal PollutionThermal Pollution• Thermal pollution = artificial heating of waterThermal pollution = artificial heating of water

– Caused primarily by hot-water emissions from Caused primarily by hot-water emissions from industrial operations and power plants.industrial operations and power plants.

• Problems:Problems:– Contains less oxygenContains less oxygen– Favors different speciesFavors different species– May increase growth rates of undesirable speciesMay increase growth rates of undesirable species– May benefit some desirable species especially in May benefit some desirable species especially in

winterwinter

National Drinking Water StandardsNational Drinking Water Standards

The Cuyahoga River FiresThe Cuyahoga River Fires

• June 22June 22ndnd, 1969, 1969

GLG110 Fall 2003GLG110 Fall 2003

A legacy is established…• This was not the first time that the river had caught on fire.• Fires occurred on the Cuyahoga River in

– 1868,1883,1887,1912,1922,1936,1941,1948, and in 1952.

1900’s1900’s

• Depicts a fire in December of 1952 on the Cuyahoga RiverDepicts a fire in December of 1952 on the Cuyahoga River• $1,500,000 worth of damage$1,500,000 worth of damage

Shows a fireboat breaking up an oil slick on December 19, 1961 (9 years later). Shows a fireboat breaking up an oil slick on December 19, 1961 (9 years later).

It depicts the aftermath of the June 22, 1969 fire, as the fire boat continues to break up oil slicks.  Part It depicts the aftermath of the June 22, 1969 fire, as the fire boat continues to break up oil slicks.  Part of this picture was run on the front page of of this picture was run on the front page of The Plane DealerThe Plane Dealer the the next day. The caption read, “Flames . The caption read, “Flames leaped up from floating oil wastes dumped in the Cuyahoga River by waterfront industries yesterday leaped up from floating oil wastes dumped in the Cuyahoga River by waterfront industries yesterday and burned this trestle and another before a fireboat and units from three fire battalions brought it and burned this trestle and another before a fireboat and units from three fire battalions brought it under control. Lasted 30 min. & damage was $50,000.”under control. Lasted 30 min. & damage was $50,000.”

TIME reports TIME reports (August 1(August 1stst, 1969), 1969)

• Some River! Chocolate-brown, oily, bubbling with Some River! Chocolate-brown, oily, bubbling with subsurface gases, it oozes rather than flows. "Anyone subsurface gases, it oozes rather than flows. "Anyone who falls into the Cuyahoga does not drown," who falls into the Cuyahoga does not drown," Cleveland's citizens joke grimly. "He decays". . . The Cleveland's citizens joke grimly. "He decays". . . The Federal Water Pollution Control Administration dryly Federal Water Pollution Control Administration dryly notes: "The lower Cuyahoga has no visible signs of life, notes: "The lower Cuyahoga has no visible signs of life, not even low forms such as leeches and sludge worms not even low forms such as leeches and sludge worms that usually thrive on wastes." It is also -- literally -- a that usually thrive on wastes." It is also -- literally -- a fire hazard. fire hazard.

Repercussions of “the Fire”Repercussions of “the Fire”

• August 1August 1stst 1969, 1969, Time MagazineTime Magazine article, the river fire began to draw article, the river fire began to draw more attention.  Especially among environmentalists, the river fire more attention.  Especially among environmentalists, the river fire stood as a clear example of the need to improve the water quality in stood as a clear example of the need to improve the water quality in lakes and rivers. lakes and rivers. 

• In October of 1969, federal officials passed a bill that would grant In October of 1969, federal officials passed a bill that would grant states more insurance that projects aimed at improving water states more insurance that projects aimed at improving water quality would receive federal support.  The Cuyahoga River served quality would receive federal support.  The Cuyahoga River served as a prime example of the need for the bill.as a prime example of the need for the bill.

• Also in October, federal water pollution officials pressured four Also in October, federal water pollution officials pressured four steel companies to "expedite installation of facilities to clean their steel companies to "expedite installation of facilities to clean their large waste discharges into the filthy Cuyahoga and Maumee large waste discharges into the filthy Cuyahoga and Maumee Rivers“.Rivers“.

Repercussions of “the Fire”Repercussions of “the Fire”

• The first Earth Day in 1970 increased awareness for an The first Earth Day in 1970 increased awareness for an environmental agenda.environmental agenda.

• In 1972 the In 1972 the Clean Water ActClean Water Act was passed, "restricting industrial was passed, "restricting industrial dumping into the nation's waterways". dumping into the nation's waterways". 

• The river catching fire "proved to be the instrumental rallying The river catching fire "proved to be the instrumental rallying point in the passage of the Clean Water Act".  The Cuyahoga had point in the passage of the Clean Water Act".  The Cuyahoga had become a symbol of the need to improve water quality. become a symbol of the need to improve water quality.

The Cuyahoga River TodayThe Cuyahoga River Today

Hurricane FloydHurricane Floyd• North Carolina, 9/1999North Carolina, 9/1999

– 22ndnd largest pig farming in nation largest pig farming in nation– Environmentalists Environmentalists sawsaw danger; farmers danger; farmers resistedresisted– Daily manure and urine flushed into holding pondsDaily manure and urine flushed into holding ponds– Degrade via natural bacteriaDegrade via natural bacteria– Floods from hurricane washed Floods from hurricane washed wastewaste

into into rivers rivers and floodwaters into and floodwaters into townstowns, , homeshomes, etc., etc.

Federal LegislationFederal Legislation• July 2000, President Clinton passed new legislationJuly 2000, President Clinton passed new legislation

– Protect rivers and streams from nonpoint source Protect rivers and streams from nonpoint source pollutionpollution

– Environmental Protection Agency work with state and Environmental Protection Agency work with state and local agencies to develop programs to reduce pollution local agencies to develop programs to reduce pollution over next 15 yearsover next 15 years

– Opposed by Congress, industry, some agricultural Opposed by Congress, industry, some agricultural groups, even Chamber of Commercegroups, even Chamber of Commerce