Water Pollution
G. Tyler Miller’s
Living in the Environment
13th Edition
Chapter 19
Dr. Richard Clements
Chattanooga State Technical Community College
Modified by Charlotte Kirkpatrick
Key Concepts
 Types, sources, and effects of water pollutants
 Major pollution problems of surface water
 Major pollution problems of groundwater
 Reduction and prevention of water pollution
 Drinking water quality
Types and Sources of Water
Pollution
Point sources
Nonpoint sources
Biological oxygen
demand
Water quality
Fig. 19-3 p. 485
Refer to Tables 19-1 and
19-2 p. 484 and 485
Point and Nonpoint Sources
NONPOINT SOURCES
Fig. 19-4
p. 486
Rural homes
Cropland
Urban streets
Animal feedlot
Suburban
development
POINT
SOURCES
Wastewater
treatment
plant
Factory
Pollution of Streams
 Oxygen sag curve  Factors influencing recovery
Fig. 19-5 p. 488
Pollution of Lakes
 Eutrophication
 Slow
turnover
Thermal
stratification
Fig. 19-7 p. 491
Pollution of Lakes
Fig. 19-7 p. 491
Case Study: The Great Lakes
Fig. 19-8
p. 492
Groundwater Pollution: Sources
 Cold temperatures
 Low flow rates
 Few bacteria
Hazardous waste injection well
Pesticides
Coal strip
mine runoff
De-icing
road salt
Pumping
well
Waste lagoon
Gasoline
station
Water pumping
well Landfill
Buried gasoline
and solvent tank
Cesspool
septic tank
Sewer
Leakage from faulty
casing
Accidental
spills
Discharge
Confined aquifer
Groundwater
flow
Fig. 19-10
p. 494
Groundwater Pollution Prevention
Monitoring aquifers
Leak detection systems
Strictly regulating hazardous waste
disposal
Storing hazardous materials above
ground
AP IQ #1
• What does BOD measure?
• What is the result of an excess
amount of nitrates?
• What does the Q-value do?
• Which federal law provided for a
fund to clean up massive toxic spills?
• Who likes chocolate?
Ocean Pollution
Fig. 19-12 p. 498
Case Study: Chesapeake Bay
 Largest US
estuary
 Relatively shallow
 Slow “flushing”
action to Atlantic
 Major problems with dissolved O2
Fig. 19-14
p. 500
Oil Spills
 Sources: offshore wells, tankers, pipelines and
storage tanks
 Effects: death of organisms, loss of animal
insulation and buoyancy, smothering
 Significant economic impacts
 Mechanical cleanup methods: skimmers and
blotters
 Chemical cleanup methods: coagulants and
dispersing agents
Solutions: Preventing and Reducing
Surface Water Pollution
Nonpoint Sources
Point Sources
Reduce runoff
Clean Water Act
Buffer zone
vegetation
Water Quality Act
Reduce soil erosion
Technological Approach: Septic
Systems
Require suitable soils and maintenance
Fig. 19-16 p. 504
Technological Approach: Sewage
Treatment: Primary and Secondary
Mechanical and biological treatment
Fig. 19-17
p. 504
Technological Approach: Advanced
Sewage Treatment
Removes specific pollutants
Fig. 19-18
p. 505
Technological Approach: Using
Wetlands to Treat Sewage
Fig. 19-19
p. 506
Drinking Water Quality
 Bottled water
 Safe Drinking
Water Act
Fig. 19-11 p. 495
 Maximum contaminant levels

http://www.fountainvalley.org/government/departments/publicworks/waterqu
alityreport2006.pdf