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What goes in
the water must come out before we can drink it. We have the responsibility
to keep sediment, pathogens, nutrients, and toxic chemicals out
of the water supply. This sections explores the types of pollutants
found in water.
Almost anything
can be considered a pollutant if it’s in water and it’s
unwanted. Here’s a list of some of the most common water pollutants
and where they can come from.
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Pollutant
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Where
it can come from
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Why
it’s a problem
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sediment:
tiny
soil and rock particles. chemicals can attach themselves to
these particles as well.
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wind and
water erosion on ag land, stormwater runoff, erosion from
construction sites, erosion in urban areas
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changes
water habitat which affects what can live there. e.g. prevents
sunlight from infiltrating water and reaching plants and animals.
domino effect on foodchain
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Nutrients:
nitrogen and phosphorous
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runoff
from farm field fertilizers
runoff
from residential lawns
runoff
from recreational areas (golf courses)
runoff
from septic systems
runoff
from manure
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causes
explosive plant growth which uses up available oxygen in water
(hypoxia) leaving areas unable to support aquatic life.
when consumed
in high levels by babies, nitrates reduce the blood’s
ability to carry oxygen .
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Toxic
chemicals:
organic or inorganic chemicals used in industry,
agriculture and in the home e.g. oil, cadmium, lead, mercury,
copper, zinc
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chemicals
can be spilled, dumped or leaked directly into waterways.
chemicals
that get spilled, dumped, leaked, or are improperly stored
can be moved into waterways by runoff.
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if ingested,
these chemicals can build up and cause serious health problems.
chemicals
can negatively affect a water habitat and the wildlife living
there
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Pathogens:
disease-causing agents, like fecal
coliform bacteria, found in animal or human waste
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improperly
managed sewage, improperly managed livestock, pets
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can cause
serious diseases like dysentery, hepatitis, food poisoning,
parasitic infections
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IPTV Market
to Market Online Links
"The
Waste in Our Water." This Market to Market feature looks
at emerging contaminants in our water supply.
Nonpoint
source pollution targeted by EPA
According to the environmental protection agency, or e-p-a, there
are more than 20,000 u.s. lakes, streams and rivers that fail to
meet current water quality standards, as defined by the clean water
act of 1972.
States
accused of not doing enough to clean up waterways
From the great lakes ... To america's major waterways ... The nation
is ignoring a key provision of the clean water act.
PBS NewsHour
Online Links
Correspondent
Fred De Sam Lazaro of KTCA, Minneapolis-St. Paul, reports on concern
over
a looming epidemic of arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh where much
of the drinking water is contaminated by the high arsenic content
of the soil. An international group of scientists is gathering there
to discuss the problem.
Rod Minnott
reports on one
of the deadliest environmental hazards in the United States
in which underground storage tanks are leaking highly radioactive
waste in Southeast Washington.
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