Chapter 18 notes
Water pollution control laws have greatly reduced the worst water pollution in most industrialized countries; in many developing countries, water pollution is getting worse, but access to safe drinking water is improving slowly, especially in urban areas.
Water pollution- any physical, biological, or chemical change in water quality that adversely affects organisms or makes it unsuitable for other uses.
Major types of water pollution include infectious agents, oxygen demanding wastes, nutrients, inorganic salts, metals, acids and bases, organic chemicals, sediment, and thermal pollution
Eutrophication is caused by nutrient enrichment and warming
Oligotrophic lakes and streams are cold, and oxygen rich, but have low biological productivity
US Clean Water Act requires the EPA to monitor water quality and regulate discharge. Only 10 percent of water pollution in the US comes from point sources.
Groundwater can be contaminated by waste in recharge zones, through abandoned wells, and by buried waste. Leaking underground storage tanks release contaminants.
Ocean pollution comes from many sources, garbage, sewage, nutrients, and oil spills
Cheapest, best way to reduce water pollution is source reduction. Recycling, Land use planning.
Water legislation, Clean Water Act remains controversial; costs can be high and are largely borne by producers; it can be difficult to identify the best way to do things.
Create a free edublog to get your own comment avatar (and more!)