CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION A List of Water Pollution Causes Hey, we saw recently on t e !

a"e#U$ Facts C annel t at t e u%an &o"y is'

PARTS IN THIS SERIES 1. Water Pollution Facts 2. Water Pollution Causes 3. Water Pollution Effects 4. Water Pollution Solutions Our next series, Ocean Pollution, will appear in future issues of Grinning Planet. Sign up for our ailing list so !on"t iss it#

()* water+ )(* car&on, calciu% an" nitro,en co%$oun"s+ an" )* o"or %olecules-

After collectin, so %any causes of water $ollution for t is article, we t in. t at last )* %i, t &e fro% water too/

In t is article0$art 1 of a series0we list t e to$ water $ollution causes- So%e will sur$rise you/

WATER POLLUTION POINT AND NONPOINT SOURCES

T ere are %any s$ecific causes of water $ollution, &ut &efore we list t e to$$ers, it2s i%$ortant to un"erstan" two &roa" cate,ories of water $ollution' Point source 0 occurs w en ar%ful su&stances are e%itte" "irectly into a &o"y of waterNonpoint source 0 "eli3ers $ollutants in"irectly t rou, trans$ort or en3iron%ental c an,eAn e4a%$le of a $oint source of water $ollution is a $i$e fro% an in"ustrial facility "isc ar,in, effluent "irectly into a ri3er- An e4a%$le of a non$oint#source of water $ollution is w en fertili5er fro% a far% fiel" is carrie" into a strea% &y rain 6i-e- run#off7Point#source $ollution is usually %onitore" an" re,ulate", at least in Western countries, t ou, $olitical factors %ay co%$licate ow successful efforts are at true $ollution control- Non$oint sources are %uc %ore "ifficult to %onitor an" control, an" to"ay t ey account for t e %a8ority of conta%inants in strea%s an" la.esNow, on to t e %ore s$ecific cate,ories of water $ollution causes-

WATER POLLUTION CAUSES #1

Pestici"es Pestici"es t at ,et a$$lie" to far% fiel"s an" roa"si"es0an" o%eowners2 lawns0run off into local strea%s an" ri3ers or "rain "own into ,roun"water, conta%inatin, t e fres water t at fis swi% in an" t e water we u%ans "rin.- It2s te%$tin, to t in. t is is %ostly a far%in, $ro&le%, &ut on a s9uare#foot &asis, o%eowners a$$ly e3en %ore c e%icals to t eir lawns t an far%ers "o to t eir fiel"s/ Still, far%in, is a &i, contri&utor to t is $ro&le%- In t e %i"western Unite" States, a re,ion t at is i, ly "e$en"ent on ,roun"water, water utilities s$en" :;<< %illion eac year to treat water for 8ust one c e%ical0t e $estici"e Atra5ine-

WATER POLLUTION CAUSES #2

Fertili5ers = Nutrient Pollution !any causes of $ollution, inclu"in, sewa,e, %anure, an" c e%ical fertili5ers, contain >nutrients> suc as nitrates an" $ os$ ates- ?e$osition of at%os$ eric nitro,en 6fro% nitro,en o4i"es7 also causes nutrient#ty$e water $ollutionIn e4cess le3els, nutrients o3er#sti%ulate t e ,rowt of a9uatic $lants an" al,ae- E4cessi3e ,rowt of t ese ty$es of or,anis%s clo,s our waterways an" &loc.s li, t to "ee$er waters w ile t e or,anis%s are ali3e+ w en t e or,anis%s "ie, t ey use u$ "issol3e" o4y,en as t ey "eco%$ose, causin, o4y,en#$oor waters t at su$$ort only "i%inis e" a%ounts of %arine life- Suc areas are co%%only calle" "ea" 5onesNutrient $ollution is a $articular $ro&le% in estuaries an" "eltas, w ere t e runoff t at was a,,re,ate" &y waters e"s is finally "u%$e" at t e %out s of %a8or ri3ers-

WATER POLLUTION CAUSES #

Oil, @asoline an" A""iti3es Oil s$ills li.e t e E44on Aal"e5 s$ill off t e coast of Alas.a or t e %ore recent Presti,e s$ill off t e coast of S$ain ,et lots of news co3era,e, an" in"ee" t ey "o cause %a8or water $ollution an" $ro&le%s for local wil"life, fis er%en, an" coastal &usinesses- But t e $ro&le% of oil $ollutin, water ,oes far &eyon" catastro$ ic oil s$ills- Lan"#&ase" $etroleu% $ollution is carrie" into waterways &y rainwater runoff- T is inclu"es "ri$s of oil, fuel, an" flui" fro% cars an" truc.s+ "ri&&les of ,asoline s$ille" onto t e ,roun" at t e fillin, station+ an" "ri$s fro% in"ustrial %ac inery- T ese sources an" %ore co%&ine to $ro3i"e a continual fee" of $etroleu% $ollution to all of t e worl"2s waters, i%$artin, an a%ount of oil to t e oceans every year t at is %ore t an C ti%es ,reater t an t e Aal"e5 s$illS i$$in, is one of t ese non#s$ill sources of oil $ollution in water' ?isc ar,e of oily wastes an" oil#conta%inate" &allast water an" was water are all si,nificant sources of %arine $ollution, an" "ri$s fro% s i$ an" &oat %otors a"" t eir s are- ?rillin, an" e4traction o$erations for oil an" ,as can also conta%inate coastal waters an" ,roun"waterAs for ,asoline an" ,as a""iti3es, lea.in, stora,e tan.s are a &i, $ro&le%- T e US En3iron%ental Protection A,ency 6EPA7 esti%ates t at a&out )<<,<<< ,asoline stora,e tan.s are lea.in, c e%icals into ,roun"water- In Santa !onica, California, wells su$$lyin, alf t e city2s water a3e &een close" &ecause of "an,erously i, le3els of t e ,asoline a""iti3e !TBE-

WATER POLLUTION CAUSES #!

!inin, !inin, causes water $ollution in a nu%&er of ways' T e %inin, $rocess e4$oses ea3y %etals an" sulfur co%$oun"s t at were $re3iously loc.e" away in t e eart - Rainwater leac es t ese co%$oun"s out of t e e4$ose" eart , resultin, in >aci" %ine "raina,e> an" ea3y %etal $ollution t at can continue lon, after t e %inin, o$erations a3e cease" Si%ilarly, t e action of rainwater on $iles of %inin, waste 6tailin,s7 transfers $ollution to fres water su$$lies-

In t e case of ,ol" %inin,, cyani"e is intentionally $oure" on $iles of %ine" roc. 6a leac ea$7 to c e%ically e4tract t e ,ol" fro% t e ore- So%e of t e cyani"e ulti%ately fin"s its way into near&y waterHu,e $ools of %inin, waste >slurry> are often store" &e in" contain%ent "a%s- If a "a% lea.s or &ursts, water $ollution is ,uarantee"!ININ@ E A TOP CAUSE OF WATER POLLUTION T e Iron !ountain %ine in California, USA as &een close" since )FGD &ut continues to "rain sulfuric aci" an" ea3y %etals 6suc as ca"%iu% an" 5inc7 into t e Sacra%ento Ri3er- T e ri3er2s &ri, t oran,e water is co%$letely "e3oi" of life an" as a $H of #D, w ic is )<,<<< ti%es %ore aci"ic t an &attery aci"- E4$erts say t e $ollution %ay continue for anot er D,<<< yearsSource' Worl"watc Institute = Eart wor.s

Per a$s t e worst offense in t e cate,ory of %inin, 3s- water $ollution causes' !inin, co%$anies in "e3elo$in, countries so%eti%es "u%$ %inin, waste "irectly into ri3ers or ot er &o"ies of water as a %et o" of "is$osal- ?e3elo$e" countries are not i%%une fro% suc insanity' T e US ,o3ern%ent in 1<<D reclassifie" %inin, waste fro% %ountainto$ re%o3al 6a ty$e of coal %inin,7 so it coul" &e "u%$e" "irectly into 3alleys, &uryin, strea%s alto,et er-

WATER POLLUTION CAUSES #"

Se"i%ent W en forests are >clear cut,> t e root syste%s t at $re3iously el" soil in $lace "ie an" se"i%ent is free to run off into near&y strea%s, ri3ers, an" la.es- T us, not only "oes clearcuttin, a3e serious effects on $lant an" ani%al &io"i3ersity in t e forest, t e increase" a%ount of se"i%ent runnin, off t e lan" into near&y &o"ies of water seriously affects fis an" ot er a9uatic life- Poor far%in, $ractices t at lea3e soil e4$ose" to t e ele%ents also contri&ute to se"i%ent $ollution in water-

WATER POLLUTION CAUSES ##

C e%ical an" In"ustrial Processes Al%ost all &o"ies of water in t e worl" a3e so%e le3el of $ollution fro% c e%icals an" in"ustrial wasteIn t e Unite" States, D; &illion liters $er year 6G<*7 of t e %ost a5ar"ous li9ui" waste0sol3ents, ea3y %etals, an" ra"ioacti3e %aterials0is in8ecte" "irectly into "ee$ ,roun"water 3ia t ousan"s of >in8ection wells-> Alt ou, t e EPA re9uires t at t ese effluents &e in8ecte" &elow t e "ee$est source of "rin.in, water, so%e $ollutants a3e alrea"y entere" un"er,roun" water su$$lies in Flori"a, Te4as, O io, an" O.la o%aT e US is not alone in careless treat%ent of its ,roun"water- In t e late )FF<s, In"ia2s Central Pollution Control Boar" foun" t at ,roun"water was unfit for "rin.in, in all 11 %a8or in"ustrial 5ones it sur3eye"@LOWIN@ REAIEWS 0 NOT/ E3en nuclear ener,y is a%on, t e causes of water $ollutionRa"ioacti3e water $ollution as a nu%&er sources, inclu"in,

WATER POLLUTION

t e nor%al o$eration of nuclear $ower stations 6i-efro% t e nuclear waste7+ t e %inin, an" refinin, of uraniu% an" t oriu%+ an" t e use of ra"ioacti3e %aterials in in"ustrial, %e"ical,

an" scientific $rocesses-

CAUSES #$
Plastic Plastics an" ot er $lastic#li.e su&stances 6suc as nylon fro% fis in, nets an" lines7 can entan,le fis , sea turtles, an" %arine %a%%als, causin, $ain, in8ury, an" e3en "eat - Plastic t at as &ro.en "own into %icro#$articles is now &ein, in,este" &y tiny %arine or,anis%s an" is %o3in, u$ t e %arine foo" c ainSea creatures t at are .ille" &y $lastic rea"ily "eco%$ose- T e $lastic "oes not0it re%ains in t e ecosyste% to .ill a,ain an" a,ain-

In t e oceans, t e &i,,est sources of %an#%a"e ra"ioacti3e ele%ents are t e nuclear fuel re$rocessin, $lants at La Ha,ue in France an" at Sellafiel" in t e UH- ?isc ar,es fro% t ese facilities a3e resulte" in t e wi"es$rea" conta%ination of lar,e %arine areas- Ra"ioacti3e ele%ents tracea&le to re$rocessin, can &e foun" in seawee" as far away as t e western coast of @reenlan"Source' @reen$eace, et al

WATER POLLUTION CAUSES #%

Personal Care Pro"ucts, House ol" Cleanin, Pro"ucts, an" P ar%aceuticals W ene3er we use $ersonal#care $ro"ucts an" ouse ol" cleanin, $ro"ucts0w et er t ey &e laun"ry "eter,ent, &leac , or fa&ric softener+ win"ow cleaner, "ustin, s$ray, or stain re%o3er+ air "ye, s a%$oo, con"itioner, or Ro,aine+ colo,ne or $erfu%e+ toot $aste or %out was + anti&acterial soa$ or an" lotion0we s oul" reali5e t at al%ost all of it ,oes "own t e "rain w en we "o laun"ry, was our an"s, &rus our teet , &at e, or "o any of t e ot er %yria" t in,s t at inci"entally use ouse ol" water- Si%ilarly, w en we ta.e %e"ications, we e3entually e4crete t e "ru,s in altere" or unaltere" for%, sen"in, t e co%$oun"s into t e waterways- Stu"ies a3e s own t at u$ to F<* of your ori,inal $rescri$tion $asses out of you unaltere"- Ani%al far%in, o$erations t at use ,rowt or%ones an" anti&iotics also sen" lar,e 9uantities of t ese c e%icals into our watersUnfortunately, %ost wastewater treat%ent facilities are not e9ui$$e" to filter out $ersonal care $ro"ucts, ouse ol" $ro"ucts, an" $ ar%aceuticals, an" a lar,e $ortion of t e c e%icals $asses ri, t into t e local waterway t at acce$ts t e treat%ent $lant2s su$$ose"ly clean effluentStu"y of t e effects of t ese c e%icals ,ettin, into t e water is 8ust &e,innin,, &ut e4a%$les of $ro&le%s are now $o$$in, u$ re,ularly' Scientists are fin"in, fra,rance %olecules insi"e fis tissues In,re"ients fro% &irt control $ills are t ou, t to &e causin, ,en"er#&en"in, or%onal effects in fro,s an" fis T e c e%ical nonyl$ enol, a re%nant of "eter,ent, is .nown to "isru$t fis re$ro"uction an" ,rowt -

WATER POLLUTION CAUSES #&

Sewa,e

In "e3elo$in, countries, an esti%ate" F<* of wastewater is "isc ar,e" "irectly into ri3ers an" strea%s wit out treat%ent- E3en in %o"ern countries, untreate" sewa,e, $oorly treate" sewa,e, or o3erflow fro% un"er#ca$acity sewa,e treat%ent facilities can sen" "isease#&earin, water into ri3ers an" oceans- In t e US, (C< &illion ,allons of raw sewa,e are sent into US ri3ers, la.es, an" &ays e3ery year &y lea.in, sewer syste%s an" ina"e9uate co%&ine" sewer=stor% syste%s t at o3erflow "urin, ea3y rains- Lea.in, se$tic tan.s an" ot er sources of sewa,e can cause ,roun"water an" strea% conta%inationBeac es also suffer t e effects of water $ollution fro% sewa,e- T e c art &elow s ows t e ty$ical reasons t at a&out 1C* of t e &eac es in t e US are $ut un"er water $ollution a"3isories or are close" eac year- It2s clear t at sewa,e is $art of t e $ro&le%, e3en in w at is su$$ose"ly t e %ost a"3ance" country in t e worl"Figure 1. Sources of pollution that resulted in beach advisories and closings

$Source% &S EP'(

WATER POLLUTION CAUSES #1'

Air Pollution
CRABBIN@ ABOUT WATER POLLUTION One#t ir" of t e e4cess nitro,en in t e C esa$ea.e Bay co%es fro% "e$osition an" trans$ort of $ollutants fro% t e air-

Hey, I t ou, t we were "oin, WATER $ollution causes/ Well, sur$risin,ly enou, , air $ollution contri&utes su&stantially to water $ollution- Pollutants li.e %ercury, sulfur "io4i"e, nitric o4i"es, an" a%%onia "e$osit out of t e air an" t en cause $ro&le%s li.e %ercury conta%ination in fis , aci"ification of la.es, an" eutro$ ication 6nutrient $ollution7- !ost of t e air $ollution t at affects water co%es fro% coal#fire" $ower $lants an" t e tail$i$es of our 3e icles, t ou, so%e also co%es fro% in"ustrial e%issions-

WATER POLLUTION CAUSES #11

Car&on ?io4i"e Accor"in, to t e Unite" Nations En3iron%ent Pro,ra%%e, a )C#year#lon, stu"y of t e role of %an#%a"e CO1 in t e eart 2s oceans foun" t at t e oceans a" a&sor&e" enou, CO1 to alrea"y a3e cause" a sli, t increase in ocean aci"ification- T e fear is t at furt er CO1 u$ta.e will

increase aci"ification e3en %ore an" cause t e car&onate structures of corals, al,ae, an" %arine $lan.ton to "issol3e- T is coul" a3e si,nificant i%$acts on t e &iolo,ical syste%s of our oceans-

WATER POLLUTION CAUSES #12

Heat Heat is a water $ollutant0increase" water te%$eratures result in t e "eat s of %any a9uatic or,anis%s- T ese increases in te%$erature are %ost often cause" &y "isc ar,es of coolin, water &y factories an" $ower $lants@lo&al war%in, is also i%$artin, a""itional eat to t e oceans- T e i%$act on %arine life is un.nown at t is $oint, &ut it2s li.ely to &e si,nificant-

WATER POLLUTION CAUSES #1

Noise !any %arine or,anis%s, inclu"in, %arine %a%%als, sea turtles an" fis , use soun" to co%%unicate, na3i,ate, an" unt- T e e3er#increasin, "in of noise fro% s i$ en,ines an" sonars as a ne,ati3e effect- Because of t is noise $ollution, so%e s$ecies %ay a3e a ar"er ti%e untin,+ ot ers %ay a3e a ar"er ti%e "etectin, $re"ators+ still ot ers %ay 8ust not &e a&le to na3i,ate $ro$erly-

WATER POLLUTION BI ?EATH E3en t e "ea" are a cause of water $ollutionIn In"ia, if a "ecease" $erson2s fa%ily cannot affor" a funeral t ey %ay i%%erse t e as es of t eir lo3e" one in t e sacre" @an,es Ri3er 0or t ey %ay $ut t e cor$se itself in t e ri3er-

In a well $u&lici5e" case in 1<<<, at least )J w ales were stran"e" on &eac es in t e nort ern Ba a%a Islan"s, wit t e li.ely cause &ein, US Na3y 3essels o$eratin, %i"#fre9uency sonar syste%s near&y-

W(ter Po))ution C(uses Wr(p*Up

T ere are as %any causes of water $ollution as %an as a" in,enious i"eas- We23e $ro3i"e" info on t e %ain ones a&o3e, &ut lest you t in. t at2s all t ere is, ere are a few ot ers t at we 8ust "on2t a3e ti%e to ,et into'

Poorly "esi,ne" lan"fills Roa" "eicin, salts Ha5ar"ous waste sites Pet feces an" wil" ani%al "ro$$in,s Cruise s i$s

+u,(n (n- En.iron,ent() +e()t/ E00ects

Fertili5er, ani%al %anure, an" waste#treat%ent $lant effluent all contain nutrients t at sti%ulate e4cessi3e $lant an" al,al ,rowt in fres water &o"ies- W en t e $lants "ie an" "eco%$ose, "issol3e" o4y,en is "e$lete", causin, "ie#offs of fis an" ot er s$ecies li3in, in t e waterPersistent or,anoc lorine insectici"es, suc as ??T, "e$osite" in la.e se"i%ents can &ioaccu%ulate, ar%in, t e fis an" &ir"s t at eat t e%- Pyret roi" insectici"es, t ou, "eri3e" fro% c rysant e%u%s, are e4tre%ely to4ic to a9uatic or,anis%s- Estro,en#%i%ic.in, su&stances suc as so%e $estici"es an" in"ustrially $ro"uce" c e%icals a3e &een s own to interfere wit t e re$ro"ucti3e syste% of fis Hu%an an" ani%al fecal waste contain "isease#carryin, or,anis%s suc as t e &acteriu% Escherichia coli (E. coli) an" $at o,ens t at causes c olera, ty$ oi", an" cry$tos$ori"iosisC olera is rarely seen in t e Unite" States, &ut E. coli out&rea.s are not rare, an" in )FFD, %ore t an fifty $eo$le "ie", an" an esti%ate" ;<<,<<< &eca%e ill fro% a %assi3e out&rea. of cry$tos$ori"iosis in !ilwau.ee, Wisconsin- T e out&rea. was attri&ute" to a failure in "rin.in, water treat%ent, allowin, t e cyst for% of t e $arasite, intro"uce" &y ani%al waste, to $ass into ta$ water an" &e in,este"- Ten out&rea.s of cry$tos$ori"iosis were re$orte" in t e Unite" States &etween )FF< an" 1<<<!ercury &ioaccu%ulates in fis an" can "a%a,e t e ner3ous syste%s an" &rains of u%ans- It can interfere wit nor%al &e a3ior in &ir"s, suc as loons, causin, t e% to s$en" less ti%e loo.in, for foo" or incu&atin, e,,s- A&out one#9uarter of &ree"in, a"ult loons a3e i, er#t an#nor%al 6)< $arts $er %illion7 le3els of %ercury- To $rotect $eo$le fro% eatin, conta%inate" fis , states an" local ,o3ern%ents $ost fis #consu%$tion a"3isories w en conta%inant le3els &eco%e unsafeT ere were 1,(<< a"3isories $oste" in t e Unite" States in 1<<1, alertin, $eo$le to i, le3els of %ercury, PCBs, c lor"ane, "io4ins, an" ??T in fis -

Pre.ention (n- A1(te,ent

Once water is conta%inate", it is "ifficult, e4$ensi3e, an" so%eti%es i%$ossi&le to re%o3e $ollutants- Tec nolo,ies to re%o3e conta%inants fro% ,roun"water are air stri$$in,, ,ranular acti3ate" car&on, an" a"3ance" o4i"ation- Air stri$$in, in3ol3es $u%$in, out t e conta%inate" water, t en eatin, it to e3a$orate t e conta%inant- T e cleane" water is rein8ecte" into t e ,roun"- Pu%$in, out conta%inate" water an" a&sor&in, t e $ollutant on acti3ate" c arcoal can re%o3e less 3olatile co%$oun"s- Ninety $ercent of tric loroet ylene was re%o3e" fro% NASA2s launc co%$le4 t irty#four ,roun"water cleanu$ site on Ca$e Cana3eral Air Force Station &y t er%al treat%ent- In t is %et o" an electric current eats soil an" water, e3a$oratin, so%e water an" t e conta%inant, w ic is carrie" out of t e ,roun" &y t e force of t e stea% an" collecte" in reco3ery wellsPre3entin, $ollution is o&3iously i%$ortant- ?rin.in, water su$$liers a3e "isco3ere" t at 2(ters/e- $rotection is cost#effecti3e &ecause it re"uces $ollution an" cuts t e cost of "rin.in, water treat%ent- A waters e" is t e area t at "rains into surface or ,roun"water an" .ee$in, t at area free fro% "e3elo$%ent an" a,ricultural runoff are a%on, t e ,oals of waters e" $rotectionT e Barnes A9uifer in !assac usetts su$$lies water to si4ty t ousan" resi"ents an" t e a9uifer2s rec/(r3e area is un"er ea3y "e3elo$%ent $ressure fro% lar,e#scale resi"ential su&"i3isions!unici$al wells a3e &een conta%inate" wit traces of et ylene "i&ro%i"e an" tric loroet yleneAfter learnin, a&out waters e" $rotection, citi5ens 3ote" a,ainst $ro$ose" c an,es to 5onin, t at woul" a3e increase" t e nu%&er of new o%es an" increase" t e $otential for ,roun"water $ollution- An" &y in3estin, :) &illion in waters e" $rotection, New Ior. City, wit an enor%ous

reser3oir syste%, as a3oi"e" a3in, to &uil" water#filtration facilities, sa3in, construction costs of so%e :( &illion-