Ph Adjustment
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pH Adjustment Distilled water has an average pH of 7 (neither alkaline nor acidic) and sea water has an average pH of 8.3 (slightly alkaline). If the water is acidic (lower than 7), lime or soda ash is added to raise the pH. Lime is the more common of the two additives because it is cheaper, but it also adds to the resulting water hardness. Making the water slightly alkaline ensures that coagulation and flocculation processes work effectively and also helps to minimize the risk of lead being dissolved from lead pipes and lead solder in pipe fittings.
Point Source Pollution Pollutants that are coming from a concentrated originating point like a pipe from a factory or a large registered feedlot with a specific point of discharge. Point source pollution is from a single, identifiable source, such as a pipe through which an industrial or municipal treatment plant releases wastewater and pollutants into a water body. Point sources are often controlled through effluent standards, water quality guidelines, permitting programs and liquid waste management plans.
Non-Point Source Pollution The conservation district likes to explain Non-Point Source Pollution this way. Pollutants detected in a concentrated water source such as a stream, river or lake that come from a wide range of sources. These Pollutants come from sources the common person has control over. You know, like that used oil poured into storm drains or on the ground. It is more of a way to express the accumulation of pollutants as a result of common, wide spread activities in both urban and rural areas. As water from rainfall and snowmelt flows over and through the landscape, it picks up and carries contaminants from many different sources. This is called Non-Point Source pollution. This polluted water ends up in streams, lakes and the ocean by flowing directly in or by going through untreated storm drains. Water also carries pollutants into underground drinking water as it soaks into the ground. 40% of all lakes and streams are too polluted to use for fishing or swimming in the United States. Oil, hazardous toxins and diseasecausing agents contaminate waterways and drinking water and can kill people, animals and plants The term nonpoint is used to distinguish this type of pollution from point source pollution, which comes from specific sources such as sewage treatment plants or industrial facilities. Scientific evidence shows that although huge strides have been made in cleaning up major point sources, our precious water resources are still threatened by the effects of polluted runoff. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that this type of
pollution is now the single largest cause of the deterioration of out nation’s water quality.
Whatever They Call It, Why Should I Care About It? The effects of polluted runoff are not limited to large lakes or coastal bays. In fact, chances are you don’t have to look any farther than your neighborhood stream or duck pond. Water pollution in your town, and perhaps in your own backyard, can result in anything from weed-choked ponds to fish kills to contaminated drinking water. There’s not much chance that you can ignore this problem, even if you want to. Concern over polluted runoff has resulted in an ever-increasing number of state and federal laws enacted over the last five years. At the federal level, a permit program for storm water discharges from certain municipalities and businesses is now underway. In addition to implementing this federal program, many states have passed laws altering local land use (planning and zoning) processes and building codes to address the problem of polluted runoff. The bottom line is that both polluted runoff and its management are likely to affect you and your community in the near future.
The mission of the NonPoint Source Water Pollution Control Program is to protect water resources and public health from nonpoint sources of pollution. We accomplish this by: 1. Preventing storm water pollution of water bodies by approving construction site plans. 2. Ensuring wetland fills do not adversely affect water quality. 3. Reviewing timber harvest plans and performing related field inspections for forestry operations. 4. Reviewing construction plans and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans for storm water discharges from industrial and construction sites. 5. Identifying State water quality priorities and needs 6. Establishing a schedule for developing recovery plans on impaired water bodies. 7. Providing pass-through funding and technical assistance to municipalities, local groups, and other state agencies involved in water quality projects. THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION
• Abbotsford-Sumas Aquifer: threats to drinking water supplies from nitrogen leachate have incurred an economic efficiency loss * estimated at $7.8 - $17.4 million
• Brunette River Basin: long-term degradation of water and recreational opportunities by
urban development — total annual economic efficiency losses * of $5.4 million.
• Salmon River (Salmon Arm): approximately half of the 110 km of stream bank requires some degree of remediation. The total cost of riparian zone restoration is estimated at $1.9 million.
• Baynes Sound (Vancouver Island): contamination of shellfish through storm water runoff, on-site sewage seepage and agricultural runoff total annual economic efficiency losses * of approximately $400,000. Economic efficiency loss: The sum of the range of household risk avoidance expenditures and the willingness-to-pay estimates to avoid health risks...
Non-point source pollution in aquatic ecosystems can be grouped into five main categories: 1. Pathogens these microorganisms-bacteria, viruses, and protozoa-can cause waterborne illnesses. While most pathogens come from human sewage (primarily leaking or aging sewage collection systems, onsite sewage systems, storm water runoff, and combined sewer overflows), manure from livestock and wild animal droppings are also common sources.
2. Oxygen Depleting Substances when organic wastes (e.g., manure, sewage, pulp and paper mill
effluent) decay in water, bacteria oxidize the waste, using up oxygen dissolved in the water. If the oxygen is consumed beyond a safe threshold, fish are stressed and will die when lethal levels are reached. Anaerobic decomposition (without oxygen) produces gases, such as hydrogen sulphide, that are lethal to many organisms.
3. Nutrients Organic wastes and fertilizers introduce plant-feeding nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, into runoff. When onsite sewage effluent or runoff enters a water body, nutrients can cause algal blooms and dense weed growth that disrupt the balance of aquatic ecosystems and interfere with recreation such as swimming and boating. When an algal bloom occurs, oxygen in the water is depleted, which can cause odour problems as well as kill fish and other organisms.
4. Sediments Suspended soil particles make water turbid and unpleasant to drink, and increase water treatment requirements. Sediments also reduce light available to algae and aquatic plants, kill or injure fish by damaging their gills, cover spawning gravel and smother fish eggs, and reduce the quality of recreational activities such as swimming and boating.
5. Toxins Substances as ammonia, nitrate, metals, pesticides and a variety of organic toxins can poison humans, livestock, wildlife, and aquatic organisms. Some toxins cause cancer. In addition, chloramines — a comparatively persistent drinking water treatment chemical — can be very harmful to aquatic life when discharged in fisheriessensitive areas.
Point Source Pollution Pollutants that are coming from a concentrated originating point like a pipe from a factory or a large registered feedlot with a specific point of discharge. Point source pollution is from a single, identifiable source, such as a pipe through which an industrial or municipal treatment plant releases wastewater and pollutants into a water body. Point sources are often controlled through effluent standards, water quality guidelines, permitting programs and liquid waste management plans.
Non-Point Source Pollution The conservation district likes to explain Non-Point Source Pollution this way. Pollutants detected in a concentrated water source such as a stream, river or lake that come from a wide range of sources. These Pollutants come from sources the common person has control over. You know, like that used oil poured into storm drains or on the ground. It is more of a way to express the accumulation of pollutants as a result of common, wide spread activities in both urban and rural areas. As water from rainfall and snowmelt flows over and through the landscape, it picks up and carries contaminants from many different sources. This is called Non-Point Source pollution. This polluted water ends up in streams, lakes and the ocean by flowing directly in or by going through untreated storm drains. Water also carries pollutants into underground drinking water as it soaks into the ground. 40% of all lakes and streams are too polluted to use for fishing or swimming in the United States. Oil, hazardous toxins and diseasecausing agents contaminate waterways and drinking water and can kill people, animals and plants The term nonpoint is used to distinguish this type of pollution from point source pollution, which comes from specific sources such as sewage treatment plants or industrial facilities. Scientific evidence shows that although huge strides have been made in cleaning up major point sources, our precious water resources are still threatened by the effects of polluted runoff. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that this type of
pollution is now the single largest cause of the deterioration of out nation’s water quality.
Whatever They Call It, Why Should I Care About It? The effects of polluted runoff are not limited to large lakes or coastal bays. In fact, chances are you don’t have to look any farther than your neighborhood stream or duck pond. Water pollution in your town, and perhaps in your own backyard, can result in anything from weed-choked ponds to fish kills to contaminated drinking water. There’s not much chance that you can ignore this problem, even if you want to. Concern over polluted runoff has resulted in an ever-increasing number of state and federal laws enacted over the last five years. At the federal level, a permit program for storm water discharges from certain municipalities and businesses is now underway. In addition to implementing this federal program, many states have passed laws altering local land use (planning and zoning) processes and building codes to address the problem of polluted runoff. The bottom line is that both polluted runoff and its management are likely to affect you and your community in the near future.
The mission of the NonPoint Source Water Pollution Control Program is to protect water resources and public health from nonpoint sources of pollution. We accomplish this by: 1. Preventing storm water pollution of water bodies by approving construction site plans. 2. Ensuring wetland fills do not adversely affect water quality. 3. Reviewing timber harvest plans and performing related field inspections for forestry operations. 4. Reviewing construction plans and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans for storm water discharges from industrial and construction sites. 5. Identifying State water quality priorities and needs 6. Establishing a schedule for developing recovery plans on impaired water bodies. 7. Providing pass-through funding and technical assistance to municipalities, local groups, and other state agencies involved in water quality projects. THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION
• Abbotsford-Sumas Aquifer: threats to drinking water supplies from nitrogen leachate have incurred an economic efficiency loss * estimated at $7.8 - $17.4 million
• Brunette River Basin: long-term degradation of water and recreational opportunities by
urban development — total annual economic efficiency losses * of $5.4 million.
• Salmon River (Salmon Arm): approximately half of the 110 km of stream bank requires some degree of remediation. The total cost of riparian zone restoration is estimated at $1.9 million.
• Baynes Sound (Vancouver Island): contamination of shellfish through storm water runoff, on-site sewage seepage and agricultural runoff total annual economic efficiency losses * of approximately $400,000. Economic efficiency loss: The sum of the range of household risk avoidance expenditures and the willingness-to-pay estimates to avoid health risks...
Non-point source pollution in aquatic ecosystems can be grouped into five main categories: 1. Pathogens these microorganisms-bacteria, viruses, and protozoa-can cause waterborne illnesses. While most pathogens come from human sewage (primarily leaking or aging sewage collection systems, onsite sewage systems, storm water runoff, and combined sewer overflows), manure from livestock and wild animal droppings are also common sources.
2. Oxygen Depleting Substances when organic wastes (e.g., manure, sewage, pulp and paper mill
effluent) decay in water, bacteria oxidize the waste, using up oxygen dissolved in the water. If the oxygen is consumed beyond a safe threshold, fish are stressed and will die when lethal levels are reached. Anaerobic decomposition (without oxygen) produces gases, such as hydrogen sulphide, that are lethal to many organisms.
3. Nutrients Organic wastes and fertilizers introduce plant-feeding nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, into runoff. When onsite sewage effluent or runoff enters a water body, nutrients can cause algal blooms and dense weed growth that disrupt the balance of aquatic ecosystems and interfere with recreation such as swimming and boating. When an algal bloom occurs, oxygen in the water is depleted, which can cause odour problems as well as kill fish and other organisms.
4. Sediments Suspended soil particles make water turbid and unpleasant to drink, and increase water treatment requirements. Sediments also reduce light available to algae and aquatic plants, kill or injure fish by damaging their gills, cover spawning gravel and smother fish eggs, and reduce the quality of recreational activities such as swimming and boating.
5. Toxins Substances as ammonia, nitrate, metals, pesticides and a variety of organic toxins can poison humans, livestock, wildlife, and aquatic organisms. Some toxins cause cancer. In addition, chloramines — a comparatively persistent drinking water treatment chemical — can be very harmful to aquatic life when discharged in fisheriessensitive areas.
