Strategies To Combat Water Pollution

Water pollution is a pressing issue that poses risks to both human health and the environment. It is caused by a range of factors, from industrial waste to oil spills, and has detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems. As the demand for water increases with our growing global population, it is imperative that we find solutions to combat water pollution and ensure clean water availability. Treating water before it enters the waterway system is a notable solution, as wastewater treatment facilities can remove pollutants through biological, physical, and chemical processes. Other methods include stormwater management, water conservation, and regular maintenance of equipment to ensure proper functioning. Additionally, individuals can contribute by reducing water usage, properly disposing of hazardous waste, and volunteering in community efforts to protect source water. By understanding the causes and implementing a combination of these solutions, we can effectively reduce water pollution and safeguard our precious water resources.

Solutions to Water Pollution

Treat water before it enters the waterway system

Treating water before it enters the waterway system is an effective way to reduce water pollution. Wastewater treatment facilities use biological, physical, and chemical processes to remove most pollutants. Sewage treatments, for example, allow water to pass through various sanitization chambers to reduce toxic levels of water pollutants and prevent leakages into water systems.

Water treatment plants use a series of steps to clean the water and make it safe to drink. The first step is usually coagulation, where chemicals are added to the water to help bind together dirt and other small particles. The chemicals commonly used include specific types of salts, aluminium, or iron. The second step is flocculation, where the water is gently mixed to form larger, heavier particles called flocs. The third step is sedimentation, where solids are separated from the water. Flocs are heavier than water, so they settle at the bottom during this step. The fourth step is filtration, where the clear water on top goes through several filters to remove germs, including parasites, bacteria, and viruses, as well as dissolved particles such as dust and chemicals. The final step is disinfection, where chemical disinfectants like chlorine, chloramine, or chlorine dioxide are added to kill any remaining germs.

Water treatment plants may also use ultraviolet (UV) light or ozone to disinfect water, either instead of or in addition to chemical disinfectants. UV light and ozone are effective at disinfecting water within the treatment plant. Additionally, ozonated wastewater treatment uses an ozone generator to break down water contaminants. UV radiation or an exothermic field inside the generator converts oxygen into ozone, which oxidizes bacteria, organic matter, and other water contaminants.

It is important to regularly maintain equipment and ensure proper functioning to keep wastewater treatments effective. This includes the use of water treatment sensors to measure and remove contaminants. Pretreatment of industrial wastewater is also crucial to avoid contamination of the environment and damage to publicly owned water treatment systems.

Wastewater treatments

Wastewater treatment is a major element of water pollution control. Wastewater is used water that includes substances such as human waste, food scraps, oils, soaps, and chemicals. It also includes water from sinks, showers, bathtubs, toilets, washing machines, and dishwashers in homes, as well as wastewater from businesses and industries.

Wastewater treatment facilities use physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove most pollutants from wastewater. These processes can be categorized as preliminary, primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary treatment removes about 60% of suspended solids from wastewater. Secondary treatments involve the use of biological processes, such as activated sludge, trickling filters, and rotating biological contactors, to remove dissolved and suspended organic matter. Tertiary treatments are used to further purify the water and prepare it for discharge or reuse. They involve the use of physical and chemical processes, such as filtration, disinfection, and phosphorus removal.

To ensure that wastewater treatments function properly, regular maintenance of equipment is required. This includes the use of water treatment sensors to measure and remove contaminants. For example, photoelectric sensors are used to measure the availability of light and the concentration of dissolved organic matter (DOM).

In addition to centralized wastewater treatment facilities, some homes in the United States (approximately 20%) use septic systems to locally treat their wastewater. However, when a septic system is improperly managed, elevated nitrogen and phosphorus levels can be released into local water bodies or groundwater.

One type of wastewater treatment is denitrification, which is the direct conversion of nitrate to nitrogen. This ecological process helps to reduce groundwater contamination by preventing nitrate from leaching into the soil. Ozonated wastewater treatment is another type of treatment that uses an ozone generator to break down water contaminants.

Stormwater management

Understanding Stormwater Runoff

Stormwater runoff occurs when rainwater or snowmelt flows over land instead of being absorbed into the ground. This can happen due to impervious surfaces such as pavement, roofs, and compacted soil, which prevent water from infiltrating. As a result, the water quickly flows into storm drains, sewers, and ditches, often carrying various pollutants with it.

Sources of Pollution in Stormwater

Stormwater can pick up numerous pollutants as it flows across surfaces. Common pollutants include bacteria, oil, chemicals, debris, eroded soil, fertilizers, pesticides, and trash. These contaminants can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems, including fish and plant life.

Strategies for Stormwater Management

The primary goal of stormwater management is to detain stormwater, remove pollutants, and reduce runoff. This can be achieved through the implementation of various strategies:

• Pervious Surfaces: Using porous surfaces that allow rainwater and snowmelt to soak into the soil, reducing the volume of stormwater runoff.
• Gray Infrastructure: This includes culverts, gutters, storm sewers, and conventional piped drainage systems that capture and convey stormwater away from populated areas.
• Blue/Green Infrastructure: These are natural or nature-based solutions that protect, restore, or mimic the natural water cycle. Examples include wetlands, rain gardens, and green roofs.
• Best Management Practices (BMPs): Implementing BMPs can help reduce runoff and ensure that stormwater leaving a property is clean. This may involve proper waste disposal, reducing chemical usage, and erosion control measures.
• Stormwater/National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): Compliance with NPDES permits and regulations is crucial for effective stormwater management. This may involve developing and implementing municipal, industrial, and construction programs to control stormwater pollution.
• Wastewater Treatment: Treating stormwater before it enters water bodies is essential. Wastewater treatment facilities use biological, physical, and chemical processes to remove pollutants and prevent them from reaching natural waterways.
• Education and Community Involvement: Educating communities about stormwater management and their local watershed is vital. Encouraging proper waste disposal, responsible chemical use, and participation in stream restoration projects can help reduce stormwater pollution.

Benefits of Effective Stormwater Management

Effective stormwater management provides numerous benefits, including:

• Improved water quality in streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
• Reduced flooding and erosion by controlling the volume and velocity of stormwater runoff.
• Protection of aquatic ecosystems and wildlife, ensuring their health and sustainability.
• Recharging of groundwater aquifers, helping to maintain water supplies.
• Compliance with environmental regulations and avoidance of potential fines and penalties.

Water conservation

Water Treatment and Testing

Treating water before it enters the waterway system is an efficient way to reduce water pollution. Wastewater treatment facilities use biological, physical, and chemical processes to remove pollutants. Sewage treatments, for example, sanitise water to reduce toxic levels of pollutants and prevent them from entering water systems. Ozonated wastewater treatment uses an ozone generator to break down water contaminants, while ultraviolet (UV) radiation oxidises bacteria, organic matter, and other contaminants. Denitrification is another process that helps prevent groundwater contamination by converting nitrate to nitrogen and preventing it from leaching into the soil.

Regular testing and measuring of water quality are crucial to protect aquatic environments and ensure clean water for humans, animals, and plants. Parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), ORP, and temperature are tested to determine water quality and identify water pollution.

WaterSense and Efficient Appliances

WaterSense-labeled homes and products can help conserve water and save money. These include plumbing fixtures, dishwashers, and clothes washers. Using energy-efficient appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, can also reduce water and energy consumption.

Household Habits

There are many simple habits that can help conserve water in daily life. Taking shorter showers instead of baths, turning off the water while soaping or shampooing, and using low-flow showerheads can significantly reduce water usage.

Other habits include keeping drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap, rinsing vegetables in a bowl or sink of clean water, and using a dishwasher only when it is fully loaded. Composting food waste instead of using the garbage disposal, repairing leaks, and using treated wastewater for irrigation are also effective ways to conserve water.

Outdoor Water Use

When it comes to outdoor water use, it is essential to water efficiently. Watering the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day, such as early morning, reduces evaporation. Watering less frequently but for longer durations allows water to reach the roots of plants. Using a bucket to wash the car or opting for a commercial car wash that recycles water is more water-efficient than using a hose.

Water-Smart Landscaping

Creating a water-smart landscape involves choosing plants that require less water and considering the timing and amount of watering. Upgrading to a WaterSense-labeled controller for in-ground irrigation systems and seeking advice from professionals can help optimise water usage.

By adopting these water conservation practices, we can all play a part in preserving our precious water resources and protecting our environment for future generations.

Testing and measuring water quality

Direct sampling is a common method of testing water quality. This can be done by measuring the water's temperature and flow rate. To measure temperature and flow rate, two places along a river that are about 1.6 kilometers apart and have the same conditions are chosen. Two people then measure the temperature at approximately the same time, and if the difference is greater than 2 degrees Celsius, there is thermal pollution. To find the flow rate, a buoyant object, such as an orange, is floated down the river. Water hardness is another factor that is tested, and the level of hardness should not exceed 270 mg/l (15.5 grains per gallon) measured as calcium carbonate. Water softer than 30 to 50 mg/l may be corrosive to piping, and water softeners can be used to correct hard water.

Water clarity, or turbidity, is another important factor that is tested. Turbidity refers to how clear the water is and is often associated with surface water sources. Excess soil erosion, dissolved solids, or excess growth of microorganisms can cause high turbidity, which blocks light and negatively impacts plants and dissolved oxygen levels. Water samples can also be tested for bacteria, with certain bacteria indicating possible pathogenic contamination. Fecal coliform, for example, can enter a waterway through animal waste, untreated sewage, combined sewage overflow, or septic tanks.

Water quality can also be tested by measuring the levels of dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, phosphates, and nitrates. DO levels are important for the survival of aquatic species, and most healthy water bodies have high levels of DO. However, certain water bodies, like swamps, naturally have low levels of DO. Phosphates are nutrients needed for growth and are found in shells, bones, and animal teeth. By removing phosphorus from sewage, the amount of phosphate ions in the water can be lowered. Nitrogen is also necessary for plant and animal life, and water is tested for nitrates to monitor and control eutrophication, which causes more plant growth and decay.

In addition to direct sampling, water quality can be measured indirectly through the use of instruments such as Secchi disks, probes, nets, gauges, and meters. Information can also be derived from aerial and satellite photographs by observing the surrounding environment and collecting organisms that live in the body of water.

Frequently asked questions