Water Contamination

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffery A. Foran ◽  
Amaryl Griggs
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Water Contamination ◽  
Pollution Prevention ◽  
Source Control ◽  
Industrial Chemicals ◽  
Water Contaminants

This chapter describes water contamination and wastewater treatment. It reviews the current state of water availability and water quality globally. It describes types of surface water contaminants including metals such as lead, arsenic and mercury, pesticides such as atrazine, industrial chemicals including PCBs and PBDEs, and pathogens such as E. coli and Cryptosporidium. Sources of water pollutants and their effects on humans and the environment are also discussed. Environmental Protection Agency approaches to managing surface water quality under the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act are presented as are descriptions of operational approaches to drinking water and wastewater treatment. New approaches to managing water pollution, including source control and pollution prevention, are presented and challenges to the management of water quality, such as climate change, are discussed.

Quality assessment of an aquifer recharged with wastewater for its potential use as drinking source: “El Mezquital Valley” case

2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Jimenez ◽  
A. Chávez
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Mexico City ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Artificial Recharge ◽  
Reclaimed Water ◽  
Very High ◽  
Potential Use

Mexico City, with a population of 18 million, has been sending its wastewater for more than 100 years to the Tula Valley where it is used to irrigate 90,000 ha. Due to the large wastewater volume (60 m3/s) sent through unlined channels, combined with the use of very high irrigation rates, artificial recharge of the local aquifer has been occurring. This recharge is estimated in more than 25 m3/s. As a consequence, the water table has raised and several springs have appeared in the last decades with flows between 100 to 600 L/s. These springs and several wells are the water sources in the region. An evaluation of the Tula Valley aquifer quality was performed to analyze the use of such water as source of drinking water for Mexico City. The work is divided into 5 individual projects: (a) drinking water quality in the Tula Valley; (b) water availability in the Tula Valley; (c) wastewater treatment due to its use for irrigation, (d) use of membrane processes to treat groundwater; and (d) biota developed in the new surface water reservoirs. Results show that it is feasible to use this reclaimed water as drinking source.

INDICATIONS OF SURFACE WATER CONTAMINATION OF DRINKING WATER IN THE SAGARMATHA NATIONAL PARK, NEPAL

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Neumann ◽  
◽  
Kirsten N. Nicholson ◽  
Carolyn B. Dowling ◽  
Leah Wood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
National Park ◽  
Water Contamination ◽  
Surface Water Contamination ◽  
Sagarmatha National Park

scholarly journals Historical Assessments of Inorganic Pollutants in the Sinkhole Region of Winkler County, Texas, USA

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7513
Author(s):  
Joshua Lozano ◽  
Joonghyeok Heo ◽  
Mijin Seo
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Water Contamination ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Inorganic Pollutants ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
The Public ◽  
West Texas ◽  
Contamination Levels

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the public water contamination levels of Winkler County, in West Texas. With water scarcity becoming more prevalent in arid climates like West Texas, it is important to ensure the water quality in these areas. The Dockum and Pecos Valley aquifers were analyzed for inorganic pollutants that could inhibit the water. The parameters such as copper, lead, arsenic, nitrate, chloride, and chromium level reports were provided from 1972 to 2018 to analyze and compare to other studies such as the ones conducted in the Midland/Odessa area. The results were compared to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety standards, and conclusions were made for the safety consumption of water within the county. We found that inorganic pollutants resulted mainly from the mobilization of the contaminant from anthropogenic activities such as chemical fertilizers, oil and gas developments. This research provides important information for inorganic pollutants in the sinkhole region of Winkler County and contributes to understanding the response to the aquifers. The significance of water quality in West Texas is now more important than ever to ensure that everyone has clean drinking water.

scholarly journals Assessing clarity of message communication for mandated USEPA drinking water quality reports

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Phetxumphou ◽  
Siddhartha Roy ◽  
Brenda M. Davy ◽  
Paul A. Estabrooks ◽  
Wen You ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Water System ◽  
System Size ◽  
The United States ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Evaluation Tool ◽  
Index Index ◽  
State Of The Science

The United States Environmental Protection Agency mandates that community water systems (CWSs), or drinking water utilities, provide annual consumer confidence reports (CCRs) reporting on water quality, compliance with regulations, source water, and consumer education. While certain report formats are prescribed, there are no criteria ensuring that consumers understand messages in these reports. To assess clarity of message, trained raters evaluated a national sample of 30 CCRs using the Centers for Disease Control Clear Communication Index (Index) indices: (1) Main Message/Call to Action; (2) Language; (3) Information Design; (4) State of the Science; (5) Behavioral Recommendations; (6) Numbers; and (7) Risk. Communication materials are considered qualifying if they achieve a 90% Index score. Overall mean score across CCRs was 50 ± 14% and none scored 90% or higher. CCRs did not differ significantly by water system size. State of the Science (3 ± 15%) and Behavioral Recommendations (77 ± 36%) indices were the lowest and highest, respectively. Only 63% of CCRs explicitly stated if the water was safe to drink according to federal and state standards and regulations. None of the CCRs had passing Index scores, signaling that CWSs are not effectively communicating with their consumers; thus, the Index can serve as an evaluation tool for CCR effectiveness and a guide to improve water quality communications.

scholarly journals Perceived agricultural runoff impact on drinking water

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 484-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Crampton ◽  
Angela T. Ragusa
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Agricultural Runoff ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Urban Residents ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Rural Residents ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Agricultural Contaminants

Agricultural runoff into surface water is a problem in Australia, as it is in arguably all agriculturally active countries. While farm practices and resource management measures are employed to reduce downstream effects, they are often either technically insufficient or practically unsustainable. Therefore, consumers may still be exposed to agrichemicals whenever they turn on the tap. For rural residents surrounded by agriculture, the link between agriculture and water quality is easy to make and thus informed decisions about water consumption are possible. Urban residents, however, are removed from agricultural activity and indeed drinking water sources. Urban and rural residents were interviewed to identify perceptions of agriculture's impact on drinking water. Rural residents thought agriculture could impact their water quality and, in many cases, actively avoided it, often preferring tank to surface water sources. Urban residents generally did not perceive agriculture to pose health risks to their drinking water. Although there are more agricultural contaminants recognised in the latest Australian Drinking Water Guidelines than previously, we argue this is insufficient to enhance consumer protection. Health authorities may better serve the public by improving their proactivity and providing communities and water utilities with the capacity to effectively monitor and address agricultural runoff.

scholarly journals The role of wastewater treatment plants in surface water contamination by plastic pollutants

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 00054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bozena Mrowiec
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Contamination ◽  
Membrane Filtration ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Municipal Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Surface Water Contamination

The aim of this paper was to review the literature data regarding the physico-chemical characteristic of plastic pollutants discharged with municipal sewage, the practical possibility of removing microplastic particles from wastewater during different treatment steps in WWTPs and the problem of surface water contamination within them. Microplastics (the size range of 1 nm to < 5 mm), have been recognized as an emerging threat, as well as an ecotoxicological and ecological risk for water ecosystems. Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are mentioned as the main point sources of microplastics in an aquatic environment. Microplastic particles can be effectively removed in the primary treatment zones via solids skimming and sludge settling processes. Different tertiary treatment processes such as: gravity sand filtration, discfilter, air flotation and membrane filtration provide substantial additional removal of microplastics, and the efficiency of wastewater treatment process can be at a removal level of 99.9%. Nevertheless, given the large volumes of effluent constantly discharged to receivers, even tertiary level WWTPs may constitute a considerable source of microplastics in the surface water.

scholarly journals Risk Assessment for the Selected Surface Water Intake

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 147-163
Author(s):  
Dawid Szpak ◽  
Janusz R. Rak ◽  
Krzysztof Boryczko ◽  
Izabela Piegdoń ◽  
Jakub Żywiec
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Intake ◽  
Security Measures ◽  
Efficient System ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Risk Definition ◽  
Water Supply Company

AbstractThe purpose of the work is to analyze the risk for surface water intake, taking into account factors affecting the water quality. A three-parameter risk definition was proposed. It was found that the analyzed water intake has an efficient system that protects consumers against drinking water of inadequate quality (multibarier system). The task of the water supply company is to maintain its security measures (including a caution and warning station, biomonitoring) in a state of efficiency.

scholarly journals Assessing carrying capacity of receiving water bodies – A case study in Southern waterways of Binh Duong province

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 84-97
Author(s):  
Le Ngoc Tuan ◽  
Tao Manh Quan ◽  
Tran Thi Thuy ◽  
Doan Thanh Huy ◽  
Tran Xuan Hoang
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Pollution Source ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Source Control ◽  
Local Pollution ◽  
Surface Water Management ◽  
Receiving Water

The carrying capacity of receiving water bodies is one of the important data for water quality management, pollution source control towards harmonizing with the economic development and environment protection. Therefore, this research aimed atevaluating the carrying capacity of receiving water bodies in the south of Binh Duong province up to 2030. 06 key water quality indicators (COD, BOD, TSS, PO43--P, NO3--N, NH4+-N) were exmained with 02 wastewater treatment scenarios. Results showed the investigated area hardly had carrying capacity for NH4+-N and PO43--P, followed by TSS, BOD, and COD. In case of improving wastewater treatment status till 2030, the carrying capacity of receiving water bodies would be increased, but not significant. The carrying capacity of several basins needs to be paid special attention are: Suoi Con 1 basin (BOD, COD, NH4+-N), Suoi Cai basin (BOD, TSS and NH4+-N), the upstream of Cay Bang – Cau Dinh basin (BOD, COD, TSS, NH4+-N), the upstream of Chom Sao – Rach Bung basin (05 parameters, excepting NO3--N), the upstream of Binh Hoa – Vinh Binh basin (BOD, COD, PO43--P, NH4+-N). These findings are an important basis for formulating strategies and proposing measures for local pollution source control and surface water management.  

scholarly journals Rainwater as an alternative drinking water source for the Chronic Kidney Disease Of Uncertain etiology (CKDu) prone areas: a case study for Girandurukotte, Sri Lanka

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 539-548
Author(s):  
V. M. Jayasooriya ◽  
V. M. M. Perera ◽  
S. Muthukumaran
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Drinking Water Source ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Uncertain Etiology

Abstract Chronic Kidney Disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) is a fatal disease that causes death from kidney failure due to unknown risk factors and has already affected more than 400,000 people in the rural agricultural landscape (dry zone) of Sri Lanka. The major drinking source in Sri Lanka is groundwater and it is suspected that the pollution of groundwater sources due to agricultural means has a major impact on CKDu. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether rainwater can be used as an alternative safe drinking water source in Girandurukotte area, Sri Lanka, which is known to be an area endemic for CKDu. The physical, chemical, and biological analyses were performed to compare the water quality parameters of three water sources (groundwater, surface water, and rainwater) for Girandurukotte area. The most common storage tanks in polyethylene (PE) and ferrocement (FC) were compared to assess the influence of the material of rainwater tank on water quality. The results showed that there is a significant difference in rainwater in terms of water quality compared to groundwater and surface water. Rainwater in FC and PE tanks showed significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) for some parameters however, they were still within accepted potable drinking water standards.

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