Objectives

describe the water cylce discuss methods of water purification discuss the importance of dissolved oxygen to aquatic life discuss sources and impact of water pollution

Water Cycle
main processes include: evaporation and transpiration (sinks) condensation and precipitation (sources) 71% of Earths surface is water 98% found in oceans 1.6% in ice caps < 1% as fresh water water helps to regulate climatic conditions is a vital resource for living organisms gives daily comforts to humans water cycle is disturbed by deforestation urbanisation

Water Purification

potable water obtained from

surface water ground water sea

purification methods include

filtration chemical treatment sedimentation reverse osmosis distillation ion-exchange

Water Treatment

Desalination

multi stage flash distillation another technique

brine distilled under

reduced pressure in tanks vapor condenses as pure water on cooling coils

Dissolved Oxygen

marine organisms like all organisms need O2 for life dissolved oxygen levels are affected by
temperature (at constant pressure solubility decreases with increase in temp.) pressure turbidity concentration of chemical species and bacteria

BOD

measure of the amount of oxygen required by bacteria to oxidise organic matter

COD measure of the amount of oxidisable species sewage and industrial effluent are the main sources for high levels of BOD and COD

Sources of Water Pollution

Pollutant Nitrates Phosphates Source - fertilisers - detergents - household use Effect - eutrophication - increase algal growth which reduces dissolved oxygen available to aquatic life

Heavy Metals
Trace Metals

- vehicular emissions (storm runoff)

- effluent discharge from industrial plants

- toxic to aquatic life in high concentrations - can accumulate up the food chain - very toxic to aquatic life and has a long residence time so it can travel for long distances

Cyanides

- effluent discharge from industrial plants

Sources of Water Pollution

Pollutant Source Effect
-

Pesticides
Herbicides Petroleum Residue

- runoff from agricultural use

- runoff from agricultural use - storm water runoff - water transport vessels

toxic to aquatic life in high concentrations can accumulate up the food chain affects reproduction
persists for some period of time and reduces ability of water body to dilute pollutants increases susceptibility of aquatic animals to diseases affects reproduction

Suspended Particles

- effluent discharge

builds up sediment deposits in water bodies provides areas for deposition of toxic substances

Tests for Pollutants

Nitrate
brown ring test iron (II) sulphate followed by sulphuric acid brown ring forms between layer of iron (II) sulphate and

sulphuric acid

Phosphate
ammonium molybdate and ascorbic acid blue solution formed

Lead
potassium iodide yellow precipitate

Cyanide
iron (II) sulphate followed by sulphuric acid blue precipitate formed