Water Pollution &

Treatment
Science 8
Chapter 2C
NCSCOS 3.07
 Warm-Up: copy each
sentence with the correct
response.
1. The 3 classes of indicators are
____, biological, and chemical.  Bio-
2. Nitrates from fertilizers found indicator
in a water supply are _________.
3. The dirtiness or cloudiness of
 Physical
water is ______.  Watershe
4. pH is a method of measuring
the _____ of water.
d
5. An living organism that is used  Algal
to evaluate water health is a Blooms
_______.
6. ______ can form in turbid water
 Chemical
or in the presence of nitrates. indicators
7. A _____ is an area of land that  Acidity
shares the same water.
 Turbidity
What is Pollution?
A pollutant is any substance or
form of energy that can cause
harm to the environment and
make it unfit for organisms.

Two types of water pollution:

1. Point Source
2. Non-Point Source
Water Pollution Sources
 Point
Source- you know the one
source of pollution; it is identified;
easier to detect and control

 Non-point Source- comes from

many sources that can not be
easily identified; harder to control
Point-Source examples:
Pipe from Sewage Plant
Pipe from Industrial Factory
Point-Source examples:
Point-Source examples:
Oil Tanker Spill
Non-Point Source
examples:
RUNOFF!!!
Water comes from across a large,
more diffuse area of land
From…farms, lawns, parking lots,
streets, construction sites, acid
rain from air pollution, etc.
Non-Point Source
examples:
Non-Point Source
examples:
Non-Point Source
examples:
Non-Point Source
examples:
Biomagnification/Bioaccum
ulation
Pollution gets into smaller organisms
Amount builds up as it gets passed up
food chain
Chemicals could end up in food eaten
by humans
North Carolina Pollution
Sedimentation – increases turbidity
◦ Erosion
◦ Development
◦ Agriculture – tilling soil, irrigation,
livestock

Nutrient Pollution – increases Nitrate &

Phosphate levels in water
 Algae Low Oxygen
 Fertilizers run off in storm water
 Fecal Coliform Bacteria from animal feces
Water Treatment
Sewage Treatment Plants
◦ Process raw waste & get water ready to
enter back into rivers
◦ 1.) Sludge separated, chlorine used to kill
harmful bacteria
◦ 2.) Oxygen & sludge-eating bacteria used

Septic Systems
◦ Small wastewater system used by home
or business in rural area
◦ Sludge consumed by bacteria
◦ Cleaner water exits & spreads into ground
Septic System
Water Treatment
Drinking Water Treatment Plants:
1. Water piped in from river or lake
2. Flows through mixers, clumping agents
& chemical disinfectants added
3. Clarifying pool separates large particles
4. Filters separate tiny particles of dust &
dirt
5. Chlorine used to kill bacteria
6. Clean water goes to water storage tank
EPA
The Environmental Protection
Agency sets and enforces water
quality standards for wastewater,
pollution & drinking water.
Focuses on protection of surface
freshwater resources
What can we do to help?!
Pick up pet waste
Pick up litter
Plant vegetation
Dispose of chemicals &
wastewater appropriately
Reduce amount of water used