Water pollution can come from various sources including municipal, industrial, and agricultural waste. Key pollutants include organic and inorganic materials, pathogens, excess nutrients, and thermal pollution. This can harm aquatic life and contaminate drinking water sources. Water quality standards and effluent discharge standards aim to classify water purity levels for different uses and limit pollution. Proper treatment and regulation of pollutant sources is needed to protect water resources and public health.
2. Water Pollution
• Pure Water:- Pure water is that water which
contains only two parts of hydrogen and one
part of oxygen.
• Pure water is a water from a source that has
removed all impurities.
• Distilled water is the most common form of
pure water.
• Pure water can be used for cooking, drinking,
scientific studies and laboratories.
3. Distilled Water
• Distilled pure water is the water that is
produced by distillation, this water is boiled
and the stream is then condensed into a
container to get distilled water.
4. De-ionized Water
• De-ionized water is the cheaper imitation of
distilled water. This type of pure water is
obtained by removing all the mineral, ions
such as calcium, copper and iron.
• The deionization process is a physical process
that uses ion-exchange resins that removes the
mineral salts from water.
5. Wholesome water
• Water which is fit to use for drinking, cooking,
food preparation or washing without any
potential danger to human health.
• In other words, wholesome water is that water
which is not chemically pure, but does not
contain any thing which can be harmful to
human health.
6. Palatable Water
• The water which is tasteful for drinking and
aesthetically pure, is known as “ Palatable
water”.
7. Potable water
• The water which is suitable for public water
supply is known as potable water.
• The water which has both the characteristics
i.e. of „wholesome water‟ and „palatable water‟
is known as potable water.
8. Polluted Water
• The water which consists of undesirable
substances which make it unfit for drinking
and domestic use, is known as „ Polluted
Water‟.
9. Contaminated Water
• The Water containing Pathogenic organisms is
called as “ Contaminated Water”.
• The contaminated water is also polluted but
the polluted water may not be contaminated.
10. Effluent
• Effluent is an outflow of water from a natural
body of water or from human made structure.
• Effluent as defined by USEPA “ Waste water
treated or untreated- that flows out of a
treatment plant, sewer or industrial outfall
generally refers to wastes discharged into
surface waters.
11. Water Quality
• Water quality is the physical, chemical and
biological characteristics of water. It is a
measure of the condition of water relative to
the requirements of any human need or
purpose.
12. Water Pollution
• Water Pollution can be defined as alteration in
physical, chemical, or biological characteristics
of water through natural or human activities and
making it unsuitable for its designated use.
• Fresh Water present on the earth surface is put to
many uses. It is used for drinking, domestic and
municipal uses, agricultural, irrigation,
industries, navigation, recreation. The used water
becomes contaminated and is called waste water.
13. Pollutants
• Undesirable chemical constituents- organic
• (e.g., Benzene, Carbon Tetrachloride, Cis-1,2-Dichlorethylene,
Styrene etc.) and inorganic
• (e.g., chloride, sulphate, iron, manganese, sodium, Total
hardness and total dissolved solids
• Toxic constituents (typical, not complete list) - nitrate, arsenic,
chromium, lead, cyanide, copper, phenols, dissolved mercury.
• Undesirable physical characteristics - taste, color and odour.
• Pesticides and herbicides - chlorinated hydrocarbons and
others
• Radioactive materials - various forms of radioactivity
• Biological - bacteria, viruses, parasites and so on
• Acid (low pH) or caustic (high pH)
14. Quality of Water
• Parameters of water which are required to
be tested for determining the quality of
water can be divided into
• Physical
• Chemical
• Microbiological
16. Turbidity
• It is the large amount of
suspended matter such
as clay, silt, some other
finely divided organic
matter present in the
water, it will appear to
be muddy or cloudy or
turbid in appearance.
• Turbidity is measured
by turbid meter and is
expressed in mg/l
17. Color
• Dissolved organic matter from
decaying vegetation or some
inorganic materials such as
colored soils, may impart color
to water. The excessive growth of
algae also may impart color to
the water.. The presence of color
in water is not objectionable
from health point of view, but
may spoil the color of clothes
being washed in it
• Color of water is measured by
Hazens unit It should not exceed
5 and should be less than 25
18. Taste And Odour
• The dissolved organic matter, inorganic salts, or
dissolved gases may impart tastes and odours to the
water, which generally occurs together.
• Taste and odour may be due to presence of dissolved
gases such as H2S, CH4, CO2, O2, etc. Some mineral
substances like Iron, sulphates, may impart taste to
water.
• For drinking purpose water should not contain any
undesirable taste and odour.
• Taste of water should be agreeable to the consumers
• And odour of water is measured in terms of threshold
odour number.
• For public supplies threshold odour no should be 1 and
should not exceed 3.
19. Temperature
• Temperature of water has no practical
significance however temperature of water
should be above 10 0 c while temperature
above 25 0C are considered as objectionable.
20. Chemical Parameters
• Solids ( Suspended, Dissolved, Volatile)
• Hardness
• Chlorides
• pH
• Dissolved gases like Oxygen, Carbon dioxide,
Hydrogen sulphide
• Nitrogen compound like Nitrates, Nitrites.
• Metals and other in organic substance like
fluoride, iron, and manganese, lead, Arsenic,
Iodide, Cadmium.
21. Microbiological Parameters
• It Includes various microorganisms i.e.
bacteria, virus, protozoa, worms, present in
water it may be pathogenic or non pathogenic
22. Water Quality Standards
• The definition of water quality depends on the
intended use of the water which may be either
human consumption or it may be for industries,
irrigation, recreation etc.
• Depending upon the proposed use of water, certain
water quality criteria are established and based on
these criteria quality standards are specified by
health and other regulation agencies.
• Different types of uses require different level of
water purity.
• Drinking water requires highest standard of purity
33. Sources of Surface Water Pollution
• Most of Water Pollution is man made It may also occur naturally by
addition of soil particles through erosion animal wastes and leaching
of minerals from rocks
• The sources of surface water pollution can be classified as
• Municipal Waste Water
• Industrial Waste
• Inorganic Pollutants
• Organic Pollutants
• Agricultural Wastes
• Marine Pollution
• Thermal pollution
34. Municipal Waste Water
• Municipal waste water includes domestic discharges and
commercial and industrial waste water collected in public
sewerage system. The sewage contain human and industrial
waste water collected in public sewerage system. The sewage
contain human and animal excreta, food residue, detergents,
and other wastes. It always contain organic matter, bacteria,
and other biological Pollutants.
36. Industrial Waste
• The major source of water pollution is the
waste water discharged from industries and
commercial bodies, these industries are
chemical, metallurgical, food processing
industries, textile, paper industries. They
discharge several organic and inorganic
pollutants. That prove highly toxic to living
beings.
41. Organic Pollutants
• They Include oils, fats, phenols, organic acids grease and several
other organic compounds
42. Agricultural Wastes
• Chemical fertilizers and pesticides have
become essential for present day high
yielding crops. Consequently , they have
become a potential source of water
pollution. These fertilizers contain major
plants nutrients mainly nitrogen,
phosphorous, and potassium. Excess
fertilizers may reach the ground water by
leaching or may be mixed with surface
water of rivers, lakes and ponds by runoff
and drainage.
43. Marine Pollution
• Ocean are the final sink of all natural and manmade pollutants.
Rivers discharge their pollutants into the sea. The sewage and
garbage of costal cities are also dumped into the sea. The other
sources include, discharge of oils, grease, detergents, and
radioactive wastes from ships.
45. Thermal Pollution
• Thermal Pollution of water is caused by the rise in temperature
of water. The main source of thermal pollution are the thermal
and nuclear power plants. The power generating plants use
water as coolants and release hot water into the original source.
Sudden rise in temperature kills fish and other aquatic animals.
47. Underground Water Pollution
• Underground water was considered fairly safe source of water
but in India the ground water is threatened with contamination
due to seepage from industrial and municipal waste and
effluents, sewage and agricultural runoff. The ground water also
gets polluted by leaching of salts and minerals due to overuse of
ground water source.
49. Effects of Water Pollutants
• Sediments:- Excessive amount of soil
particles carried by flowing water,
when there is severe soil erosion.
Sediments clog reservoir and channels,
destroy, aquatic life.
• Oxygen demanding organic waste:-
Animal waste, plant debris, waste from
paper mill and food processing
facilities bacteria can decompose
organic waste and in the process they
deplete oxygen and can cause death of
fish and other aquatic life.
50. • Infectious microorganisms:- Parasitic worms, viruses and
bacteria from infected organisms as well as human and animal
wastes are responsible for water borne diseases that can kill
thousand of Individuals.
• Organic Compounds:- Substances like fats oil, grease as well as
some organic acids from industrial effluents can cause many
health problems in humans and can disturb aquatic life
52. • Inorganic nutrients:-
• Substances like nitrogen and
phosphorous from animal waste,
plant residues and fertilizers runoff.
These nutrients can cause
eutrophication and can effect infant
and unborn babies ( Blue baby
syndrome)
• Inorganic Chemicals:- Acids salts
and heavy metals, such as lead and
mercury from industrial effluents,
surface runoff and house hold
cleaning agents. They make water
unfit for drinking, or irrigation, harm
fish and other aquatic life.
53. • Radioactive substances:- Waste
from nuclear power plants, nuclear
weapons, and the mining of
radioactive substances can cause
cancer, birth defects etc.
• Thermal Pollution:- Hot Water
from industrial processes may
lower oxygen levels and make
aquatic organisms more vulnerable
to disease, parasites and toxic
chemicals.
55. Eutrophication
• Definition:- Eutophication is an increase in chemical nutrients,
typically compound containing nitrogen or phosphorous in an
ecosystem, and it may occur on land or in water
• However, Eutrophication also means excessive plant growth.
57. Eutrophication Process
• A lake or pond contains minimal level of
nutrients and is supports small population of
aquatic organisms. Eutrophication is the
enrichment of such nutrients like phosphorous
and nitrogen. It may occur when fertilizers
runoff during discharge of large amount of
nutrients into the water body.
• In Eutrophic lakes there is increased
photosynthetic activity which results in excess
growth of algae. When the excessive number of
algae die, they are deposited on the bottom of
the lake and are decomposed. Since this
process uses lots of dissolved oxygen some fish
species die.
• Eutrophication is undesirable, since it affects
aquatic life.
58. • Eutrophication generally promotes excessive plant growth and
decay, or favors certain species over the other, and is likely to
cause reduction in water quality.
• In Aquatic environment enhanced growth disturbs normal
functioning of the ecosystem causing a variety of problems such
as lack of oxygen in the water , needed for fish to survive. The
water becomes cloudy, colored, a shade of green, yellow, brown
or red. Human society is impacted as well
• Eutrophication decreases the resource value of rivers, lakes and
estuaries such that recreation , fishing, hunting and aesthetic
enjoyment are hindered health related problem can occur where
eutrophication condition interfere with drinking.
59.
60. Ground Water Pollution
• Sources of groundwater pollution
• Saltwater encroachment associated with over drafting of
aquifers or natural leaching from natural occurring deposits
are natural sources of groundwater pollution. Most concern
over groundwater contamination has centered on pollution
associated with human activities. Human groundwater
contamination can be related to waste disposal (private sewage
disposal systems, land disposal of solid waste, municipal
wastewater, wastewater impoundments, land spreading of
sludge, brine disposal from the petroleum industry, mine
wastes, deep-well disposal of liquid wastes, animal feedlot
wastes, radioactive wastes) or not directly related to waste
disposal (accidents, certain agricultural activities, mining,
highway deicing, acid rain, improper well construction and
maintenance, road salt).
61. The Following Table Shows A List Of The Potential Groundwater
Contamination Sources
Potential groundwater contamination source
Place of origin
Municipal Industrial Agricultural Individual
air pollution air pollution air pollution air pollution
municipal waste land chemicals: storage & chemical spills fertilizers
spreading spills
fertilizers homes
salt for de-icing fuels: storage & spills
livestock waste storage cleaners
At or near the land streets
mine tailing piles facilities & land
surface detergents
streets & parking spreading
lots motor oil
pesticides
paints
pesticides
landfills pipelines underground storage septic systems
leaky sewer lines underground storage tanks wells: poorly
Below the land tanks
wells: poorly constructed or
surface constructed or abandoned
abandoned
62. Description Of The Contamination
Sources.
• Natural: groundwater contains some impurities, even if it is
unaffected by human activities. The types and concentrations of
natural impurities depend on the nature of the geological
material through which the groundwater moves and the quality
of the recharge water. Groundwater moving through sedimentary
rocks and soils may pick up a wide range of compounds such as
magnesium, calcium, and chlorides. Some aquifers have high
natural concentration of dissolved constituents such as arsenic,
boron, and selenium. The effect of these natural sources of
contamination on groundwater quality depends on the type of
contaminant and its concentrations.
63. Agricultural
• Agricultural: Pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides and animal waste are
agricultural sources of groundwater contamination. The agricultural
contamination sources are varied and numerous: spillage of fertilizers and
pesticides during handling, runoff from the loading and washing of pesticide
sprayers or other application equipment, using chemicals uphill from or
within a few hundred feet of a well. Agricultural land that lacks sufficient
drainage is considered by many farmers to be lost income land. So they may
install drain tiles or drainage wells to make the land more productive. The
drainage well then serves as a direct conduit to groundwater for agricultural
wastes which are washed down with the runoff.
Storage of agricultural chemicals near conduits to groundwater, such as open
and abandoned wells, sink holes, or surface depressions where ponded water
is likely to accumulate. Contamination may also occur when chemicals are
stored in uncovered areas, unprotected from wind and rain, or are stored in
locations where the groundwater flows from the direction of the chemical
storage to the well.
64. • INDUSTRIAL: Manufacturing and service industries have high demands for cooling
water, processing water and water for cleaning purposes. Groundwater pollution occurs
when used water is returned to the hydrological cycle.
Modern economic activity requires transportation and storage of material used in
manufacturing, processing, and construction. Along the way, some of this material can be
lost through spillage, leakage, or improper handling. The disposal of wastes associated with
the above activities contributes to another source of groundwater contamination. Some
businesses, usually without access to sewer systems, rely on shallow underground disposal.
They use cesspools or dry holes, or send the wastewater into septic tanks. Any of these
forms of disposal can lead to contamination of underground sources of drinking water. Dry
holes and cesspools introduce wastes directly into the ground. Septic systems cannot treat
industrial wastes. Wastewater disposal practices of certain types of businesses, such as
automobile service stations, dry cleaners, electrical component or machine manufacturers,
photo processors, and metal platters or fabricators are of particular concern because the
waste they generate is likely to contain toxic chemicals. Other industrial sources of
contamination include cleaning off holding tanks or spraying equipment on the open
ground, disposing of waste in septic systems or dry wells, and storing hazardous materials
in uncovered areas or in areas that do not have pads with drains or catchment basins.
Underground and above ground storage tanks holding petroleum products, acids, solvents
and chemicals can develop leaks from corrosion, defects, improper installation, or
mechanical failure of the pipes and fittings. Mining of fuel and non-fuel minerals can create
many opportunities for groundwater contamination. The problems stem from the mining
process itself, disposal of wastes, and processing of the ores and the wastes it creates.
65. Residential
• RESIDENTIAL: Residential wastewater systems can be a source of many
categories of contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, nitrates from human
waste, and organic compounds. Injection wells used for domestic wastewater
disposal (septic systems, cesspools, drainage wells for storm water runoff,
groundwater recharge wells) are of particular concern to groundwater
quality if located close to drinking water wells. Improperly storing or
disposing of household chemicals such as paints, synthetic detergents,
solvents, oils, medicines, disinfectants, pool chemicals, pesticides, batteries,
gasoline and diesel fuel can lead to groundwater contamination. When stored
in garages or basements with floor drains, spills and flooding may introduce
such contaminants into the groundwater. When thrown in the household
trash, the products will eventually be carried into the groundwater because
community landfills are not equipped to handle hazardous materials.
Similarly, wastes dumped or buried in the ground can contaminate the soil
and leach into the groundwater.
66. Inorganic Contaminants found in
Ground Water
Contaminants Potential Health Risk And Other Effects
Arsenic Causes acute and chronic toxicity, liver and kidney damage,
decrease blood hemoglobin.
Possible carcinogen
Chloride Deteriorates Plumbing, water heater, and municipal
equipments, at high level, above maximum contaminant level
taste become noticeable
Chromium Chromium VI Causes liver and kidney damage, internal
hemorrhaging, respiratory damage, dermatitis, and ulcer on the
skin at higher level.
Copper Can cause stomach and intestinal distress , liver and kidney
damage, anemia at higher doses, Imparts an adverse taste and
significant staining to clothes and fixtures. Essential trace
element but toxic to plants and algae at moderate level.
67. Inorganic Contaminants found in
Ground Water
Contaminants Potential Health risk and other effects
Cyanide Poisoning is the result of damage to liver, brain and spleen
Dissolved Solids May have an influence on the accessibility of water in general.
Fluoride Decreases incidence of tooth Decay but higher level can stain or mottle
teeth . Causes crippling bone disorder. At very high level.
Hardness Decreases the lather formation of soaps, increase the scale
formation in hot water heaters. and low pressure boilers at higher
levels.
Iron Imparts a bitter taste and astringent taste to water and brownish
color to clothes and plumbing fixtures.
Lead Affects red blood cell chemistry, delay normal physical and mental
development in babies and young children.
68. Inorganic Contaminants found in
Ground Water
Contaminants Potential Health risk and other effects
Manganese Causes aesthetic and economic damage , imparts brownish stains to
laundry, Affects taste of water, causes dark brown or black stains
on plumbing fixtures, relative non-toxic to humans but toxic to
plants at higher levels.
Mercury Causes acute and chronic toxicity. Targets the kidney and can cause
nervous system disorders.
Nickel Damages the heart and liver of laboratory animals exposed to large
amount over life time.
Nitrate Causes Metmemoglbinemia, which threatens oxygen carrying
capacity of blood.
Zinc Aids in healing of wounds, Imparts undesirable taste to water.
Thallium Damages kidney, liver, brain, and interestine in laboratory animals
when given in high dose
69. Organic Contaminants Found in Ground
water
Contaminants Potential Health risk and other effects
Volatile organic Can cause cancer and liver damage , anemia, gastrointestinal
carbon disorder, skin irritation, blurred vision, exhaustion, weight loss,
damage to nervous system, and respiratory tract irritation.
Pesticides Causes poisoning, headaches, dizziness, gastrointestinal disorder,
numbness, weakness, and cancer. Destroy nervous system,
thyroid, reproductive system, liver and kidney, stomach and liver
and kidney.
Plasticizers, Causes Cancer, Damage nervous and reproductive system,
Chlorinated kidney, stomach and liver.
solvents,
70. Microbiological Contaminants Found
in Ground water
Contaminants Potential Health risk and other effects
Coli form Bacteria, viruses, and parasites, can cause polio, cholera, typhoid
bacteria fever, dysentery and infection hepatitis
71. Radiological Contaminant Found In
Ground Water
Contaminants Potential Health risk and other effects
Gross alpha- Damages tissue and destroys bone marrow
particle
activity
Combined Causes cancer by concentrating in bone and skeletal tissue
radium 226
and radium
228
Beta particle Damages tissue and destroy bone marrow.
and photon
radioactivity
72. Over Use Of Water
• Water is used by every living organism on the earth. The
requirement of everybody varies, people should utilize it
economically, but population growth has created much demand
of water. In some areas the demand for water already exceeds
natures supplies. Due to rapid urbanization more people move
toward urban areas which leads to overuse of water in urban
areas.
• Water disputes between states are increasing as they have to
meet increasing demand due to overuse of water.
73. Problems Related To Overuse Of Water
• Water is used by every living organism on the earth. The
requirement of everybody varies. People should utilize it
economically, but the population growth has created much
demand of water. In some areas the demand for water already
exceeds natural’s supply and growing number of countries are
expected to face water shortage in the future.
• Due to rapid urbanization, more people move towards urban
areas, which leads to overuse of water in urban areas
• Water disputes between states are increasing as they have to
meet the increase in water demand due to overuse of water.
• Over exploitation in term is often used when the rate of
extraction exceeds the safe yield of any water resources.
74. Problems related to overuse of water
• Groundwater is a highly useful and often abundant resource.
However, over-use, or overdraft, can cause major problems to
human users and to the environment. The most evident problem
(as far as human groundwater use is concerned) is a lowering of
the water table beyond the reach of existing wells. Wells must
consequently be deepened to reach the groundwater; in some
places (e.g., California, Texas and India) the water table has
dropped hundreds of feet because of extensive well pumping. In
the Punjab region of India, for example, groundwater levels
have dropped 10 meters since 1979, and the rate of depletion is
accelerating. A lowered water table may, in turn, cause other
problems such as groundwater-related subsidence and saltwater
intrusion.
75. Subsidence
• Subsidence occurs when too much water is pumped out from
underground, deflating the space below the above-surface, and thus
causing the ground to actually collapse. The result can look like
craters on plots of land. This occurs because in its natural equilibrium
state, the hydraulic pressure of groundwater in the pore spaces of the
aquifer and the aquitard supports some of the weight of the overlying
sediments. When groundwater is removed from aquifers by excessive
pumping, pore pressures in the aquifer drop and compression of the
aquifer may occur. This compression may be partially recoverable if
pressures rebound, but much of it is not. When the aquifer gets
compressed it may cause land subsidence, a drop in the ground
surface. The city of New Orleans, Louisiana, is actually below sea
level today, and its subsidence is partly caused by removal of
groundwater from the various aquifer/aquitard systems beneath it. In
the first half of the 20th century, the city of San Jose, California,
dropped 13 feet from land subsidence caused by over pumping; this
subsidence has been halted with improved groundwater management.
78. Seawater Intrusion
• Generally, in very humid or undeveloped regions, the shape of
the water table follows the slope of the surface. In the coastal
areas, a lowered water table may induce sea water to reverse
the flow toward the land. Sea water moving inland is called a
saltwater intrusion. Alternatively, salt from mineral beds may
leach into the groundwater of its own accord.
80. Pollution
• Water pollution of groundwater, from pollutants released to the
ground that can work their way down into groundwater, can
create a contaminant plume within an aquifer. Movement of
water and dispersion within the aquifer spreads the pollutant
over a wider area, its advancing boundary often called a plume
edge, which can then intersect with groundwater wells or
daylight into surface water such as seeps and springs, making
the water supplies unsafe for humans and wildlife
81. Other Problems Related To Overuse Of Water
• Drying of water courses
• Depletion of water table
• Water logging
• Migration of population
• Increased salinity
• Increased pumping cost as the water table lowers
88. Case Studies
• Widespread groundwater pollution is in the
Ganges Plain of northern India and Bangladesh
where severe contamination of groundwater by
naturally occurring arsenic affects 25% of
water wells in the shallower of two regional
aquifers.