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Pollution & Water Quality
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Sources of Water Pollution
Point source pollution: pollutants traceable to a specific source, such as runoff from a factory or chemical plant. Relavtively easy to regulate, because the culprits are easily identified and can be made to clean up their act. Examples of point source pollutants: cyanide, copper.
Non-point source pollution (NPS): pollutants which come from several possible sources, and cannot be traced back to a certain company or place. Potentially difficult to control, because there are numerous possible sources, and each source may only be contributing a fraction of the total pollutants. Regulations must be enforced within a community or an industry (such as farming) and multiple sources must be monitored for compliance. Examples of non point source pollutants: fertilizer or pesticide runoff from farms and lawns, septic tank overflow from residential areas.
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Homework Assignment
Water Management: Pollution Control & Conservation
This is an optional assignment that may be required by some lab instructors.
Use the green highlighted websites (NKWD, CSWCD, EPA) below to answer the following questions. Turn in a typed answers to your instructor at the next lab period.
1) First, explain why water conservation is important. Now briefly explain 2 ways that homeowners can conserve water.
2) When runoff washes into storm drains, where does it go? Would this count as point-source pollution or non-point source pollution?
3) What are 2 things you can do to help keep your septic system from contributing to runoff?
4) List 4 other ways that you can help reduce pollution due to stormwater runoff.
5) Explain what nutrient pollution of water is. Now explain 2 common sources of the pollutants that cause this. |
Information on Local Water Sources, Pollution, & Management
Northern Kentucky Water District: supplies water to Kenton ane Campbell counties, including the NKU campus. The Ohio and Licking Rivers are the major sources of water for this district. Their website provides yearly water quality reports, as well as useful information on water conservation.
Clermont Soil & Water Conservation District: check out their brochure on controlling NPS pollution ("When it rains...").
EPA: The Environmental Protection Agency has an extensive website on water quality. Of particular interest, they have information on local water quality. The EPA also has general information available on contaminants and fact-sheets on specific contaminants such as nitrate and nitrite. Their webpages on nutrient pollution are particularly interesting.
ORSANCO: Their website provides interesting data on water quality in the Ohio River basin.
Kentucky Water Watch: has lots of interesting information on stream testing, water quality, and which pollutants are of particular concern. |
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