Update RATED A+ NEW EDITION
No. Education, surveillance, inspection, and consultation are necessary.
Is technology the answer to environmental health?
Algae Bloom
Takes up oxygen in the water. Caused by Eutrophication, that puts nitrates and
phosphates from agriculture runoff (manure/fertilizer).
Cholera
Impure drinking water through microbial waterborne disease. Epidemics took heavy tolls
of human population, worldwide prior to 19th century. Source discovered by Dr. Jon
Snow, took off water handle.
Giardia & Cryptosporidium
Resistant to chlorine and need filtration in addition to disinfection. (mainly crypto)
Safe Drinking Water Act
Establish max contaminate level, for more than 80 biological chemicals, tests drinking
water. Public water supply.
Leachate
Garbage seepage going into the ground.
2 Categories of Water Pollution
- Point Source Pollution: You can see where the contaminants are coming from
- Non-point Source Pollution: Unable to source where the contaminants origin are.
Trihalomethanes
When chlorine added to naturally occurring organic matter in lakes or rivers.
Demonstrates carcinogenic activity in living beings.
Lead in Drinking Water
, Lead is a toxic metal found in products and around homes. Low levels of lead may even
lead to health issues. It's associated with old plumbing systems. Young children are at
most risk.
Nitrates in Water
Feed lot runoff, seepage from septic tanks from animal feces/fertilizer. Blue baby
disease, has nitrates in formula water, removing oxygen from the baby's body.
Broad Street Well (Cholera)
St. James Parish, Fecal waste dumped into cesspool located near well of London. Dr.
John Snow found cholera in the sewage, water pump. He drew a map and found that a
majority of people dying were drinking from the broad street well. He removed the
well's handle and people stopped dying. He pioneered "epidemiology" the study and
control of diseases.
Biosolid Landfarming/Management (sludge)
How they make fertilizer using gravity tanks. Nitrates and phosphates sludge fertilizer in
the bottom of the sedimentation tank.
Three levels of sewage treatment
Primary treatment, secondary treatment & tertiary treatment
Primary Treatment
Mechanical process, screens and sedimentation tank
Secondary Treatment
Biological process. Adds air to grow microbes/bacteria to consume most of the
remaining waste materials. Required by law to at LEAST have secondary treatment.
Tertiary Treatment
Advanced treatment; chemical, physical and biological. Treated wastewater for drinking,
irrigation or recreation. Remove nitrates and phosphates.
Aim of Sewage Treatment
Improve the quality of wastewater discharged into waterway without harming aquatic or
threatening the public health.