ENVS 1126 Lecture Notes - Lecture 31: Clean Water Act, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Cuyahoga River
25 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
Water pollution: the mississippi river collects water from 31 of the 48 contiguous u. s, delivers it to the gulf of mexico, along with fertilizers and wastes from feedlot animals. In 1974, scientists found that the water and sediments in the gulf no longer contained oxygen: this hypoxic (low oxygen) zone is growing, there is a well-documented relationship between nitrogen and hypoxia. Perspectives on water pollution: early in the industrial revolution chemicals and sewage were dumped directly into u. s. waterways, contaminating drinking water and causing disease. Legislation protecting water: the federal water pollution control act of 1948, the first federal action regarding water pollution, provided technical assistance but nothing else, waterways became open chemical and waste sewers. In 1969, ohio"s cuyahoga river actually caught fire, burning 7 bridges. Water pollution: sources and types: 2 sources, point, nonpoint, 4 types, pathogens, organic wastes, chemical pollutants, nutrients. In many developing countries, the same waterways are used for drinking, washing, and waste disposal.
