UNIT 5 WATER POLLUTION

Structure
5.0 Objectives

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Water Pollution

5.3 Surface Water Pollution

5.3.1 Types of Surface Water Pollution
5.3.2 Sources of Surface Water Pollution

5.4 Groundwater Pollution

5.4.1 Sources of Groundwater Pollution
5.4.2 Impact of Groundwater Pollution

5.5 Let Us Sum Up

5.6 Keywords

5.7 Suggested Reading

5.8 Model Answers to Check Your Progress
/

5.0 OBJECTIVES
.. After going through this unit, you should be able to:

• define water pollution;

• classify the types of water pollution; and

• identify the source's of surface water and groundwater pollution.

5.1 INTRODUCTION
Water pollution is posing a serious threat to the environment and human and animal
health all over the world. Pollution is the byproduct of so called development. Our
earlier civilizations not only lived along the rivers but thrived and prospered as well.
Water bodies including groundwaters were far cleaner and uncontaminated but the
modem civilization is reversing the trend. With the fast industrial development and
increase in human population, the water bodies are getting polluted and contaminated
by untreated sewage water, leaching of agrochemicals from the agricultural fields,
and industrial effluents. The situation has worsened to the extent that about 70 per
cent of rivers and streams not only in India but all over the world contain polluted
water. World in general and India in particular due to its unparallel population growth
are confronted with not only water scarcity problem but also its quality. The water
bodies are used for domestic, agriculture and industrial use. In most developing
countries, only a small fraction of human wastes are treated before being dumped
into rivers, lakes or the oceans resulting in water critical pollution levels. Two-thirds
of all surface waters in India are considered dangerous to human health.

The contaminated water affects human and animal health considerably leading to
outbreak of a number of serious ailments. Besides, the unhygienic environment impacts
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Water Quality the entire ecosystem and biodiversity. The water pollution, sources of water pollution,
its impact on biodiversity need to be properly understood before remedial measures
are taken to minimize/overcome pollution problems.

In the next unit, physical and chemical characteristics of water, types of micro-
organisms present in water and related diseases will be covered. The method of
water sampling and drinking water standards prescribed by the Bureau of Indian
Standards will also be dealt with.

5.2 WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution is any chemical, physical or biological change in the quality of water
that has a harmful effect on any living being that drinks or uses it. Water pollution
may be defined as an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological
characteristics of water that may have harmful effect on human life and other living
species. It refers to the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans
and groundwater caused by human activities which can be harmful to organisms and
plants which live in these water bodies. The solvent property of water makes water
pollution phenomenon quite complex. The water used in any form adds some
undesirable impurities to it. The common and typical case of river pollution is
discharging of municipal sewer and wastewater effluent into a river. When an effluent
is discharged into a river, the effect of pollutant is diluted which is one of the most
important self cleaning processes as explained in Fig.5 .1. For example, the river has
flow of water Q mvs and concentration of pollutant is Cl mg/l, whereas wastewater
j

has flow Q2 mvs and concentration of pollutant is C2 mgll. After the mixing of
effluent, the flow is Q3 m3/s and concentration of pollutant C3 mg/l.

River
•••

Fig. 5.1: Dilution process of effluent discharge

Flow at the mixing zone Q3 =Q 1 + Q2

Applying principle of mass balance:

(Q1X Cj)+(Q2X C2)=(Q3X C3)

Hence, concentration of pollutant X at the mixing zone.

C - (QIXCJ+ (Q2XC2)
(5.1)
3 - (Qj +Q2)

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Example Water Pollution

A stream of 10 mvsec discharge has pollutant concentration 0000 ppm (mgll). The
effluent from an industry is discharged into the stream at the rate of 1.5 mvsec with
a concentration of 15000 ppm. Compute the resultant concentration.

Solution
Using equation 5.1

C - (QlXCl)+ (Q2XC2)
3- (Ql +Q2)

Given

Ql = 10 mvsec
Cl = 300 mg/l (ppm)
Q2 = 1.5 mvsec ,

C2= 15000 mg/l (ppm)

C = (lOx300), (1.5 x 15000)

3 (10 + 1.5)

C3 = 2220ppm
5.3 SURFACE WATER POLLUTION
. In case of surface water pollution, pollutants enter a steam, river and a lake. A stage
comes when water is either rendered unusable or risk prone from health point of
VIew.

5.3.1 Types of Surface Water Pollution

Surface water pollution may be generally categorized as follows:
Point Source Pollution
Point source pollution is a well defined source that puts pollutants and effluents from
domestic and industrial wastes through a distinct conveyance into different water
bodies. This can be controlled effectively.
Non-Point Source Pollution
Non-point source (NPS) of water pollution is generally scattered sources (not
originating from a single source) which cause diffused contamination. NPS pollution
is often a cumulative effect of small amounts of contaminants gathered from a large
area. Contaminated water from agriculture farms, construction sites, abandoned
mines polluting rivers and lakes are some of the examples of this type of pollution.
NPS pollution is extremely difficult to control.

5.3.2 Sources of Surface Water Pollution

We have discussed the implication of water pollution, types of water pollution and
interaction between surface water pollution and groundwater pollution. Now, you
will study the sources of water pollution.
Waters are generally polluted by natural and artificial (man-made) sources. The
important sources of water pollution are as follows:
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Water Quality Natural Sources
Natural sources of water pollution are as follows:
(i) Siltation (Silt, sand and mineral particles): It is common natural phenomenon
occurring in most water bodies. As a result of this, not only the capacity of
water bodies like river, lake, reservoir gets considerably reduced but causes
pollution problem as well. Indiscriminate deforestation contributes to this
phenomenon by loosening the upper soil layer and occurrence floods. These
flood waters bring silts from the mountains and qeposit into these water bodies. .
These water bodies need to be periodically desilted which is a time consuming
and costly affair. .

(ii) Fluorides Content: High concentration of fluoride ions (F) in natural waters
particularly in groundwaters is a serious health risk. Fluoride concentration
beyond 0.7 ppm can result in fluorosis disease in human beings. This disease
affects bones, joints and teeths. Groundwaters in 12 states of the country
namely Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karanataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil
Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Prades~, Bihar and Orissa have
high fluoride concentration leading to high percentage of dental and bone
fluorosis.
(ill) Arsenic Content: Water with high arsenic content causes Arsenicosis (arsenic
poisoning), a type of cancer in different parts of the body.
Artificial Sources
From time immemorial, domestic (sewage and waste water), agriculture and industrial
waste have been polluting open water bodies such as rivers, lakes, streams and
oceans. Certain fraction of chemical fertilizers, pesticides/insecticides used for growing
crops gets leached and flows with runoff water to the open water bodies contributing
to water pollution. The following are the artificial sources of water pollution as shown
in Fig. 5.2.

(i) Sewage Pollution (domestic and animal waste): The sewage which contains
garbage, soaps, detergents, waste food, human excreta and animal waste is
one of the largest sources of water pollution. Disease causing micro-organism
such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa and algae enter the water system through
sewage. They result in a number of chemical processes in water and soil. A
number of serious diseases like typhoid, cholera, gastroenteritis are directly
caused by infected drinking water. Water polluted by sewage may also contain
bacteria and viruses which affect human health adversely. Some of the pollutants
like organic matter which are oxygen demanding substances cause
deoxygenation of water bodies affecting aquatic life. The plant nutrients like
phosphates and nitrates help in growth of algae by process called Eutrophication.
Algae tend to out -compete plants under these conditions and many plant species
begin to die. Th!s dead organic matter becomes food for bacteria that
decomposes it. With more food available, the bacteria increase in number which
consume dissolved oxygen in the water. When the dissolved oxygen content
decreases, many fish and aquatic insects cannot survive.

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 Water Pollution

------
-------
I 1 1

Eh Ul
fertilizer runoff 1 1
11////
///

,~> It" \\
-:;//~~ // / ~
Nuclear Radiation

Industrial wastes / / / / / / r==t

/ / / /

-----
///
- // / / C
//

/ / / ---- ------------
- -
~~---- ./ Oil pollution =-
-->
-
I

Fig. 5.2: Artificial sources of water pollution

(ii) Industrial Waste: The industries located near open water bodies discharge
their untreated effluents into them. They include highly toxic heavy metals such
as chromium, arsenic, lead, mercury, etc. and harmful organic and inorganic
wastes like acids alkalis, chlorides, cyanides, etc. Most ofthe rivers in India
have become extremely polluted due to discharge of effluents and wastes from
textile, sugar, paper, pulp, fertilizer, distillery, tannery and rubber and pesticide
industries. Most of these chemically polluted water have detrimental effect on
crop growth, fishery and aquatic species and are unsafe for drinking purposes.
Plastic, caustic soda and some fungicides and pesticides release mercury along
with other effluents in the water body. Mercury enters the food chain through
bacteria, algae, fish and human body. It results in depression, irritability, paralysis,
blindness, birth defects and even death.
(ill) Agricultural Waste: Manures, fertilizers, pesticides, farm waste from animal
and poultry farms and salts are drained from agriculture lands and join the
water bodies. As a flow oflarge quantities of phosphatic, nitrogenous fertilizers
and manures to the water bodies, the nutrient content becomes very high leading
to depletion of dissolve oxygen. Consumption of nitrate rich water is very
harmful for human health. Residues of toxic pesticides (DDT, Aldrin etc.) enter
the human body through drinking water or food chain. These compounds are
low water soluble but highly soluble in fats. The concentration ofDDT in the
river may be very low but if consumed by fish for a long period becomes unfit
for human consumption. Sirnilarly, some of the highly toxic chemical pesticides
affect animal health while grazing through food chain. These chemicals even if
consumed in very small amount, can cause hormonal imbalance and even cancer.

(iv) Physical Pollutants: Physical pollutants such as radioactive wastes, thermal

and oil have detrimental effects on human and animal health. Accidental leakage
of waste material form nuclear power plants and industries, research laboratory
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and hospitals using radio isotopes can cause serious ailments like tumour and
Water Quality cancer. The nuclear and thermal power plants require water for cooling and the
emerging hot water when discharged into rivers and lakes results in ecological
imbalance of the water body. The dissolved oxygen level reduces considerably
due to high temperature affecting fish and other aquatic species. Oil leakage
from oil refineries and automobile service stations pollute water bodies
threatening survival of fish and aquatic species. The source of different pollutants,
their characteristics and significance are explained in Table 5.1.
Table S.1 : Types of Water PoUuants

S.No. Sources of Polluant Pollutant Effects and Significance

1. Sewage, human and Oxygen demanding wastes, Depletion of dissolved

animal wastes, disease causing agents oxygen in water (foul
natural and urban (pathogens and viruses). odour) health effects
runoff from land and (outbreak of water borne
industrial waste diseases).

2. Organic chemicals- Automobile and machine Disruption of marine life,

oil and grease waste, tanker spills, offshore aesthetic damage.
oil leakage.

Pesticides and Chemicals used for better Toxic and harmful for
weedicides agricultural productivity. aquatic life, possible
genetic defects and cancer.

Plastics Industrial and household Kills fish.

waste.

Detergents Industries and homes. Eutrophication, aesthetics.

(phosphates)

3. Inorganic Pollutants- Agricultural runoff. Algae growth

Fertilizers (eutrophication) and
(phosphates and nitrates cause
nitrates) methaemoglobinaemia.

4. Acidity, Alkalinity Mine drainage, industrial Kill fresh water organisms,

and Salinity wastes, natural and urban unfit for drinking,
runoff. irrigation and industrial
use.

5. Radionuclides Natural sources, uranium Cancer and genetic

mining and processing, defects.
hospitals and research
laboratories using
radioisotopes.

6. Heat Cooling water for industrial, Decreases solubility of

nuclear and thermal plants. oxygen in water and
disrupts aquatic
ecosystems.
,
Sediments Natural erosion, runoff from Affects water quality and
agricultural land and reduces fish population.
construction sites.

Activity 1
Observe the colour of water in a stream flowing in a natural habitat. Compare it
with the colour of water receiving effluent from industry in the vicinity of the area.

After doing the above activity, attempt Check Your Progress questions.

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 Water Pollution
Check Your Progress 1

Note: a). Compare your answers with those given at the end of unit.
. b) Use the space below for your answers.

1) Explain the reasons for the present critical pollution level of our water bodies
particularly rivers.

2) List the natural sources of water pollution.

3) What is the harmful effect of oil and detergents on human health?

4) Compute the resultant pollution level of a stream with a discharge of 50 mvsec

with an initial pollution level of 500 ppm (mg/l), if 10 m3/seceffluent with a
concentration of 25000 ppm is discharged from an industry.

5.4 GROUNDWATERPOLLUTION
Natural sources, waste disposal activities and spills, leaks and agricultural
management practices such as use of fertilizers, pesticides contaminate the
groundwater. The groundwaters contain dissolved salts or minerals such as chloride,
nitrate,fluoride,iron and sulphate.These saltsand minerals in groundwatersexceeding
the permissible limit for human consumption, pose a serious threat to the health of
living beings. Groundwater can move over large distances as they are connected by
aquifers. Due to this, impurities/contaminants seeping into the groundwater at one
point can be detected over long distances from the point of source as a result of

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Water Quality diffusion. However, suspended impurities and bacterial contamination are removed
by the soil material which acts as an absorbent and water filter.

Interactions between groundwater and surface water are complex. It is very difficult
to have a clear cut distinction between the surface and groundwater pollution. The
pollution from surface water bodies may spill over to groundwaters. The chemicals
particularly nutrients and pesticides applied to the crops on the surface, join the '
groundwater as a result ofleaching and consequently pollute it. Thus, groundwater
contamination may be due to the interaction of oil characteristics and hydrology as
well as nature of contaminants.

5.4.1 Sources of Groundwater Pollution

The ground water gets contaminated by a number of sources.
• Micro-organisms ccntaminate the groundwaters when human and animal waste
containing virus, bacteria and parasites come into contact with them. Leaching
of waste dumps, sewage, land treatment sites, injection wells, solid waste disposal
and fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural fields and industrial waste also
contaminate groundwaters.
• Inorganic contaminants containing natural minerals or salts such as chloride,
nitrate, fluoride, iron and sulphate may pollute ground waters rendering them
unfit for consumption;
• Due to excessive use of pesticides and herbicides, organic compounds in
groundwaters such as Aldrin, toxaphene, DDT, tetrachloride etc. may cause
cancer.
• Agricultural practices such as fertilizer application, nitrogen fixing plants and .
organic waste may leach nitrate to groundwater and thus result in groundwater
pollution.

5.4.2 Impact of Groundwater Pollution

The groundwater is not visible like surface water bodies and therefore the groundwater
pollution is quite a complex phenomenon in terms of its identification and remedial
measures for mitigating pollution problem. The groundwater pollution is of particular
significance due to following reasons: ,

• Complex process of identification of pollution source;

• Limited feasible options for groundwater treatment which are very expensive;

• Complicated process in identifying geophysical boundaries;

• Difficulty in prediction of movement;

• Inadequate dilution;

• Lack of natural cleansing capacity; and

• . Lack of fresh water availability in groundwater polluted areas.

The groundwater contamination affects public health, environment and agricultural

productivity. It is therefore, essential that following measures are undertaken for
restoration of groundwater quality particularly in areas where ground water is the
only available source:
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• Identification and elimination of pollution sources: Covering abandoned land Water Pollution
and filling sites with bentonite or other low permeability material so as to check
rainwater from entering the sites;

• Containment of the contaminants in the affected area: The withdrawal of

groundwater or injection of clean water may prevent the flow of contaminants;

• Re-oxygenation of groundwater by air compressors to accelerate the growth

of aerobic bacteria;

• Addition of nutrients to stimulate the growth of bacteria; and

• Recharge of aquifers for flushing out contaminants absorbed in soil particles.

Now, we may check your progress again.

Check Your Progress 2

Note: a) Compare your answers with those given at the end of unit.
b) U se the space below for your answers.

1) . Distinguish between surface and groundwater pollution.

2) What do you mean by interaction of surface water pollution and groundwater

pollution?

3) Name the agricultural practices resulting in water pollution.

4) Name two reasons which make groundwater pollution a complex phenomenon.

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Water Quality
5.5 LET US SUM UP
• Water pollution is posing a serious threat to the environment and human and
animal health all over the world.

• Pollution is by-product of so called development. Most of the water bodies

are faced with pollution problem of varying degrees due to ever growing
population and industrialization affecting environment and health of all living
beings
• Pollutants resulting from domestic, industrial, agricultural, radio active wastes,
thermal and oil are the main sources of pollution which contaminate water bodies
including groundwaters.

• The groundwater pollution is more complex than the surface pollution

phenomenon in terms of its identification and remedial measures for mitigating
pollution problem. Groundwater can move over large distances as they are
connected by aquifers. Due to this, impurities/ contaminants seeping into the
groundwater at one point move over long distances from the point of source as
a result of diffusion.

• Identification and elimination of sources of pollution, containment of the

contaminants, oxygenation of groundwater by air compressors to accelerate
the growth of aerobic bacteria and recharge of aquifers for flushing out
contaminants are the main measures need to be taken for restoration of
groundwater.

• It is of paramount importance to maintain the water bodies: free

from contamination in order to ensure ecological balance and health of all
living beings.

5.6 KEYWORDS
Aerobic Living in presence of oxygen.

Aesthetics An idea of what is beautiful or artistic.

Aldrin An organochlorine insecticide which is oxidized in

the insect to form dieldrin, a neurotoxin.

Aquifer Porous strata which is capable of storing as well as

releasing water.

Arsenicosis An illness in which dark or white patches appear on

the skin and resulting in hardening of the skin due to
accumulation of excessive arsenic in blood.

Deoxygenation A chemical reaction involved in the removal of

molecular oxygen from a water body.

Eutrophication It is a process by which water body becomes rich

in plant nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates
due to soil erosion and runoff from the surrounding
area.

14 Genetic Hereditary.
Inorgandccompounds Composed of minerals rather than living material. Water Pollution

Methaemoglobinaemia A condition arising from the excessive conversion

of haemoglobin to methaemoglobin, which is
incapable of binding and carrying oxygen.

Offshore A body of water at some distance from the shore.

Organic Related to characteristics of living things.

Pathogens Bacteria or virus which can cause disease ..

Parts per million (lppm= lmg/l),

Re-oxygenation Refers to the process to accelerate the growth of

aerobic bacteria.

Tannery Factory where animal skins and hides are coloured.

5.7 SUGGESTED READING

Central Pollution Control Board 2003. Parivesh Groundwater. Ministry of
Environment and Forests, Delhi. pp.40.

Jarvis, S. C. and Haygarth, P. M. 2002. Agriculture, Hydrology and Water

Quality. Oxford University Press. pp 528.
Kudesia, V.P.1980. Water Pollution. Pragati Prakashan, Meerut, India.

Kumar Arvind and Tripathi G. (Eds). 2004. Water Pollution: Assessment and
Management. Daya Publishing House, Delhi. pp.520.
Kumar Arvind 2004. Water Pollution. Aph Publishing Corporation, Delhi. pp.
360.
Trivedy, R.K. and Raman, N.S. 2003. Industrial Pollution and Environmental
Management. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur.

5.8 MODEL ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR

PROGRESS
Check Your Progress 1

1) With the fast industrial development and increase in human population, the
water bodies have been polluted and contaminated by untreated sewage water,
leaching of agrochemicals from the agricultural field, industrial effluents. As a
result of this, the pollution level in rivers and other water bodies has reached a
critical level rendering their water unfit for use.

2) Silt, sand and mineral particles, fluorides and arsenic are some of the natural
sources of pollution.

3) i) Oil leakage in water may disrupt marine life and causes aesthetic damage.

ii) Detergents (phosphates) result in the increase of nutrients in water body

resulting in excessive algae growth. With more food available, the bacteria
increase in number and use up the dissolved oxygen in the water. When
the dissolved oxygen content decreases, many fish and aquatic insects
cannot survive.
J5
Water Quality 4) Given
C = (Q\xC\)+ (Q2XC2)
3
(Q\ +Q2)

Q\ = 50m3/sec

Cl = 500 mg/litre (ppm)

Q2 = l'Ornvsec

C2 = 25000 mg/litre (ppm)

(50 X 500) + (10 X 25000)

C3 =
(50 + 10)
C3 = 4585 ppm

Check Your Progress 2

1) In case of surface water pollution, pollutants enter a stream, river or a lake
through runoff water. A stage comes when water is either rendered unusable or
risk prone from health point of view. Natural sources and seepage from waste
disposal, and spills, leaks, and agricultural management practices such as use
of fertilizers, pesticides contaminate the groundwater.

2) There is an interaction between surface water pollution and groundwaterpollution

as the polluted surface water bodies such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs result in
the groundwater pollution by seepage/leakage joining the groundwater through
interconnected aquifers

3) Agricultural practices such as fertilizer; nitrogen fixing plants and organic waste
result in the increase in nitrate and thus contribute to groundwater pollution.

4) The groundwater is not visible as the surface water bodies. Therefore, the
process of identification of pollution source is quite complex and secondly there
are limited feasible options for groundwater treatment which are quite expensive.

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