KENYA WATER INSTITUTE

DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND WASTE WATER ENGINEERING

STUDENT NAME : SIELE VICTOR

ADMISSION NO.: DWE1/M07460/2018

CAMPUS: NAIROBI

COURSE NAME : ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

COURSE CODE : WRE 3320

INTAKE PERIOD : MAY 2018

SUPERVISOR : MADAM LANG’AT

SUBMISSION METHOD : VIA MOODLE E-LEARNING SITE

TASK:

1. Define environmental pollution (2 mks)

2. Giving example  distinguish between the two sources of environmental pollution(8
mks)
3. Explain any 5 control measures of water pollution by agricultural activities( 10 mks)
                                      

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 8TH FEBRUARY 2021

Contents
QUESTION ONE......................................................................................................................................2
Working definitions:...........................................................................................................................2
QUESTION 2:..........................................................................................................................................2
POINT VS NON-POINT SOURCES OF POLLUTION.................................................................................2
QUESTION 3:..........................................................................................................................................3
Irrigation Management......................................................................................................................3
Nutrient Management:.......................................................................................................................3
Measures:.......................................................................................................................................4
Pest Management..............................................................................................................................4
Measures:.......................................................................................................................................5
Erosion, runoff, property, and landscaping.........................................................................................5
Measures........................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES:..........................................................................................................................................6
QUESTION ONE
Working definitions:
 It refers to undesirable changes occurring in the physical, chemical, and biological
composition of natural environment consisting of air, water, and soil.
 It is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse
change.
 It is the addition of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or any form of energy (such
as heat, sound, or radioactivity) to the environment at a rate faster than it can be
dispersed, diluted, decomposed, recycled, or stored in some harmless form.
(Nathanson, 2021).
 Environmental pollution is defined as "the contamination of the physical and biological
components of the earth/atmosphere system to such an extent that normal
environmental processes are adversely affected."

QUESTION 2:
POINT VS NON-POINT SOURCES OF POLLUTION
 By definition, point sources deliver or rather discharge pollutants from discrete
conveyances such as drainage pipes, sewer pipes from factories.
On the other hand, non-point sources are usually combination of pollutants from a
diverse or rather larger area rather than specific identifiable sources. A good example is
pollution from surface runoff through a municipality.
 When it comes to control, point sources are usually easier to handle since it is traceable
as compared to non-point sources which may be complex in nature and more
challenging to handle.
 Treatment plants can be installed at point sources but rather difficult or unfeasible for
non-point sources since it can be channeled easily to the plant.
 When it comes to effects, point sources are at its maximum since it is discharging
pollutants in concentrated form and direct while with non-point sources the dilution
effect is higher hence impact less.

QUESTION 3:
Irrigation Management
Proper irrigation management is critical for the health of crops, and also helps minimize the
potential for pollution from agricultural lands. Excessive watering tends to leach nutrients and
other agricultural chemicals out of the root zone toward groundwater, as well as wasting water
and money. Irrigation systems with a poor uniformity of delivery necessitate overwatering or
under-watering some crops. Crops which are overwatered or under-watered may have lower
yields or increased incidence of disease. Hence, it is encourage to:

 Use an irrigation system which delivers water uniformly. Inspect water delivery during
irrigation to be sure nozzles aren’t clogged, and measure the uniformity of water
distribution of your system by setting out catch cans.
 Use filtration where necessary, maintain filters, and flush lines as needed. For solid set
systems, ensure all sprinklers are identical and use pressure regulators for long pipe
runs and slopes.
Irrigate according to plant needs.
 Follow recommendations specific to your crops. Use measurements of soil moisture
content or local evapotranspiration data to guide the frequency and amount of
irrigation. Know the texture of your soils and the rooting depth of your plants so you can
determine how much water your soil can hold.
 Avoid irrigating areas without crops, including roads and areas where crops have been
harvested.

Nutrient Management:
Proper nutrient management is critical for the health of your crops and also helps to minimize
the potential for pollution from agricultural lands. The two nutrients of most concern for water
pollution are nitrogen and phosphorus. Nitrogen may be applied in a variety of forms
(ammonium, nitrate, urea, or organic sources), but natural cycles in the soil, under common
conditions in a field, will convert much of this nitrogen to the nitrate form. Nitrate is easily
dissolved in water and can move with either surface runoff or infiltrating water. Nitrate is a
concern as a pollutant in drinking water and in estuarine environments. Phosphorus has the
tendency to stick to soil particles, so preventing eroding sediments from leaving your property
is important in preventing phosphorus pollution of surface water. Phosphorus is a concern
particularly in fresh water bodies, where in excess amounts it causes blooms of algae.

Measures:
1. Use current nutrient management guidelines for your specific crops. Time applications
and determine amounts according to plant needs.
2. Use soil tests to guide lime and phosphorus applications.
3. Use plant tissue analysis to guide fertilizer applications if recommendations are available
for your crops.
4. In nutrient planning, account for nitrogen and phosphorus that will be plant-available in
irrigation water, soil, manure, and compost.
 5. Where appropriate, incorporate solid fertilizer, manure, and composts into the soil.
6. Calibrate fertilizer spreaders, sprayers, or injectors.
7. Practice appropriate irrigation management for your crops.
8. Store fertilizers in an appropriate structure. Mix and load fertilizers over an
impermeable surface, such as a concrete floor, where spills can be swept-up. Prepare
for onsite spills and clean up spills immediately. Protect fertilizers from rain and wind.

Pest Management
Following an integrated pest management (IPM) program is a cost-effective and
environmentally-responsible way to control crop pests. A variety of pesticides can cause
ecological harm if they are transported to surface water or groundwater. Pesticides differ
according to their toxicity to different organisms. For example, pyrethroid pesticides have lower
toxicity to mammals than do some other insecticides, but are toxic enough to fish and a variety
of invertebrate animals to be of ecological concern.

The potential for water contamination with a pesticide will depend on various properties of the
pesticide as well as properties of the site. Pesticides vary in their tendency to stick to solids like
soil particles and organic matter. Pesticides which do adhere to particles will move with those
particles in runoff water. Other pesticides that are more water soluble have the potential to
leach to groundwater. The leaching of pesticides will be more likely on sandy or gravelly soils,
sites with a high water table, and soils with little clay or organic matter. Pesticides also differ by
their residual. Compounds with a longer residual continue acting as pesticides longer in the
field, but also retain their toxicity longer if they are moved offsite with leaching or runoff water.

Use an integrated pest management (IPM) program. The program should include a formal plan
for pest scouting; pest identification; the use of economic thresholds to determine the course
of action; and record keeping for pest locations, number, and damage. Consider using the
services of agricultural pest control consultants.

Measures:
1. Use current recommendations specific for your crops, specific pests, and pesticide
products.
2. Rotate classes of pesticides according to current recommendations.
3. Use cultural controls and sanitation to minimize the incidence and damage of pest
outbreaks. Remove diseased plants. Pay attention to weeds and plant debris.
Consider preserving habitat for natural enemies of pests.
4. Calibrate sprayers. Measure pesticide product accurately. Follow label directions.
Use best application methods such as spraying only infected areas of crops or
 applying at the lowest effective label rate. Use adjuvants—stickers or spreaders—
where appropriate.
5. Use pesticides with a lower environmental risk. Avoid applying materials when wind
or rain potential is high. Use narrow-spectrum pesticides that target your specific
pests.
6. Store pesticides indoors, and perform all mixing and loading over an impermeable
service such as a concrete floor. Have a plan for spills, and clean up all spills
immediately.
7. Where possible, capture tailwater in a basin or pond. Use vegetated buffers, berms,
or sediment traps to decrease runoff or prevent sediment form moving offsite.

Erosion, runoff, property, and landscaping

Many potential pollutants can move from agricultural areas with runoff water. These pollutants
can be either dissolved in the water itself or associated with sediments or organic matter.
Because some pollutants tend stay associated with particular matter, it is desirable to keep
eroded soil sediments onsite by filtering runoff water with vegetated buffers, gravel, or mulch,
or capturing sediment in sediment traps, ponds, or basins. These technologies also slow runoff,
allowing it to infiltrate slowly into the soil. While some pollutants can move with percolating
water, vegetation and microbes in the soil tend to reduce pollutants. It is therefore usually
better to allow water to infiltrate onsite rather than leave the property as runoff. Pollutants can
leave an agricultural site also as drift from wind. It is important to keep fertilizers and pesticides
protected from drift losses during storage, mixing, loading, and application. Runoff from roofs
and roads also can contain pollutants, including metals from roofs and motor oil from roads or
vehicle storage.

Measures
Use vegetated buffers, gravel, or mulch on bare soil to reduce erosion and increase infiltration.
Depending on your crop, these methods can applied at row ends, between rows, or on the path
the water flows before leaving the property. Use ponds, basins, or wetlands to detain runoff
before it exits the property or reaches a pond or stream.

Pay special attention to sloped and hilly areas. Employ terracing, berms, and vegetation to
prevent erosion.

Improve soil permeability by incorporating organic amendments into sandy or clayey soils. Use
unincorporated mulch and cover crops also to improve soil permeability.

Use windbreaks in windy areas. Use water to keep dust down on dirt roads.
Apply similar concerns to non-cropped areas. Use water bars to minimize erosion on roads.
Direct runoff from roofs to pervious areas or to dry wells. Prevent fluids from vehicles from
leaving the property with runoff.

REFERENCES:
1. Nathanson, J. A. (2021, January 31). Pollution. Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/science/pollution-environment.
2. Iyyanki V. Muralikrishna, Valli Manickam(2017) Environmental Management.
Butterworth-Heineman. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811989-1.00001-4.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128119891000014 )
3. Salem. ()Preventing Water Pollution for Agriculture.
https://salem.njaes.rutgers.edu/nre/agriculture/agriculture.html