Environmental Health Course

Water Pollution

Instructor: Samson Wakuma ( PhD)

 Learning outcomes of this lecture
Students will be able to describe:

• What water pollution is

•Classification of water pollutants

•Types of water pollutants

•Health outcomes of water pollution

•Water pollution prevention and control strategies

 Water resources
> 72% of the earth’s is covered by water
 Volume of water stored in the water cycle's reservoirs (Global)

Only < 0.7% of global water resource is available for human use
 Water pollution Definition

• Water pollution is the presence of physical, chemical,

and biological matters in amount that cause adverse
effects to man, animals, plants, and materials.

•When water is unfit for its intended use, water is

considered polluted.

• Water in nature is colorless, odorless, has no significant

chemicals
Sources of Water pollution
 Source of water pollution in Addis Ababa

Leachates

Open field defecation

 Water pollutant Classification

•Point source: are direct

discharges to a single
point

•Non-point source:
indirect discharge
(diffused across broad
area; multiple sources;
episodic)
 Point source

Industrial source
Domestic source
 Pollution status in Little Akaki river
Parameters(mg/m3) 2013 2015 WHO EU
BOD5 3980 70-90
COD 11546.6 75
TSS 3835.33 90
Nitrate 1513.33 50 50
T. Ammonia 103.33 1.5
chromium 67.04 0.05 0.05
cadmium 0.06 0.3 0.005
Arsenic 1.46 0.05 0.05
Iron 1075.9 0.3 0.2
Copper 67.04 1 0.1-0.3
zinc 25.50 5 0.1-5
Manganese 1540.04 0.1 0.05

Adopted from Yohannes et al. 2017

 Selected heavy metal of potential health effects

Heavy metals Potential health effects

Arsenic Gastrointestinal, skin & nerve damage, cancer
Cadmium Gastrointestinal, kidney and lung damage
Chromium Lung and skin damage, cancer
Lead Nervous & immune system & kidney damage,
embryo toxic
Mercury Brain & kidney damage, embryo/ feto toxic
Nickel Lung, brain, kidney, liver, spleen, & skin damage,
cancer
 Types of pollutant
• Disease-causing Agents – pathogens

• Oxygen Demanding Agents – organic waste: manure

• Water-soluble Inorganic Chemicals – acids, toxic metals

• Inorganic Plant Nutrients – nitrogen and phosphorus

• Organic Chemicals – oil, pesticides, detergents

• Sediment or Suspended Material – erosion, soil

• Heat – electric and nuclear power plants

 Water pollution by disease-causing Agents
Infectious agent from human and animal waste ( Bacteria, virus,
parasites, protozoa) – causes Diarrheal diseases, typhoid fever,
cholera, bacterial dysentery, amoebic dysentery, giardiasis,
schisto, etc

Giardia sp. Vibrio sp.

Escherichia coli

Hepatitis A virus
 Water pollution by organic matter
• When organic waste introduced into a stream the aerobic bacteria start to
break down – they need oxygen to break down the waste- this process
remove O2 from water

• Biological oxygen demand (BOD): is the amount of oxygen required for

complete decomposition organic matter by aerobic bacteria

• Low oxygen conditions may kill fish and other organisms

Sources of organic matter
• Natural inputs-- bogs, swamps, leaf fall, and vegetation aligning
waterways.

• Human inputs-- pulp and paper mills, meat-packing plants, food processing
industries, and wastewater treatment plants.
 BOD effects on water quality

All streams have some capability to degrade organic waste. Problems

occur when stream is overloaded with high biochemical oxygen-
demanding waste
 Water quality Vs DO
The amount of oxygen dissolved in water is a good indicator
of water quality and of the kinds of life it will support

Fish die
Pollution from Water-soluble Inorganic Chemicals

• Heavy metals having a density greater than 5 g/cm3

• Most are extremely toxic
– Water soluble
– Readily absorbed into plant or animal tissue-
Bioconcentrate
• Sources of heavy metal
• Natural
– Redistributed by geologic and biologic cycles
• Industrial
• Burning of fossil fuels
• Environmental pollution
 Water pollution from Inorganic Plant Nutrients
Phosphorus and nitrogen are the major concerns

Sources:
•Human, animal (e.g., Hog Farms), and industrial
waste
•Storm water
•Soil erosion
•Excessive use of fertilizers for crops, lawns, and
home gardens
 The effect of high nutrient in water source
High nutrient concentrations can cause Eutrophication of water bodies

Eutrophication is characterized by rapid

increase in plant life. An example is the
algae bloom shown here

•Algae blooms block sunlight so plants

below die

•Decomposition of dead plants decreases

dissolved oxygen concentration

•Low oxygen conditions may kill fish etc.

•Aesthetics (color, clarity, smell)
 Water pollution by organic compound
Examples of organic compound are: hydrocarbon, PCB’s, insecticides such
as DDT's are very dangerous because they accumulate in fat tissues of lower
animals and then enter the food chain

The organic compounds that are dangerous to the environment are all man-made
and have only existed during the last century.
 Water pollution by Heat
Thermal water pollution occurs when heated water discharged in to water
body

An increase in temperature, even a few degrees, may significantly alter some

aquatic ecosystems

•Industrial cooling waters is a major source of heat

•Nuclear plants – waste produce a higher proportion of
heat than fossil-fuel plants
 Evaluating of water pollution
• Physical indicators
Ex. Turbidity & temperature
• Chemical indicators
EX. pH ,
DO in fresh water 8-12ppm
- BOD- in unpolluted water: 1-2ppm
- Ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, heavy metals…

• Biological indicators
- Coli form –none in treated/ clean water
- Macro invertebrate
Sewage effluent standard
 Liquid waste standards
Source: EPA (E) 2001. Situational analysis: the industrial
sector (Vol1), Addis Ababa
Pollutants standard in water bodies Source:
Pollution load of receiving water bodies in
Addis Ababa, EPA, 1999.
Little Akaki & tributaries water course
Water pollution management
 Water pollution management

1. Source management/control (prevention)

-Waste optimization: 3 Rs (Reuse, Recycle, Reducing)
-Banning of DDT, PCBs, banning phosphate detergents

2. Pollution control
-Sewage treatment and proper disposal(Industrial and municipal);
-Discharge permit
Grit chamber: Addis A, Kaliti
Oxidation ponds: Kaliti
 Water pollution management cont’d
3. Regulatory:
-Standards for discharges
–Permit for discharges
–Banning of chemicals from use (organo-chlorines,)
-Water quality standards: drinking and surface water bodies
 What individual HHs can do?

• Use manure instead of commercial fertilizer

• Do not use / minimize the use of pesticides near water bodies
• Prevent wastes, chemicals, solvents, oils from entering the storm
drains
• Do not use water fresheners/chemicals in toilets
• Have a septic tank
• Do not connect sewer pipes with rivers
• Educate others to do ,,,,