QUIZ

(1/4 SHEET OF PAPER)

1. Briefly describe how god created the universe (at most 2 sentences)
2. Briefly describe the big bang theory. (at most 2 sentences)
3. Define environment
4. Define environmental engineering
5 – 10. Discuss biotic and abiotic environment. Given the
picture below give at least 3 examples of biotic and abiotic
environment
• CHARACTERISTICS OF
WATER
• WATER TREATMENT
 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
TEMPERATURE – TURBIDITY- COLOR – TASTE AND
ODOR
 TEMPERATURE

• Measured using a thermometer

• Should be suitable for human use
• 15ºC
 TURBIDITY
• Muddy or cloudy appearance of
water
• Particles that present hindrance to
the path of light
• May not be harmful for humans
• Measured using a turbidity rod or
turbidity meter
• Standard turbidity should not be
more than 1mg/liter of water
 COLOR
• Imparted by dissolved organic mater from
decaying vegetation or some inorganic materials
such as colored soil
• Color is measured in laboratories using
Nessler’s tube
 TASTE AND ODOR

• Dissolved organic matter or dissolved gases may

impart taste and odor
• Water must not contain any undesirable taste or
odor
• Chlorine taste
CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
 TOTAL SOLIDS AND SUSPENDED SOLIDS
• Total amount of solids can be determined by
evaporating a measured sample of water and
weighing the dry residue left
• Suspended solids can be determined by filtering
water sample and weigh the residue left on filter
paper
• Total solid is the measure of all the solids
present in the water including dissolved and
suspended solid
 pH OF WATER

• pH is the negative logarithm of hydrogen ion

concentration present in water
• For municipal water supplies the pH should be
as close to 7 as possible.
 HARDNESS OF WATER
• Hardness in water prevents the formation of
sufficient foam when used with soap
• Hardness is due to salt of calcium, magnesium
sulphates, chloride, and nitrates
• Water hardness should be less than 75ppm
(mg/L)
 CHLORIDES

• Present in water in the form of sodium chloride

• Concentrations above 250mg/L will result to a
salty taste
 NITROGEN CONTENT
• Free ammonia – indicate very fast stage of decomposition
of organic mater
• Albuminoid nitrogen – represents the quantity of nitrogen
present in water before decomposition of organic matter
gas started (0.3ppm)
• Nitrites - indicates fully oxidized organic matter
(0.15ppm)
• Nitrates - should not be more than 45ppm – causes blue
baby disease in infants
BIOLOGICAL STANDARDS
 WATER ENTERING A DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM
• Coliform – indicator organism
• 100 ml should have a count of zero
• If measurement does not conform to standards
investigation on the efficacy of the purification
process and sampling method should be
conducted
STANDARD FOR WATER IN DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM

• E. Coli – zero
• Coliform organisms – not more that 10 per 100
ml
• If coliform is found resampling should be
conducted
 INDIVIDUAL OR SMALL COMMUNITY
SUPPLIES

• E. coli – zero
• Coliform organisms – not exceeding 3 per
100ml
WATER TREATMENT
 WATER TREATMENT PROCESS
• Screening
• Plain sedimentation
• Sedimentation aided with coagulation
• Filtration
• Disinfection
• Aeration
• Softening
 SCREENING
• Prevent the entry of big objects (debris,
branches of trees, animal parts etc.
 PLAIN SEDIMENTATION
• Done to remove impurities which have specific
gravity more than that of water and are
settleable
 SEDIMENTATION AIDED WITH COAGULATION

• Addition of chemicals in a mixing tank to encourage the

small and non settleable solids (suspended solids) to
coagulate into large particles (chemical flocs) that will
settle easily more
• Flocculation
• A gently mixing process which induces particle
collision and allows the formation of large particles of
floc. It takes about 15-20 minutes to complete
 FILTRATION
• Removes particulate matter from water by
forcing the water to pass through porous media
• The filtration system consists of filters with
varying sizes of pores, and is often made up of
sand, gravel and charcoal.
 DISINFECTION
• To control the number of pathogen in water (bacteria and
viruses) to reduce the risk of infection to an acceptable level
• Bacteria and viruses that transmit through water
• Cholera
• Gastro entities
• Infectious hepatitis
• typhoid
• It is necessary to make water free from any microorganisms
 METHODS DISINFECTION
• Primary disinfection (inactivation of microorganisms)
• Boiling of water
• Treatment with ultraviolet rays
• Secondary disinfection (keeping a disinfectant
residual in the threated water
• Use of ozone
• Use of bromine, iodine and chlorine
 FACTORS AFFECTING DISINFECTION
• Type, condition and concentration of
microorganisms to be destroyed
• Type and concentration on disinfectant
• Contact time and concentration of disinfectant in
water
• Chemical and physical characteristics of ware to
be treated particularly the temperature, pH and
mineral constituent
 AERATION
• Done to remove undesirable taste and odor
• In aeration gases are dissolved in or liberated
from water until the concentration of the gas in
the water has reached its saturation value.
 WATER SOFTENING
• Water high with mineral content is called hard
water
• Usually measured by the total concentration of
magnesium and calcium in the water
• Water hardness is generally not harmful to
human health (it may provide dietary calcium
and magnesium)
 WATER SOFTENING
• Domestic water supply
• Reduce water consumption
• Lower cost of maintaining plumbing fixtures
• Improve taste of food preparations and food
palatability
 WATER SOFTENING
• Domestic
• Reduce soap consumption
• Lower cost of maintaining plumbing fixtures
• Improve taste of food preparations and food
palatability
• Industry
• Reduce scaling problems
WASTEWATER MANAGMENT
 WASTEWATER
• Can be physical, microbiological, biological or
chemical agent, including human and animal
urine and faeces, solid wastes, domestic waste
water, industrial wastes and agricultural wastes.
 WASTEWATER
• FOUL WASTEWATER
• Bathroom and water closet
• Contains readily biodegradable matter
• Produce bad smell and pollutes the environment
• NON FOUL WASTEWATER
• Kitchen, washing, etc.
• Does not contain urine and fecal matter
 OXYGEN IN WASTEWATER
• BOD – Bio-chemical oxygen demand
• Amount of oxygen required for biological
decomposition of biodegradable organic matter
• Oxygen required by aerobic bacterial for metabolism
• Determine the foulness or offensiveness
• Food items, human excreta, urine etc.
• ↑BOD means water is polluted
 TREATMENT OF WASTEWATER
• COD – Chemical oxygen demand
• Total oxygen demand for biodegradable and
non-biodegradable organic matter.
• D.O – Dissolved oxygen
• Available oxygen in the water
 SELF-PURIFICATION PROPERTIES OF WATER

• If a body of water is moving fast it shall absorb

more and more oxygen from the atmosphere and
purify itself after sometime and distance
 WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF BOD IS VERY HIGH IN
LAKES AND RIVERS AND OTHER WATER
RESOURCES?
• ↑ BOD = ↓ D.O
• ↓ D.O
• Amount of oxygen available for fish and other
aquatic life
• If D.O is less than 4ppm all fish and other
aquatic life shall be destroyed
 WATER POLLUTION INDICATORS
• Oxygen saturation
• Biochemical oxygen demand
• Typical BOD5 values
• Chemical oxygen demand
Oxygen saturation
• The maximum amount of oxygen dissolved in
water at a given temperature
• Colder water – have higher oxygen saturation
than warmer water
Biochemical oxygen demand
• Amount of oxygen required by microorganisms
to break down organic matters.
• BOD values
• 1mg/L : Pristine water
• 2 to 8mg/L : Moderately polluted
• Up to 20mg/L: Untreated sewage
Biochemical oxygen demand
• Amount of oxygen required by microorganisms
to break down organic matters.
• BOD values
• 1mg/L : Pristine water
• 2 to 8mg/L : Moderately polluted
• Up to 20mg/L: Untreated sewage
 TREATMENT OF WASTE WATER
• Removal of floating and suspended solid matter
• Treatment of biodegradable organic mater
• Disinfection
EUTROPHICATION
DISPOSAL OF TREATED WASTEWATER
• Effluent – water coming out of sewage treatment
plant
• May be discharged in:
• Water bodies
• Land
 WATER POLLUTION
REFERS TO THE INTRODUCTION OF SUBSTANCES TO
THE ENVIRONMENT AT LEVELS LEADING TO LOST OF
BENEFICIAL USE OF RESOURCES OR DEGRADATION
OF THE HUMAN HEALTH, WILD LIFE OR ECOSYSTEM .

• Main Pollutants
 MAIN POLLUTANTS
• Organic waste
• Suspended solids
• Nutrients
• Thermal pollution
• Toxic metals
• Pathogen and carcinogens
• Radioactive contamination
Organic Waste
• Carbon-containing/organic compounds
• Excluding steel and simple oxide of carbon
• Natural compounds which are capable of decay
• Certain organic compounds in water are source of
food for aquatic microorganism
• Aquatic microorganisms need oxygen for metabolism
• ↑ Organic waste = ↑ aquatic microorganism population
 ↑ Organic waste
=
↑ aquatic microorganism population
=
OXYGEN DEFICIT
Suspended Solids
• May come from mining activities, river
dredging, construction and soil erosion
• The increased turbidity reduces light penetration
and depresses photosynthesis of ecosystems
• Species diversity and abundance is affecte
Nutrients
• Nitrogen, phosphorus , Sulphur etc.
• Comes from domestic, industrial and
agricultural waste
• Encourages plant growth (usually in the form of
algae)
Thermal pollution
• Discharging of heated water into water bodies
• Reduced solubility of oxygen
• Altered chemical reaction
• Aquatic species may die or are forced to relocate
Toxic metals
• Metals that form poisonous soluble compounds
• Heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic)
• Commonly from purification of metals, mining,
irrigation with waster water, vehicle exhaust
emissions
Pathogens and carcinogens
• Disease-causing microorganisms or cancer
causing substance
• Includes: bacteria, viruses, protozoa etc.
• Pathogens - Mainly from domestic waste water
• Carcinogens – agricultural waste
Radioactive contamination
• Refers to unintended or undesirable presence of
radiative substances on water
• Usually from leakage of stored radioactive
material or release from nuclear power plants