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Water Pollution and Control

(for undergraduate student)

Raihan Khan Opu

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

FARIDPUR ENGINEERING COLLEGE, BANGLADESH
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Chapter : 01

Water Pollution
Water pollution refers to the qualitative state of impurity or uncleanliness in hydrologic waters
of a certain region, such as a watershed. It results from an occurrence or process which causes
a reduction in the utility of the earth’s waters, especially as related to human health and
environmental effects. The pollution process stresses the loss of purity through contamination,
which further implies intrusion by or contact with an outside source as the cause. The term
tainted is applied to extremely low levels of water pollution, as in their initial corruption and
decay. Defilement is the result of pollution and suggests violation or desecration.

Effects of water pollution

1. Human Health
We all drink water that comes from a source: this may be a lake or local river. In
countries that have poor screening and purification practices, people often get water-
borne disease outbreaks such as cholera and tuberculosis. Every year, there are an
estimated 3–5 million cholera cases and 100,000–120,000 deaths due to cholera. (WHO
estimates that only 5–10% of cases are officially reported.)
In developed countries, even where there are better purification methods, people still
suffer from the health effects of water pollution. Take toxins emitted by algae growth
for instance: this can cause stomach aches and rashes.

2. Ecosystems
We all drink water that comes from a source: this may be a lake or local river. In
countries that have poor screening and purification practices, people often get water-
borne disease outbreaks such as cholera and tuberculosis. Every year, there are an
estimated 3–5 million cholera cases and 100,000–120,000 deaths due to cholera. (WHO
estimates that only 5–10% of cases are officially reported.)
In developed countries, even where there are better purification methods, people still
suffer from the health effects of water pollution. Take toxins emitted by algae growth
for instance: this can cause stomach aches and rashes

3. Death of animals
Animals, including water animals die when water is poisoned for various reasons. Other
animals are stressed and their populations are endangered. In a classic case of marine
pollution in recent time, 16000 miles of a US coastline was affected by an oil spill. That
water pollution caused a lot of damage and deaths of many animals. Over 8,000 animals
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(birds, turtles, mammals) were reported dead just 6 months after the spill, including
many that are already on the endangered species list. Immediate impact on the wildlife
includes oil-coated birds and sea turtles, mammal ingestion of oil, and dead or dying
deep-sea coral2. Animals are also affected by solid waste thrown into water bodies, as
they harm them in many ways.
4. Economic cost
From the above it is evident that there is some real financial implications that will result
from water pollution. It can cost a lot more to purify drinking water that takes its source
from nutrient-polluted water bodies. Fishing stock is affected negatively when there is a
depletion of oxygen. Consumers are also wary of fish from these sources and tend to
stay away from them, costing fisheries to lose revenue. In places where there are water
activities or sports, lots of money is spent to clean up the water from algae blooms and
the like. The U.S. tourism industry loses close to $1 billion each year, mostly from losses
in fishing and recreational activities because of nutrient-polluted water bodies. In
Mississippi alone, tourism in the three counties that border the Gulf Coast accounts for
about $1.6 billion in visitor expenditures, 32 percent of state travel and tourism tax
revenues, and 24,000 direct jobs3

Chapter: 02
Sources of Water Pollution

This section gives information about the most significant sources

of water pollution.

Main Sources of Water Pollution

Industrial Waste and Effluent.

The main industrial areas of Bangladesh are at Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, and Bogra districts.
The mostly contributing industries for water pollution are pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals,
metal processing, food industry, fertilizer, pesticides, dyeing and painting, textile, tannery etc.
More than 200 rivers of Bangladesh directly or indirectly receive a large quantity of untreated
industrial wastes and effluent. Everyday approximately 700 tanneries of Dhaka city are
discharging about 16,000 cubic meters of toxic wastes. The Department of Environment (DOE)
has listed 1,176 factories that cause pollution throughout the country. Water pollution
percentage of most five industrial sectors of Bangladesh in the year 2001 is shown below:
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Table-1: Water Pollution Percentage of most Five Industrial Sectors of Bangladesh in the Year
2001

Source: Research Work by Islam Faisal on “ Industrial Pollution in Bangladesh” in the year 2002.

Solid Waste and Sewage Disposal.

The indiscriminate discharge of solid waste, domestic and hospital sewage are the major source
of water pollution in Bangladesh. About 4,000 to 4,500 tons of solid wastes are generated daily
and only half of the generated wastes are disposed of in low lying areas or into river water.
These solid wastes are associated with the problems of littering on roads, spilling around the
bins, clogging of drains, indiscriminate dumping on vacant plots and cause serious
environmental pollution. More than 500 hospitals and clinics of Dhaka city generate and release
hazardous and toxic wastes without any treatment. The generated solid waste of six famous
hospitals / clinics of Dhaka city is shown below:

Table-6: Solid Waste Generation from Six Famous Hospitals/Clinics of Dhaka City
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Source: M Shehab Ullah on “A study of hospital waste management in Dhaka city” in the year 1999

Inadequate Sanitary Facilities.

Inadequate sanitation facilities pose a serious environmental threat in Bangladesh. Dhaka
Water and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) can serve only for 15 to 20% of city population. In
absence of the sanitation and infrastructural services, 40% having septic tank and soak pit, 15%
using pit latrines and 30% using open latrines. The sewage is mostly released into low-lying
areas and river water in untreated manner causing great environmental hazards.

Arsenic Contamination of Ground Water.

Arsenic in ground water poses a serious environmental hazard for
Bangladesh. About ninety-seven percentages (97%) of Bangladesh people
have been using ground water as the main source of drinking water but the
water has been threatened by arsenic contamination. More than half (52%)
of the studied population drink well-water containing >50ug/L of arsenic and
more than two-thirds (70%) drink well-water containing >10ug/L of arsenic.
The acceptable level of arsenic in drinking water is 0.05 mg/L for Bangladesh
but some places it is found more than 70 times higher than that standard.
About 80 million people are at a risk of arsenic contamination. The arsenic
level of ground water over 0.05 mg/L surveyed in 1998 by the British
Geological Survey team is as follows.

Table-7: Percentage of Ground Waters Surveyed in 1998by the British

Geological Survey Team with Arsenic Levels over the Limit
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Agricultural Pollution

The agriculture industry covers 76% of the land area of England

and Wales. Agricultural processes such as uncontrolled spreading
of slurries and manure, disposal of sheep dip, tillage, ploughing of
the land, use of pesticides and fertilisers can cause water
pollution. Accidental spills from milk dairies can also affect the
quality of water.
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Oil Pollution

Every year there are about 3,000 pollution incidents involving oil
and fuels in England and Wales. Oil spillages affect water quality
in a number of ways. Oil can make drinking water unsafe to
drink. A substantial amount of oil released into oceans and seas
will destroy wildlife and the ecosystems that sustain them. Oil
spills also reduce oxygen supplies within the water environment.
The main causes of oil related water pollution are:

 loss from storage facilities

 spillage during delivery and;
 deliberate disposal of waste oil to drainage systems

Radioactive Substances

Radioactive waste is another source of water pollution.

Radioactive substances are used in nuclear power plants,
industrial, medical and other scientific processes. They can be
found in watches, luminous clocks, television sets and x-ray
machinery. There are also naturally occurring radioisotopes from
organisms and within the environment. If not properly disposed
of, radioactive waste can result in serious water pollution
incidents.

River dumping

Lots of people dump supermarket trolleys, bicycles, garden

cuttings and electronic waste into rivers or river banks. This is
illegal and offenders may be charged for fly-tipping if caught.
River dumping not only causes water pollution; it also harms
wildlife and increases the risk of flooding. Fly-tipping (this
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includes river dumping) is a criminal offence. In the most severe

cases, it can attract a maximum fine of £50,000 or a 5 year jail
term.

Marine Dumping

The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) estimates that a

staggering amount of waste enters into the sea every year. Part
of this is due to deliberate dumping of waste into coastal waters.
Other sources of waste at sea include plastics and other materials
blown or washed from land. Marine dumping is illegal under
international and UK legislation.

Major Pollutants and Their Sources Water:

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Common Diseases Transmitted to Humans through

Contaminated Drinking Water

Chapter: 03

Types of Water Pollution

There are various types of water pollution based on the various causes of water
pollution. Various classifications can be made, based on various water pollution causes:

1. The type of the water pollutants – based on this classification criteria, water
pollution can be:
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I) Chemical – when various chemicals are the water pollution causes. The following
chemicals are the most common water pollutants:

 Crude oil and various petroleum products (including gasoline, diesel fuel,
kerosene, motor and lubricating oils, jet fuel). These compounds are lighter than
water and thus always sit on top of water forming sheens of “free product”.
However, part of these compounds dissolve in water and, even in small amounts
may be harmful and at the same time may remain unnoticeable by the eye.
 Fertilizers (including nitrates and phosphates) – while small amounts are useful
to life, higher amounts of nitrates and phosphates in water are only beneficial to
algae and harmful microorganisms and are poisonous to human and aquatic life.
These contaminants cannot be seen themselves in water (as they do not form
sheens or color the water), but their effects can. The typical effect of water
pollution by fertilizers (usually through agricultural runoff) is the fast and
abundant water growth.
 Chlorinated solvents (including TCE, PCE, 1,1,1-TCA, carbon tetrachloride,
Freons) which sink in water (are denser than water) and are quite persistent and
toxic. These compounds thus, cannot be seen by the eye, in contrast with
petroleum products that are easily seen as sheens on top of water surface.
 Petroleum solvents (including benzene, toluene, xylenes, ethylbenzene)
 Other organic solvents and chemicals (such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone,
alcohols such as ethanol, isopropanol; or oxygenate compounds such as MTBE)
 Antibiotics and other pharmaceutical products;
 Perchlorate – perchlorate salts are used in rocket fuels, as well as many other
applications such as fireworks, explosives, road flares, inflation bags, etc. This
contaminant is usually associated with military bases, construction sites (when
explosives are used). However, natural formation in arid areas may account for
perchlorate in water, too (e.g., in Chile, Texas or California where natural
formation of perchlorate has been observed)
 Trihalomethanes – these are usually byproducts of water chlorination and may
pollute groundwater and surface water via leaking sewer lines and discharges.
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Examples of such compounds are: chloroform, bromoform,

dichlorobromomethane;
 Metals and their compounds – of higher health risk are the organo-metal
compounds which may form when metals from water react with organic
compounds from water. Common examples include Hg, As, and Cr poisoning of
water. Thus, if water is polluted with both metals and organic compounds the
health risk is higher. And so is the effect of water pollution on aquatic life.
 Pesticides/insecticides/herbicides – comprise a large number of individual
chemicals that get into water due to agricultural activities directly (by spraying
over large areas) or indirectly with agriculture runoff. The insecticide DDT is a
typical example of such type of water pollutant.
 PCBs – in spite of their recent ban, their ubiquitous environmental presence
makes these contaminants usually associated with urban runoffs.

II) Radiological – when radioactive materials are the water pollutant causes.

III) Biological – when various microorganisms (e.g., bacterial species and viruses),
worms, and/or algae occurring in a large number are the water pollution causes. This
type of pollution is caused by decaying organic material in water, animal wastes, as well
as improper disposal of human wastes.

2. The type (grouping) of the source of water pollutants:

a)Point Sources: A point source is a single, identifiable source of pollution, such as a pipe or a
drain. Industrial wastes are commonly discharged to rivers and the sea in this way.
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b)Non point sources: Nonpoint source pollution generally results from land
runoff, precipitation, atmospheric deposition, drainage, seepage or hydrologic
modification. Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and
sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources. NPS pollution is
caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the
runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants,
finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and ground
waters.
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Types Of Water Pollution Sources:

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Chapter:03
Waste Assimilation Capacity of Streams
The waste assimilation capacity of streams has its basis in the complex phenomenon
termed “stream self purification” – the ability of streams to assimilate wastes and
restore its own quality

The self purification of natural water systems is a complex process and often involves physical,
chemical and biological processes working simultaneously

Chemical and bio-chemical reactions are conversion processes; while physical

processes involve removal

Factors governing self-purification of streams are different for different types of wastes

Various forces helping self purification capacity of

streams:
Physical forces which are includes:

I. Dilution

II. Dispersion

III. Sunlight (acts through bio-chemical reactions)

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Chemical forces aided by biological forces (called

bio chemical forces) which includes:
(i) Oxidation (Bio Oxidation)

(ii) Reduction
Self purification capacity of a stream depends on following factors:

I. Temperature

II. Hydrographic factors such as the velocity and surface

expanse of the river or stream

III. Rate of re-aeration

IV. Amount and type of organic matter

V. Available initial dissolved oxygen(DO)

. Types of microorganisms present

Dissolved oxygen modeling

Dissolved oxygen is one of the key parameters when analysing the water quality. Dissolved
oxygen depends on the biochemical oxygen demand (deoxygenation), nitrification, reaeration,
sedimentation, and photosynthesis and on the algae respiration (Fig. 1). These constituents
have six effects on oxygen.

First, the biochemical oxygen demand (BDS5) is an equivalent indicator rather than a true
physical or chemical substance. It measures the total concentration of dissolved oxygen that
would eventually be demanded as waste water degrades in the river. Second, the conversion of
ammonia to nitrate in the nitrification process uses oxygen. Third, the nitrogen can induce plant
growth. Fourth, the resulting photosynthesis and respiration of plants can add and delete
oxygen from the river. Fifth, the demand of oxygen by sediment and benthic organisms can, in
some instances, be a significant fraction of the total 106 oxygen demand. This is particularly
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true in small rivers. The sixth effect is the reaeration process. If oxygen is removed from the
water column and the concentration falls below the saturation level, there is a tendency to
reduce this deficit by the transfer of the gas from the atmosphere through the surface into the
stream. If oxygen is added and the water column concentration is greater than the saturation
level, the super saturation is reduced by the transfer of oxygen from the river to the air.
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Chapter:04
Pollution Control
Water pollution creates serious health hazard for Bangladesh. The dumping of municipal wastes,
hospital wastes and toxic environmental discharges from mostly industries pollute both surface and
ground water sources. The most dangerous threat emanating from environmental degradation is the
arsenic contamination of ground water.

Pollution Control Measures:

1. Reduce concentration of pollutant (Cw) by :

(i) wastewater treatment

(ii) industrial in-plant process control

2. Reduce upstream concentration (Cs) by controlling

upstream point and non-point sources

3. Reduce effluent volume (Qw) by :

(i) reduction of industrial discharge volumes,

(ii) reduction of waste volumes through process

modification (in industry

4. Increase upstream flow (Qs) by flow augmentation (e.g. by

releasing water from upstream storage reservoirs, or from
diversions from nearby water bodies

5.Increase environmental/in-stream degradation rate of substances (e.g.

use of easily degradable chemicals in industry).
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 In choosing particular control

measures, should consider:
 The cost of control
 The expected benefits of resulting water quality in terms
of water use
 The technological bounds (e.g. available storage for low
flow augmentation) on the controls

How Water Pollution Control Occurs at Our Facility

There are four components of our waste water stream that must be reduced by our
pollution control plant. Solid material suspended in the water would make the river
cloudy, block sunlight, contain biodegradable materials, and eventually settle to the
bottom as muck. The biodegradable materials would extract oxygen from the river and
reduce what is available for fish and other forms of life. Nitrogen and phosphorous are
nutrients in the wastewater that stimulate growth of plants and algae. When the plants
die they extract oxygen from the water as they decay .Finally, there are bacteria in
waste water, some capable of causing disease.

Our plant removes 97% of the solids that come in the waste water, 98% of the
biodegradable materials and 87% of nitrogen nutrients, and then disinfects the water
before releasing it into the river..

Following is a step by step description of how the pollutants in the wastewater are
treated.

PRELIMINARY TREATMENT

Material that is abrasive, primarily sand, that could accelerate wear of equipment is
removed. Rags, paper, plastic and other items that could clog the equipment are
collected on screens. All this material is washed and sent to a landfill.

PRIMARY TREATMENT
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Next the waste water flows into a large tank where the flow rate is reduced to allow
heavier solids suspended in the water to sink to the bottom and lighter solids to float to
the top. The solids, called sludge, are removed from the bottom of the tank.

BIOLOGICAL NUTRIENT REMOVAL

In the first tank, naturally occurring bacteria use oxygen to digest the biodegradable
material in the waste water. Large quantities of oxygen are provided by pumping air into
the tank and conditions are controlled to keep the bacteria growing and multiplying
rapidly, grouping together in clumps. Also, the waste water contains nitrogen in the form
of ammonia. Bacteria that can convert ammonia to nitrate are provided with sufficient
oxygen convert the ammonia into nitrate.

In another tank, a different type of bacteria is deprived of oxygen, which causes them to
convert the nitrate to nitrogen gas. The nitrogen gas is released into the atmosphere,
which is already 78% nitrogen, so this is benign.

When the waste water is pumped into the next tank, the flow rate is reduced to allow the
clumps of bacteria to settle to the bottom and be returned to the first tank to digest
newly arrived biodegradable material and ammonia.

DISINFECTION

The next step in waste water treatment is to lower the concentration of bacteria to levels
that will not result in infection. The requirement for waste water discharge is the same
as for swimming pools and beaches. Simsbury uses ultraviolet (UV) light for
disinfection, which disrupts the ability of bacteria to reproduce. The waste water is now
clean and safe enough to release into water reservoir.

SLUDGE PROCESSING

The products of wastewater treatment are clean water and sludge. The sludge results
from the settling processes in the tanks. In Simsbury, the sludge is stored in covered
tanks and aerated to limit odor production. Then water is squeezed out of it to form
sludge cake, which is hauled to the Metropolitan District Commission treatment facility
in Hartford and burned in their incinerator.
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Water Quality Engineering: Flow Diagram

GOVERNMENTAL STEPS FOR POLLUTION CONTROL IN BANGLADESH

4.1 The ‘Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF)’ of Bangladesh is primarily responsible for
environmental protection. It was created in 1989. The MOEF has taken some steps to control the
environmental pollution of Bangladesh.
4.2a. National Environmental Management Action Plan (NEMAP).
The government has taken a project named NEMAP to integrate environment with the development in
a policy framework. It provides a guideline for promoting effective management of resources, raising
awareness among the people and improvement of environmental degradation.
4.2b. Environmental Acts, Rules and Laws.
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The government of Bangladesh has modified environmental acts, rules and laws to improve
environmental condition. Environment court has already been established to take prompt legal action
against environmental pollution. The DOE has been empowered to punish the offenders of
environmental rules.
.
4.2c. Banning of Polyethylene Bags.
Most of the sewage lines of Dhaka city have been blocked by indiscriminate dumping of polyethylene
bags over the years. As such, the government has banned the production, marketing and use of
polyethylene bags up to 20 microns thick or less from 01 March 2002.
.
4.2d. Control of Arsenic Pollution.
The Government has taken four Strategies to mitigate the arsenic problem. These are as follows:
(1). Immediate detection of the arsenic effected patients and ensure their proper treatment.
(2). Identify the arsenic contaminated tube wells, labeled them with red colour for danger ones and
green with safe ones.
(3). Detect the reasons for arsenic contamination in soil water and find out the sources of safe
drinking water.
(4). Conduct health education campaigns and grow awareness among the people.
4.2e. Knowledge Enrichment Programme.
Environmental education program has been incorporated in primary and higher education. Many
universities have introduced various curriculum and projects on environmental issue. Government
organizations as well as NGOs present meetings and seminars to arise public awareness on the water
issue.
4.2f. Rural Sanitation Programme.
The Bangladesh Government has taken a rural sanitation programme from October 2003 to implement
the facilitation, construction and installation of twin pit latrine. It improves rural sanitation coverage
and reduces infectious diseases in rural areas.

Earth’s Water Budget and Hydrologic Cycle

Water Budget
Water budget can be defined as the relationship between the inflow and outflow of
water through a specified region. It gives a comparison between the supply and demand
of water, making it possible to identify periods of excess and deficit precipitation.
Availability of water depends on various factors such as the water cycle itself,
availability of surface water in lakes, rivers, aquifers, wetlands and other water bodies
and the usage of water in a region.
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A water budget describes the various components of the hydrologic cycle. These components
are shown in Figure 1. The water budget typically includes:

Precipitation (P)

Evaporation (E)

Evapotranspiration (ET)

Surface runoff (SRO)

Groundwater flow (GF)

The water budget is expressed as an equation relating these components: ΔS = P – E – ET ± SRO

± GF (1) where ΔS is the change in storage. For example, if the expression on the right-hand side
of the equation is positive, storage will increase and the water level in the area of interest will
rise. A positive change in storage is often termed a surplus, while a decrease in storage is
termed a deficit. The change in storage is usually described with units of inches or feet.

Water cycle
Water cycle, also called hydrologic cycle, cycle that involves the continuous circulation of water
in the Earth-atmosphere system. Of the many processes involved in the water cycle, the most
important are evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. Although the
total amount of water within the cycle remains essentially constant, its distribution among the
various processes is continually changing.
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Fig:Step of the water cycle

Review of Hydrologic Cycle

™ The water on earth is continually recycled.

The hydrologic cycle describes this
circulation:

1. Water evaporates from wet land, lakes, or oceans and transpires from
plants as they dry up.
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2.Enters the atmosphere, which is much colder, condenses and falls as

precipitation.

3.Moves underground by infiltration or runs off into rivers, lakes, or the ocean.

Water on the surface can do one of three (or four) things: a) evaporate back to the
atmosphere, b) percolate into the ground to become ground water, or c) run-off
downstream (alternatively d. become part of a glacier

Importance of the Water Cycle and the Impact of Human

Activities
Global climates are affected by, and extremely sensitive to, changes in the water cycle's
patterns, as the cycle allows for the exchange of heat and moisture between landmasses and
water bodies. Evaporation of water leads to the cooling of the environment, while
condensation warms the environment by releasing heat energy. The physical geography of the
Earth is also highly influenced by the water cycle, as the meltdown of glaciers and runoff from
rivers carves out valleys, peaks, canyons, lakes, and other landforms seen on Earth. Recently,
the water cycle of the planet has intensified, and the rates of evaporation and precipitation
have greatly increased. Human activities, such as the damming of rivers and streams, the
extraction of surface and underground water for irrigation and other purposes, and extensive
deforestation, have adversely affected the functioning of the earth's water cycle. Global
warming has further impacted the hydrosphere by triggering the melting of polar ice caps,
which are now losing more water by evaporation, snow-melt and runoffs than they are gaining
water by precipitation. This threatens to raise the oceans' water levels and flood coastal cities
around the world.
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Importance of Water
 71% of the earth’s surface is water – mostly saline; this means that we live on the “Water
Planet”.

 Water is the basis of life and has two characteristics that make it so important-

 No plant or animal can survive without it. All organisms are made up mostly of water; a
tree is about 60% water by weight, and most animals are about 50 - 65% water.

 There are no substitute for most of its uses. Each of us need only about 10 - 12 glasses of
water per day to survive, but huge amounts of water are needed to supply us with food,
shelter and other needs; e.g., about 5000 litres of water are needed to produce 1 kg rice.