WATER POLLUTION

CHE326

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

LEARNING GOAL

By the end of this lesson session, you will be able to:

-To understand water pollution

- Identify water pollutants
- Use your understanding of water pollution to design treatment
processes.
- Identify industrial effluents and their effects (ecosystem).
- Mention the legislation and standards for effluent discharge.
- Understand the treatment for water reuse.

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
 Environmental Chemistry
Seventh edition
Author: Stanley E. Manahan
 Chemistry for Environmental Engineering and Science
Fifth edition
Authors: Clair N. Sawyer
Perry L. McCarty
Gene F. Parkin
 Handbook of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Calculations
Authors: Joseph P. Reynolds
John S. Jeris
26/05/2021 Louis Theodore Dr. A.E.A
Water pollution is the contamination of our water bodies by
harmful substances. This is toxic to humans and the
ecosystem and has degraded the quality of water.

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

Water pollution has caused a great distress for people who drink it and
use it for irrigation. Natural sources that cause water pollution have
been well controlled in technologically advanced countries. The
drinking water is now remarkably free of common water
contaminants. Water pollution takes place in many countries but have
been controlled in some more than others..

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

Water Treatment
Water treatment is divided into 3 major categories –
purification of domestic use, treatment for specialised
industrial applications & treatment of wastewater to make it
acceptable for release or reuse. The type of treatment & its
degree is strongly dependent upon the sources of the
wastewater and the intended use of the water.
Water for domestic use – thoroughly disinfected to eliminate
microorganisms

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

In industrialized nations, the greatest threat to water are toxic
chemicals that pollute the water flow in rivers, lakes and streams.
Some specific pollutants include industrial chemicals, heavy metals,
saline water, bacteria and general municipal & industrial wastes.

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

History shows the production of synthetic chemicals which has led to
chemical contaminated waters. There are numerous threats to the
groundwater & surface waters. It is clear that this is a great concern to
all people that water pollution needs to be tackled. To control
pollutants, it is mandatory to understand the sources, interactions and
effects of water pollution in order to maintain/create an
environmentally safe and economically acceptable manner of pollution
control.
Key points – Think about the type of pollutants, where they can be
found and how they interact with the environment; and its effects and
how this can be controlled or eliminated.
26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A
“The understanding of water pollution & its control depends upon a
basic knowledge of aquatic environmental chemistry. This includes
knowledge on the properties of water, aquatic microbial reactions,
sediment-water interactions etc.

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

There are types of water pollutants as shown below:

Class of pollutant Significance

Trace element Health, aquatic biota & toxicity
Heavy metals Health, aquatic biota & toxicity
Petroleum wastes Effect on wildlife, esthetics
Sewage, human & animal Water quality, oxygen levels
wastes
Chemical carcinogens Incidence of cancer
Taste, odor & color Esthetics

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

Pollutants
Heavy metals are the most harmful of these elemental pollutants and
are of great concern because of their toxicities to humans. Take note of
the heavy metals (and metalloids), their sources, effects and oxidation
state.
Organic pollutants – sewage, soap & detergents
Pesticides – DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
ABS surfactant (surface-active agent), LAS surfactant – very low BOD
relative to its TOC.
BOD – Biochemical Oxygen Demand
TOC – Total Carbon Content
26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A
Treatment processes include:
Precipitation
Flocculation
Coagulation – treatment process where compounds/chemicals are
added to the wastewater to create large clumps of pollutants that are
removed from the wastewater.
Sedimentation
Clarification – this the initial step of conventional treatment method
where sediments, organic materials, particles and water colour are
removed from wastewater.
Colour removal
26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A
Industrial effluent
This is a type of pollutant released from industries. This industrial
waste comes in various forms.
Some elements found in industrial wastes are trace elements e.g iron,
lead, copper, iodine, manganese, fluorine, zinc etc. These are all toxic
to plants and animals. Some are essential at lower levels & toxic at
higher levels.

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

Industrial pollutants (source) include:
Textile
Tannery
Laundry
Cannery
Dairy
Brewery & winery
Pharmaceutical
Petrochemical
Chemical
Energy
Nuclear
26/05/2021 power Dr. A.E.A
Treatment of water for industrial use
It is clear that the treatment of water depends upon its end
use. Examples:
Cooling water – minimal treatment
Boiler feedwater – essential to remove corrosive substances &
scale-forming solutes.
Water for food processing – free of pathogens & toxic
substances.

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

The impact of inefficient treatment will lead to corrosion,
scale formation, product contamination, reduced water flow
and reduced heat transfer in heat exchangers. The effects that
may cause reduced equipment performance (equipment
breakdown), increased energy costs, and product
deterioration. “The effective treatment of water at minimum
cost for industrial use is a very important are of water
treatment”.

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

Factors to consider when designing & operating an industrial
water treatment facility:
a)Water requirement
b)Quantity & quality of available water sources
c) Sequential use of water
d)Water recycle
e)Discharge standards
The specific processes are external & internal treatment.

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

External treatment - applies to the plant’s entire water
supply. It uses processes such as aeration, filtration &
clarification.
Internal treatment – designed to modify the properties of
water for specific applications.
Question: Give an example of internal treatment of industrial
wastewater/effluent.

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

Water to be discharged in large rivers or re-used in an arid
region.
It is clear that there are different types of wastewater
treatments. However, biological treatment processes are
considered as a secondary waste treatment to treat sewage
plants. BOD, the most harmful effect of biodegradable organic
matter removed by this treatment.

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

Biological treatment processes (wastewater
treatment processes):
1)Trickling filter
Wastewater is sprayed over rocks & other solid support
materials covered with microorganisms.
- Microbial bio-film (absorption and adsorption of organic
materials)
- There are different types
Consider the operating problems – advantages and
disadvantages
26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A
26/05/2021 Trickling Filter Dr. A.E.A
2) Rotating biological reactors (contactors)
This is consist of groups of large plastic discs mounted close
together on a rotating shaft. This process simply works when at one
time, half is immersed in wastewater and half exposed to air – BOD
removal and nutrient removal.

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

 The two previously mentioned treatment processes are examples
of fixed film biological (FFB) or attached growth processes.

Advantages
Low energy consumption

Question: What are the disadvantages?

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Treatment for water reuse

Water reuse occurs when water discharged by one user is utilised

as a water source by another user.

Reasons for treatment – 1) water supply shortage 2) widespread

deployment of modern water treatment processes.

Question: Do we reuse water in Nigeria? If yes, what part of the

country implements this?

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

Ion exchange – method for softening water. It is used for
removal of inorganics. The process involves the solid cation
exchanger and a solid anion exchanger. The cation exchanger
generated with strong acid & the anion exchanger with strong
base.

Processes used to remove dissolved inorganics.

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

Cooling water treatment – heat transfer from a
heat exchanger

26/05/2021 How does this work? Dr. A.E.A

Effluent standards establish the concentration of pollutants
that can be discharged to a receiving water. Water quality
to be attained is not static; it is an ongoing process.

Trace quantities of substances in water streams are often

measured in parts per million (ppm) or parts per billion
(ppb) on mass basis. The mixture of substances is
conveniently expressed in mole fractions or mass fractions.

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

Over the years, tons of industrial wastes had been generated
and a regulation put in place to tackle the levels of
contaminants that are released into the water bodies. The
category of water reuse will determine the adequate
treatment process.
As an engineer, the importance of the knowledge on water
pollution is applied in various forms.

Question: Describe specifically where you can apply this

knowledge? Give a specific detailed example.
26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A
The role of a water supply engineer differs in developing and
underdeveloped countries. In the US for instance, carcinogens are
removed from water bodies to prevent cancer. In other countries,
millions of children under the age of 5 die from water borne
diseases. The pollutants source and treatment are different.

To treat water, it is mandatory to develop purification or treatment

facilities. “It has been the responsibility of engineers to synthesize
this basic knowledge into practical systems of wastewater
treatment that are effective & economical. Many municipal
wastewater plants are required to remove such chemicals as
organic chemicals and heavy metals prior to discharge to receiving
waters.
26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A
Cost of treatment
This takes into consideration what type of wastewater is being treated
and for what purpose. The cost is estimated or calculated after the
treatment process or water reuse process.

In conclusion, it should be emphasised that many of the industrial

and hazardous waste problems will be solved by minimising the
quantity of these materials produced or used through product
substitution, waste recovery & recycling, and waste minimization.

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A

Read up on water pollution! Make notes on the
legislation and standards of effluent discharge.

These coursework slides have detailed

information that creates a platform for further
knowledge on water pollution.

26/05/2021 Dr. A.E.A