Water Contamination, Purification, and Biodiversity Conservation

Water Contaminants

Water pollution can have natural or human origins. Contaminants can be physical (suspended solids), chemical (organic matter, nitrogen compounds, heavy metals), or biological (bacteria, viruses, protozoa, parasitic worms). Effects: Birds cannot fly due to oil ingress, fish stocks decrease, and coastal ecosystems are affected. Consequences:

• Eutrophication: Proliferation of photosynthetic organisms in water bodies.
• Water Temperature Increase: Hot water mixes with cold water and contaminates it.
• Salinization of Aquifers: Salty ocean water mixes with fresh groundwater.

Water Purification

Drinking water should be odorless, colorless, and tasteless, and it should contain no toxic substances. Water undergoes chemical processes to remove organic matter and other contaminants. Process:

1. Water Intake
2. Bar Screening
3. Sedimentation
4. Sand Filtration (organic matter removal)
5. Elimination of Organic Matter
6. Disinfection
7. Activated Carbon Filtration
8. Storage

Wastewater Treatment

1. Screening Filtration
2. Desanding and Degreasing
3. Primary Sedimentation
4. Biological Treatment
5. Secondary Sedimentation
6. Water Purification
7. Sludge Digestion and Dehydration
8. Thickening

Waste Impact

Waste can cause problems for living things in ecosystems: urban, agricultural, industrial, health, and radioactive.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of species and ecosystems. Biodiversity conservation is necessary because it provides food, medicine, and raw materials and contributes to the balance of ecosystems. The main threats are:

• Destruction of natural habitats
• Deforestation
• Fires
• Trading and collecting
• Hunting
• Overexploitation of species
• Introduction of invasive species

Proposed solutions include waste management and practices that mitigate threats.

Kyoto Protocol (Japan)

A set of measures by governments to reduce CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere with alternative energy systems (wind, water, etc.). Fossil fuel consumption increases atmospheric CO₂, enhancing the greenhouse effect, leading to increased Earth temperature, and causing climate change (melting, acid rain, etc.).