Water and Solid Waste Management - Assignment Example

Assignment Q Outline the main considerations in treatment of water for human drinking water supplies. Are there any cautions which should be applied? Water is contaminated by different chemicals and biological organisms that can be harmful towards the human life (Module Five – Water, 51). Therefore, water treatment for human drinking should undergo some considerations when being treated. Treatment of water is highly dependent on the nature and quality of water to be treated. For this reason, it is important for water management facilities to comply with the national guidelines when treating water (Module Five – Water, 52- 53). For instance: Coagulation, flocculation, filtration, and sedimentation process is commonly used when removing solid particles whereas disinfection with the use of chlorine is used to kill pathogens from the water (Yassi et al. 2001, 52). In Australia, the wastewater is being managed by collecting the wastewater from the public sewer systems which undergoes the primary process of screening out the non-degradable materials like metals, grit, or plastics; the secondary water treatment which includes the aeration or biological filtration; and the tertiary process such as the removal of left over materials and harmful bacteria, virus, and protozoan organisms among others (Module Seven – Wastewater Management, 64). In case untreated water comes from composting or pit toilets, the process of Aerobic Treatment Unit (ATU) or Aerated Wastewater Treatment Systems (AWTS) should be considered whereas biosolids should undergo further composting process which is done in licensed facilities (Module Seven – Wastewater Management, 66). The use of chlorine in disinfecting the water has an issue with regard to the safety of ingesting the chemicals. Therefore, NHMRC was given the national responsibility in examining and testing not only the dose of chemicals being applied in treating water but also the quality of water that comes from different parts of treatment and distribution process of untreated water including the presence of E. coli in faeces coming from compositing or pit toilets including some chemicals (NMRC 1989, 53; Module Seven – Water Management, 66). Considering the fact that the use of chlorine is not effective in killing Giardia and Cryptosporidium oocysts (Module Five – Water, 54), NHMRC should take caution by monitoring the presence of both types of protozoan organisms. Q.2 Compare and contrast the health risks associated with indoor versus outdoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution is more focused on the problem related to the absence of fresh air within the indoor environment whereas outdoor air pollution is more focused on the fumes that comes from cars and industrial plants. The airborne pollutants that are present in either indoor or outdoor could adversely affect the lungs which cause asthma, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or bronchitis (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2009). In some cases, air pollution may cause episodes of otitis media, persistent middle-ear effusion, snoring, rhinitis, nasal congestion, persistent cough, nausea and vomiting, conjunctival irritation, headache, and heart problems like tachycardia, ischemic heart disease, and angina (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). The type of stove used inside the house is one of the common factors that may cause indoor air pollution. Specifically the use of kerosene causes poisoning, explosions, and possible carcinogenic effects as compared with the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (Mehta and Shahpar 2004). Since indoor air pollution is enclosed within a house or a building, the concentration of airborne pollution is much higher as compared to outdoor pollution (Larson and Rosen 2002). Upon measuring the levels of air pollution (NOx, NO, NO2, SO2, CO, and O3) in outdoor and indoor environment in Hong Kong, the study of Lee (1997) revealed that outdoor pollutants have higher level of NOx, NO, NO2, SO2, and O3 except for CO. Upon examining the indoor and outdoor quality of air in relation to temperature, relative humidity (RH), CO2, SO2, NO, NO2, respirable particulate matter (PM10), formaldehyde (HCHO), and total bacteria counts; the study of Lee and Chang (2000) revealed that the maximum indoor PM10 exceeds 1000µl/m3 whereas the CO2 level exceeds 1000µl/l in a classroom that uses air-conditioner and ceiling fan. The respiratory system of children are not fully developed as compared to the respiratory system of the adults. The high level of PM10 in indoor area is commonly caused by cigarette smoking or excessive use of gas stoves for cooking (Lee et al. 2002). Because of the high concentration of indoor air pollution, the study of Smith and Mehta (2003) revealed that there is a high incidence of deaths among children related to indoor air pollution. Q.3 Outline the main considerations for management of wastewater in densely populated urban areas. The main consideration when managing wastewater in densely populated urban areas includes: (1) disposal of final treated effluents into the ocean, lakes or rivers; (2) compliance with the anti-pollution laws; (3) safety issues regarding the re-use of wastewater for irrigation and household consumption; and (4) the use of treated sludge or biosolids as fertilizer in soil rather than discharging the sludge into the bodies of water (Module Seven – Wastewater Management, 67 – 68). Disposal of the final treated effluents into the ocean, lakes or rivers raises a lot of controversy with regard to the health and safety of human beings. Although re-using the untreated wastewater for irrigation purposes is possible, several studies revealed that treated waste water contains pathogens that can be transferred to human beings by having a direct contact with parasites like Giardia muris and Cryptosporidium, eating foods or drinking contaminated filtered water since Giardia muris and Cryptosporidium cannot be killed by chlorination (Appelbee, Thompson and Olson 2005; McAllister et al. 2005; LeChevallier, Norton and Lee 1991). The study of Chang, Toghrol and Bentley (2007) revealed that the presence of Staphylococcus aureus has a tendency to become more virulent and increased drug resistance after passing through the process of chlorination. Although it is possible to inactivate microorganisms like bacteria and pathogens by treating the wastewater, several studies revealed that water treatment alone does not totally kill these harmful pathogens (Lapara and Firl 2006; Haas and Aturaliye 1999). Therefore, there is a strong possibility that the presence of pathogens in treated water will re-grow and multiply in ponds or water pipes. With regards to the use of treated sludge as soil fertilizers, wastewater management facilities should comply with the state regulation such that the presence of pollutants and pathogens should be within the accepted standard limitation equal to the amount of contaminants, environmental health and nutrients that can be absorbed by the plants (Module Seven – Wastewater Management, 69 – 70). Before selling the treated biosolids as fertilizers for private or commercial use, the treated biosolids should undergo further composting process within a licensed local facility (Module Seven – Wastewater Management, 70). Q.4 The landfill option for solid waste management is now considered unacceptable as a long-term strategy for many Australian cities. Discuss the environmental health reasons for this view. The landfill option for solid waste management are now considered as an unacceptable waste management practice in Austria due to health reasons. The problem with the use of landfill as a waste management practice is that different types of health hazardous chemicals and heavy metal substances such as chromium wastes, vinyl chloride, benzene, and orgatonin compound –a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) stabilizers among others that are widely deposited on the ground. Each time it rains, these deposits could eventually reach the groundwater affecting the quality of drinking water for human consumption (The Environment - A global challenge 1999). Although there were some studies that find no connection between the presence of chromium metal deposits and diseases like lung cancer and congenital abnormalities (Fagliano et al. 1997); several past research studies revealed that the presence of chromium waste deposit is related to the formation of leukaemia, nasal septum, lung cancer, skin ulceration, and kidney tumours (McCarron, Brogan and Peters 2000; Hughes et al. 1994). In addition to the controversy with regards to the perception that living close to a landfill could increase the risk of developing bladder, brain, and hepatobiliary cancer or leukemia, the study of Jarup et al. (2002) revealed that there is no excessive risk of developing the three types of cancer in population living within 2 kilometres around the landfill area. Living close to waste disposal area or landfill is significantly associated with the lower growth rate in children’s height especially between the age of 0 – 3 years old (Herrera and Franz 2008). Likewise, a research study reveals that there is a close relationship between living in a geographic region close to hazardous waste area and the rate of hospitalization among patients that are diabetic (Kouznetsova et al. 2007). The study of Zejda et al. (2000) also revealed that there is a strong association between living close to a place with a landfill site and health concerns related to psychological matters, digestive tract problem, respiratory illnesses, and allergic complaints coming from the residence. Basically, the problem with living close to a landfill is because of the people’s exposure to high levels of hazardous chemicals (Nuckols, Ward and Jarup 2004; Rushton and Elliott 2003). References Appelbee, Amber J., Andrew R.C. Thompson, and Merle E. Olson. 2005. 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