Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Water Treatment - Essay Example

Questions Describe the path a water molecule of water might follow through the hydrologic cycle from the ocean to the land and back again. The hydrologic cycle, also known as the water cycle, is the process that moves the water through the hydrosphere. Water in the ocean is heated by the sun and is evaporated off and enters the atmosphere as water vapor. When the conditions are right, the water vapor cools and condenses in the form of precipitation over land. The water runs off and enters the freshwater lakes and streams, and eventually reenters the ocean. About what percent of the worlds water is liquid, fresh, surface water that supports most terrestrial life? Only about .0072 percent of the worlds water is fresh surface water that is contained in lakes and streams. Most of the worlds water is held in the oceans, ice and snow, and groundwater (Cunningham and Cunningham 235). When the Clean Water Act passed, what were some of its main ideas? The Clean Water Act (CWA) gave the EPA the responsibility for establishing and maintaining a set of clean water standards, as well as making funding available to sewage plants to reduce water pollution. The CWA regulates water pollution nationwide, controls the discharge of pollutants from large industrial plants as well as sewage plants. In addition, the CWA set standards for pollutants that require a permit to discharge and set standards for sewage runoff. The goals of the CWA were to reduce and eliminate the toxins that come as the result of industrial operations and reduce the "fertilizer, animal waste, motor oil, and pesticides from farms, streets, and lawns" from being discharged into bodies of water (Provisions II). Describe primary, secondary, and tertiary water treatment. Primary, secondary, and tertiary water treatment is a three phase process of purifying water to take it from the sewage state and return it to a potable state by a series of cleanings. The primary stage removes any large objects such as household trash that has entered the system as well as sand and gravel. It additionally may go through a sedimentation phase to remove heavy deposits of grease and oil. The secondary stage is a series of filters and processes that further clean the water and breakdown the biological components. The tertiary stage raises the quality of the water through purification and makes it ready to be re-used. What changes might occur in the hydrologic cycle if our climate were to warm or cool significantly? If the climate of the planet warms significantly it would have a substantial impact on the hydrologic cycle. The oceans would warm and evaporate more water, resulting in greater rain and snowfall. In addition, the poles would melt and raise the levels of the oceans. They would have a greater surface area, which would also contribute to an increase in evaporation. If the planet were to cool, it would have the opposite effect. The seasons would become dryer as there would be less evaporated water vapor to create rain. In addition, much of the worlds water would become locked up in polar ice and snow. Under what conditions might sediment in water or cultural eutrophication be beneficial? How should we balance positive and negative effects? Eutrophication, also known as nutrient loading, is a natural process that a lake goes through as it ages. Nutrients are a necessary part of a healthy lake, as they provide the basis of the food chain for fish and larger mammals. However, a significant increase in nutrients can cause increased biological activity, algae blooms, and the depletion of oxygen. The nutrient increase often comes from human activity, such as farming. Controlling the level of eutrophication in a lake requires a land management program for the watershed area. Of primary concern is phosphorus, and many areas have implemented phosphorus control programs to regulate its release into lakes and streams. How does tectonic plate movement create ocean basins, mid-ocean ridges, and volcanoes? The surface of the earth is made up of several plates (a dozen or more), known as tectonic plates, that move independently of one another. As the plates move apart or collide, they form the geological features of the earth. The plates move slowly, at only a few centimeters per year, and changes take place over very long time periods. The boundaries of the plates are often under the ocean floor, and when the move apart they form the ocean basins and ridges. It is also in these areas that the surface opens up and allows the hot volcanic material to be released in under sea volcanoes. What is the difference between metals and non-metal mineral resources? Mineral resources can be the metals such as iron, aluminum, and copper, or may be non-metallic. Metal resources are a component of the earths makeup that were formed in earths early history as a result of the celestial activity that formed the solar system. Non-metallic resources such as coal, crude oil, and natural gas are the result of the earths temperatures and pressures being exerted on an organic mass. What resources, aside from minerals themselves, can be saved by recycling? Many products can be recycled in a number of different ways. Paper can be reprocessed, cleaned, or bleached and reused for applications such as paper towels, printing paper, and cardboard. Plastic can be shredded and chopped, colored, and melted to form new plastic products. Products may also find a secondary use, such as an old leather jacket being cut up to make belts. In this way, the leather is being recycled. Even using a disposable plastic container as a storage device can be considered recycling. It has reprocessed the item and put it to further use. Geologists are responsible for identifying and mapping mineral resources. But mineral resources are buried beneath the soil and covered with vegetation. How do you suppose geologists in the field find clues about the distribution of rock types? Geologists can determine the distribution of rock through a variety of methods. They need to have an understanding of the geological history of the area that could reveal clues as to how it was formed. Topographical maps can reveal what may lie just beneath the surface. The features of the surrounding area, such as mountains or ridges, can also be helpful. Geologists may also employ technological tools such as seismic or sonar equipment that can see below the surface layer of vegetation and soil. The idea of tectonic plates shifting across the earths surface is central to explanations of geologic processes. Why is this idea still called the theory of plate tectonic movement? The theory of plate tectonics has been developed out of the older theory of continental drift, which was introduced in 1912 by a German meteorologist named Alfred Lothar Wegener. More recent data and studies of the ocean floor resulted in the theory of plate tectonics. According to the United States Geologic Service (USGS), "Even though the theory of plate tectonics is now widely accepted by the scientific community, aspects of the theory are still being debated today" (Historical Perspective). There are questions relating to the nature of forces that act upon the plates, and how plate tectonics may have impacted the early history of the planet. What are the major sources of global commercial energy? Global commercial energy comes from the burning of fossil fuels and the harnessing of earths natural power sources. Fossil fuels include the crude oil that provides gasoline and diesel fuel, and coal that is burnt to generate electricity. Commercial energy also comes from the electricity that is generated from hydroelectric dams. Nuclear reactors harness the power of the atom to generate the heat required to run steam driven generators. Other sources, such as wind, solar, and geo-thermal contribute a small amount to the worlds commercial energy needs. What are proven-in-place reserves? Geologists categorize minerals as to the availability and their accessibility for use in an effort to make a predictable plan for current and future use of the worlds resources. "Mineral Reserves are sub-divided in order of increasing confidence into Probable Mineral Reserves and Proven Mineral Reserves. A Probable Mineral Reserve has a lower level of confidence than a Proven Mineral Reserve" (CIM Standing Committee). Categories may be further broken down such as inferred, indicated, or measured, which indicates varying levels of confidence. Proven-in place reserves are the reserves that have the greatest level of confidence as to their quantity and quality. How are nuclear wastes now being stored? Currently, nuclear waste is being stored temporarily while scientists and governments research and develop methods for safe and long-term storage. The nuclear waste is stored in water filled containers or specially designed dry casks. The waste is usually being temporarily stored at facilities near the generating plant to alleviate the risk of transportation, though there are sites dedicated for that purpose. If your local utility company were going to build a new power plant in your community what kind would you prefer? Why? If a utility were to build a new power plant in my community I would prefer a nuclear generating plant. Much of my aversion to nuclear power stems from the near disaster at Three Mile Island, and the events at Chernobyl. However, these cases were due to old technology and a weak system of safety and monitoring. France has a successful and safe nuclear program, and it is an alternative means of generating electricity that needs to be utilized with respect to our current knowledge and environmental awareness. Although we have used vast amounts of energy resources in the process of industrialization and development, some would say that it was a necessary investment to get to a point at which we can use energy more efficiently and sustainably. Do you agree? Might we have followed a different path? Industrialization was necessary to elevate the standard of living that allows us to evolve socially, politically, and economically. It was absolutely vital for the progression of mankind and civilization. It could not have been accomplished without a substantial energy investment. Historically, much of the energy use has been inefficient, dirty, dangerous, and wasteful, but has improved over time with greater technology and better science. Cleaner, safer, and more sustainable energy sources could only have been developed by utilizing these initial energy inputs. The splitting of the atom took massive amounts of electricity to power the accelerator, but would eventually return the investment through nuclear power. Industrialization and energy production have gone hand in hand. We may have been able to move away from fossil fuels on a more aggressive schedule, or dramatically increased our energy efficiency by making larger economic investments, but the process itself was unavoidable. It has been a great benefit to civilization, and its negative consequences are largely the result of the status quo being reluctant to change. Works Cited CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions. CIM Definition Standards - For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Ottawa CA: CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions, 2005. 24 Jan. 2009 . Cunningham, William P., and Mary A. Cunningham. Principles of Environmental Science. New York: McGraw-Hill Science, 2005 "Historical Perspective." USGS. 13 Jan. 2009. United States Geologic Service. 24 Jan. 2009 < http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/historical.html>. "Provisions II." Clean Water Act. 2008. Microsoft. 23 Jan. 2009 . Read More