Water supply contamination

As a result of volatilization, significantly elevated indoor air levels of trichloroethylene can occur in homes that use water supplies contaminated with trichloroethylene (Andelman 1985a). The transfer of trichloroethylene from shower water to air in one study had a mean efficiency of 61% which was independent of water temperature (McKone and Knezovich 1991). The study authors concluded that showering for 10 minutes in water contaminated with trichloroethylene could result in a daily exposure by inhalation comparable to that expected by drinking contaminated tap water. Another study using a model shower system found that, in addition to shower spray, shower water collecting around the drain could be an important source of volatilized trichloroethylene, and the fraction volatilized could be affected by spray drop size and flow rate (Giardino et al. 1992). 

All point source and nonpoint source wastewaters at an industrial site must be properly managed for source separation, waste minimization, volume reduction, collection, pretreatment, and/or complete end-of-pipe treatment [39,47]. When industrial waste is not disposed of properly, hazardous substances may contaminate a nearby surface water (river, lake, sea, or ocean) and/or groundwater. Any hazardous substance release, either intentionally or unintentionally, increases the risk of water supply contamination and human disease. Major waterborne contaminants and their health effects are listed below. 

At present, there are generally two basic situations involving water supply contamination by pesticides chronic contamination, which is usually at levels of less than 1 p.p.b., and short term and higher level contamination. The chronic contamination results from the more or less continuous bleed-off of pesticide residues from land and continuous or periodic discharges from industrial wastes. The second or high level contamination may involve accidents, massive runoff from land following heavy rains, or direct pesticide applications to water to control unwanted fish, insects, or aquatic plants. 

The presence of sodium in drinking water can affect persons suffering from heart, kidney, or circulatory ailments. It may elevate blood pressures of susceptible individuals. Sodium is plentiful in the common table salt that people use to flavor food to their taste. It is a large constituent of sea water hence, in water supplies contaminated by the sea as in the case of Antipolo mentioned earlier, this element would be plentiful. 

Streptococcus. The streptococci are another important group whose presence is frequently associated with problems. They are commonly found in the throat, a number of dairy products, and also in water supplies contaminated with sewage or faecal material (see later). 

ID As well as 1. Contamination of water supply 1. Not possible here 4. None ... 

Water. Water mains should be connected to plant fire mains at two or more poiats, so that a sufficient water supply can be deHvered ia case of emergency. The plant loop and its branches should be adequately valved so that a break can be isolated without affecting a principal part of the system. If there is any question of maintaining adequate pressure, suitable booster pumps should be iastaHed. Any connection made to potable water for process water or cooling water must be made ia such a manner that there can be no backflow of possibly contaminated water check valves alone are not sufficient. The municipal supply should faH freely iato a tank from which the water is pumped for process purposes, or commercially available and approved backflow preventers should be used. 

Alternate Water Supply to Replace Contaminated Drinking Water... 

Bacteria are smaller than protozoa and are responsible for many diseases, such as typhoid fever, cholera, diarrhea, and dysentery. Pathogenic bacteria range in size from 0.2 to 0.6 /tm, and a 0.2 /tm filter is necessary to prevent transmission. Contamination of water supplies by bacteria is blamed for the cholera epidemics, which devastate undeveloped countries from time to time. Even in the U.S., E. coli is frequently found to contaminated water supplies. Fortunately, E. coli is relatively harmless as pathogens go, and the problem isn t so much with E. coli found, but the fear that other bacteria may have contaminated the water as well. Never the less, dehydration from diarrhea caused by E. coli has resulted in fatalities. 

Baird is the 20-acre site of a former chemical mixing and batching company. Poor waste disposal practices resulted in the contamination of groundwater, soil, the municipal water supply, and a brook adjacent to the site. Over one hundred contaminants, including chlorinated and nonchlorinated volatile organics, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and dioxins, had been identified in site soil and groundwater. Remediation activities included soil excavation and incineration, and groundwater treatment (the audit focused on the soil excavation and incineration... 

Due to contamination from a metal plating facility, the water from a nearby community water supply well was shown to contain cyanide at a concentration of 20 pg/L, nickel at 95 pg/L, and chroniium(IIl) at 10,200 pg/L. If the daily water intake is assumed to be 0.2L, and the body weight of an adult is 70kg, do these noncarcinogenic chemicals pose a health hazard ... 

A wide variety of federal regulations as well as state and local laws govern the supply of water to domestic and industrial premises. Within these are included the statutory undertakings for preventing waste, undue consumption, misuse and contamination of water supplied by the various authorities. 

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