Animal waste contains various pathogens and chemicals that are hazardous to human health. Cow waste, for example, can contain disease-causing bacteria like fecal coliform and E. Animal waste is also a common source of nitrate nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, phosphate, copper, zinc, and sulfate, which are all problematic for water sources.
Arsenic is a heavy metal that is commonly found in the environment in rocks, soil and various plants. These natural sources, however, are rarely problematic. High levels of arsenic in water usually results from human activity. For example, numerous industries commonly use arsenic-based compounds and pesticides, and mining operations and combusting coal can release arsenic into the environment.
The Environmental Protection Agency sets a limit of 10 parts per billion for arsenic levels in public water systems, which is the same limit set by the FDA for bottled water.
If levels breach that limit, the risks to human health increase. Chronic low-dose exposure to arsenic has been shown to cause respiratory problems and cardiovascular disease and may be linked to diabetes and various cancers. Fetal development is also negatively affected by arsenic exposure. Radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that comes from the natural radioactive breakdown of uranium.
Radon is often found in indoor air, released into the home as uranium breaks down beneath it. However, radon can also seep into the ground and accumulate in groundwater. When this water is brought to the surface and used, that radon gas is released into the air. While only one to two percent of radon gets into the atmosphere through this method, it is still dangerous to human health. Breathing radon traps these radioactive particles in the lungs, potentially causing lung cancer.
In fact, radon in indoor air is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, causing about 20, deaths a year.
Drinking water contaminated with radon can also negatively affect health. The EPA estimates that radon in drinking water causes cancer deaths per year. Lung cancer caused by breathing radon released from drinking water causes 89 percent of these deaths, while stomach cancer caused by consuming contaminated water causes 11 percent of them. A recent study by the University of Illinois found that karst aquifers — groundwater ecosystems made up of creviced carbonate rock, and that make up one-quarter of global drinking water sources — are now contaminated with microplastic particles.
Examining 17 groundwater samples from areas near the St. Louis metropolitan area and rural northwestern Illinois, researchers discovered that 16 of the 17 samples contained microplastic particles, and at a concentration comparable to those found in rivers and streams in the Chicago area.
Diagram of surface waste runoff seeping down to contaminate a karst aquifer. Analysis suggests that these karst aquifers are contaminated from groundwater seepage that includes sewage and runoff from roads, landfills, and agricultural areas, and even include traces of pharmaceuticals and household contaminants. Unfortunately, the limited research available on the effects of microplastic contamination precludes them from determining how their spread to underground aquifers will affect the health of the general populace.
What this study does offer is more support for the continued study and awareness of plastic contamination in water, as it is becoming an almost distressing certainty that a great many people have inadvertently ingested microplastic particles through contaminated water.
Water pollution is hazardous to human health. In total, water pollution caused 1. Even swimming in polluted water can pose a risk to human health, with 3. Of those affected by water pollution, low-income communities are disproportionately affected, mostly because of their proximity to pollution sources and underfunded infrastructure.
To help combat the effects of water pollution, the EPA has set standards for more than 80 contaminants. The effects of contaminants fall into one of two categories:.
Here are just a few ways that you can prevent and reduce the impact of groundwater contamination:. We offer a range of water filtration products that can help people solve their water quality issues. Countless sources of pollution can cause your groundwater to become unsafe for consumption.
Several zones of protection SPZs are specified. Similar to the zones around ground water sources the zone immediately around the point of withdrawal of water is most strictly protected. The size of individual zones depends on particular situation population, human activities, geological conditions, etc. They apply to the zone around the site of direct water abstraction: — m upstream, 50 m downstream or down to the waterworks which raises the river level.
This includes the banks to the distance of 15 m from the watercourse. Elimination of all sources of pollution must be ensured. Warning signs, floating buoys, or fences are used. In this zone discharge of wastewaters or sewage, bathing, fishing, storage of crude oil products, supply of biogenic elements, storage of harmful substances and geological prospecting is banned and cemeteries, storage of carcasses, industrial plants producing wastewaters, and animal feedlots must not be built.
The zone extends upstream, always up to the watershed parting, if needed. Protection measures involve regulation of surface flow regimen and prevention of erosion. The following activities are prohibited: discharge of wastewaters, supply of biogenic elements, storage of harmful substances in an inundation area.
Industrial plants with harmful wastewaters and animal feedlots must not be put up in the area. The protection of the 3rd degree applies to the entire water catchment area above the site of abstraction.
If its part is not protected as the SPZ of the lst or 2nd degree, then the requirements as at 3rd degree apply to this area. The aim of the study was to monitor changes in the quality of water obtained from ground water sources that was intended for mass consumption farms, villages and also of surface water rivers in the same area flowing close to animal farms and villages oriented on agricultural production with the aim to identify potential sources of its contamination.
Monitoring of quality of ground and surface water in an agricultural area of eastern Slovakia focused on determination of physico-chemical parameters and bacterial counts indicating quality and potential pollution of water sources. Samples of water for examination were collected from May up to March , to cover all four seasons. The results of ground water were assessed on the basis of the requirements on the quality of water used for human consumption determined by the Slovak Republic Government Regulation No.
The quality of the investigated surface water was evaluated on the basis of the Slovak Republic Government Regulation No. It covers an area of about It covers an area of It ensures protection to primeval beech forest growth of typical composition and structure on andesite and andesite tuffs. It ensures protection to rare natural communities of moor-alder Slansky mountain forests.
This area is covered by marshy-alder forest of lowland type located about m above the sea level. The investigated area is agricultural, with two villages and two animal farms. Both villages and farms are supplied with potable water from ground sources that comply with legislative requirements on potable water intended for mass consumption. In villages there are some families that have their own individual wells.
Also some of them keep small number of farm animals. The investigated area with location of rivers, ground water sources, farms, manure storage, and water sampling sites is depicted in Figure 1. Village 1 is located about m above sea level and a small river Zidovsky potok, that begins in a mountain ridge about m above sea level, flows through this village where its banks are mostly regulated. It flows to another small river Torocky potok which originates in the same mountain ridge and passes close to Village 1 and Village 2 m above sea level and next to farm 2.
Both rivers are small, but in case of heavy rain or rapid melting of snow they have not sufficient capacity to drain off all water and may overflow. The last heavy flooding occurred in when water on some streets of Village 1 was more than 0. Figure 1. Schematic presentation of the investigated area. Site 1b: Farm 1 next to Village 1.
Site 1c: Village 1—house connected to water distribution system. Site 1d: Village 1—private well 15 m from manure storage used by family keeping some farm animals 2 pigs, 4 cattle, 15—20 hens.
Site 1e: Farm 2 next to Village 2. Site 1f: Unused well. Surface Water Site 2a: Torocky potok. Site 2b: Torocky potok—downriver from the house of family keeping some farm animals manure storage 15 m from the river. Site 2c: Junction of Torocky and Zidovsky potok. Site 2d: Torocky potok upriver from Farm 2. Site 2e: Torocky potok—downriver from Farm 2. Site 2f: Zidovsky potok—upriver from Farm 1.
Village 1 is supplied with potable water from a drilled well, 15 m deep. This water is regularly checked for its chemical and bacteriological quality. Only small number of inhabitants of this village uses water from individual wells the safety of which is not ensured Fox et al.
Farm 1 located next to this village is oriented on keeping sheep and goats about A ground water source supplies potable water to farm 2. It is located 80 m from the manure storage. The water is again pumped into a reservoir of capacity m 3. The farm keeps about 80 fattening cattle and 20 horses that are used mostly for recreational purposes.
There is an unused water well close to the Farm 2, m away from manure storage. Two liters of water were sampled to chemically clean bottles for physico-chemical evaluation and 1 liter was collected to a sterile bottle for microbiological examination. The samples were processes immediately after returning to a laboratory. Chemical examination of surface and ground water included determination of pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand COD Mn , chlorides, nitrates, iron, and phosphates.
In addition, sum of calcium and magnesium and free chlorine was determined only in potable water and total dissolved solids TDS only in surface water. Determination of counts of relevant bacteria was carried out in compliance with the Slovak Republic Government Regulations No.
A pour-plate method was used and the counts of BC22 and BC37 were determined using meat-peptone agar and aerobic incubation at relevant temperature for 24 h. In the absence of colonies, the incubation was prolonged for additional 24 h. According to the respective regulation, lactose fermentation test was performed for confirmation of coliform bacteria.
It consisted of filtering ml or 10 ml of water sample for water intended for mass consumption or individual consumption, respectively through a membrane filter filter of pore size 0. The filter was then placed onto a solid selective medium containing sodium azide to suppress growth of Gram-negative bacteria and colorless 2,3,5-trifenyltetrazolium chloride, which is reduced by intestinal enterococci to red formazan. Results of physico-chemical examination are presented in Tables 1 , 2.
Table 1. Results of physico-chemical examination of surface water during the monitored year and legislative limits of parameters according SR Government Regulations No. Table 2. Results of physico-chemical examination of ground water monitored during 1 year period and legislative limits of parameters according SR Government Regulations No. Levels of all investigated parameters were within the limits specified by relevant regulation except for N- NO 3 - Figure 2 , which was exceeded in most of the samples.
Figure 2. Level of N-NO 3 determined in the investigated surface water in individual seasons and legislative limit for this parameter according to the Slovak Republic Government Regulations No. Results of microbiological examination of monitored waters are presented in Tables 3 , 4. Table 3. Results of microbiological examination of surface water collected in individual seasons.
Table 4. Results of microbiological examination of ground water collected in individual seasons. The levels of nitrates in samples of surface and ground water determined in samples collected in individual seasons are presented in Figures 2 , 3.
Figure 3. Level of nitrates NO 3 - determined in the investigated ground water in individual seasons and legislative limit of this parameter according to the Slovak Republic Government Regulations No. According to WHO , neither E. The Water Quality stipulates that fecal enterococci must not be detected in any ml sample of water. Protection of water sources from pollution that can ensure availability of potable water of good quality is an essential requirement for sustainable development.
Surface waters are polluted by point sources, such as agricultural or industrial installations, or via overland flow from rain or snowmelt. Subsequently, by transport through the soil profile, pollutants can reach groundwater and, according to their character, can have very serious consequences.
The physico-chemical properties of water, particularly pH, temperature, the presence of organic matter, level of dissolved oxygen, electric conductivity, turbidity, content of NH 3 , metals, and other chemical components, affect the quality of drinking water and some of them may exert direct effect on the health of consumers Pitter, In addition, these parameters can affect survival of potential disease agents and the effectiveness of disinfection Block, It is influenced by biological processes that occur in water.
N-substances, P-substances and chlorides serve as indicators of fecal pollution but some of these substances may have also serious health effects. Chemical oxygen demand COD is an important water quality parameter. Higher COD levels in surface water mean a greater amount of oxidisable organic material, which will reduce dissolved oxygen DO levels.
A reduction in DO can lead to anaerobic conditions, which is deleterious to higher aquatic life forms. Presence of COD in ground water indicates the risk of development of by-products trihalomethanes in water disinfected with active chlorine. The by-products BPs of chlorine disinfectants can affect the health of consumers of the disinfected water or induce in them various responses. Their extent depends on a number of factors such as the period of action, concentration, and frequency of exposure Gunten, One of the most common groundwater contaminants in rural areas is nitrate.
Nitrate in groundwater originates primarily from fertilizers, septic systems and manure storage or spreading operations. Nitrate compounds are soluble and the nitrate ion is not retained in soil. Nitrate is thus the nitrogen species most exposed to loss by leaching. Excess levels in drinking water are particularly serious for infants as their immature digestive system allows the reduction of nitrate to nitrite leading to methemoglobinemia.
However, they are not considered indicators of possible presence of other more serious residential or agricultural contaminants, such as bacteria or pesticides McCasland et al. Our monitoring showed that levels of all chemical parameters determined in samples of surface water were below the limits specified by the relevant regulation in all seasons except for concentrations of N- NO 3 - —which exceeded the legislative limits at all sampling sites except for the site 2e Torocky potok Figure 2.
Of chemical parameters determined in ground water increased levels were observed only for chlorides, nitrates, and phosphates. There were considerable differences between quality of water intended for mass supply 1a, 1b,1c, 1e and water from private wells 1d, 1f. The level of chlorides was exceeded only in sample 1d private well in Village 1, used by a family keeping some farm animals—the well is located 15 m from manure storage in each season Higher concentration of chlorides in regions with a low content of salts indicates organic pollution of water.
In such cases ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are also increased. Phosphates were exceeded also in this sample 1d , 2 times 1. Examination of samples of water from an unused well 1f , located at a distance of m from manure storage and close to farm 2 showed that nitrate level exceeded the legislative limit in all seasons.
Other chemical parameters complied with the regulations but microbiological examination indicated considerable bacteriological pollution of water in this well as the levels of all examined groups of bacteria highly exceeded the legislative limits. Phosphorus is a common constituent of agricultural fertilizers, manure, and organic wastes in sewage and industrial effluent.
Phosphates in ground water can also originate from P-deposits. The level of nitrates was exceeded only in private wells but still was not as high as to cause serious problems in adults. As the pollutant travels downstream it is diluted by the addition of water. This causes the concentration of the pollutant to decrease. Often the concentration becomes low enough for the water to be judged safe for use, but the pollutant is still there.
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