Watershed Detectives - Discussion Questions

    Watershed Detectives - Discussion Questions

    Discussion Questions:

    1. How do other mining practices impact our watersheds?
     

    Oil and Gas Exploration
    Geologic formations with large quantities of oil and gas often have low permeability. Hydraulic Fracturing (also known as fracking) is a technique used to release oil and gas from rock pores by creating fractures running from the trapped substances to the production well. Water, proppants (sand or ceramic beads), and chemicals are typically mixed and pumped into the formation in order to make these fractures. Fracturing fluid is then pumped out and put into surface pits or tanks. However, due to human and mechanical errors (e.g., cracked cement tubing) some of this mixture can instead remain underground and contaminate groundwater. The chemicals in these fracturing fluids can be toxic to humans and wildlife. Sometimes these fracturing fluids are injected directly into underground sources of drinking water.
    2. How do other industrial practices impact our watersheds?
      Wastewater Treatment Plants
    Wastewater treatment is a process to remove pollutants and improve and purify water so that it is fit for reuse or to be discharged back into the environment. However, the discharge of untreated or inadequately treated water from wastewater treatment plants can cause outbreaks of disease or other health problems for aquatic and human life. Contaminants can come from various industries including the production of pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, pulp and paper, and more. Permit requirements for wastewater treatment facilities only include some nutrients, temperature, and oxygen content. Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic material are contaminants found in water that do not have permit requirements. However, the concentrations of these unregulated materials are small (usually measured in parts per billion or trillion).
    3.  What is clean water?
      There is no single definition of clean water. The Clean Water Act defines clean water according to how we use it. Some beneficial uses for clean water include drinking water, agriculture, recreation, aquatic wildlife, and aesthetics. Each state designates beneficial uses. In Idaho industry is considered a beneficial use, but in Utah there is no such designation. Each designated use has a different set of water quality standards. The standard for aquatic life is usually the most rigorous. Aquatic organisms are constantly immersed in water and exposed to any pollutants it might contain. Therefore the standards for this beneficial use is actually lower than drinking water standards.
    4.  What is the difference between point source and non-point source pollution?
     

    Point source pollution is from a single source that can easily be identified or pinpointed as the source of pollution. An example is an industrial factory, a feed lot or a wastewater treatment plant. Non-point source pollution comes from a large area of land where they are many contributors to the same pollution. An example is urban runoff, agricultural fields, housing developments.

    Point source pollution is easy to regulate because it is easy to identify where the pollution is coming from and where it is entering the rivers or streams. It is also easy to measure the amount of pollution entering a water body from a point source. Non-point source on the other hand is very difficult to regulate.