Most people are affected in some way by water pollution and we have all read stories of dead fish and polluted rivers and beaches. However, fewer people are aware of the many sources of water pollution.
Septic tanks
Septic tanks treat sewage on site and are sometimes responsible for the release of raw sewage when not properly maintained.
Homes
Many of the problems faced by sewage treatment plants begin with the material people tip down pipes or flush down the toilet at home (see Information Sheet 10).
Sewers
In South East Water's area of operation there are 7,425 kilometres of sewer pipes and 172 pumping stations in the reticulated sewerage system which carry a yearly total of 108,000 megalitres of sewage from homes, offices, schools and factories to treatment plants. Occasionally, pumping stations breakdown, sewer pipes break or become blocked and untreated sewage is released. Luckily these problems are few and far between.
Treatment plants
Sewage treatment plants that use mechanical processes may also breakdown. However, these are generally designed with back-up systems to prevent any major water pollution problems. Modern treatment plants process sewage to a quality where it is safe to release back into the environment or re-use for irrigation.
Industry, offices and schools
As with household sources of water pollution, industry, offices and schools can be the source of a whole range of materials and chemicals that can create water pollution. The thoughtless disposal of toxic chemicals is a serious problem because these chemicals can cause pollution, even in small quantities.
Industry is not permitted to discharge materials or chemicals directly into waterways or into the stormwater system. However, many industries are allowed to dispose of materials or chemicals into the sewerage system. They must do so under strict guidelines called Trade Waste Agreements. South East Water has over 6,090 such agreements.
Illegal dumping
As well as carelessly or accidentally putting waste chemicals and materials into the sewerage system, some industries deliberately dump wastes into the sewers or directly into the environment. This is done to avoid the high cost of treating these wastes properly and it has been estimated that as little as one fifth of hazardous wastes in Australia are disposed of in the correct way.
Stormwater drains
Rainwater that falls on our homes and roads is carried away in a system of pipes that is separate from the sewerage system. These stormwater drains also collect any litter or other material, including animal droppings, that lie around our streets. All of this rubbish is generally carried straight into rivers or out to the sea by stormwater drains.
Farms
Most farmers use a wide range of fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides and other chemicals on their crops. Scientists are only just beginning to realise how much of these chemicals are washed into creeks and drains and on into the sea.
In order to save our water supply we must comit ourselves to keeping the environment as a whole clean. The rate at which we use our natural resources we must replenish them. All civilizations as a whole must work together to change our ways. The problem of water pollution will not correct itself on it's own, everyone must take part. In the United States Coastal Zone Management groups have been formed to help control water pollution.
Cleaning up water pollution is a very hard task. Everyone in the world has to decide together that they want to change. One country alone will not make enough of a difference but, it is a start. If the U.S. takes the initiative, maybe other countries would follow suit.
Cleaning up an oil spill is a very long and expensive job, and not all oil that was spilt gets retrieved. To clean up the oil on top of the water a couple different things can be used: Booms for contaiment are put around the tanker; Skimmers, boats used to skim the oil off the water; and Supersucker machines, huge vacuum cleaners that suck the oil off the water. On the beach, technichians use booms to keep it from collecting on the sand. In order to clean the animals a toothbrush and dishwashing detergent is used.