The Effects of Wastewater The Effects of Wastewater on Fish, Bird, and Human on Fish, Bird, and Human

HealthHealth

By Kevin CurryBy Kevin Curry

SWES 474SWES 474

What is stress?What is stress?

• ““Everybody knows what stress is and Everybody knows what stress is and nobody knows what it is” (Selye, nobody knows what it is” (Selye, 1973).1973).

• ONE DEFINITION:ONE DEFINITION:

• Basically, the environment that one Basically, the environment that one lives in can affect their healthlives in can affect their health

Where can this stress affect Where can this stress affect fish?fish?

• Polluted waterPolluted water– Sewage Treatment Works (STW)Sewage Treatment Works (STW)– Runoff from irrigated farm landRunoff from irrigated farm land

What it can do….What it can do….

The Study by The Centre for The Study by The Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health:Fish and Wildlife Health:

• Alte Aare River Alte Aare River

• Mid-sized riverMid-sized river

• Swiss MidlandsSwiss Midlands

• Brown Trout Brown Trout ((Salmo trutta L.)Salmo trutta L.)

• Receives water Receives water from a STW from a STW

Their findings…Their findings…

Group Location Temp(◦C) O2(mg/L) NH4-N(mg/L) NO2-N(mg/L) NO3-Group Location Temp(◦C) O2(mg/L) NH4-N(mg/L) NO2-N(mg/L) NO3-N(mg/L)N(mg/L)

Passive MonitoringPassive Monitoring (cage experiments) (cage experiments) UP 1300-2000 m 12.3 10 0.26 0.03UP 1300-2000 m 12.3 10 0.26 0.03 1.30 1.30 DOWN 300 mDOWN 300 m 12.6 9.2 1.74 0.04 12.6 9.2 1.74 0.04

1.751.75Active MonitoringActive Monitoring (wild fish) (wild fish)

TWTW Lab 8.9 Lab 8.9 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/ARW 100 m UP 10.3 10.2 N/A N/A N/ARW 100 m UP 10.3 10.2 N/A N/A N/AWW 20 m UP 10.6 9.3 N/A N/A N/AWW 20 m UP 10.6 9.3 N/A N/A N/A

*TW = Tap water group*TW = Tap water group*RW = River water group*RW = River water group*WW = Waste water group*WW = Waste water group

The study done by U.S. The study done by U.S. Geological Survey…Geological Survey…• Salton SeaSalton Sea

– Considered one of the most polluted Considered one of the most polluted bodies of water in all of the United bodies of water in all of the United States.States.

– Maintained by 50,000 acres of growing Maintained by 50,000 acres of growing fields located in the Imperial Valley.fields located in the Imperial Valley.

– Agricultural waste water containsAgricultural waste water contains•NutrientsNutrients•NitratesNitrates•SeleniumSelenium•PesticidesPesticides

– DDEDDE

•The Salton Sea is well known for The Salton Sea is well known for its episodic die-offs of birds its episodic die-offs of birds such as grebes and pelicans. such as grebes and pelicans.

What else does this water What else does this water contain?contain?

• Receives water from the New and Receives water from the New and Alamo RiversAlamo Rivers

• Water flows from Mexicali Mexico to Water flows from Mexicali Mexico to the Salton Seathe Salton Sea– Contains:Contains:

•Raw sewage from more than 75,000 peopleRaw sewage from more than 75,000 people•Leachate from landfillsLeachate from landfills• Industrial and slaughterhouse wastesIndustrial and slaughterhouse wastes•Phosphate detergentsPhosphate detergents

Their findings…Their findings…

• One study concluded that all of the One study concluded that all of the contaminants, which include DDE and contaminants, which include DDE and selenium, were in fact accumulating in selenium, were in fact accumulating in the tissues of the birds at the Salton the tissues of the birds at the Salton Sea.Sea.– Both migratory and resident birds were Both migratory and resident birds were

affected.affected.– These birds include all of the egrets, night These birds include all of the egrets, night

herons, great blue herons, and black herons, great blue herons, and black skimmers (Boyle 1995). skimmers (Boyle 1995).

• Unsafe Selenium concentrations Unsafe Selenium concentrations were also found in irrigation were also found in irrigation drainages that supply water to the drainages that supply water to the Salton Sea. Salton Sea.

• Selenium can deteriorate a bird's Selenium can deteriorate a bird's immune system and its resistance to immune system and its resistance to general bird diseases. general bird diseases.

Accumulating elements…Accumulating elements…

• Cause increasing stress in fish and Cause increasing stress in fish and birdsbirds

• Also affect reproduction effortsAlso affect reproduction efforts

• Eggshell thinning is an increasing Eggshell thinning is an increasing problem with all birds in the area.problem with all birds in the area.

HOW DOES THIS EFFECT HOW DOES THIS EFFECT US?US?• By polluting the waters of our rivers and By polluting the waters of our rivers and

lakes we are not only polluting the homes lakes we are not only polluting the homes of fish and many other marine life, but we of fish and many other marine life, but we are in fact potentially polluting ourselves. are in fact potentially polluting ourselves.

• Many cultures rely on fish as their main Many cultures rely on fish as their main source of food. source of food.

• In people, selenium can cause growth and In people, selenium can cause growth and development problems for the young, and development problems for the young, and nerve, sexual, skin and stomach problems nerve, sexual, skin and stomach problems for adults. for adults.

HOW DOES THIS EFFECT HOW DOES THIS EFFECT US?US?• Environmental protection groups caution Environmental protection groups caution

pregnant woman and children not to consume pregnant woman and children not to consume any fish that are caught in the Salton Sea. any fish that are caught in the Salton Sea.

• This is why there are signs posted around the This is why there are signs posted around the Salton Sea which warn that “Area Contains Salton Sea which warn that “Area Contains chemicals known…to cause cancer, birth chemicals known…to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm” (Boyle, defects, or other reproductive harm” (Boyle, 1995).1995).

What can be done?What can be done?

• Sewage waste water should be Sewage waste water should be treated properly and should no treated properly and should no longer contain harmful substances longer contain harmful substances when it enters lake or river water.when it enters lake or river water.

• This would help reduce the stressors This would help reduce the stressors on the Brown Trout in the Alte Aare on the Brown Trout in the Alte Aare River. River.