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Pollution of water sources and removal of pollutants by advanced drinking-water treatment in China.

The pollution of water resources and drinking water sources in China is described in this paper with basic data. About 90% of surface waters and over 60% of drinking water sources in urban areas have been polluted to different extents. The main pollutants present in drinking water sources are organic substances, ammonia nitrogen, phenols, pesticides and pathogenic micro-organisms, some of which cannot be removed effectively by the traditional water treatment processes like coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and chlorination, and the product water usually does not meet Chinese national drinking water standards, when polluted source water is treated. In some drinking-water plants in China, advanced treatment processes including activated carbon filtration and adsorption, ozonation, biological activated carbon and membrane separation have been employed for further treatment of the filtrate from a traditional treatment system producing unqualified drinking water, to make final product water meet the WHO guidelines and some developed countries' standards, as well as the Chinese national standards for drinking water. Some case studies of advanced water treatment plants are described in this paper as well.

China↗

A canine study of cold water drowning in fresh versus salt water.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the pathophysiologic changes occurring during drowning in cold fresh water and cold salt water with reference to viability. DESIGN: Randomized, prospective, controlled submersion experiments in two contrasting cold liquids. SETTING: A laboratory at a large university-affiliated medical institution. SUBJECTS: Thirteen healthy, anesthetized mongrel dogs. Three dogs served as controls and were immersed but not submerged. The remainder were submerged in cold fresh water or cold salt water (4 degrees C). INTERVENTIONS: Catheters were placed in the femoral artery, right carotid artery and right internal jugular vein. Electrocardiogram, pneumogram, and rectal temperatures were measured continuously during submersion/immersion. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Cold water submersion with drowning produced a large initial decrease in carotid artery temperature (approximately 7.5 degrees C in the first 2 mins) compared with a minor decrease (approximately 0.8 degrees C with immersion). No significant differences were noted in the rate of decrease of temperature between drowning in fresh water and salt water. During cold fresh water drowning, aspiration produced gross hemodilution with an average increase in body weight of 16.5%. Hematocrit values, serum sodium concentrations, and osmolality decreased while serum potassium concentrations, catecholamines, and free hemoglobin increased. All measured biochemical data (except PaO2) remained at viable levels. By contrast, during cold salt water drowning, average body weight increased by only 6%, with hemoconcentration and a shrinkage of vascular volume. Hematocrit and hemoglobin values increased by 30%, but initial plasma free hemoglobin values remained unchanged. Serum sodium concentrations, osmolality, and potassium concentrations increased rapidly to critical levels. CONCLUSIONS: On submersion in cold water, all of the experimental animals developed tachypnea immediately, followed by aspiration with predictable effects. The biochemical and pathophysiologic changes in cold water drowning approximated those changes reported for warm water drowning for both fresh and salt water with one exception and continued aspiration of cold water produced extremely rapid core cooling as long as the circulation remained intact. This process of acute submersion hypothermia may protect the brain temporarily from lethal damage, as reported in cases of cold fresh water drowning. Concentrations of circulating catecholamines increased exponentially in both groups of test animals. Clinically, their acute effects on the circulation, compounded by significant hypothermia and extreme anoxia, must hamper the detection of residual circulation at rescue and may play a role in sudden death from cold water in the absence of drowning.

Animals↗

Equilibration and passage of water in the gastrointestinal tract of cattle in relation to estimating body water by compartmental kinetic models.

The volume of water in the rumen of four steers was increased (P less than .01) 47% when the level of ground cobs in the diet fed to the steers was changed from 10% to 50%. The difference in gut water content due to diet was not accurately (P greater than .10) estimated by deuterium oxide dilution using either one-, two- or three-compartmental models. Gut water was overestimated and empty body water underestimated when calculated by two-compartment models. The proportions of total body water within each compartment of a three-compartment model were quite variable among steers. When the two-compartment model was solved on the basis of measurements taken from either compartment, different compartment volumes were obtained. This indicated that the two-compartment model did not accurately describe the water equilibration process. Water in the contents of the proximal duodenum and terminal ileum equilibrated with blood in 30 min (range, 10 to 75 min), fecal water equilibrated in 4.3 h (range, 1.7 to 6.7 h) and water in rumen contents equilibrated in 8.3 h (range, 3.8 to 12.5 h). Diet did not affect (P greater than .10) equilibration time or the mean retention time of water in the gastrointestinal tract. Mean retention time was much longer than equilibration time; thus, the equilibration of water in the gastrointestinal tract contents was primarily dependent upon movement of water across the gut mucosa and not upon the flow of water through the gut. One-third of the water in the contents of the gastrointestinal tract was located outside the rumen. Compartmental modeling based only upon D2O disappearance from blood did not enable either gut water or rumen water to be accurately estimated.

Animals↗

Virtual water trade and world water resources.

Global virtual water trade was quantitatively estimated and evaluated. The basic idea of how to estimate unit requirement of water resources to produce each commodity is introduced and values for major agricultural and stock products are presented. The concept of virtual water and the quantitative estimates can help in assessing a more realistic water scarcity index in each country, projecting future water demand for food supply, increasing public awareness on water, and identifying the processes wasting water in the production. Really required water in exporting countries is generally smaller than virtually required water in importing countries, reflecting the comparative advantage of water use efficiency, and it is estimated to be 680 km3/y for 2000. On the contrary the virtually required water for the same year is estimated to be 1,130 km3/y, and the difference of 450 km3/y is virtually saved by global trade. However, solely virtual water should not be used for any decision making since the idea of virtual water implies only the usage and influence of water and no concerns on social, cultural, and environmental implications. Virtual water trade also does not consider other limiting factors than water.

Commerce↗

Impact of RO-desalted water on distribution water qualities.

A large-scale pilot distribution study was conducted to investigate the impacts of blending different source waters on distribution water qualities, with an emphasis on metal release (i.e. corrosion). The principal source waters investigated were conventionally treated ground water (G1), surface water processed by enhanced treatment (S1), and desalted seawater by reverse osmosis membranes (RO). Due to the nature of raw water quality and associated treatment processes, G1 water had high alkalinity, while S1 and RO sources were characterized as high sulfate and high chloride waters, respectively. The blending ratio of different treated waters determined the quality of finished waters. Iron release from aged cast iron pipes increased significantly when exposed to RO and S1 waters: that is, the greater iron release was experienced with alkalinity reduced below the background of G1 water. Copper release to drinking water, however, increased with increasing alkalinity and decreasing pH. Lead release, on the other hand, increased with increasing chloride and decreasing sulfate. The effect of pH and alkalinity on lead release was not clearly observed from pilot blending study. The flat and compact corrosion scales observed for lead surface exposed to S1 water may be attributable to lead concentration less than that of RO water blends.

Calcium Carbonate↗

Monitoring of the antioxidant BHT and its metabolite BHT-CHO in German river water and ground water.

The behavior of anthropogenic polar organic compounds in ground water during infiltration of river water to ground water was studied at the Oderbruch area on the eastern border of Germany. Additionally, waste water sewage treatment works (STWs) discharging their treated waste water into the Oder River and rain water precipitation from the Oderbruch area were investigated. The study was carried out from March 2000 to July 2001 to investigate seasonal variations of the target analytes. Samples were collected from four sites along the Oder River, from 24 ground water monitoring wells located close to the Oder, from one rain water collection station, from two roof runoffs, and from four STWs upstream of the Oderbruch. Results of the investigations of the antioxidant 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-toluene (BHT) and its degradation product 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde (BHT-CHO) are presented. BHT and BHT-CHO were detected in all samples of the Oder River with mean concentrations of 178 and 102 ngl(-1), respectively. BHT and BHT-CHO were also detected in effluent waste water samples from municipal STWs at mean concentrations of 132 and 70 ngl(-1), respectively. Both compounds are discharged into river water directly via treated waste water. In the rain water sample, 308 ngl(-1) of BHT and 155 ngl(-1) of BHT-CHO were measured. Both compounds were detected in roof runoff with mean concentrations of 92 ngl(-1) for BHT and 138 ngl(-1) for BHT-CHO. The median values of BHT and BHT-CHO in ground water samples were 132 and 84 ngl(-1), respectively. The chemical composition of ground water from parts of the aquifer located less than 4.5 m distant from the river are greatly influenced by bank filtration. However, wet deposition followed by seepage of rain water into the aquifer is also a source of BHT and BHT-CHO in ground water.

Antioxidants↗

Evaporation rates of water from concentrated oil-in-water emulsions.

We have investigated the rate of water evaporation from concentrated oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions containing an involatile oil. Evaporation of the water continuous phase causes compression of the emulsion with progressive distortion of the oil drops and thinning of the water films separating them. Theoretically, the vapor pressure of water is sensitive to the interdroplet interactions, which are a function of the film thickness. Three main possible situations are considered. First, under conditions when the evaporation rate is controlled by mass transfer across the stagnant vapor phase, model calculations show that evaporation can, in principle, be slowed by repulsive interdroplet interactions. However, significant retardation requires very strong repulsive forces acting over large separations for typical emulsion drop sizes. Second, water evaporation may be limited by diffusion in the network of water films within the emulsion. In this situation, water loss by evaporation from the emulsion surface leads to a gradient in the water concentration (and in the water film thickness). Third, compression of the drops may lead to coalescence of the emulsion drops and the formation of a macroscopic oil film at the emulsion surface, which serves to prevent further water evaporation. Water mass-loss curves have been measured for silicone o/w emulsions stabilized by the anionic surfactant SDS as a function of the water content, the thickness of the stagnant vapor-phase layer, and the concentration of electrolyte in the aqueous phase, and the results are discussed in terms of the three possible scenarios just described. In systems with added salt, water evaporation virtually ceases before all the water present is lost, probably as a result of oil-drop coalescence resulting in the formation of a water-impermeable oil film at the emulsion surface.

Journal Article↗

National standards and guidelines for pesticides in water, sediment, and aquatic organisms: application to water-quality assessments.

National standards and guidelines for pesticides can be useful tools in water-quality assessment for evaluating potential human health or ecological effects of measured pesticide residues in water, bed sediment, or aquatic organisms. However, valid use of a given standard or guideline requires an understanding of its technical basis and underlying assumptions. Each type of standard or guideline is specific for one sampling medium (water, bed sediment, and fish and shellfish tissue) and is aimed at protection of one or more beneficial uses of the hydrologic system (drinking water, fish and shellfish consumption, aquatic organisms, and wildlife). These characteristics can be used to identify which standards and guidelines are appropriate for comparison with measured pesticide concentrations in environmental samples from a given hydrologic system. A review of standards and guidelines can be restricted to the applicable sampling medium. Then, the beneficial uses of the hydrologic system need to be identified and the measured pesticide concentrations compared with standards and guidelines for all beneficial uses that apply to that system. Several key factors that must be considered when applying this general process to water-quality assessment are summarized below. Two precautions need to be considered regarding sampling media: 1. Standards and guidelines for water distinguish between finished drinking water (potable water, often treated) and ambient surface water. If standards and guidelines for drinking water (EPA primary drinking-water regulations and drinking-water health advisories) are applied to measured pesticide concentrations in ambient water samples, the effects of water treatment (such as filtration) need to be considered. 2. Standards and guidelines for fish and shellfish tissue distinguish between edible fish and shellfish tissue and whole fish tissue. Comparison of pesticide concentrations in whole fish tissue with standards or guidelines for edible fish and shellfish tissue is appropriate only as a screening procedure to determine whether additional sampling and analysis for contaminants in edible fish fillets are warranted. For some sampling media (water, fish and shellfish tissues), both standards and guidelines may exist for a given pesticide. Standards and guidelines may differ in their technical bases and in the implications or consequences of finding measured concentrations in exceedance of the standard or guideline value. Therefore, comparison of measured pesticide concentrations with both standards and guidelines is useful because each provides different information about the hydrologic system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Water intake induced by water deprivation in the quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica.

Mechanisms inducing drinking after water deprivation, and mechanisms terminating drinking after rehydration, were investigated in the quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica. 1. Water intake was induced after 4 h of water deprivation, and the amount of water drunk increased in proportion to the period of water deprivation. Drinking occurred immediately after deprivation. Drinking occurred immediately after deprived birds were given access to water, and continued for periods proportional to the period of water deprivation. 2. Plasma angiotensin II concentration increased, as did plasma osmolality and Na+ concentration, and blood volume decreased after water deprivation. The increase in plasma angiotensin II concentration and decrease in blood volume occurred soon after the start of water deprivation, whereas plasma osmolality and Na+ concentration did not increase until at least 4 h after the start of water deprivation. 3. These results indicate that extracellular dehydration and angiotensin II are responsible for the significant drinking that follows 4 h of water deprivation, and that cellular dehydration is also involved in the stimulation of drinking that occurs after longer periods of water deprivation. 4. Plasma osmolality and Na+ concentration in birds deprived of water for 48 h quickly returned to normal levels after the birds were allowed access to water. Plasma angiotensin II levels and blood volume also approached the values measured prior to water deprivation. However, the rate and degree of restoration of normal values were reduced, and normal values were not restored even after 1.5 h or rehydration when drinking terminated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiotensin II↗

Chemical water quality in Thailand and its impacts on the drinking water production in Thailand.

In Thailand, surface water and groundwater are the main water sources for tap water and drinking water production. Thirty-six different samples from surface waters from Chao Praya and Mae Klong rivers, tap waters, bottled drinking waters, groundwaters and commercial ice cubes from around the Bangkok area were collected. Water samples were also taken from two waterworks in the Chonburi province. The extensive survey showed that, overall in all water samples investigated, there was only a minor pollution which could be traced back to the analyses performed including amongst others total organic carbon, inorganics and heavy metals, pesticides, organochlorine compounds, volatile organic compounds, surfactants, pharmaceuticals and disinfection by-products. However, whenever organic micropollutants could be detected in surface water, such as, e.g. the herbicide atrazine, they were also present in the tap water produced thereof proving that the present treatment steps are not sufficient for removal of such pollutants. The concentration of disinfection by-products was higher in tap water produced from Chao Praya river than from Mae Klong river. Disinfection by-products were also found in bottled drinking water. Commercial ice cubes contained anionic surfactants and their metabolites at elevated concentrations. The data of this study constitute the first set of homogenous data for the chemical water quality and also aid development of new water quality criteria in Thailand.

Data Collection↗

Public health implications of new guidelines for lead in drinking water: a case study in an area with historically high water lead levels.

Concern about the neurotoxicity of lead, particularly in infants and young children, has led to a revision of blood lead levels which are considered to involve an acceptable level of human exposure. Drinking water guidelines have also been reviewed in order to reduce this source of population exposure to lead. In the last 20 years, guidelines have been reduced from 100 to 50 to 10 microg/litre. Lead in tap water used to be a major public health problem in Glasgow because of the high prevalence of houses with lead service pipes, the low pH of the public water supply and the resulting high levels of lead in water used for public consumption. Following two separate programmes of water treatment, involving the addition of lime and, a decade later, lime supplemented with orthophosphate, it is considered that maximal measures have been taken to reduce lead exposure by chemical treatment of the water supply. Any residual problem of public exposure would require large scale replacement of lead service pipes. In anticipation of the more stringent limits for lead in drinking water, we set out to measure current lead exposure from tap water in the population of Glasgow served by the Loch Katrine water supply, to compare the current situation with 12 years previously and to assess the public health implications of different limits. The study was based on mothers of young children since maternal blood lead concentrations and the domestic water that mothers use to prepare bottle feeds are the principal sources of foetal and infant lead exposure. An estimated 17% of mothers lived in households with tap water lead concentrations of 10 microg/litre (the [WHO,] guideline) or above in 1993 compared with 49% in 1981. Mean maternal blood lead concentrations fell by 69% in 12 years. For a given water lead concentration, maternal blood lead concentrations were 67% lower. The mean maternal blood lead concentration was 3.7 microg/litre in the population at large, compared with 3.3 microg/litre in households with negligible or absent tap water lead. Nevertheless, between 63% and 76% of cases of mothers with blood lead concentrations of 10 microg/dl or above were attributable to tap water lead. The study found that maternal blood lead concentrations were well within limits currently considered safe for human health. About 15% of infants may be exposed via bottle feeds to tap water lead concentrations that exceed the WHO guideline of 10 microg/litre. In the context of the health and social problems which affect the well-being and development of infants and children in Glasgow, however, current levels of lead exposure are considered to present a relatively minor health problem.

Adult↗

Monitoring of water transfer from Katse Dam into the Upper Vaal river system: water utility's perspective.

Water quality is of prime importance to Rand Water's core business of ensuring a reliable supply of good quality drinking water to more than 10 million people. Rand Water has, therefore, implemented a water quality monitoring programme of the source water as well as the drinking water produced. The establishment of the Lesotho Highlands Water Transfer scheme necessitated the expansion of the monitoring programme. In 1996, Rand Water and Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) signed an agreement to jointly develop an extensive water quality monitoring programme for the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). Prior to this agreement, monitoring was mainly undertaken by consultants on behalf of LHDA in the main feeder rivers within the Katse Dam catchment (donor system). On the recipient system (Ash/Liebenbergsvlei), extensive physical and chemical monitoring was undertaken by Rand Water and Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). Biological monitoring was however only carried out superficially prior to the release of water. Information gained from carrying out biological and chemical assessments clearly indicates that the water from LHWP has negatively impacted on the biological communities in the recipient system. The importance of detailed before and after biological and physiochemical monitoring of both donor and recipient systems is emphasised.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗

High pressure-temperature Brillouin study of liquid water: evidence of the structural transition from low-density water to high-density water.

The structural transformations occurring to water from low-density (LDW) to high-density (HDW) regimes have been studied by Brillouin scattering for the first time at temperatures up to 453 K and at pressures up to the solidification point. At ambient temperature (293 K) a discontinuity in pressure response of the sound velocity is observed. Furthermore, there are evident breaks in the linear behavior of log10 C11 versus log10(rho/rho0) when pressure increases up to 0.29, 0.21, and 0.19 GPa at the temperature of 293, 316, and 353 K, respectively. It is supposed to indicate the structural transition from LDW to HDW, and the possible transition boundary between LDW and HDW is in good agreement with the molecular-dynamics simulation.

Journal Article↗