Definition of Pollution
When Harmful Substances Contaminate the Environment it is
Called Pollution.
Pollution refers to the very bad condition of environment in terms
of quantity and quality
The introduction into the environment, by people, of substances or
energy liable to cause harm to living creatures or ecological
systems.
How did pollution begin?
More sophisticated lifestyles.
Growing needs of people.
Accelerated rates of human and economic
activities.
THINGS TO PONDER
Pollution is a necessary evil of all development. Due to lack of development of a
culture of pollution control, there has resulted a heavy backlog of gaseous, liquid
and solid pollution in environment. It has to be cleaned.
Pollution control is a recent environmental concern. Pollution is a man-made
problem, mainly of effluent countries.
The developed countries have been exploiting every bit of natural resource to
convert them into goods for their comfort, and to export them to needy
developing world.
In doing so, the industrialized countries dump lot of materials in their
environment which becomes polluted. In one way pollution has been “exported”
to developing countries and around the world.
Point Source Pollution
vs.
Nonpoint Source Pollution
What’s the difference?
Point Source Pollution
comes from a specific
source, like a pipe
factories, industry,
municipal treatment
plants
can be monitored and
controlled by a permit
system
What is nonpoint source pollution?
Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution
is pollution associated with
storm-water or runoff
NPS pollution cannot be traced to
a direct discharge point such as a
wastewater treatment facility
Examples of NPS
oil & grease from cars sewage & cleaners from
fertilizers boats
animal waste household cleaning
grass clippings products
septic systems litter
Pollution in Streams
Normal clean water organisms
Trash fish (trout, perch, bass,
Fish absent, mayfly, stonefly)
Trash fish fungi, (carp, gar,
Normal clean water organisms (carp, gar, sludge worms, leeches) 8 ppm
Types of (trout, perch, bass, leeches) bacteria
organisms mayfly, stonefly) (anaerobic)
8 ppm
Dissolved
oxygen (ppm)
Biological Clean Zone
oxygen
Recovery Zone
demand
Septic Zone
Decomposition
Clean Zone Zone
POLLUTION: WHAT IS IT?
You hear it all the time at school, college…from newspapers…
Pollution occurs when pollutants contaminate the natural surroundings; which brings about
changes that affect our normal lifestyles adversely.
Pollutants are waste materials of different forms.
Pollution disturbs our ecosystem and the balance in the environment.
With modernization and development in our lives pollution has reached its peak; giving rise
to global warming and human illness.
Pollution occurs in different forms; air, water, soil, radioactive, noise, heat/ thermal and
light.
Every form of pollution has two sources of occurrence; the point and the non-point sources.
The point sources are easy to identify, monitor and control, whereas the non-point sources
are hard to control.
Let us discuss the different types of pollutions, their causes and effects on mankind and the
environment as a whole.
JUST REFLECT ON THE FOLLOWING
WATER
• 71% from earth surface.
• 97% salt water (sea)
• 3% fresh water
• 87% ice and glaciers, underground, air.
• 13% surface water (0.4% total water).
• Function
• Domestic.
• Industry.
• Agriculture.
• Recreation.
• Safety and security.
WATER
• 70% total human body wt.
• 30 – 40% bone mass.
• Body functions:
• Absorption of oxygen at alveoli.
• Control of body temperature.
• Blood component.
• Digestion in kidneys and intestine.
• Alteration of 10% body content – health problem.
• Alteration of 20% body content – death.
WATER POLLUTION
Water pollution occurs when harmful substances are released into the water in large
quantities which cause damage to people, wildlife, or habitat or indirectly into water bodies
without proper treatment to remove harmful compounds.
Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in the bodies of water; and, in almost all
cases the
Both drinking water from rivers, ponds and also sea
water are contaminated by discharge of large amounts
of human, industrial wastes leading to water pollution.
This makes the water harmful to drink and also
endanger lives of sea and marine animals.
Chemical & other contaminants
Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances
Inorganic water pollutants include:-
Acidity caused by industrial discharges (especially sulphur dioxide from power plants)
Ammonia from food processing waste
Chemical waste as industrial by-products
Fertilizers containing nutrients--nitrates and phosphates--which are found in storm water run off from
agriculture, as well as commercial and residential use.
Heavy metals from motor vehicles (via urban storm water runoff) and acid mine drainage
Silt (sediment) in runoff from construction sites, logging, slash and burn practices or land clearing
sites.
Trash: (e.g. paper, plastic, or food waste) discarded by people on the ground, and that are washed by
rainfall into storm drains and eventually discharged into surface waters
Nurdles: small ubiquitous waterborne plastic pellets
Shipwrecks: large derelict ships.
Pathogens are another type of pollution that prove very harmful. They can cause many illnesses
that range from typhoid and dysentery to minor respiratory and skin diseases. Pathogens include
such organisms as bacteria, viruses, and protozoan. These pollutants enter waterways through
untreated sewage, storm drains, septic tanks, runoff from farms, and particularly boats that dump
sewage.
SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION
• Uncontrolled land development since colonial era (end
19th century).
• Agriculture (logging, estate, farms).
• Mining (tin, gold, cuprum).
• Industrialization.
• Housing development.
• Hydro dam.
SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION
• Pollution of clean water resources
• Erosion at water catchments areas.
• Erosion of rivers.
• Effluent from rubber and palm oil factories.
• Effluent from mining site.
• Effluent from industry area.
• Effluent from farming area.
• Effluent from domestic area.
WATER POLLUTION
• Will cause
Soil contamination.
Air contamination.
Food chain contamination.
Esthetic.
• Lack of clean water supply for
Domestic demand.
Industry use.
Agriculture use.
WATER POLLUTION
•Will also cause
• Breeding of diseases vector.
• Spreading of water borne diseases.
• Food poisoning.
• Skin problem.
WATER POLLUTION
80% of diseases in developing countries are due to water supply
contamination.
4 – 5 million child died every year due to water supply
contamination.
More than 1 million died after severe diarrhea.
WATER POLLUTION
Including chemical, physical and biological content.
Following standards and guidelines.
Using measurement of
pH, color, cloudiness, conductivity.
Heavy metals, nutrient, pesticide, microbe.
Good water quality is where it free from disease organism,
dangerous chemical substances, radioactive, accepted taste and
smell.
EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION
Water pollution is a major problem in the global context. It has been suggested that it is the leading worldwide cause of
deaths and diseases, and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily.
An estimated 700 million Indians have no access to a proper toilet, and 1,000 Indian children die of diarrhea sickness
every day.
Some 90% of China's cities suffer from some degree of water pollution, and nearly 500 million people lack access to safe
drinking water.
GROUND WATER POLLUTION: Interactions between groundwater and surface water are complex. Consequently,
groundwater pollution is not as easily classified as surface water pollution.
Purification of water
Purification of water involves physical, biological and chemical processes such as:-
1.Filtration
2.Sedimentation
3.Chlorination
4.Slow sand filters
5.Activated Sludge
6.Flocculation
1. Filtration is a mechanical or physical operation which is used for the separation of solids from fluids (liquids or gases)
by interposing a medium through which only the fluid can pass.
2. Sedimentation is the tendency for particles in suspension or molecules in solution to settle out of the fluid in which
they are entrained, and come to rest against a wall.
3. Chlorination is the process of adding the element chlorine to water as a method of water purification to make it fit
for human consumption as drinking water. Water which has been treated with chlorine is effective in preventing the
spread of water born disease.
4. Slow sand filters are used in water purification for treating raw water to produce a potable product. They are
typically 1 to 2 metres deep, can be rectangular or cylindrical in cross section and are used primarily to treat surface
water.
What are the possible solutions of water pollution?
Industrial effort : Industry is responsible for a large amount of pollutants including ones
that pollute water.
Legislation has been passed forcing industry to make efforts to clean up their waste.
Through reducing the waste that they produce, it has been possible to reduce the amount
of pollutants that enter the water cycle .
Municipal treatment plants are designed to control conventional pollutants.
Well-designed and operated systems (i.e., secondary treatment or better) can remove 90
percent or more of these pollutants.
Some plants have additional sub-systems to treat nutrients and pathogens. Most
municipal plants are not designed to treat toxic pollutants found in industrial wastewater
Major Categories of Water Pollutants
• Infectious Agents • Plant Nutrients
• Bacteria, Viruses, Protozoa, Parasitic Worms • Nitrates, Phosphates,
• Source: Human and animal waste • Source: Sewage, manure, agricultural and
• Oxygen-Demanding Waste landscaping runoff
• Organic debris & waste + aerobic bacteria • Organic Chemicals
• Source: Sewage, feedlots, paper-mills, food • Oil, Gasoline, Plastics, Pesticides, Solvents,
processing
detergents
• Inorganic Chemicals • Sources: Industrial effluent, Household
• Acids, Metals, Salts cleansers, runoff from farms and yards
• Sources: Surface runoff, Industrial effluent,
household cleansers • Eroded Sediment
• Soil, Silt
• Radioactive Materials
• Iodine, radon, uranium, cesium, thorium • Heat/Thermal Pollution
• Source: Coal & Nuclear Power plants, mining, weapons • Source: Power plants, Industrial
production, natural
WATER CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT
Did You Know?
• How much of the Earth's water is salt water? 97 %
• What percentage of the world's total water is available to drink? Less than 1 %
Water conservation refers to reducing the usage of water and recycling of
waste water for different purposes like Domestic usage, industries,
agriculture etc.
Water conservation can be done through what you do, not by what you
know.
Over the years rising populations, growing industrialization, and expanding
agriculture have pushed up the demand for water.
Efforts have been made to collect water by building dams, reservoirs and
digging wells; some countries have also tried to recycle and desalinate sea
water. Water conservation has become the need of the day.
The method of recharging ground water by harvesting rainwater is gaining importance in many cities.
In the forests, water seeps gently into the ground due to vegetation cover. This groundwater in turn feeds wells, lakes, and
rivers. Protecting forests means protecting water 'catchments'.
In ancient India, people worshipped Nature and one of them was Water.
Goals of Water Conservation
The goals of water conservation efforts include as follows:
1. Sustainability. To ensure availability for future generations, the withdrawal of fresh water from an
ecosystem should not
exceed its natural replacement rate.
2. Energy conservation. Water pumping, delivery, and wastewater treatment facilities consume a significant
amount
of energy. In some regions of the world over 15% of total electricity consumption is devoted to water
management.
3. Habitat conservation. Minimizing human water use helps to preserve fresh water habitats for local wildlife
and migrating
water flow, as well as reducing the need to build new dams and other water diversion infrastructure
Water wastage
People waste water in their homes without even realizing it. We have become so accustomed to have a 24
hour supply of water to meet all of our needs from cooking, to cleaning, to drinking, that we sometimes
forget that we do not have
an infinite supply of water. Besides using renewable energy in the home to cut back on the use of electricity,
we must also learn how to save our water supply. Here are a few tips on how to do so.
The first thing you should do is check for leaks in taps, pipes, and dishwasher hoses which can cause over
2,000 liters of water per month to be wasted. Repairing any leaks will save you a ton of money and you will
also be saving the environment.
In the same way that you can buy renewable energy, you can also buy water efficient taps that will make the
most of your water and will ensure that you are not wasting any while the tap is running.
To save both water and energy, if you're not already using green energy, then you should wait until your
dishwasher is completely full before running it. On average, dishwashers use approximately 40 litres of water
per load, but thanks to features that some dishwasher have, you can specify that it is a light load, or rinse
only, or air dry. All of these features allow you to save both water and energy.
Laws existing in India to prevent and control water pollution
1. Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974
2. Orissa River Pollution Act, 1953
3. The Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Cess Act, 2003
4. The Indian Penal Code and Pollution. (Sec 277 provides punishment of Jail
for polluting water)
5. The River Boards Act, 1956
6. Damodar Valley Corporation Prevention of Water Pollution Act, 1948
7. THE WATER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY OF INDIA BILL, 2016
Legislations that have been enacted for controlling / preventing water pollution.
The Shore Nuisance (Bombay and Kolaba) Act, 1853
The Orient Gas Company Act, 1857
Indian Penal Code, 1860
The Serais Act, 1867
The North India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873
The Obstruction in Fairways Act, 1881
The Indian Easement Act, 1882
The Indian Fisheries Act, 1897
The Indian Ports Act, 1908
The Indian Steam Vessels Act, 1917
The Poison Act, 1919
The Indian Forest Act, 1927
The Damodar valley corporation (Prevention of Pollution of Water) Regulation Act, 1948
The Factories Act, 1948
The Mines Act, 1952
The Orissa River Pollution Act, 1953
The River Boards Act, 1956
The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958
The Maharashtra Prevention of Water Pollution Act, 1969
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977
Thermal Pollution:
Thermal pollution is the rise or fall in the temperature of a natural
body of water caused by human influence.
A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant
by power plants and industrial manufacturers
Elevated water temperatures decreases oxygen levels (which can kill
fish) and affects ecosystem composition
Thermal pollution can also be caused by the release of very cold water
from the base of reservoirs into warmer rivers.
Hydrological Cycle
Water Resources of India
Methods of Water Conservation
Ground and Surface Water Pollution
Water for the World
The role of water is central to most natural processes
1. Transport
Weathering, contaminant transport
2. Energy balance
transport of heat, high heat capacity
3. Greenhouse gas
80% of the atmospheric greenhouse effect is caused by water
vapor
4. Life
for most terrestrial life forms, water determines where they may
live; man is exception
Inventory of water on Earth
Lakes, soil moisture,
atmosphere, rivers
Water on land Deep groundwater 1%
(750-4000 m)
3%
14%
Shallow groundwater
(<750 m)
11%
74%
97%
Ice caps and glaciers
Oceans
After Berner and Berner, 1987
What is the Hydrological Cycle?
literally "water science," encompasses the study of the occurrence and movement of
water on and beneath the surface of the Earth.
Finite though it is a renewable resource
finite in quantity, unlimited in supply, use rate is limited by 'recycling times'
Hydrologic sciences have pure and applied aspects
how the Earth works
scientific basis for proper management of water resources (or any natural
resource…)
Definition: It is the sequence of conditions through which water passes from vapor in the
atmosphere through precipitation upon land or water surfaces and ultimately back into
the atmosphere as a result of evaporation and transpiration — called also hydrological
cycle.
The hydrological cycle is the system which describes the distribution and movement of
water between the earth and its atmosphere. The model involves the continual
circulation of water between the oceans, the atmosphere, vegetation and land.
Hydrology is the study of movements and characteristics of
(ground)water.
The hydrologic cycle has a profound effect upon climate prediction.
Water is vital so we must understand where to find water and how
water supplies cycle through the Earth.
The hydrologic cycle takes place by way of Precipitation, Infiltration
and runoff, Evaporation, Transpiration and Groundwater flow.
During part of the water cycle, the sun heats up liquid water and changes it to a gas by the
process of evaporation. Water that evaporates from Earth’s oceans, lakes, rivers, and
moist soil rises up into the atmosphere.
Hydrological Cycle involves the basic principles of water evaporation, condensation,
precipitation, runoff, stream flow, percolation, and groundwater flow.
SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND
Of total yearly evaporation, 84% evaporates from the Oceans and 16% from surface of
continents.
However, return to Earth via precipitation: 75% falls directly on the Oceans and 25% on the
continents.
During the year, the atmosphere transports 9% of Oceans’ evaporation to the continents!
This water is returned via surface streams and as groundwater
WATER RESOURCES OF INDIA
Year Cubic meter Per Year
1901 4555
1951 3008
1971 1981
1991 1283
2025 943
2050 686
Against estimated annual precipitation of about 4,000 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM)
including snow fall, India’s total annual renewable fresh water resources are estimated
at 1953 BCM.
India has increased its water storage capacity from a meager 15 BCM to more than 200
BCM by constructing over 4000 dams.
India has 2.45 per cent of the world’s landmass supporting 16 per cent of the world’s
population whereas the freshwater resources are only 4 per cent of that of the world.
The average annual precipitation, including snowfall, received in the country is 4000 bcm.
Of this, the average annual water availability in the river-systems of the country is assessed
at 1,869 bcm.
The usable surface water is 690 bcm and replenish-able groundwater is 432 bcm. Thus total
usable water is around 1,122 bcm.
There has been a considerable development of water resources since independence. With
less than 293 large dams at the time of independence, the number of dams has grown to
more than 4000 at present. This will provide a storage capacity of about 252 bcm against
that of less than 16 bcm at the time of independence.
At present, average annual per capita availability of water for the country as a whole is
about 1,820 cubic meter as against 5177 cubic meter in 1951.
India has about 4% of world’s freshwater resources ranking it among the top ten water rich countries.
But, according to the Working Group II report of the Fourth Assessment of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change, India is designated a ‘water stressed region’ with current utilisable
freshwater standing at 1122 cubic meter (cu m) per year and per capita compared to international
limiting standards of 1700 cu m.
In future, at the current rate it is expected that India with high demands will be termed a ‘water scarce
region’ as utilizable freshwater falls below the international standard of 1000 cu m per year and per
capita.
Water demand is on a high due to rapid urbanization and industrialization along with the traditional
demand for agriculture.
Overall, every year, precipitation in the form of rain and snowfall provide over 4000 cu km of
freshwater to India, of which 2047 cu km return to oceans or is precipitated.
A small percentage is stored in inland water bodies and groundwater aquifers. Topographic
constraints, distribution pattern, technical limitation, and poor management do not allow India to
harness its water resources efficiently
Surface Water Resources
There are four major sources of surface water. These are rivers,
lakes, ponds, and tanks. In the country, there are about 10,360
rivers and their tributaries longer than 1.6 km each.The mean
annual flow in all the river basins in India is estimated to be 1,869
cubic km.
Rivers
In India, rivers have been the lifelines of growth and culture. India is drained by twelve major river systems with a
number of smaller rivers and streams. Major river systems in the north are the perennial Himalayan rivers – Ganga, Yamuna,
Indus and Brahmaputra. The south has the non-perennial but rain fed Krishna, Godavari, and Cauvery while central India has
the Narmada, Mahanadi and Tapti.
The Ganges-Brahmaputra and the Indus systems are the largest as they drain almost half of the country carrying
more than 40% of the utilisable surface water from the Himalayan watershed to the ocean. Over 70% of India’s rivers drain
into the Bay of Bengal, mostly as part of the Ganges-Brahmaputra system. The Arabian Sea receives 20% of the total drainage
from the Indus and other rivers. The remaining 10% drains into interior basins and natural lakes.
Flow in India’s rivers is strongly influenced by monsoon resulting in an annual peak in most rivers. The northern rivers
with sources in the Himalayas see an additional peak during the spring snowmelt. Because of this, water levels increase and
flooding is a common phenomenon that also leads to yearly calamity in states like Bihar and Assam. During the dry season, the
flow diminishes in most large rivers and even disappears entirely in smaller tributaries and streams. Due to low rains, and dry
rivers, drought is another common calamity across vast areas, especially the Deccan trap. Hence, some parts of India suffer
from flood and some parts from drought.
Rivers have become victims due to deforestation, sand mining, riverbank brick making and pollution.
Most Indian rivers are cesspools of waste dumped from various urban and industrial centres.
In 1995, the Central Pollution Control Board identified severely polluted stretches on 18 major rivers in India.
Many rivers suffer from silt deposition in its bed — reducing flow, and disturbing the ecosystem. Deforestation
near the source of the rivers, is leading to soil erosion, landslide, floods, silt formation and sedimentation in
rivers.
TRADITIONAL INDIAN PRACTICES
• Water viewed holistically – rainfall, run-off,
groundwater, etc.
Gestation period small
Capital investment small
Maintenance and repairs small
Only protective irrigation – no change in
cropping pattern
Peoples’ participation
Tribunals for resolving inter-state water disputes
(i) The Godavari water Disputes Tribunal,
(ii) The Krishna-water Disputes Tribunal,
(iii) The Narmada water Disputes Tribunal,
(iv) The Ravi and Beas water Disputes Tribunal, and
(v) The Cauvery water Disputes Tribunal.
1. Ground Water Pollution
Water that soaks into the ground
after rain
Factors that determine the
amount
Steepness of slopes
Type of surface materials
Intensity of rainfall
Type and amount of
vegetation
Know How Ground Water Pollution happens.
2. SURFACE WATER POLLUTION:
Surface water is any water you can see on the surface of the ground around you.
E.g. If you see a pond, a lake, a stream or even a puddle, that water can be
classified as surface water.
Keeping surface water clean is very important as well, but groundwater often goes
unnoticed by the general population, and sometimes it flies under the radar for so
long that it becomes seriously polluted without anyone noticing until it’s much too
late.
When water is found beneath the surface of the land, that water is known as
groundwater. When rainwater falls, some of that water gets absorbed into lakes,
streams, and ponds, and some of it is used by plants before it has a chance to go
anywhere else. Other amounts of water evaporate instead of going anywhere. But
the remaining water from rainfall has to go somewhere, and so it seeps into the
ground to become groundwater.
Causes of Groundwater Pollution
1. Direct:
Hazardous waste. When hazardous waste is disposed of or dumped incorrectly, the chances of it spilling and
leaching into soil and water are great. It’s very likely for this type of spill to occur and go completely
unnoticed.
Landfills. Landfills are another direct cause of pollution in groundwater. The longer a landfill remains full of
waste, the more the toxins from that waste seep into the soil below and around the landfill. This leads to
groundwater contamination almost immediately. When landfills are very large, the amount of groundwater
polluted by them is significant.
2. Indirect
Atmospheric pollutants. Sometimes, when surface water in the area becomes polluted, this can lead to
those pollutants evaporating into atmospheric air and water. In turn, polluted air can drift into areas
where humans are more present, and polluted rain can fall as acid rain. This damages the environment
and can also cause serious health risks for people in the area, too.
Petroleum fuels. Diesel and gasoline are well-known indirect causes of groundwater pollution. In some
instances, these fuels, when kept in underground storage, can leak significantly and seep into the ground
around them, leading to groundwater contamination. Most of the time, however, the use of these fuels
pollutes the atmosphere and leads to indirect atmospheric pollution of groundwater through the rain.
3. Man-made
It’s no secret that human beings are a huge polluter of groundwater. These are just some of
the manmade ways groundwater gets contaminated.
Septic systems: Septic tanks installed incorrectly or damaged over time without regular
maintenance. This causes human waste to leach into the surrounding soil, which in turn
causes a lot of pollution very fast.
Chemicals. Road salts, solvents, and chemicals used on roads, in lawns, and around the
home are some of the leading manmade causes of groundwater pollution. When these
products are used on land surfaces or homes, they are easily washed away by natural
rainfall. From there, since there’s nowhere else for them to go, they seep into the soil and
reach the groundwater quickly. When humans and animals then drink this water, they are
ingesting these chemicals, which can cause major health problems very fast.
Pesticide. Much like chemicals and other man-made solutions, pesticide is prone to
washing into the soil after heavy rainfalls, especially when it is used frequently by farmers
and other members of the agricultural industry.
Impact on Environment
The environment can be seriously altered when groundwater is polluted. Here are just some of
the ways in which this occurs.
Nutrient pollution. Groundwater pollution can cause certain types of nutrients that are
necessary in plants and trees to sustain normal life in a given ecosystem. Plants might not be
able to absorb water as easily, and the entire ecosystem will suffer.
Toxic water in ecosystems. When groundwater that supplies lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, and
swamps becomes contaminated, this slowly leads to more and more contamination of the
surface water as well. When this happens, fish, birds, animals and plants that live in the area
become sick and die off quickly. This is a huge factor in the destruction of the wetlands, which
rely heavily on groundwater to recharge their lakes and ponds after drought periods. In turn,
people who use this land for hunting, fishing, and even for their own sources of clean water are
affected by this type of pollution.
SURFACE WATER POLLUTION
According to WaterAid, an international organization working for water
sanitation and hygiene 80% of India’s surface water is polluted.
According to the latest data from the ministry of urban development (2013),
census 2011 and Central Pollution Control Board, estimates that 75-80% of
water pollution by volume is from domestic sewerage, while untreated
sewerage flowing into water bodies including rivers have almost doubled in
recent years.
The surface water pollution causes diseases such as cholera, dysentery,
jaundice and diarrhea etc. Water pollution is found to be a major cause for
poor nutritional standards and development in children also.
Between 1991 and 2008, the latest period for which data is available, flow of
untreated sewerage has doubled from around 12,000 million litres per day to
24,000 million litres per day.
WATER CONSERVATION METHODS
THINGS TO PONDER
Approximately one billion people still lack access to safe
water and over 2.5 billion lack access to adequate
sanitation.
Reports suggest that by 2030, in some developing
regions of the world, water demand will exceed supply
by 50%.
How much of the Earth's water is salt water? 97 %
What percentage of the world's total water is available
to drink? Less than 1 %
WATER CONSERVATION
Water conservation refers to reducing the usage of water and recycling of
waste water for different purposes like domestic usage, industries, agriculture
etc.
Water conservation can be done through what you do, not by what you know.
Over the years rising populations, growing industrialization, and expanding
agriculture have pushed up the demand for water.
Efforts have been made to collect water by building dams, reservoirs and
digging wells; some countries have also tried to recycle and desalinate sea
water.
Water conservation has become the need of the day.
The method of recharging ground water by harvesting
rainwater is gaining importance in many cities.
In the forests, water seeps gently into the ground due to
vegetation cover. This groundwater in turn feeds wells,
lakes, and rivers. Protecting forests means protecting
water 'catchments'. In ancient India, people worshipped
Nature and one of them was Water.
Goals of Water Conservation
The goals of water conservation efforts include as follows:
1. Sustainability.
To ensure availability for future generations, the
withdrawal of fresh water from an ecosystem should not exceed its natural
replacement rate.
2. Energy conservation.
Water pumping, delivery, and wastewater
treatment facilities consume a significant amount of energy. In some
regions of the world over 15% of total electricity consumption is devoted to
water management.
3. Habitat conservation.
Minimizing human water use helps to preserve
fresh water habitats for local wildlife and migrating water flow, as well as
reducing the need to build new dams and other water diversion
infrastructure.
Water Saving Tips
Water can also be conserved by landscaping with
native plants.
Shorten your shower by a minute you will save
uptoB150 gallons per month.
Taps with low flow and high pressure can be used.
Put a weighted object in the toilet tank to displace
water so less is used with each flush in
conventional water closets.
Run only full loads in the washing machine and
dishwasher.
Conclusion
We must use our water wisely. Earlier water has
been abundant resource and unfortunately was used
carelessly.
Today water is a precious resource to us and to
future generations. Life wouldn't be the same
without it.
Water is one of nature’s most important gifts to
mankind. Essential to life, the survival of all living
beings depends on water.
AIR POLLUTION
We could live about a month without food. We could even
live for several days without water. But without air, we
cannot live more than a few minutes.
We might foul the air so badly in some places that it could
become unfit to breath. In some areas, the air is so bad
that people become sick from breathing it, and some even
die because of it.
The World Health Organization estimates that a billion
people live in places where the air is substandard and that
air pollution kills 8,000 people a day worldwide. About
90% of the deaths occur in developing countries.
What is air pollution?
Contamination of the air by noxious gases and minute particles of solid and liquid matter
(particulates) in concentrations that have undesirable effect on living being.
Any visible or invisible particle or gas found in the air that is not part of the original, normal
composition.
Natural: forest fires, pollen, dust storm, volcanoes, Ash, ,Pollen, Dirt (Usually not
concentrated enough to harm living things)
Unnatural: man-made; coal, wood and other fuels used in cars, homes, and factories
for energy, Paint fumes, Pesticide sprays, Smoke from wood-burning stoves, Cement
dust, Mining dust
Even before there were people, there were air pollution. Wildfires, windblown dust, and
volcanic eruptions added pollutants to the atmosphere, and they still do so. Volcanoes spew
ash and poisonous gases into the atmosphere.
Modernization and progress have led to air getting more and more polluted over the years.
Industries, vehicles, increase in the population, and urbanization are some of the major
factors responsible for air pollution.
The following industries are among those that emit a great deal of pollutants into the air:
thermal power plants, cement, steel, refineries, petro-chemicals, and mines.
Indoor Pollutions
We spend up to 60% of our time indoors and our homes are not
always the safe places we would like them to be.
These chemicals, some of which are called volatile organic
compounds (VOC) can cause ill health and they are found in
carpets, chipboard, furnishing fabrics, clothing pesticides,
cleaning products, toiletries, cosmetics and hobby products.
Pollution exposure at home and work is often greater than
outdoors.
There are many sources of indoor air pollution.
Tobacco smoke
cooking
heating appliances
vapors from building materials, paints, furniture
other materials within the home that emit unhealthy
chemicals
Outdoor Pollutions
automobile exhaust
industrial emissions
Natural Pollution
Wildfires
Windblown dust
Volcanic eruptions
Burning of fossil fuels (Chemistry Book)
Carbon Monoxide
•colorless, odorless
•produced when carbon does not burn in fossil
fuels
•present in car exhaust
•deprives body of O2 causing headaches, fatigue,
and impaired vision
Sulfur Dioxide
produced when coal and fuel oil are
burned
present in power plant exhaust
narrows the airway, causing wheezing
and shortness of breath, especially in
those with asthma
Nitrogen Dioxide
reddish, brown gas
produced when nitric oxide combines with
oxygen in the atmosphere
present in car exhaust and power plants
affects lungs and causes wheezing; increases
chance of respiratory infection
Particulate Matter
particles of different sizes and structures that
are released into the atmosphere
present in many sources including fossil
fuels, dust, smoke, fog, etc.
can build up in respiratory system
aggravates heart and lung disease; increases
risk of respiratory infection
Ground Level Ozone
at upper level, ozone shields Earth from sun’s
harmful UV rays
at ground level, ozone is harmful pollutants
formed from car, power and chemical plant
exhaust
irritate respiratory system and asthma; reduces
lung function by inflaming and damaging lining of
lungs
Effects of Air Pollution
Air pollution can cause health problems including burning eyes and nose, itchy
irritated throat, and breathing problems. Some chemicals found in polluted air
can cause cancer, birth defects, brain and nerve damage, and long-term injury
to the lungs and breathing passages in certain circumstances. Above certain
concentrations and durations, certain air pollutants are extremely dangerous
and can cause severe injury or death.
Air pollution can also damage the environment and property. Trees, lakes, and
animals have been harmed by air pollution. Air pollution has thinned the
protective ozone layer above the Earth. Air pollution can damage buildings,
monuments, statues, and other structures.
Air pollution also can result in haze, which reduces visibility in national parks
and elsewhere, and can sometimes interfere with aviation.
Effects of Air Pollution
Global Warming– the increased concentration of carbon dioxide
and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere lead to rise in
earth’s average temperature.
Ozone - chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, and
methyl chloroform – all mixed in the air causes depletion of ozone.
Greenhouse Effect - CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2), Methane, and WATER VAPOR- the
atmosphere obsorbs heat energy from the sun and prevent heat from leaving our
atmosphere.
Acid Rain comes mainly from sulfur dioxide emitted from power
plants and smelters and from nitrogen oxides discharges from
power plant and automobiles. These acids are often carried far
before falling as rain or snow. Acids corrode metals and even erode
stone buildings and statues.
How Air Pollution Affects HUMAN HEALTH:
Eye and throat, Heart, Lung , Respiratory (breathing), Asthma and emphysema.
6,00,000 people a year die earlier than normal due to air pollution
1. Sulfur Dioxide and Particulate material
Irritate respiratory tract and impair
ability of lungs to exchange gases
2. Nitrogen Dioxides
Causes airway restriction
3. Carbon monoxide
Binds with iron in blood hemoglobin
Causes headache, fatigue, drowsiness,
death
4. Ozone
Causes burning eyes, coughing, and
chest discomfort
Greater health threat to children than adults
Air pollution can restrict lung development
Children breath more often than adults
Children who live in high ozone areas are more
likely to develop asthma
How Air Pollution Affects ENVIRONMENT
Air pollutants can sink into water and affect aquatic
wildlife
Can affect plant growth
Can damage statues and buildings
Solutions
Must reduce emissions (release) of pollutants from source like factories and
vehicles
Air is hard to clean up!
air moves so communities affected may be far from those that created it
Reduce sulfur content in gasoline from its current average of 330 ppm to 30
ppm
Sulfur clogs catalytic converters
Require federal emission standards for all passenger vehicles Including SUVs,
trucks and minivans
Require emission testing for all vehicles Including diesel
SOMETHING TO REMEMBER
1. According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of USA, the following is not one of the six major pollutants?
1.Ozone 2. Carbon monoxide 3. Nitrogen oxides 4. Carbon di-oxide
2. The Pollution Standard Index (PSI) scale has span from
1.0-200 2. 0-300 3. 0-400 4. 0-500
3. Which of the following is an organic gas?
1.Hydrocarbons 2. Aldehydes 3. Ketones 4. Ammonia
4. Which of the following is/are inorganic gas (es)?
1.Carbon monoxide 2. Hydrogen sulphide 3. Chlorine 4. All of the above
5. The major contributor of Carbon monoxide is
1.Motor vehicle 2. Industrial processes 3.tationary fuel combustion 4. None of the above
6. Fugitive emissions consist of
1.Street dust 2. Dust from construction activities3.Dust from farm cultivation 4.All of the above
7. Ozone of found in
1.Mesosphere 2. Ionosphere 3. Stratosphere 4. Exosphere
8. Ozone is formed in the upper atmosphere by a photochemical reaction with
1.Ultra violet solar radiation 2. Infra red radiation 3. Visible light 4. All of the above
9. The principal source of volatile organics (Hydrocarbons) is
1.Transportation 2. Industrial processes 3. Stationary fuel combustion 4. Volcanoes
10. The function of automobile catalytic converter is to control emissions of
1.carbon dioxide and hydrogen 2. carbon monoxide and hydrogen 3. carbon monoxide and
carbon dioxide 4. carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide
Noise Pollution
WHAT IS NOISE POLLUTION?
Sound that is unwanted or disrupts one’s quality of
life is called as noise. When there is lot of noise in the
environment, it is termed as noise pollution.
Sound becomes undesirable when it disturbs the
normal activities such as working, sleeping, and
during conversations.
It is an underrated environmental problem because
of the fact that we can’t see, smell, or taste it.
World Health Organization stated that “Noise must
be recognized as a major threat to human well-being”
Health Effects
• According to the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (USEPA), there are direct links between noise and
health. Also, noise pollution adversely affects the lives of
millions of people.
• Noise pollution can damage physiological and
psychological health.
• High blood pressure, stress related illness, sleep
disruption, hearing loss, and productivity loss are the
problems related to noise pollution.
• It can also cause memory loss, severe depression, and
panic attacks.
Sources of noise pollution
• 1) Industrial sources—The industrial sources may
include noise from various industries operating in cities
like boiler, machinery, foundry, cutting machines, etc.
noise is a by- product of energy conservation and every
industry produces noise. Pollution due to big machines
working at a high speed have high noise intensity.
• 2) Non-industrial sources.—Non-industrial sources of
noise can further be divided into the following:
• Loudspeaker, trains, aircraft, construction work, crowded
bazaars, social religious, political gatherings including sports
field, sirens, and generator sets.
Sources of Noise Pollution
• Transportation systems are the main source of noise
pollution in urban areas.
• Construction of buildings, highways, and streets cause a
lot of noise, due to the usage of air compressors,
bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks, and pavement breakers.
• Industrial noise also adds to the already unfavorable state
of noise pollution.
• Loud speakers, plumbing, boilers, generators, air
conditioners, fans, and vacuum cleaners add to the
existing noise pollution.
Effects of noise pollution
• Lack of concentration–
• Noise causes lack of concentration in big cities mostly all the offices
are on main road. It diverts the attention of the people working in
office.
• Cause of blood pressure–
• It is a major contributing factors in accelerating the already existing
tensions of modern living these tensions results in certain diseases
like blood pressure or mental illness.
• Effect on vegetation –
• Noise pollution cause poor quality of crops in a pleasant
atmosphere.
• Physiological effects-
• The effects are not only on human beings but on birds and animals
too. Birds stop laying eggs and breeding and animals stop mating in
season.
Laws regarding Noise Pollution
• In Section 133, Code of Criminal Procedure the magistrate
court have been empowered to issue remove or abate nuisance caused by
noise pollution u/s 133 empowers and executive magistrate to interfere and
remove a public nuances in the first instance with a conditional order and
then with a permanent one the provision can be utilized in case of nuance of
environment nature.
• Section-2 (A) of the Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981
includes noise in the definition of “Air Pollution” – This section states Air
pollution means any solid, liquid or gaseous substance including noise present
in the atmosphere. Such concentration as may be or tend to injuries to
human being or other living creatures or plants or property or environment.
• Section-2 (C) of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 defines environmental
pollution to mean the presence in the environment of any environmental
pollutant.
Laws regarding Noise Pollution
• In a landmark judgement given by apex court in Mulan
Mufti Syud and others V. State of West Bengal AIR
1999, The court held imposition of restriction on the
use of microphone and loudspeaker by the state govt.
between 9 pm to 7 am which inter alia include
restriction of azan on microphone in early hours, before
7 am is not violative of Article 25 of Constitution of
India guarantying of freedom of religion.
Solutions for Noise Pollution
• Planting bushes and trees in and around sound
generating sources is an effective solution for noise
pollution.
• Regular servicing and tuning of automobiles can
effectively reduce the noise pollution.
• Buildings can be designed with suitable noise
absorbing material for the walls, windows, and ceilings.
• Workers should be provided with equipments such as
ear plugs and earmuffs for hearing protection.
Solutions for Noise Pollution
• Similar to automobiles, lubrication of the machinery
and servicing should be done to minimize noise
generation.
• Soundproof doors and windows can be installed to
block unwanted noise from outside.
• Regulations should be imposed to restrict the usage
of play loudspeakers in crowded areas and public
places.
• Factories and industries should be located far from
the residential areas.
Solutions for Noise Pollution
• Community development or urban management
should be done with long-term planning, along
with an aim to reduce noise pollution.
• Social awareness programs should be taken up to
educate the public about the causes and effects
of noise pollution.
SOLID WASTE
WHAT IS SOLID WASTE?
Any garbage, or refuse, sludge from a wastewater treatment
plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control
facility and other discarded material, including solid, liquid,
semi-solid, or contained gaseous material resulting from
industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations,
and from community activities, but does not include solid or
dissolved materials in domestic sewage, or solid or dissolved
material in irrigation return flows or industrial discharges that
are point sources subject to permit under Indian rules.
OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WASTE
In a common man’s eye anything that is unwanted or not useful is garbage or
waste. However scientifically speaking there is no waste as such in the world.
Almost all the components of solid waste have some potential if it is converted
or treated in a scientific manner. Hence we can define solid waste as “Organic or
inorganic waste materials produced out of household or commercial activities,
that have lost their value in the eyes of the first owner but which may be of
great value to somebody else.” (Robinson, W.D.1986).
Generation of waste is inevitable in every habitation howsoever big or small.
We can dispose the waste or reuse the waste and can earn money through
proper management. Indian cities which are fast competing with global
economies in their drive for fast economic development have so far failed to
effectively manage the huge quantity of waste generated.
There are about 593 districts and approximately 5,000 towns in India.
About 27.8 percent of India’s total population of more than 1 billion (as per
Census 2001) lives in urban areas.
The projected urban population percentage is 33.4 percent by the year 2026.
The quantum of waste generated in Indian towns and cities is increasing day-
by- day on account of its increasing Population and increased GDP.
The annual quantity of solid waste generated in Indian cities has increased
from six million tons in 1947 to 48 million tons in 1997 with an annual growth
rate of 4.25 percent, and it is expected to increase to 300 million tons by 2,047
(CPCB, 1998).
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a statutory organisation
under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). It
was established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1974. CPCB is also entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
Population explosion, coupled with improved life style of people,
results in increased generation of solid wastes in urban as well as
rural areas of the country.
Due to ever-increasing urbanization, fast adoption of ‘use & throw
concept’& equally fast communication between urban & rural areas
the gap between the two is diminishing.
Urban waste is now dumped just beyond city limits on vacant land
in villages or all along highways, canals, in lowl-ying land.
It breeds flies, mosquitoes, rats. Dogs thrive on waste heaps and
form hunting packs at night, attacking village livestock.
1999 REPORT TO SUPREME COURT: GUIDING PRINCIPLES
‘Clean Up and Flourish or Pile Up and Perish’
‘A city is only as clean as its dirtiest areas’
‘The best way to keep streets clean is not to dirty them in the first
place.
Aim for cities without street bins.’
Handle waste once only ! (Collect in mobile bins or tipper vehicle)
Separate collection of inerts (road dust, drain silt, debris)
No Burning of Waste or Leaves
Bio-Med Waste: follow its Rules.
S. C: No Pesticide on Wastes
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POLICY IN A NUTSHELL
Keep “wet” & “dry” wastes separately
Doorstep collection of “wet” waste, to Compost all bio - degradables.
Leave Recyclables to the informal sector.
Landfill only Compost Rejects & inerts.
Waste Mimimisation is vital.
101
Classification of waste
There may be different types of waste such as Domestic waste, Factory waste,
Waste from oil factory, E-waste, Construction waste, Agricultural waste, Food
processing waste, Bio-medical waste, Nuclear waste, Slaughter house waste
etc. We can classify waste as follows:
Solid waste- vegetable waste, kitchen waste, household waste etc.
E-waste- discarded electronic devices such as computer, TV, music
systems etc.
Liquid waste- water used for different industries, tanneries,
distilleries, thermal power plants
Plastic waste- plastic bags, bottles, bucket, etc.
Metal waste- unused metal sheet, metal scraps etc.
Nuclear waste- unused materials from nuclear power plants
Further we can group all these types of waste into wet waste (Biodegradable)
and dry waste (Non Biodegradable).
Wet waste (Biodegradable)
includes the following:
Kitchen waste including food waste of all kinds, cooked and
uncooked, including eggshells and bones
Flower and fruit waste including juice peels and house-
plant waste
Garden sweeping or yard waste consisting of green/dry
leaves
Sanitary wastes
Green waste from vegetable & fruit vendors/shops
Waste from food & tea stalls/shops etc.
Dry waste (Non-biodegradable)
includes the following
Paper and plastic, all kinds
Cardboard and cartons
Containers of all kinds excluding those containing hazardous material
Packaging of all kinds
Glass of all kinds
Metals of all kinds
Rags, rubber
House sweeping (dust etc.)
Ashes
Foils, wrappings, pouches, sachets and tetra packs (rinsed)
Discarded electronic items from offices, colonies viz. cassettes, computer
diskettes, printer cartridges and electronic parts.
Discarded clothing, furniture and equipment
Domestic Hazardous Waste
It may also be generated at the household level. These include for example:
Used aerosol cans, batteries, and household kitchen and drain cleaning
agents, car batteries and car care products, cosmetic items,
chemical-based insecticides/pesticides, light bulbs, tube-lights and compact
fluorescent lamps (CFL), paint, oil, lubricant and their empty containers.
Generally, hazardous waste “is waste that is dangerous or potentially
harmful to our health or the environment. Hazardous wastes can be liquids,
solids, gases, or sludge.
They can be discarded commercial products, like cleaning fluids or
pesticides, or the by-products of manufacturing processes.
Basic principles of Solid Waste Management
1) 4Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
Refuse: Do not buy anything which we do not really need.
Reduce - Reduce the amount of garbage generated. Alter our lifestyle so that minimum garbage is
generated.
Reuse - Reuse everything to its maximum after properly cleaning it. Make secondary use of different
articles.
Recycle – Keep things which can be recycled to be given to rag pickers or waste pickers
(Kabadiwallahs).Convert the recyclable garbage into manures or other useful products.
2) Segregation at source: Store organic or biodegradable and inorganic or non biodegradable solid waste in
different bins. Recycle of all the components with minimum labor and cost.
3) Different treatments for different types of solid wastes: One must apply the techniques which are suitable to
the given type of garbage. For example the technique suitable for general market waste may not be suitable for
slaughter house waste.
4) Treatment at nearest possible point: The solid waste should be treated in as decentralized manner as possible.
The garbage generated should be treated preferably at the site of generation i.e. every house. Based on the above
principles, an ideal Solid Waste Management for a village could be as under.
In India, municipality corporations play very important role in waste management.
There is a clear and strong hierarchy of posts in the Municipal Corporation.
The highest authority of Municipal Corporation rests with the Mayor, who is elected to
the post for tenure of five years. Under the Mayor, there is a City Commissioner.
Under the city commissioner, there is Executive Officer who supervises various
departments such as public health, water works, public works, house tax, lights,
projection tax, demand and a workshop, which, in turn, all are headed by their own
department heads.
The staffs in the Public health department are as follows: Health officer, Chief sanitary
and food inspector, Sanitary and food inspectors, Sanitary supervisor, Sweepers, etc.
The entire operation of solid waste management (SWM) system is performed under four
headings, namely, street cleansing, collection, transportation and disposal.
The cleansing and collection operations are conducted by the public health
department of city Municipality Corporation.
The transportation and disposal of waste are carried out by the transportation
department of city Municipality Corporation.
The entire city can be divided in to different zones. These zones are further divided
into different sanitary wards for the purpose of solid waste collection and transport
operations.
Currently waste management in India mostly means a picking up waste from
residential and industrial areas and dumping it at landfill sites.
The authorities, usually municipal, are obligated to handle solid waste generated
within their respective boundaries.
The usual practice followed is of lifting solid waste from the point of generation and
hauling to distant places known as dumping grounds and/or landfill sites for
discarding.
Waste collection is usually done on a contract basis.
In most cities it is done by rag pickers, small- time contractors and municipalities.
India’s Waste Management Initiatives
Institutional Framework Central Level
State Level
Other Organizations/Associations
Legal Framework 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992
Management and Handling Rules
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995
National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997
Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977
Environmental Norms Existing Environmental Standards
Recently Notified Environmental Standards
Policy Initiatives National Urban Sanitation Policy, 2008
National Environment Policy, 2006
Policy Statement for Abatement of Pollution, 1992
National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on
Environment and Development, 1992
Law Commission Recommendation
Ecomark Scheme, 1991
INDIA’S BEST PRACTICES
Waste Separation at Source succeeds where citizens
see it transported separately also, e.g. in Suryapet.
Doorstep Collection keeps streets and roadside
drains much cleaner.
Separate collection timings for inerts: drain silt,
debris lots, road diggings.
Weekly collection of garden waste.
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Sources of Solid Waste
Solid Waste
Household Commercial
Food waste: Kitchen and left over Solid Waste from
Animal waste: Excreta and residual animal feed
1. Institutions
Recyclables: Paper, glass, plastic 2. Small scale
Non-recyclables: Tetra pack, thermocol industries
Biomedical waste: Expired medicines 3. Hotels
Hazardous waste: Used batteries, bulbs 4. Markets
5. Slaughter houses
Why Manage Waste?
Conserves resources & energy
Reduces water & air pollution
Saves landfill space
Waste = Food
In nature there is no waste
Cradle to cradle design
Product components are recyclable or biodegradable
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) or Product Stewardship
Current disposal practices in India
1. Animal Waste:
Heaps of animal waste is haphazardly stacked on the roadside – unsightly.
Animal waste washed by the rains and flows to drains
Transferred once or twice only a year to the farmland as semi composted
manure.
The optimum nutrient potential of this organic matter is not realised by the
farmers
2. Plastic and Paper Waste:
Dumped in the open or surface drains
Often blocks surface drains
Segregation & Door to door collection
1. Households may be given a set of two domestic bins one time
only and motivated to segregate wet and dry waste at source
and Panchayat may arrange door to door collection of wet and
dry waste separately.
Managing recyclables in small villages
1. In small villages where door to door collection of
wet and dry waste is not considered feasible,
community bins may be provided at strategic
locations in the village.
2. The community may be motivated to deposit their
dry recyclable waste into these bins.
3. Panchayat may arrange weekly collection of
recyclable from these bins and store the same in a
shed and periodically sell the recyclables to
recyclers.
Source Reduction or “Reduce”
Preferred method: Prevents the generation of waste in the first place
Manufacturer: Decrease materials/energy used during
manufacturing/distribution
Consumer: Purchase items with minimal packaging, avoid disposable products
Includes backyard composting
Reuse
Prolonging a product’s usable life
Repairing items, selling them or donating them to charity
Using durable rather than disposable items (i.e. reusable shopping bags,
metal spoons)
Preferable to recycling because item does not need to be
collected/reprocessed
Why Reuse Things?
Conserves resources
Reduces our waste stream
Saves or delays purchasing and disposal costs
Causes less pollution than recycling or making new products from
virgin materials
Makes needed items available to those who can’t afford to buy them
How Do I Reuse?
Pack lunch in reusable containers instead of plastic bags
Use rechargeable batteries
Look for products in reusable packaging when you shop
Donate unwanted clothing, furniture, books, toys to charities
Repair things instead of replacing them
Use glass or plastic containers several times before recycling
or disposing of them
Reuse envelopes
Recycle
• Taking a product at the end of its useful life and using all or part of it to make
another product
• Benefits: Saves energy, natural resources, and landfill space, reduces
pollution, creates jobs and useful products
• Requires collection, processing, remanufac-turing and purchase (Close the
Loop!)
• EPA estimates 75% of our waste is recyclable
Hazardous waste generators
All industries generate some hazardous waste
The largest quantities come from five sectors:
Chemical and pharmaceutical manufacture
Metals refining
Petroleum and coal products
Metal working and fabrication
Rubber and plastics manufacture
In developing economies, hazardous waste
is generated mostly due to
low level of technology
unskilled management
unspecialised workers
lack of modernisation
poor environmental performance
“Domestic Hazardous Waste”
It may also be generated at the household level.
These include used aerosol cans, batteries, and
household kitchen and drain cleaning agents,
car batteries and car care products, cosmetic
items, chemical-based insecticides/pesticides,
light bulbs, tube-lights and compact fluorescent
lamps (CFL), paint, oil, lubricant and their
empty containers.
Waste Collection in India
Primarily by the city municipality
No gradation of waste product eg bio-degradable,
glasses, poly bags, paper shreds etc.
Dumps these wastes to the city outskirts Local
raddiwala / kabadiwala (Rag pickers)
Collecting small iron pieces by magnets
Collecting glass bottles
Collecting paper for recycling
In Delhi - MCD- Sophisticated DWM (Delhi Waste
Management) vehicle
Waste Management Initiatives in India
Public sector: this comprises of local authority and local
public departments at city level;
Private-formal sector: this constitutes large and small
registered enterprises doing collection, transport, treatment,
and disposal and recycling;
Private-informal sector: this constitutes the small-scale, non-
recognized private sector and comprises of waste-pickers,
dump-pickers, itinerant-waste buyers, traders and non-
registered small-scale enterprises; and
Community representatives in the form of NGOs, etc.
The dirty dozen
• Tanneries
• Textile dyeing plants
• Dyestuff producers
• Metal working and electroplating shops
• Foundries (factories for casting metals)
• Automobile service shops and gas stations
• Lead-acid battery manufacturing/recycling
• Chemical industries/laboratories
• Paint shops
• Printers
• Photographic processors
• Dry cleaners
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