Water Pollution Notes
Point Source Pollution
|
Pollutants from Agriculture
Eutrophication-
|
Sewage vs. Septic
Hydropower Notes and Diversion Notes
Hydropower
Pros
Pros
- dams are relatively inexpensive to operate (yet thy're very expensive to build)
- dams generate clean power (hydropower is renewable and doesnt emit greenhouse gases or other air pollutants)
- . Dams improve quality of life (prevent flooding*, create jobs, and provide cheap electricity, irrigation, and drinking water)
- Dams alter river habitats in many ways (upstream = flooding downstream = not enough water)
- Natural cycles are disrupted (floodplains don’t receive nutrients from sediments because they get trapped behind dams)
- Temperature of the water is changed (aquatic populations go extinct)
- Dams prevent anadromous fish from laying eggs.
- In the US, the era of large dam construction is probably over.
-Not so in developing countries (Brazil, China, India). - Micro-hydropower :electricity produced in a small stream without having to build a big dam
- Much cheaper to build.
- Can be used in remote areas