There is growing concern that commonly used Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) and pesticides are entering and contaminating drinking water supplies. The use of targeted quantitation of PPCP has been well established but there is an emerging trend to also screen for and identify unexpected environmental pollutants. Chemicals like pesticides hormones and antibiotics are especially of interest because of proven endocrine disrupting effects and a possible development of bacterial resistance. Powerful screening methods are required to detect and quantify the presence of these compounds in our environment. PPCP encompass a wide range of pollutants, including Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDC), pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, drugs of abuse, x-ray contrast agents and drinking water disinfection by-products to name a few. In order to properly assess the effects of these compounds on our environment, it is necessary to accurately monitor their presence. The diversity of chemical properties of these compounds makes method development challenging. LC/MS/MS is able to analyse polar, semi-volatile, and thermally labile compounds covering a wide molecular weight range. The new AB SCIEX TripleTOF™5600 LC/MS/MS was used to profile environmental samples for unexpected pollutants, to identify and characterise the chemical composition and structure of the pollutants, and to quantify (based on intensity) the concentration in collected water samples. Liquid Chromatography coupled to tandem Mass Spectrometry (LCMS/ MS) is able to analyse polar, semi-volatile, and thermally labile compounds covering a wide molecular weight range, such as pesticides, antibiotics, drugs of abuse, x-ray contrast agents, drinking water disinfection by-products etc. More recently there is a growing interest from environmental researchers to also screen for and identify non-targeted compounds in environmental samples, including metabolites and degradates, but also completely unexpected pollutants. The new AB SCIEX TripleTOF™5600 LC/MS/MS system is capable of performing highly sensitive and fast MS scanning experiments to search for unknown molecular ions while also performing selective and characteristic MS/MS scanning for further compound identification and, therefore, is the instrument of choice for this challenging task. General unknown screening workflows do not use a target analyte list and compound detection is not based on any prior knowledge, including retention times and information on possible molecular and fragment ions. Therefore, acquired chromatograms are very rich in information and can easily contain thousands of ions from both any compounds present in the sample as well as from the sample matrix itself. Thus, powerful software tools are needed to explore such data to identify the unexpected compound. Water samples were collected both upstream and downstream of two WWTPs (Seymour and Fort Beaufort) and were directly injected on the AB SCIEX TripleTOF™5600 LC/MS/MS after being filtered. 15 sample points along the Kat River, ranging from a point as close to the source as possible to a point just before it joins the Great Fish River were used. The samples collected from the source were used as the control in each of the experiments, the assumption being the closer you get to the source, the less contaminated the water would be for the analysis of pesticides. Points were selected where the Kat River crosses the R67 or on farms where the river was accessible using farm roads. Samples were collected from October 2013 to November 2014.The Peak view software and Analyst software were used in the analysis of PPCPs. The XIC Manager allows you to manage large lists of compounds and perform automatic extracted ion chromatogram (XIC) calculations and review results operations. The results were displayed in the chromatogram pane and the XIC table (see results). The results reported here in this thesis indicate that there is contamination in the Kat River water due to both pesticides and PPCPs. The results also indicate that the food products are also contaminated and hence both the Kat River agricultural produce and its water need to be closely monitored for both pesticide and PPCPs contaminants. Further studies to investigate the quantitative levels of pesticides and PPCPs in the Kat river water to determine if the concentration levels of the detected pesticides are below the reported Maximum Residues Limits will be explored in the future.

In recent years the problem of water pollution has been recognized as a meta-problem of unexpected magnitude and complexity. Early attempts to control pollution were stifled by the property-oriented common law of riparian rights and by the lack of Authorities possessing adequate jurisdiction and funds. The object of this paper is to delineate the proper legislative and administrative field of water pollution control, with particular reference to British Columbia's pollution control legislation. As a background, the common law relating to water pollution is sketched and its adequacy evaluated. Early British Columbia Pollution control legislation is outlined in an attempt to determine the roots of the present comprehensive legislation. The Pollution Control Act 1956 is examined, with particular attention to the administrative tribunal created thereunder. Board procedures are seen to be informal and dependent upon direct communication and negotiation with individuals concerned. An attempt is made to determine the criteria upon which the Board acts in setting effluent standards in waste disposal permits granted by it. These standards are found to be vitually completely in the Board's discretion, but necessary (with some limitations) for flexible policy administration. The Board has several means of enforcement at its command including prosecution under the Act, or under the Criminal Code and civil proceedings at the suit of the Attorney-General. To determine whether civil actions for pollution lie apart from the Act, the question of whether riparian rights have been abrogated in British Columbia by water appropriation legislation is considered. The evidence indicates that actions by riparian owners will continue to lie. The fact that parties hold either water licences or pollution control Board permits makes no difference if pollution in fact exists. The Board is an administrative tribunal; but it may at certain stages of its permit issuing procedure be required to act judicially. At those stages, the Board's decision is open to review by the courts. Under the present legislation a person who objects to the grant of a permit is not entitled to an oral hearing, though he is entitled to file written representations in support of his objection. There appears to be no conflict among the numerous pollution control provisions contained in various provincial statutes. The Pollution Control Act is clearly the governing legislation. Federal Legislation relating to pollution is validly enacted under Federal Fisheries and Navigation powers; and in a case of direct conflict will override the provincial legislation. From the preceding examination of the Act, it is concluded that while certain minor changes suggested might to some degree remedy the present legislation, what is required is a policy making, expert tribunal. An important recommendation is that to secure individual rights, a hearing should be granted every person who files an objection to a permit application. New legislation recently introduced in the British Columbia Legislature provides for appointment of a Director, who will undertake day-to-day administration of the Act. However, the Board will continue to be subject to direction by the Executive Council, and the right to a full oral hearing upon an objection will remain discretionary. / Law, Peter A. Allard School of / Graduate

The impact of fire retardant waste on the aquatic environment was investigated at Abbotsford Airport located in the Lower Fraser Valley, in Southwestern British Columbia. The cleaning of fire fighting aircraft results in significant quantities of fire retardant waste being washed into the airport drainage system with subsequent transport to a drainage ditch located in the southwest corner of the Airport Chemical components of the fire retardant likely to be of environmental concern were identified as ammonia, phosphate, and a corrosion inhibitor. Glacial and outwash deposits consisting of sands and gravels comprise the surficial geology of the study area. Hence, the fire retardant waste would have the potential to impact both surface water and groundwater resources. Therefore there was concern due to the extensive use of groundwater in the local area for both drinking and irrigational purposes. The major components of the research design were 1) assessment of the spatial and temporal distribution of fire retardant introduced into the aquatic environment, and 2) overall impact of fire retardant contamination on surface water and groundwater quality. A long term and two short term monitoring programs were designed to determine the rate of transport and distribution of the fire retardant in the aquatic environment Results showed that although the fire retardant was observed to wash through the drainage system into the stream, no measurable impact on surface water quality was recorded during the study period. Fire retardant components which would cause surface water contamination are ammonia, phosphorus, iron and chromium. A significant rise in nitrate-nitrogen concentration was detected in groundwater samples less than a day after fire retardant waste was recorded in measurable quantities in the ditch water. Temporal distribution of fire retardant in the aquatic environment was correlated with the high hydraulic conductivity of the subsurface and specific hydrological events involving heavy precipitation. Results from the laboratory column experiments indicated that components of the Fire retardant were not retained in the soil and would therefore be rapidly leached into groundwater. Surface water quality and groundwater quality results were compared with established water quality standards for drinking water and protection of freshwater aquatic life. On the basis of these standards the fire retardant waste was not found to contribute to degradation of the surface and groundwaters at Abbotsford Airport Overall impact of the fire retardant waste on the aquatic environment at Abbotsford Airport during the study period was not found to be significant The low fire season combined with a change in washing policy resulted in a fewer number of planes being cleaned at Abbotsford Airport during 1983-84. Therefore, the impact on the aquatic environment recorded during this period cannot be considered typical. / Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies / Graduate

Nitrate pollution of ground and surface water can stem from the mismanagement and over-application of both inorganic and organic fertilizers. This results in the occurrence of non-point externalities, which infringe on the overall level of social welfare. Market based environmental policies, known as economic instruments, can be developed to curb the level of this non-point externality. Such policies directly affect the management decisions of agricultural producers, providing them with incentives to change their management practices. The overall objective of this study is to analyze an array of economic instruments which could feasibly curb water quality degradation resulting from the over-application and misuse of manure and inorganic fertilizers in agricultural production. The economic instruments are compared in terms of their relative effectiveness in decreasing nitrate water pollution and social damage. This thesis develops a three agent manure market model, wherein a vegetable producer and composter can purchase manure from a dairy producer or inorganic fertilizer from an exogenous fertilizer market. The production activities of each agent are modelled using real world production data. A non-linear programming technique is used. The imposition of a percentage manure tax was found to alter the vegetable producer’s derived demand for manure, and resulted in less manure being exchanged between the dairy and vegetable producers. The provisions of a percentage manure composting subsidy increased the quantity of manure demanded by the composter and decreased the amount of manure consumed by the vegetable and dairy producers. The imposition of an inorganic fertilizer tax increased the demands for manure fertilizer, as did the manure application limit. The effects on social damage are dependent on the leaching and surface run-off susceptibilities of each operation’s associated land base. The composting subsidy appeared to be the most efficient instrument for decreasing the overall level of social damage, when qualitatively analyzed. It induced decreases in the demand for manure by both the dairy and vegetable producers, while increasing the demand for manure of the composter. This results in an overall social benefit. There must be, however, financial justification for the implementation of such an instrument. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

Studies were undertaken to determine the effect of Kraft mill effluent (KME) on a representative species of the aquatic environment. By transplanting a population of Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) to the Port Mellon area (the site of a Kraft mill), the effect of varying concentrations (on a distance from the mill basis) of the pulp mill waste was monitored in terms of changes in shell dimension, body mass (meat) weight, visual observation of the oysters' physiological state and oyster mortality. A seasonal hydrographic survey was conducted at three regions within the study area to monitor changes in water quality imposed by the effluent. In the areas of effluent imposition (oyster stations 1, 2 and 3) the oysters decreased or showed little gain in shell dimension. The body mass of those oysters nearest the mill outfall began to decline (on a weight basis) shortly after placement. At Station 2 and 3 the deterioration in body mass due to changes in water quality began a short time after the decline at Station 1. Changes in the physiological state of the oyster expressed as a darkening of the gills and mantle edge and variations in body mass texture, can be correlated to an oyster's distance from the mill for each collection timei A mortality rate was calculated at each station for all collection times. The mortality rates at Station 1 (100% in 12 months), Station 2 (50% in 20 months), and Station 3 (20% in 24 months) were extensive and proportional to effluent levels. Several of the changes in water quality (increased temperature, reduced salinities, low oxygen contents, variable pH, dissolved and particulated organic matter and chemical additions) imposed by the effluent were individually tested as the major cause of oyster deterioration. Firstly, the critical oxygen tension (the P02 where V02 declines below the routine rate) was determined as 40 mmHg. Correlating this to the range of 02 levels at each station during a tidal cycle, the oxygen demand of the effluent was not considered as a major cause of oyster mortality. A range of filtered, neutralized (pH 7.0 at 22°C) and aerated percentage KME/volume (0-50%) test solutions were monitored in terms of their effect on the percentage time of shell closure. In these experiments percentages above 20 greatly increased the time of shell closure. The effect of shell closure on oysters was tested by continual (up to 28 days) periods of air exposure. In these experiments the P02, zC02 and pH of the pallial fluid was monitored (from time 0 to 28 days) to determine if anaerobic metabolism was undertaken and if it was, the time span of anaerobic life in juvenile oysters. Anaerobic metabolism was concluded to maintain life in juvenile oysters for 22 days. These results were consistent with the hypothesis that KME is deleterious to oyster populations. At high concentrations of effluent the duration of shell closure is extensive such that an anaerobic death results. At lower concentrations the effluent imposed changes in water quality are responsible for the gradual decline in oyster well-being. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

Water quality studies conducted in the recent past in the Lower Fraser River Basin indicated that locally some high pollution levels exist. With further urbanization and industrialization of the Vancouver region an increase in waste loadings and a degradation of water quality can be expected if no strict pollution control is applied. Of particular concern are biologically undegradable substances such as heavy metals and poly-chlorinated hydrocarbons. They accumulate in the sediments of the river and the estuary and become concentrated in organisms of the food chain. Pollution is a gradually occurring process. Anticipation of potential problems is important for the decision maker responsible for water quality management. The Fraser River supports one of the largest salmon runs of the world and is abundant with other commercially and recreationally valuable fish. Salmon are very sensitive to pollution and could disappear from the Fraser river system as they already have from many other major rivers if pollution levels become too high. The Fraser River estuary has the function of a bottleneck. Adult salmon enter the river to migrate upstream to their spawning grounds, and juvenile salmon stay in the estuary for a while to acclimatize themselves to the saline environment. In this thesis a method is presented to simulate the effects of potential pollution on the size of a salmon stock. A model which uses data from various life stages of a particular sockeye salmon run in the Fraser system is developed. Uncertainties due to environmental fluctuations are accounted for. Using this model the effects of an increase in mortality rate in two stages of the sockeye salmon life cycle on adult return numbers are studied. The analysis showed that at a certain mortality rate chances are that the stock might not be able to recover. In light of a planned salmon enhancement program to increase salmon stocks in various Pacific rivers, the fact that decreasing water quality could counteract all enhancement efforts should be a warning signal to the decision makers. The development of a water quality index to predict future conditions is recommended and a possible procedure to relate water quality parameters to an increase in mortality rate is sketched out. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

An investigation to determine the factors responsible for the distribution of a population of Maaoma balthica (L.) on a mudflat receiving sewage effluent was carried out in the Fraser River estuary of British Columbia. The factors examined were those suggested by previous studies to be controlling the distribution of the macro-invertebrate community. They included reduced salinity, low levels of dissolved oxygen, effluent toxicity, toxicity due to chlorination, substrate grain size, and the effects of metal contaminated sediments. Results of the study showed that salinity, dissolved oxygen levels and sediment grain size did not satisfactorily explain the distribution of M. balthica. Both unchlorinated and chlorinated sewage effluent were shown to be non-toxic to the clam in laboratory tests, and these results were confirmed by 7 day in situ bioassays. The factor which appeared to be responsible for the distribution of M. balthica was the degree of contamination of the substrate which affected the settling and survival of larval and juvenile clams. Heavy metals occurred in high concentrations in the contaminated sediments and were considered to be the most likely controlling factor. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the existing and alternative mechanisms for water pollution control in the Paraiba do Sul River Basin, in Brazil. It focuses on mechanisms-for controlling point-sources of pollution. The physical features, economy, and institutions of the Paraiba River Basin are described and the water quality problems and technical opportunities for their solution are examined. The analysis is based upon reports done by the state pollution control agency (CETESB) and field investigations which involved interviews with CETESB's personnel at the central office, in Sao Paulo, and the regional office, in Taubate. The analysis of the water quality problems and technical opportunities for their solution indicates that treatment of municipal discharges is of paramount importance for the realization of the water quality standards in the Paraiba River and that this can be done, at minimum cost, by adopting facultative lagoons for sewage treatment. It also indicates that such a solution would cause dissolved oxygen levels to rise well above the standard in most sections of the river. This means that additional assimilative capacity for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) would be created which could possibly be allocated to other dischargers. Such a solution to the municipal sewage problem would, however, impose a heavy burden upon municipalities and is not likely to come about unless municipalities are helped financially. The ability of the mechanism to provide municipalities with some financial assistance and to allocate the assimilative capacity of the river both efficiently and equitably were the two criteria applied in assessing the existing system for pollution control in the Paraiba River. Basin, the effluent charge system, and the transferable discharge permits (TDP) system. This assessment indicates that only a modified TDP system is likely to bring about the realization of the water quality standards established for the Paraiba River. An illustrative example of the application of the TDP system to a section of the Paraiba River is developed which suggests that such a system would be able to adapt to changes in wasteloads discharged to the river and would have the potential for reducing the financial burden upon municipalities if allocations of permits to municipalities are greater than discharge requirements with facultative lagoons. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

M.Sc. / This study was initiated after a clear need to test and establish a more userfriendly fish species for use in routine laboratory bioassays was identified. This led to a literature review of current toxicity testing species of fish being used, internationally as well as nationally, and identifying which species could possibly be the most suited for use in South African laboratories. From this literature review, it was evident that much emphasis is placed on the practicability of the chosen fish species, and the fact that it can easily be bred within the laboratory, as well as the particular fish specie’s general sensitivity to various toxicants over a wide range of concentrations. The objective of this study is therefore to profile various species of fish to determine which species would be most suited to routine toxicity testing under South African laboratory conditions. This will be done through assimilation of available literature as well as personal communications with people with various expertise and experience in working with the particular fish species. This choice will then be based on the ability of the particular species of fish to ‘balance’ amenability to laboratory conditions with general sensitivity to toxicants. Various indigenous as well as exotic species were therefore selected and tested for suitability for routine testing. Exotic species included Poecilia reticulata and Danio rerio, while the indigenous species tested were Barbus trimaculatus, Barbus argenteus, Tilapia sparrmanii, Oreochromis mossambicus and Pseudocrenilabrus philander philander. Breeding experiments were conducted with all of the abovementioned species and, based on these results; recommendations are made as to which species of fish showed the highest degree of amenability to maintenance within the laboratory.

Ph.D. / An investigation was made into the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the Elsburgspruit to establish the extent and quality of pollution over a period of two and a half years from January 1987 June 1989. The results obtained during the investigation can be summarised as follows. Serious faecal pollution as reflected by faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci and coliphage organisms occurs over a large stretch of the river, posing a health risk to the people using the recreational area at' Vosloosrust, downstream from the Elsburgspruit near Kathlehong. The occurrence and large numbers of coliphage organisms occurring at certain sampling localities suggest the possible presence of the pathogenic viruses Salmonella, Pseudomonas and Candida. Effluent and seepage waters from mining areas, discharged into the Elsburgspruit were found to be low in pH and high in concentrations of certain metals such as zinc, manganese and iron. Due to the large volume of this particular effluent, the effects thereof on the water quality and fauna of the streams are felt over a distance of more than seven kilometres. As a result, the recovery of the stream from pollution is severely retarded. A number of species of the numerically dominant aquatic and semi-aquatic macrophytes which occurred within the flood-plain of the Elsburgspruit, were found to be able to absorb and to accumulate substantial concentrations of the various heavy metals, directly from the water, or from adjacent moist soils. It was also found that the Spanish reed, Arundo donax, which covers a large area of the wetland region of the Elsburgspruit in its lower section, absorbed and accumulated substantial quantities of the different heavy metals from the water of the stream. A comparison was made of the extent to which metals are deposited into the sediment under both acidic and alkaline conditions...