Environmental impact of oil spills on water resources altering physical properties and treatment approaches

Water in its natural sources is exposed to many types of pollution, some chemical and some biological. Oil is one of the most common sources of water pollution affecting the coasts, seas, and oceans. Oil pollution of the environment leads to a group of very serious real disasters, some of which can be observed, counted, and controlled from the beginning of the pollution and for several days and months, and among them are not measurable. However, crude oil contains a small soluble fraction referred to as the water-soluble fraction (WSF). Oil pollution and its negative effects on the environment, especially on the aquatic environment and the living organisms that live in it as well as its effects on human health, as well as the causes and sources of oil pollution, and the impact of oil pollution on changing the physical properties of water. In this study different percentages (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 %) of crude oil were added to tap water, the results showed a marked difference in the physical properties of the water, where an increase in pH, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids was observed. Also, methods for treating spilled oil was studied. The results indicate that oil contamination significantly alters water quality parameters, with increased turbidity and reduced surface tension being the most prominent.