Preview

Water Quality and Resource Plan

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2254 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Water Quality and Resource Plan
Water Quality
Raychel Rizzo
1/26/2013
Trent Sorensen
SCI/275

Pollution is a world-wide spread problem that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. Water pollution is a big worry considering that water is essential to all living and nonliving things. As Adrian Armstrong (2006) says in his article Ethical issues in water use and sustainability, “...water is valuable, because we need it, and so we protect it in so far as it benefits us” (p. 10) The main problems of water pollution is the water quality and sustainability of it; The longer we allow our water to become polluted, the less supply of drinking water we have. Much of our water supply is not drinkable or usable for irrigation purposes due to pollution; Not only is this the case, but the water that is actually useable, is being used as if there is an endless supply of it. It is our responsibility as the habitants of this earth to treat it withe respect. Some people may not realize the havoc that is being done by their actions, and nonliving things cannot help the pollution that is released, but we need to come up with a solution, otherwise we will have no water in the future for anything; bathing, drinking, irrigation, recreational activities, etc. Let’s see what factors contribute to water pollution, and who is affected by the problem. Many factors contribute to the problem that is water pollution, whether they be living or nonliving. Humans, animals and as Brown & Froemke (2012) describe “Non point sources, such as farms, roadways, and urban or suburban landscapes, remain largely uncontrolled” (p. 137) Non point Sources (NPS) such as grass and leaves from landscapes, air emissions from vehicles that distribute emissions into the air that dissolve into the water are all NPS that factor into the pollution of our water. Mainly human efforts affect the water supply, whether intentionally or not. Human waste is a part of life that we all experience, and thanks to



References: Armstrong, A. (2006). Ethical issues in water use and sustainability. Area, 38(1), 9-15. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-4762.2006.00657.x Brown, T. C., & Froemke, P. (2012). Nationwide assessment of nonpoint source threats to water quality. Bioscience, 62(2), 136-146. doi: 10.1525/bio.2012.62.2.7 Prüss-Üstün, A., Bos, R., Gore, F., & Bartram, J. (2008). Safer water, better health: Costs, benefits and sustainability of interventions to protect and promote health. [Geneva]: World Health Organization. UN-Water. (2011). UN News Center. Retrieved January 23, 2013, from http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/quality.shtml US Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). EPA. Retrieved January 22, 2013, from http://www.epa.gov/ Water.org. (n.d.). Waterorg. Retrieved January 23, 2013, from http://water.org/

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Water pollution can cause many illnesses and diseases to the human population that could possibly be fatal.…

    • 760 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The lab was conducted at the McBride residence. For this experiment vegetable oil, vinegar and liquid detergent was use to contaminate the water. Testing of how ground water is affected by different contaminants was the bases of the experiment. The results were interesting in that when vinegar is filtered through dirt it came out fairly clean, it also changed the scent. This shows that maybe we can find a way to find a safer choice on how we filter and purify water. The use of sand, charcoal and gravel was used as an aquifer to exact the water. Bleach was used to sterilize the contaminated water and the process. For the last lab, tap, Dasani and Fiji water were tested with ammonia, chloride, iron and phosphate to determine which water is better for humans to drink. The results were that the vinegar changed the scent and the laundry detergent changed…

    • 796 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Water pollution has become a major problem in our water sources. People think that when they litter or dump in our waters that their little contribution will not hurt anything, but everyone’s little contributions add up to some major problems. Our water ecosystems and the species that reside in them are being destroyed and we need to take the steps necessary to stop this. Why would anyone use the source of most of the world’s food as a dumping ground for garbage? People need to start realizing what it is they are doing when they do not take the proper steps to dispose of their garbage and the problems they are making for the future.…

    • 894 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The consequences of large factories, chemical laboratories, gas emissions and other forms of destructive pollution is observed in locations around the pollution. The resulting magnitude of the pollution effects the entire world in one way, or another. Concerns for the well-being of living organisms are instigating research to determine the significance of the water pollution. It is through research and administration of laws that humans will acknowledge the importance of reducing water pollution.…

    • 1100 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mia Hamm

    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages

    A hot summer day at the beach, to cool down you need a cool, refreshing can of soda or bottle of water. Later, others come and see garbage in the water. How did this happen? The person drinking probably was too lazy to clean up after themselves or couldn’t find a garbage can nearby. It’s a shame that water is one of our most significant natural resources, and it’s turning into a filthy, disgusting liquid. This tragedy is called Water Pollution. Any change or modification in the physical, chemical and biological properties of water that will have a pernicious consequence on living things is water pollution. It occurs when pollutants (particles, chemicals, germs, substances, etc.) are discharged directly or indirectly into different forms of bodies of water.…

    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Crayfish

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In brief, the health of vegetation, animals, and human beings can be impacted a lot by water pollution. Water pollution problem is a significant world problem. Governments not only need to pay a lot of attention on the pollution problem, but also need to focus on how to reduce the effects of water pollution efficiently. In fact, everyone needs to be concerned about this problem and protect the environment as best as he or she…

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Water being one of our most precious resources we have to question the quality of our water quality and things that maybe contaminating it. Water affects not only humans it affects other living things such as animals, plants, and aquatic life and hydroelectric machinery. Some would believe that it should be a human right to have clean quality water for ones uses. As one examine water and where it comes from there and the type of water such as surface water or groundwater. It is apparent the concern of the quality of water and it exposure to contaminants is necessary.…

    • 2234 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Water Final

    • 1866 Words
    • 5 Pages

    One of the major contributive issues that the issues we face of water cleanliness, resourcing, and the depletion of the living inhabitants face is of the interactions of humans. Human interaction has caused several issues when it comes to the water supply depletion and the depletion of living species. Humans have a responsibility to take this issue seriously and many have made positive efforts to maintain resourcefulness and maintain a replenishment of the living species by methods and plans to keep our waters thriving. One of the positive actions taken is to incorporate strict laws on pollution and overfishing the water that the world provides. Although there are humans that take this issue seriously and incorporate plans to bring a positive action, there are also humans who contribute negatively to the problems we face with the water the world provides.…

    • 1866 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    According to UNICEF about 2.5 billion people around the world do not have access to clean water. In the U.S. 40% of rivers and 46% of lakes are so polluted/contaminated that they are considered unhealthy for swimming and too contaminated for fishing. The water is so contaminated that there are usually no aquatic life living in it. Even though some people believe that water contamination is inevitable and will be impossible to stop, water contamination is still a serious problem worldwide because chemical waste contaminates the water which poison fish that end up being pass down the food chain to us humans and water contamination spreads deadly diseases which causes about 2 million deaths per year.…

    • 1302 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Humans and wildlife compete all over the globe for fresh water sources, which rapidly decline as pollution fills our lakes, rivers, oceans, and underground aquifers. The importance of water quality and pollution research is as important as water itself for all life on earth (Turk, J. & Bensel, T. 2014). Water quality research focuses on the availability of clean water sources, factors that affects the quality of water, agents of water contamination, and how the earth naturally filters impurities from…

    • 3260 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Clean Water Act

    • 597 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Humans play a major role in water pollution in all types of bodies of water. One of our biggest impacts is the amount of trash/waste we allow to make its way into our water ways. For example, in my hometown, people are very irresponsible about the way they dispose of bigger waste items like tires, sheet metal and various tools and farm equipment. Most residence collect this waste in their yards or surrounding woodland, and when flood season comes, it makes its way into the creek beds and rivers. This may sometimes include stored chemicals and can empty its contents into the water. Another issue is runoff from agricultural farms/ranches. Runoff from fields and pastures that leak into the waterways can contain bacteria from fecal matter that…

    • 597 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Living on this earth is a privilege and unfortunately we sometimes take advantage of it. Stories of deforestation, air and water pollution really make a person think of just how much our planet is being harmed. A major concern is water pollution. Water covers at least 70 percent of the planet which makes our rivers, lakes, and oceans essential. Many of these bodies of water are being polluted and although they may be out of sight, they eventually help pollution increase. Actions should be made to stop the pollution of our waters before things get worse. If we want to decrease the amount of pollution it starts out by increasing the amount of recycling we do. It shouldn’t stop there. Not only should efforts to improve laws against water pollution be made but public awareness¬¬ has to be raised about this issue.…

    • 1635 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Water Polution

    • 984 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Water Pollution July 22, 2005 Water Pollution Pollutant Any substance that does not belong in the natural system and disrupts the natural balance Water Pollution Degradation of water quality in a manner that disrupts/prevents its intended or original use. Surface Water Groundwater MCL and secondary MCL MCL=Maximum Contaminant Level The highest concentration of a pollutant allowed in drinking water by law Concentration above which adverse health affects are believed to occur Water pollution contaminant types Infectious agents Oxygen-demanding Wastes Plant nutrients and eutrophication Toxic tides Inorganic Pollutants Metals, nonmetallic salts, acids and bases Organic Chemicals Sediment Thermal Pollution and thermal shocks Contamination of Iowa’s Water Fertilizer Pesticides Sediment Secondary MCL Concentration of a pollutant above which the water is unpleasant in odor or taste May not be hazardous to your health at that level 16. Water Pollution ‹#› Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002…

    • 984 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Pollution Analysis

    • 2873 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Pollution can take many forms. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the ground where we grow our food, and even the increasing noise we hear every day all contribute to health problems and a lower quality of life. Pollution is everywhere. Pollution is the unwanted introduction of substances that harm or destroy the atmosphere and our environment. The Economy is slowing; third world nations have political unrest. Our culture is more focused on obtaining material possessions then addressing our geological problems. In this essay I am going to identify the history, causes of pollution, effects on our planet, and the solutions to the Problems of pollution in our world.…

    • 2873 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Siwes Report

    • 28020 Words
    • 113 Pages

    WHO (1993b) Protection and Improvement of Water Quality in WHO Recommendations, 2nd Edition, WHO, Geneva.…

    • 28020 Words
    • 113 Pages
    Powerful Essays