...------------------------------------------------- Water Resource Plan SCI/275 October 6, 2013 Katrina Baron October 6, 2013 Katrina Baron The issue of freshwater pollution is a serious level of concern. The Environmental Protection Agency has projected that water pollution will be as high in 2025 as it was in 1968, which is before the passage of the Clean Water Act. We must comprehend the problems and become part of the resolution in order to combat this pollution. There are many different types of water pollution, with that being said the quality and quantity of our clean freshwater resources are depleting. The water pollution is not just a local issue but rather a global problem that does require serious attention in order for the cleanup of these contaminates to be anywhere near successful. According to Pielou, (1998) “The UN reports that one person in six lives without regular access to safe drinking water.” There are many essential changes that are needed that are not going to come easily. We need to remember that water is essential to the survival of all living things. We need to do everything we can to maintain the quality of clean water. The world today has various categories of water pollution that affects it. We do recognize this reality, but humans still ignore this problem by polluting the rivers and lakes. Many humans throw their trash into the lakes and rivers when they are fishing and camping. The main contributors of water pollution are classified...
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...are characterized by the increase of chloride ion concentrations in freshwater aquifers. This occurs predominantly along coastlines, though there are instances of inland salinization. Saltwater intrusion can have several causes, some of which are natural and some are induced by human activities. Once saltwater intrusion has occurred, it is almost impossible to reverse, making this a significant threat to freshwater resources. Mitigation strategies that are designed to slow or halt the rate of saltwater intrusion can be expensive but are necessary to protect the water resources from more damage. Among the natural causes of saltwater intrusion are storm surges caused by hurricanes and other tropical systems. This was seen in 2005 with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita along the Gulf Coast of the United States. In these cases, tidal flushing removed some of the introduced salinity in the freshwater marshes before substantial damage was done. In areas away from the influences of tidal flushing, and in areas where precipitation did not flush the salt water from the water table, there was considerable damage to the freshwater systems (Steyer, et al., 2007). Human induced saltwater intrusion can occur in a couple of different way. One way is by dredging canals in coastal zones that allow saltwater to migrate farther inland than it had been able to previously. This introduced saltwater can wreak havoc on freshwater systems. Areas in Louisiana have in particular experienced this type...
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...Published by the Ecological Society of America Number 10, Winter 2003 Issues in Ecology Sustaining Healthy Freshwater Ecosystems Issues in Ecology Number 10 Winter 2003 Sustaining Healthy Freshwater Ecosystems SUMMARY Fresh water is vital to human life and economic well-being, and societies extract vast quantities of water from rivers, lakes, wetlands, and underground aquifers to supply the requirements of cities, farms, and industries. Our need for fresh water has long caused us to overlook equally vital benefits of water that remains in stream to sustain healthy aquatic ecosystems. There is growing recognition, however, that functionally intact and biologically complex freshwater ecosystems provide many economically valuable commodities and services to society. These services include flood control, transportation, recreation, purification of human and industrial wastes, habitat for plants and animals, and production of fish and other foods and marketable goods. Over the long term, intact ecosystems are more likely to retain the adaptive capacity to sustain production of these goods and services in the face of future environmental disruptions such as climate change. These ecosystem benefits are costly and often impossible to replace when aquatic systems are degraded. For this reason, deliberations about water allocation should always include provisions for maintaining the integrity of freshwater ecosystems. Scientific evidence indicates that aquatic ecosystems can be protected...
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...rural land use and freshwater allocation in New Zealand New Zealand has 425,000 kilometres of rivers and streams, almost 4,000 lakes larger than 1 hectare in size, and about 200 groundwater aquifers (Ministry for the Environment, 2010). By international standards, freshwater in New Zealand is both clean and in good supply. However, some aspects of water quality are getting worse in areas dominated by intensive land use. Demand for water is increasing, particularly in areas that are already water-stressed. Water pollution is becoming an ongoing problem for New Zealand. Both Urban and Rural land uses are creating pollution in our water and degrading the quality of our water. Growing demand for water resources in many parts of New Zealand during the last two decades has increased competition and conflicts between different stakeholders for access to scarce surface water and groundwater resources. To try to enable more sustainability in the use of our freshwater, we need to learn to balance and control how much water we use and where it is most needed. Poor or declining water quality has already created direct costs, such as the nearly $450 million allocated over the next 10 to 20 years to the clean-up of Lake Taupo, Rotorua Lakes and the Waikato River, and can constrain economic opportunities (Ministry for the Environment 2010). In New Zealand, it is increasingly recognised, including by government, that water resource allocation and water quality are issues of national importance...
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...is a dynamic process driven by solar energy and natural forces, which redistributes water throughout the planet, replenishing freshwater sources and regulating the Earth's climate. Understanding the water cycle is crucial for addressing challenges related to water availability, quality, and management, especially in the face of climate change and increasing human demands. By delving into the intricacies of this fundamental natural process, we can gain insights into how water sustains life and ecosystems, and how human activities impact the delicate balance of the water cycle. The most considerable impact I can make to address the issues highlighted about the water cycle and freshwater availability include: Conserving Water: Implementing water-saving...
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...Approximately 97% of the water found on Earth is saltwater leaving around 3% of Earth’s water as freshwater. Of this, 70% is in the form of ice in glaciers, ice caps and as permanent snow. The remaining minority of available freshwater is stretched for use by Earth’s 6 ¾ billion people for agriculture, industry, recreation, tourism and municipal use. This remaining useable freshwater is in the form of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and general wet areas. Lakes, ponds and bogs are generally stationary bodies of water, although bogs can be a source of rivers and streams, which are moving bodies of water. Freshwater ecosystems support us many other ways too; dams can be built to harness the power of rivers to generate electricity. Rivers also provide water for irrigation and industry, processing wastes, producing timber and supplying food. Freshwater serves an important role in transporting goods via ships. They also serve for recreational, cultural and aesthetic purposes. Because of the huge demand we have on freshwater systems, they require 'Management and Policies' in order to regulate and protect them. Pollution and waste due to industrial exploitation and overpopulation are a serious threat to our freshwater resources. Residential, commercial and industrial premises are often concentrated near waterways, lakes and rivers. Historically, humans have congregated by freshwater and used it as medium for transport of goods and people. Now that we know how important water is to the...
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...vegetation, and animals as its own purity system and pollution control. The vegetation around a fresh water ecosystem includes different trees, plankton, algae, and others. In addition, there is normally a variety of different wild life in a fresh water ecosystem. Birds, fish, and mammals help maintain the fresh water ecosystem. The human population is continuously growing and as a result the resources available are being used to the point of changing the overall flow of ecosystems. Rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands are an example of freshwater ecosystems. Naturally, these bodies of waters are important for reducing pollution, controlling floods and the homes for aquatic life (National Geographic, n.d.). Since human population is rising any number of current negative uses such as the overuse of fossil fuels has a negative impact on freshwater ecosystems. Acid rain is a result of high amounts of nitric and sulfuric acid released into the air. Emissions from cars and power plants contribute to the rise of the acids released in the air. Acid rain affects the pH balance of freshwaters and depending on the body of water it may not be able to neutralize the acid. Therefore the acid becomes toxic to many aquatic species eventually making the species extinct altogether (Effects of Acid Rain, 2012). Humans can be affected as well since many...
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...The American West has a major issue on their hands, an issue that directly affects tens of millions of people and a vast area of land. Indirectly, this issue could affect the entire world. The amount of fresh water is limited, and there is conflict over the allocation of this necessary resource. People need an adequate supply of freshwater with good quality, affordable prices and consistent reliability. The survival of human life is contingent on the availability of water. There is no guarantee that water will always be there, and this is becoming more and more evident as population increases and the supply decreases. Two major means for freshwater in the western United States are the Colorado River and the Ogallala Aquifer. These bodies of freshwater have had a vast history of disputes over how they should be allocated, maintained and treated. Up until now, there have been no agreements that have satisfied everyone. The allocation of fresh water resources in western America needs to be secured because if the status quo is maintained, the consequences will be enormous to humans and the environment, as well as the economy, whom are all dependent upon freshwater for survival. The Colorado River has had a long history of water allocation controversies. It is a major river that runs through seven states including Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, California and Nevada. It then continues into Mexico and empties into the Gulf of California. This river is 1,450 miles long...
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...Axia College Material Appendix E Water Resource Challenges Review Ch. 10 and 11 of your text, then complete the following: Provide at least three freshwater and three ocean water resource challenges by filling in the following table. Then, respond to the question that follows: |Freshwater Resource Challenge |Description | |Salinization of Irrigated Soil |When water is irrigated over and over again without running | | |off into rivers or lakes to get recycled. When this happens | | |the water is irrigated it picks up more salt. | |Aquifer Depletion |Lowers the water table, | | |The upper surface of the saturated zone of | | |Groundwater. Prolonged aquifer depletion | | |Drains an aquifer dry, effectively eliminating | | |It as a water resource | |Saltwater intrusion |Occurs along coastal areas...
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...Associate Level Material Appendix E Water Resource Challenges Review Ch. 10 and 11 of your text, then complete the following: Provide at least three freshwater and three ocean water resource challenges by filling in the following table. Then, respond to the question that follows: |Freshwater Resource Challenge |Description | |Too much |Surface water | |Too little water |Ground Water | |Poor quality |Run Off | |Ocean Water Resource Challenge |Description | |Regional |Leak | |National |stream | |Global Source |Run Off | . My water resource is fresh. Surface water has become an issue because of how much pollution there is and it turns out to be unhealthy to drink. Humans overuse surface water by dropping and putting waste...
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...It has come to our attention that bodies of water are being polluted, not only are these any regular body of water, these are freshwater sources, drinking water, the backbone of our existence. How is this any worse than ocean water being polluted? Well those are two distinctly different aspects, but both play their own role. There are few sources of food from fresh water, but mainly fresh water serves as a universal refreshment. Ocean water is not so pleasant to drink, but is also potentially drinkable, as well as offering much more in the regards to food. Though this is about freshwater, and not the ocean. As much as we as humans need freshwater, water seems to favor those that do not tamper with and pollute it. We as humans are one of the underlying reasons freshwater is dwindling as quickly as it is. Whether it be us innocently drinking sources down to depletion, or us polluting freshwater into an undrinkable state, we in a way, are waters enemy. What about the animals? What about them? They drink from the water too, this is true! Though their numbers are far less than that of humans, and they are not as easily capable of polluting as we are. Now, we cannot take all of the blame. There are plenty of causes for pollution, and some are even caused naturally. The known categories of water pollutants are; Inorganic plant and algal nutrients, organic compounds, inorganic chemicals, sediment pollution, disease-causing agents, sewage, radioactive substances, and last but not...
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...Oil Spills in Water SCI/256 Louise Morell Oil is one natural resource that has been maintained for the most part around the world. It has had its positive and negative effects on the human population as well as in agriculture. Several practices have been put into place in order to manage the sustainability of oil. Countries around the world cross-train and share ways on how to be more conservative with this energy resource. With all of these practices in place, there is irreparable damage in the freshwater aquatic and marine ecosystems when oil is deposited into the environment. Oil spills are something that can affect large bodies of water as well as small. It has been made known the affects it has had on oil drilling in our oceans but, oil spills can happen accidently or due to poor drilling practices in local areas as well. In the freshwater and aquatic arena, oil can be found. Rarely does it exist in its fundamental state as in most areas it must be processed. Although it is a natural resource, it is considered a localized resource due to it being found only in certain areas. It is also an exhaustible resource, which means that it is something that can run out, unlike air. When there is an oil spill in the freshwater or marine ecosystem, there is no mixture of these two liquids as the two are immiscible. Unfortunately the freshwater, which serves as a nesting ground and food source for many different species, it creates a threat to the inhabitants who rely...
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...Associate Level Material Appendix E Water Resource Challenges Review Ch. 10 and 11 of your text, then complete the following: Provide at least three freshwater and three ocean water resource challenges by filling in the following table. Then, respond to the questioupply. n that follows: |Freshwater Resource Challenge |Description | |sewage |Waste water from drains or sewers, threatens public health. | |Organic compounds |Landfills, agriculture runoff, industrial waste, | | |contaminates groundwater and surface water and threatens the| | |drinking water s | |Disease causing agents |Waste of infected people, spreads disease. | |Ocean Water Resource Challenge |Description | |Point source pollution |Water that is dumped into the ocean without being treated. | |Nonpoint source pollution |Agriculture runoff like pesticides, fertilizer, and | | |livestock waste...
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...study of the relevant characteristics of a watershed aimed at the sustainable distribution of its resources and the process of creating and implementing plans, programs, and projects to sustain and enhance watershed functions that affect the plant, animal, and human communities within a watershed boundary.[1] Features of a watershed that agencies seek to manage include water supply, water quality, drainage, stormwater runoff, water rights, and the overall planning and utilization of watersheds. Landowners, land use agencies, stormwater management experts, environmental specialists, water use surveyors and communities all play an integral part in the management of a watershed. Contents • 1 Sources of pollution • 2 Controlling pollution • 3 Governance • 4 Environmental law • 5 See also • 6 References • 7 Further reading • 8 External links o 8.1 Coastal Zones Sources of pollution In an agricultural landscape, common contributors to water pollution are nutrients and sediment which typically enter stream systems after rainfall washes them off poorly managed agricultural fields, called surface runoff, or flushes them out of the soil through leaching. These types of pollutants are considered nonpoint source pollution because the exact point where the pollutant originated cannot be identified. Such pollutants remain a major issue for water ways because the difficulty to control their sources hinders any attempt to limit the pollution...
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...Associate Level Material Appendix E Water Resource Challenges Review Ch. 10 and 11 of your text, then complete the following: Provide at least three freshwater and three ocean water resource challenges by filling in the following table. Then, respond to the question that follows: Freshwater Resource Challenge | Description | Sewage | Waste water from drains or sewers, threatens public health. | Disease-causing agents | Wastes of infected individuals, spreads infectious diseases | Organic compounds | Landfills, agricultural runoff, industrial wastes, contaminates, groundwater and surface water and threatens drinking water supply | Ocean Water Resource Challenge | Description | Nonpoint source pollution | Agricultural runoff like pesticides, fertilizer, and livestock waste. | Coastal development | Developments that destroy important costal habitats like salt marshes and mangrove habitats | Point source pollution | Water that is dumped into the ocean without being treated | In 200 to 300 words, respond to the following: Choose one fresh or ocean water resource challenge and describe in detail why the issue has become a problem and how human activities have contributed to the problem. The water resource that I want to write on is point source pollution. This issue has become a huge problem because people see it as a luxury to travel on ships for those long distances and those people don’t think about where their waste is even going. It is also a problem...
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