Mitigation Strategies and Solutions
Bobby R Carney JR
Axia Collage of University of Phoenix
Rich Dunsheath

11/29/09

Mitigation Strategies and Solutions

All over the world there are issues with our water resources, with the way we conserve, and preserve the resources. The public needs to be more aware of this situation from their local governments. The increase in human population each year will increase consumption, and increase standards of living and pollution. We as humans need water to live on and is a very essential part of not only our lives, but the lives of all animals, and plant life.

Water is also the existence for no-living existence. We would all cease to exist with this clean clear substance that we seem to take advantage of and seem to think with just a turn off a faucet we are getting a large abundance of for free. Non-living and Living Factors: The constant new building that is being done appears to be a major factor that is affecting our water resources. [pic]It also affects it contaminating the run-off, which in turn affects our drinking water. These disease causing contaminants enter our systems that are in our water from[pic] untreated sewers, septic tanks, boats and storm drains that are not properly cleaned. Water borne ailments can cause hookworms, intestinal parasites, typhoid fever, Amoebiasis diarrhea, and numerous other bacterial and viral diseases. Water that has been polluted can cause earaches, conjunctivitis, upper respiratory infections skin rashes, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, vomiting, diarrhea, inflammation of the brain and other ailments. These types of water borne disease are more prevalent in third world countries or in severe poverty stricken states.

The large ships and tankers that are cruising our oceans are not any better, especially when there is an oil spillage. The numerous amounts of pollutants that are into the water also affect the fish that need the water to survive. During an oil spill, the oil removes the oxygen from the water, coats the gills making it impossible for marine life to breath. These fish wind up dying, rotting in the water and adding more contaminants into the water.

A non-living problem would be plants, in particular farmland. Without water as a source, farmland produce would not be able to grow and it would also affect human, as we can use fruits and vegetables into our diets. The fruit and vegetables also provide additional fluids into our bodies to prevent fluids loss. Water is one of the most important tools for living and non-living survival. Positive or negative human impacts: Being our body is made up of 70% water, we need to be extremely careful to decrease the negative impact or negative imprint we make today.

One simple task is not to waste water. Simple things such as using low flow water savers on toilets and shower heads. We can use energy efficient washing machines and dishwashers. When washing dishes one should turn the water off in-between the washing and rinsing. When he or she is taking a shower, [pic]cut down each time just a few minutes the time we are in the shower. We all love lush green lawns, and some areas already have water restrictions, we can cut the everyday watering down to every other day, and decrease the time of watering, and most likely have the same effect. The negative impact on decreased water resources on humans will be detrimental in our survival. [pic]We need to cut down on the[pic] [pic]use of fertilizer as this will run off, or seep into sewer lines and into our lakes or ponds, and eventually into ones drinking water. It not only kills the bugs in our lawn but it has a[pic] domino effect, and effects the other animals and insects that rely on these water sources.

Another area of concern is the small lakes and ponds that people use to go to as a swimming area and can no longer utilize to swim in or relax. Areas like these that people themselves have destroyed are just not acceptable in this day and age. We need to keep our lakes, ponds and rivers clean of trash, and hazardous waste. We as humans need current strategies and solutions. We need to start taking responsibility for our actions and they should start at home. Make sure to use the proper waste removal procedures for any liquids, like house cleaning chemicals, oil, or antifreeze for ones vehicles. There are many places that are trained to dispose of his or her chemicals. Make sure ones gutters, and sewer drains are clear of any debris, so rain water and any kind of water run-off will drain correctly. Instead of buying cases of bottled water, if one does not feel the tap water out of your faucet is safe enough, than he or she could utilize a water delivery company. Have the water delivered to one’s home, use his or her bottles this will also save the landfills on having to breakdown all those plastic bottles.

We can also start in our own gardens; use natural ways to keep the bugs off ones vegetables instead of using pesticides, and natural products to fertilize his or her plants. Not only do these pesticides and fertilizers harm the water and soil, but he or she is still consuming them into you’re his or her body. One should grow their own vegetables and fruits fresh, and natural. This will one save gas too, by not running to the store. I would like to see some type of rain water harvesting. We could reuse our rain water for simple things like watering our lawn, filter it to wash our car, wash the dog, water plants. In time, we would be able to utilize a larger filtering system and reuse dishwasher water, washing machine water, and shower water. So in turn pretty much any of the waste water coming from his or her house. If we could re-use the three above three times, we could save an abundance of water. I’m sure people would be extremely apprehensive at first, but if shown the quality is not any different than what comes out of the faucet, it can be done.

Plan to reach sustainability; my first plan would be to implement a tiered fine system. As each company/owner is made aware of new laws that will first be implemented into as township laws, there will be three offenses. The first offense will be a small fine for overuse of improper fertilizers or pesticides by a landscaper, or a builder removing an excess of trees in an area of a new development. The second and third fines will be a larger amount and the final offense will result in a suspension of their permit. With additional compliance with the local agencies, local town halls and law officials this is a practical plan. All builders, landscapers and even home owners require special permits and thru this process they will be informed of the new practice. This will be the first step in public awareness. In addition, to increase public awareness, once the weather starts to become nice, this is when everyone begins to come together, when there is the start of fairs and local meets. During these times, we will set up numerous concession stands to hand out flyers, videos, and run local commercials with the help of our local media, possibly a local spokesperson. By possibly electing a local spokesperson, this may help the community that they are not being bullied into this new conservation, and it is with their peers.

Benefits and challenges of my plan; we must work with everyone and this will include the businesses. The business’ that may be hit hard with an economic hardship perhaps could be the agricultural shops that sell the fertilizers and pesticides. This will be the biggest challenge to not make them believe they are not being singled out. This would be a good time for them to begin to bring in new products, such a natural feed and fertilizer, and pesticides, so these products are readily available to the customers. A challenge of educating the people in the community would become a great benefit, for anyone involved. In order for this to be done the first step is to increase education by any means possible and attainable, and also with the help of political commitment. An added benefit would be for the local water district to come in for a local event and explain to the community about how everything works. The personnel could set up a presentation of how the fertilizer or pesticides do seep into the ground and could affect our drinking water. People who may be wary of drinking water from the tap could have free water testing done to show the water right now is safe to drink.

We need Governmental, Societal and global support first and foremost. The government is the first that needs to be involved with water preservation. According to the United Nations in 2006, it stated that there is enough water for everyone, but there is too much mismanagement and corruption. While the safety of water has increased from 1970’s and amount to third world countries, more research needs to be done to preserve to make sure there is forever enough. The main plan needs to start at the top with top government officials. If we can begin with a legitimate plan and we can begin to change behavior, and with the support of the government behind us, I feel that they can pass laws to help us clean up our water resources, which are very viable to each and every one of us. The Clean water act became a law in 1972, over thirty five years ago; it is time for a change and update. We need societal and global support. Too many parts of the world today live without clean water or do not have enough of an access to it. It has become a political problem. In many parts of the country, like Argentina and Bolivia, water is considered a luxury and the price is too expensive for many to afford. Natural resources and other countries already are forced to have to almost do without. We must not allow our government, along with our communities to become so lazy and get involved with the way we use our water resources. Also the way our resources are being contaminated, the way we are wasting, and taking water for granted that we wind up becoming like these countries.

According to [pic]the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, United Nations, December 10, 1948,[pic] “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of ... circumstances beyond his control.” While water is not worded in there, it is essential for life, so it is part of the basis principal of the declaration. We cannot have water become such a scarcity that it becomes ruled and governed; it must be clear, clean and free-flowing.

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_resources [retrieved April 28, 2009]

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g912/waterresources. html [retrieved April 28, 2008]

http://www.usbr.gov/pmts/water_use/ [retrieved April 28, 2009] http://www.interleaves.org/~rteeter/watergovt.html [retrieved April 28, 2009]

http:// http://www.globalissues.org/article/601/water-and-development [retrieved April 29, 2009] http:// www.epa.gov/OW/ cited [retrieved April 28, 2009]

Peer Reviewed

http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=2& sid=8c8bd689-657e-46e4-a4bb-[ retrieved April 28, 2009]

9e3a2835aff0%40sessionmgr8&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=8gh&AN=3562 1340 [retrieved April 28, 2009]

http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ehost/pdf?vid=5&hid=2&sid =8c8bd689-657e-46e4-a4bb-9e3a2835aff0%40sessionmgr8 [retrieved April 28, 2009]

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