Sci 275 - Water Resources and Pollution

Running Head: Week 9 Final Water Resources And Pollution

Water Resources and Pollution

Dee Haywood

July 11, 2009

SCI/275

Water is one of the most precious resources for our earth to survive. Water is essential for everything to grow and prosper. This fact is known, yet as human beings we pollute the lakes, rivers, and oceans. Water is needed for drinking and recreational purposes. When waters become polluted the effect is a danger to aquatic life such as: the fish and plant life. According to Berg and Hager (2007) in visualizing environmental science, water pollution is a global issue and can vary in the amount and type depending on the area. The Clean Water Act (1970) provided 50 Billion in funds to build waste water facilities. These facilities helped to control surface water pollution throughout the United States. The main problem is the need to have disease free drinking water. I will describe in this paper the types, sources and effects of water pollution. The plan is to educate the public and organize groups at local levels to be sustainable in the use and clean up the waters. I would like to explain how and why the public should be concerned and to be a part of the solution and not the issue.

Water Resources

Water resources are useful in agricultural, household, recreational and environmental. The need for fresh water is important to human existence. The water on the earth is composed of 97% salt water and 3% fresh water. The 3% of fresh water is two-thirds frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps. Fresh water is a renewable resource which is decreasing. As the world population grows, so does the demand for fresh water. The demand is exceeding the supply in many parts of the world. (A.Y. Hoekstra, 2006). The sources of water are as follows:

1. Ground water is fresh water in the pore space of soil and rock. This flows in aquifers below the water table.

2. Surface water is in a river, lake or freshwater wetland. This water is naturally replenished by rain and naturally lost through discharge to oceans and by evaporation.

3. Under river flow is the course of the river where water travel downstream and is a free water flow.

4. Desalination is an artificial process where salt water is converted into fresh water. The water is distilled and by reverse osmosis. The use is mainly household and industrial.

5. Frozen water such as glaciers has only been for novelty purposes and is considered surface water.

Water Stress

According to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (2006-2007), there is not enough water for all uses. This is agriculture, industry and domestic. Annual per capita is less than 1700 cubic meters. This scarcity of water hinders the economic development and human health. The stress factors are:

1. Population growth increases demand. The need to conserve and recycle is more important today than ever.

2. Business activity such as: tourism and entertainment requires increased water services for supply and sanitation.

3. Urbanization requires water infrastructure to deliver the water to individuals and business.

4. Climate change of high temperatures cause evaporation, which is not fully understood. There is an increase in rain. Droughts or floods can cause water stress.

5. The stress on water aquifers are also from population growth and agricultural irrigation.

The Human Impact

Humans can impact the waters such as the surface water by construction of reservoirs and draining the wetlands. If the area is paved and channelized, the runoff quantity can increase. Many farms use the supply of water in the spring. To supply the farm, requires large amount of water to be stored throughout the year. This water is released over a short period. Power plants use water continuously, for cooling purpose. The human downfall is the loss of water by which they pollute rivers, lakes, streams, oceans and groundwater.

The Causes of Water Pollution

Water pollution is described as contamination to bodies of waters such as: lakes, river, oceans and ground waters. Human activity is the main cause of these pollutants. This occurs when the pollutants are discharged directly into the waters without proper treatment first. Nature can play a part in the pollution with volcano run-off, storms and earthquakes. The main causes are in different categories:

1. Sewage is the wastewater from sewers or drains. This is human waste, soaps and detergents.

2. Disease causing agents of an infected individual. This is caused by bacteria, viruses and parasitic worms.

3. Sediment pollution comes from erosion of agricultural lands, construction, forest soils and degraded stream banks. Clay, silt, sand and gravel settle out.

4. Inorganic plant and algal nutrients are human and animal waste, fertilizer, atmospheric deposits and run off. The components are nitrogen and phosphorus.

5. Organic compounds are landfills, agricultural runoff and industrial waste. These come from chemicals of industry or synthetic, cleaning products and plastics.

6. The organic chemicals of industry, irrigation and urban runoff. These are acids, salts, and metal from lead, mercury and arsenic.

7. The radioactive substances come from nuclear plants and industry, medical and science research facilities. These are the unstable radioactive minerals of uranium and thorium.

8. Thermal pollution is a main result of industrial runoff. The waters become heated during an industrial process.

9. People taking drugs of discard them by flushing them down the toilet. These agent are in water downstream and becomes someone's drinking water. (Tee L. Guidotti, Summer 2009).

The Problems That Result From Water Pollution

Water is important to the survival of the earth and the people