The following information was compiled by a 9th grader
*These notes have been directly copied from their sources. Don’t forget to paraphrase them later!
Source: D:\Ninth Grade\Global Issue Project\Water Pollution, industrial agriculture leading cause - The Issues - Sustainable Table.mht (The Sustainable Table)
Notes:
1. Industrial agriculture is one of the leading causes of water pollution in the United States today. In the 2000 National Water Quality Inventory conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), agricultural activity was identified as a source of pollution for 48% of stream and river water, i and for 41% of lake water
2. Most water pollution from industrial farms results from the storage and disposal of animal waste.
3. the environmental damage can be devastating, as raw manure is up to 160 times more toxic than raw municipal sewage
4. Livestock manure is high in ammonia concentrations, xiv and dissolved ammonia in water is not only highly toxic to fish, xvi but can also be converted to dangerous nitrates.xvi Elevated nitrate levels in drinking water are highly poisonous to humans, causing potentially fatal oxygen levels in babies (known as “blue-baby syndrome”), spontaneous abortions, and possibly cancer
5. Small, sustainable farms conserve water and apply waste and fertilizer to fields responsibly, minimizing their impact on local water systems. By supporting small farms such as these, you can help to promote healthier waterways while showing that you do not support the environmental recklessness practiced by industrial farms.
Visit the Eat Well Guide to find a farm, store or restaurant near you offering sustainably-raised meat and dairy products. Just enter your zip code!
Know your farmer. Visit your local farmers’ market or join a CSA (community supported agriculture group) and start buying from a farm directly. Ask questions and get to know your food and how it is produced. Check out Sustainable Table’s Shop Sustainable page to learn more.
Another Source: http://www.nrdc.org/water/, and www.epa.org
Water Pollution
I. Human activity and Nature
A. Non-Point sources- many different sources
1. Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas
2. Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production
3. Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding stream banks
4. Salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines
5. Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septic systems
B. Point Sources- one source
1. Agricultural and urban runoff
2. Runoff from mining and construction sites
3. Oil spills
II. Everywhere that water is present
A. Water pollutions happens almost everywhere
1. Mostly near factories
2. Also near areas of higher population
III. Affects the health of Humans and Animals, also hurts the environment
A. Detrimental Effects
1. Microbial water pollution with diseases such as cholera and typhoid being the number one case of infant mortality.
2. Kills animal life in oceans
3. Ecosystems of different animal being destroyed because of water pollution
IV. Harm in the future
A. Harms marine life
1. Could kill algae, and other organisms that supply the earth with most of its oxygen
2. Contaminates fish and other animals that are then eaten by birds, or humans, therefore contaminating the birds, or humans that ate the fish
B. Contaminates drinking supply
1. Causes widespread illness
2. Kills people and other mammals
V. Support Smaller Farms
A. Smaller Farms care more for the environment
1. They conserve water and electricity
2. Prevent from spraying excess fertilizer and pesticides
VI. Solutions that are working and not working
A. Doing small things around the house
1. Throwing away trash
2. Dispose of toxic liquids(paints, oils)
3. Use non-toxic materials(Green Works, organic cleaners)
B. Solutions not working
1. Certain laws such as illegal dumping not being strictly enforced
2. Sewers overflowing
3. People can eliminate concrete to reduce runoff
VII. There are many organizations globally and locally in place to help stop water pollution
A. American Water Works Association
1. Information and conferences on water pollution
B. Green Peace
1. Campaign to conserve and clean Earth’s oceans
C. Keep Pinellas Beautiful
1. Volunteers meet together to put in their hard work clean local beaches and help stop water pollution.
VIII. Taking action
A. Supporting smaller Farms
1. Promoting healthier waterways while showing that you do not support the environmental recklessness practiced by industrial farms.
2. Start to know your farmer and buy from him straight
B. Cleaning Up
1. Helping clean local beaches
2. Disposing of toxic materials around your house
IX. Choice
A. People cannot be forced to do things
1. You cants force people to spend money to get rid of toxins
2. Cannot tell poorer countries to not wash their clothes in rivers, as this pollutes the water
3. Also you cannot tell poorer countries and people to stop throwing their trash in the water.
Works Cited
"BP Oil Spill." The Guardian. N.p., 2012. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bp-oil-spill>.
Cox, Craig. Pollution. Greenhaven, 2010. 68-80. Print.
Draggan, Sidney, Ph.D. "Point Source Pollution." Point Source Pollution. N.p., 27 Apr. 2010. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Point_source_pollution>.
Heinrichs, Ann. Maintaining Earth's Oceans. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2012. 27-45. Print.
Hoffman, Jennifer. Science 101: Ocean Science. New York: Collins, 2007. 186-89. Print.
Maczulak, Anne E. Pollution: Treating Environmental Toxins. New York: Facts on File, 2010. 124+. Print.
NewsOne Staff. "BP Failed To Disclose Possible Oil Spill Causes For A Year." News One. N.p., 14 Sept. 2011. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?q=bp+oil+spill&num=10&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1224&bih=807&tbm=isch&tbnid=O7gSOphMHOqsJM:&imgrefurl=http://newsone.com/1526955/bp-failed-to-disclose-oil-spill-causes/&docid=Hl4mKC9vUfhH4M&imgurl=http://ionenewsone.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/bp-oil-spill-in-gulf-1.jpg&w=570&h=378&ei=FoCYUN6BPI289gSAmIDwAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=733&vpy=160&dur=558&hovh=183&hovw=276&tx=137&ty=56&sig=100680421841962256650&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=144&tbnw=226&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0,i:77>.
"Nonpoint Source Pollution." NOAA's National Ocean Service Education:. N.p., 25 Mar. 2008. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/pollution/04nonpointsource.html>.
Ondrey, Gerald. "This New Pump System Improves Efficiency for Desalination Operations." Chemical Engineering Sept. 2012: 14. Academic OneFile. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. <http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id= GALE%7CA302917281&v=2.1&u=22410
Peakwater.org. USDA Soil Conservation Service, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://peakwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/runoff.jpg>.
Queen, Sam. "11 Most Polluted Bodies of Water in the World." News, Lifestyle, and Social Action on TakePart. N.p., 27 Feb. 2012. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.takepart.com/photos/10-most-polluted-rivers-world>.
Rurinda, Elias, and Joe P. Mukaro. "The Impact of Pollution on the Riffle Fauna of the Umwindisi and Mkuvisi Rivers. Harare, Zimbabwe." Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies 3.4 (2012): 453+. Academic OneFile. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. <http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA304535809&v=21&u=22_sppl&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w>
"UN-Water Statistics - Water Resources." UN-Water Statistics - Water Resources. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.unwater.org/statistics_pollu.html>.
410_sppl&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w>
Www.merriam-webster.com. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/earth/environment/water-pollution.jpg>.