Water Pollution Sustainability Plan
Water Pollution Sustainability Plan
Misty Cressionnie
SCI/275
October 3, 2010
Jeff Botts
Water Pollution Sustainability Plan
"The major cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, particularly in the industrialized countries. Developed countries must take the lead in achieving sustainable consumption."
United Nations Agenda 21.
Humans are a large contributor to water pollution. Toxic substances, algal bloom, and sedimentation are all results of human activities. If man does not become aware of their negligence and carelessness towards the environment, rivers, lakes, and other water supply systems will be depleted. The Clean Water Act in 1972 and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) program is what the nation has put forth to bring back and look out for the quality of our rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.
Water pollution has been divided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) into two categories: point and non-point. Point sources are created by sewage, factories, and ships. Non-point sources include agriculture runoff, mining activities, and paved roads. These pollutants reach our water systems when rainfall or snowmelt moves over and through the ground. As this runoff moves, all natural and human-made pollutants are deposited into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even underground sources of drinking water (Water Pollution, 2010).
Every human contributes to water pollution without knowing about it. People do not realize that a source that was once plentiful is rapidly becoming contaminated due to negligence and carelessness. Waste disposal has always been an issue. This is not due to the amount of wastes, but the improper disposal of this pollutant.
Humans unknowingly contribute to water pollution when bathing and washing clothes. One is not concerned with whether or not their product is environmentally safe but if it makes their
Misty Cressionnie
SCI/275
October 3, 2010
Jeff Botts
Water Pollution Sustainability Plan
"The major cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, particularly in the industrialized countries. Developed countries must take the lead in achieving sustainable consumption."
United Nations Agenda 21.
Humans are a large contributor to water pollution. Toxic substances, algal bloom, and sedimentation are all results of human activities. If man does not become aware of their negligence and carelessness towards the environment, rivers, lakes, and other water supply systems will be depleted. The Clean Water Act in 1972 and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) program is what the nation has put forth to bring back and look out for the quality of our rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.
Water pollution has been divided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) into two categories: point and non-point. Point sources are created by sewage, factories, and ships. Non-point sources include agriculture runoff, mining activities, and paved roads. These pollutants reach our water systems when rainfall or snowmelt moves over and through the ground. As this runoff moves, all natural and human-made pollutants are deposited into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even underground sources of drinking water (Water Pollution, 2010).
Every human contributes to water pollution without knowing about it. People do not realize that a source that was once plentiful is rapidly becoming contaminated due to negligence and carelessness. Waste disposal has always been an issue. This is not due to the amount of wastes, but the improper disposal of this pollutant.
Humans unknowingly contribute to water pollution when bathing and washing clothes. One is not concerned with whether or not their product is environmentally safe but if it makes their
References: Citizens Guide to Discharge Permits. (2009). Retrieved October 3, 2010 from North Carolina Coastal Federation Citizens Working Together for a Healthy Coast http://nccoast.org/newsroom/discharge-permits.asp Main Causes of Water Pollution. (2010). Retrieved October 2, 2010 from Article Garden Sustainable Living Articles http://www.articlegarden.com/Article/Main-Causes-of-Water-Pollution/54047 Water Pollution. (2010). Water. Retrieved October 3, 2010 from United States Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/wastewaterpollution.html What is Eutrophication? (2010). Retrieved October 3, 2010 from WiseGeek http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-eutrophication.htm