The word aptly brings to mind impurities. Disease. Sickness.
When we speak of pollution regarding our water supply, the ramifications are far reaching and of concern to everyone on Earth. And yet, we have a conflict. Progress. While progress of society is fueled by discoveries in industry and technology, progress almost always means pollution.
Our streams, lakes and rivers, the lifeblood of human civilization since the beginning of time, are fighting to survive in this modern society. But, what can we do to lessen the pollution that we create. How do we mitigate its damage? How do we get rid of it?
Water
The image that comes to mind is of a crystal-clear, sparkling, liquid slipping endlessly across a fertile landscape to our waiting mouths. A spotless spectrum of life flowing perpetually toward each of us. We crave it. We need it. It quenches and sustains us. However, right now pollution from many sources is threatening to harm us all.
Chemicals, biological sources and wastes are seeping into our groundwater, affecting each one of us as, sometimes making us sick, as we take that sip we crave as human beings of the Earth.
Industry uses water. It is crucial to the manufacturing of raw materials and energy. In that process, water picks up pollutants and other impurities. These things threaten our water supply as they make their way through the water treatment process to our kitchen faucet, our empty waiting glass. It is not just industry that does the damage to our water.
When we speak of pollution regarding our water supply, the ramifications are far reaching and of concern to everyone on Earth. And yet, we have a conflict. Progress. While progress of society is fueled by discoveries in industry and technology, progress almost always means pollution.
Our streams, lakes and rivers, the lifeblood of human civilization since the beginning of time, are fighting to survive in this modern society. But, what can we do to lessen the pollution that we create. How do we mitigate its damage? How do we get rid of it?
Water
The image that comes to mind is of a crystal-clear, sparkling, liquid slipping endlessly across a fertile landscape to our waiting mouths. A spotless spectrum of life flowing perpetually toward each of us. We crave it. We need it. It quenches and sustains us. However, right now pollution from many sources is threatening to harm us all.
Chemicals, biological sources and wastes are seeping into our groundwater, affecting each one of us as, sometimes making us sick, as we take that sip we crave as human beings of the Earth.
Industry uses water. It is crucial to the manufacturing of raw materials and energy. In that process, water picks up pollutants and other impurities. These things threaten our water supply as they make their way through the water treatment process to our kitchen faucet, our empty waiting glass. It is not just industry that does the damage to our water.
Polluted Discharge
Nearly every place in America discharges pollution to Earth's surface waters. From human waste to storm water and the effects of heavy rainfall. It all ends up in the same place; our drinking supply.
The treatment process at plants in every city, remove solid material and chemicals and disinfect to kill disease causing organisms before releasing the water to the receiving waterbody. The pretreatment of waste before the water hits the treatment facilities can recover metals as well as other valuable chemicals, saving industry money and benefiting the health of the aquifers we use everyday.
Unfortunately, the long-term benefits are often lost to corporate executives taking care of their bottom-line, if not their bodies; and this conservation just does not happen.
The manicured green urban and suburban lawn is also a culprit. Looking healthy and vital, the luxuriousness of a green lawn belies the chemicals often needed to sustain it. The wonton polluting for the sake of an image of health and vitality is not limited to individuals and their yards at home. The chemicals used in paved surfaces, construction sites, hillsides, agriculture, forests and additional land areas all combine to create a strain on our environment.
Urban runoff
Urban runoff from many roofs, streets and parking lots are chock full of chemicals waiting to be let loose by a rainstorm or great snow melt off. The pollutants from these sources are carried swiftly to our lakes and rivers via storm drains and sewers. The large amount of storm water entering our streams from paved surfaces that do not drain and absorb, but create potentially harmful runoff, can produce a flood that is so great it erodes the banks of streams and rivers and damages or destroys the natural habitats of living creatures far and wide.
Farming
Our bucolic heritage can also become a damaging rip tide. When farmers are forced to consider inexpensive yet effective means of protecting and increasing their crops, we are all in for a short term gain and a long term problem. Pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation may create that perfect tomato but the nitrogen rich fertilizer also contains phosphorous, and other minerals that have been depleted from the soil from overuse.
Herbicides, weed killer, animal waste and fertilizer do not limit themselves to the crops they are meant to protect. They seep into our ground water supply. They make their way to our homes.
Awareness
The solution is simple and yet complex. Awareness, elimination and dedication.
We must come to the awareness that what we do truly affects our planet. What we put into the ground, will come back to us in one form or another. Whatever the means a pollutant has of entering our ecosystem, our bodies system, the effect on us is the same, our water is compromised. If our water is compromised so goes our health, our species and our planet.
Elimination is the aspect of this solution that limits the number of pollutants before they become introduced into our waterways. Reduce the use of chemicals wherever possible. Forget the green lawn or find green ways of creating it. Treat pollution at the industrial source with modern treatment facilities that can filter and purify.
Each and every one of us can contribute to the global effect by taking seriously, that which we dump into our landscape and environment. In short, if you don't want to drink it, find an effective means of dumping it.
Awareness: Become aware that you have an impact. Understand that which is a pollutant. Educate yourself as to the proper method of throwing it away. Take the time to care for yourself and your planet.
Our Earth: it is a closed cycle. That which you bring into the system, you will meet again. Make certain it is worthy of the introduction.
Sources:
Water. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Water Resources of the United States. U.S. Geological Survey.
Brooks, Arthur S.. "Pollution of Lakes and Streams." Water:Science and Issues.
The Gale Group Inc. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 15 Sep. 2009
Farming
Our bucolic heritage can also become a damaging rip tide. When farmers are forced to consider inexpensive yet effective means of protecting and increasing their crops, we are all in for a short term gain and a long term problem. Pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation may create that perfect tomato but the nitrogen rich fertilizer also contains phosphorous, and other minerals that have been depleted from the soil from overuse.
Herbicides, weed killer, animal waste and fertilizer do not limit themselves to the crops they are meant to protect. They seep into our ground water supply. They make their way to our homes.
Awareness
The solution is simple and yet complex. Awareness, elimination and dedication.
We must come to the awareness that what we do truly affects our planet. What we put into the ground, will come back to us in one form or another. Whatever the means a pollutant has of entering our ecosystem, our bodies system, the effect on us is the same, our water is compromised. If our water is compromised so goes our health, our species and our planet.
Elimination is the aspect of this solution that limits the number of pollutants before they become introduced into our waterways. Reduce the use of chemicals wherever possible. Forget the green lawn or find green ways of creating it. Treat pollution at the industrial source with modern treatment facilities that can filter and purify.
Each and every one of us can contribute to the global effect by taking seriously, that which we dump into our landscape and environment. In short, if you don't want to drink it, find an effective means of dumping it.
Awareness: Become aware that you have an impact. Understand that which is a pollutant. Educate yourself as to the proper method of throwing it away. Take the time to care for yourself and your planet.
Our Earth: it is a closed cycle. That which you bring into the system, you will meet again. Make certain it is worthy of the introduction.
Sources:
Water. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Water Resources of the United States. U.S. Geological Survey.
Brooks, Arthur S.. "Pollution of Lakes and Streams." Water:Science and Issues.
The Gale Group Inc. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 15 Sep. 2009
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