Homework
Topic: Pollutants in Waterways
From the earliest days of civilization, mankind has realized the benefits of settling near reliable, clean drinking water supplies. Water has always been an important natural resource for cooking, drinking, cleaning, removal of wastes, and in the manufacturing of goods. It was often convenient to get rid of wastes by simply dumping them into a river since they would be carried downstream, away from the source. As populations grew, this practice led to increasing problems. More people equals more waste and downstream communities do not appreciate having someone else's waste brought to their doorstep. Throughout history, cities have struggled with ensuring their populations had potable water.
One way to manage this important natural resource is to create legislation aimed at preserving the quality of the resource for years to come. In this week's Discussion, you will look at water regulation in the United States and its impact on water quality. In the U.S., there have been governmental regulations created to protect the water supply dating back to 1886. In recent history, a major move to protect surface waters in the U.S. was the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972. This Act attempts to reduce pollutant discharges into waterways, promote municipal wastewater treatment facilities, and manage polluted runoff. In addition to reading your textbook, do some research to learn more about the Clean Water Act and think about the use of water throughout history using the following references.
Laws & Regulations: Summary of the Clean Water Act. EPA.
Knotts, J. A. (1999). A brief history of drinking water regulations. On Tap: Drinking Water News for America's Small Communities, 8(4), 1-23.
In most cases, water treatment involves the removal of solid materials from the water and killing bacteria that may cause disease. You can learn more about what happens during treatment at the following sites:
USGS. (n.d.). Wastewater treatment water use.
USGS. (n.d.). A visit to a wastewater-treatment plant: Primary treatment of wastewater.
Many communities are also concerned with the problem of excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus (commonly found in fertilizers) entering waterways. Review the following link to see how these excess nutrients lead to fish kills and other problems when they make their way into the natural waterways:
Nutrient Pollution: EPA.
ESA. (n.d.). Hypoxia.
In your posts, make sure you address the following questions:
1) Who/what are the largest contributors of nitrogen and phosphorus into waterways?
2) Think about all the products and materials you use every day.
a. What products and materials are commonly sent down the drain?
b. How do these products impact the environment?
3) How do dead zones in the U.S. and abroad impact local economies, diets, recreation, and other aspects of a community?
Format your homework according to the following formatting requirements:
(1) The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
(2) The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
(3) Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.
References
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. (2000). Integrated assessment of hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. National Science and Technology Council.