A decrease in rainfall means there is less water in aquifers and the water table. This means the supply of water has decreased. A warmer climate also means more water evaporates from seas and oceans. This can be bad as it can increase the number of floods which destroys infrastructure. Another factor that can affect water supply is urban development and over extraction.
For decades people of various communities have been expressing growing concern over the quality of waterways and the drinking water supply. These communities receive the water piped into their homes or wells via lake or ground and with pollution levels on the rise the safety and quality of the water supply is being questioned. The people not only rely on this vital resource for sustainment but also for recreation and the growing concerns are valid because of many of today’s environmental practices or non-practices. Industry, institution, as well as individual, must make the commitment to improve practice of undesirable chemicals and compounds from ever reaching the water supply. Proper disposal of old tires, used oil and other automotive or machinery wastes are several of the forerunners of polluting agents.
Lake Huron is one of the Great Lakes and a major part of our fresh water system, which contains many wildlife and species. The lake however, is in a real danger, adversely effecting habitats, fish, wildlife, and human lives. Lake Huron has become a dumping ground for many companies, dumping waste that contains many pollutants. Bacteria levels have increased in the lake which can cause serious illness. These pollutants have reduced water quality, contaminated soils, and damaged the Lake’s ecosystems.
Using at least 1 scholarly source, discuss what type of affects these contaminants (oil, vinegar, detergent) might have on a town’s water source and the people who drank the water? Answer = "When water chokes you, what are you to drink to wash it down?" Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, 384-322 B.C.” According to Wisconsin Natural Resource, “Everyday activities can affect groundwater quality. Think about the ways you
Water Quality and Contamination Report 1 Schrita Scott Water Quality and Contamination SCI207: Dependence of Man on the Environment Instructor Carrie Myers February 25, 2014 Water Quality and Contamination Report 2 Water Quality and Contamination Introduction: When it comes to water quality and contamination, first and foremost ground water is present below the surface in porous rocks and is prone to contamination by natural and human activities. Large amounts of chemicals like soap, detergents, fertilizers, pesticides, and pharmaceutical are often times discharged into fresh water aquifers almost daily. These contaminants leak into the soil in which it then dissolves into ground water. Different contaminants have different rates of solubility and degradation once they reach the underground water table, either by simple flow or by the downward movement of rain water. The ground water may become contaminated with both organic and inorganic substances which may include heavy metals like Cadmium, Chromium and Nickel, etc.
Assess the relative importance of physical and human causes of river flooding (15) Floods can be caused by certain human activities such as urbanisation. The build up of impermeable surfaces like concrete pavements and buildings means that when there is high levels of precipitation, infiltration is not possible and rainwater flows straight to the river channel as surface runoff, increasing river discharge and potentially causing a river to flood. Also, deforestation is another human cause of flooding; deforestation reduces interception and evapotranspiration. This means more water reaches the river, increasing discharge. However, physical causes can also have large impacts and can be the main cause of a flood.
YY University, Essay of Intent of Master of Civil Engineering I am interested in civil engineering with an environmental/ water resources concentration, as a field to pursue my career in. I find its unique mix of engineering, water resource management, and environmental science very exciting. It is a fast growing field with tremendous potential for environmental research of water resources. My interests lie primarily in the areas of limnology and conservation of water in urban areas. I am particularly interested in data analysis and data modeling of bodies of waters as they become ever scarcer and more polluted in populated urban areas.
The air quality on the shoreline of Lake Huron is the worst in the south Ontario area. (Sivers, A, n.d) Sediment loading is known to high levels of deferred solids being washed into creeks and rivers and carried down into the lake. (Sivers, A, n.d) Sediment loading can also be caused by dredging which can cause a decrease in food source for the aquatic life. With having foreign vessels follow in and out of the lake from the Atlantic is also causing problems. With the vessels having foreign aquatic life attached to the bottom of the ship and also leaking fluids into the lake while passing through.
The extended holding of the waste fluid in the pits could lead to their seepage into the ground, especially if the pits are not lined with plastic. This contaminates the water sources around. In addition, any overflows, for instance caused by heavy rains, allows the fluid to contaminate water in the sources. Large volumes of fluid is required (thousands of gallons of water is used per well) and its disposal is an issue too (Schmidt, 2011). Proper disposal methods should be effected to ensure the water aquifers around do not get contaminated.
Runoff Quality of the water flowing from the a\land is critical to the reef’s health. The ones near the mainland are the most damaged because of human activities. The land use activities near the coast increases freshwater runoff and the build up of silt. As more land is eroded by human activities the runoff increases destroying the vegetation. Fertilisers, sewage and pollutants can have direct impact on the coral reefs.