June 28th, 2011 by admin
We pay a price for water filtration systems. We buy bottled water. Some of us drink directly from the tap, some prefer some form of home filtration, doubting the drinkability of the water from the spout. All over the United States, federal and city jurisdictions are required to watch over sources for quality and contaminants to comply with federal environmental and safety standards. Nevertheless, even with the requisite quality inspections, some chemicals in the water supply can pass undetected. It’s not uncommon that if a water supplier detects an unsafe amount of a certain chemical in the water supply, it does not mean that they the monetary, physical, or technological ability to resolve the issue in an expedient manner.
There are varying water sources in various locations in the United States containing different chemicals and in differing quantities, usually dependent on the area’s industrial or agricultural production sources. Four categories of water contaminants are divided according to their nature and source:
•Microbial Pathogens
These are small living organisms such as bacteria, parasites, and viruses that come from malfunctioning sewer or septic systems as well as runoff sources of animal fecal matter, such as dog parks or farms. These pathogens can be the cause of many illnesses; many of which are similar to those that result from food poisoning. Complications can include the likes of salmonella, dysentery, gastroenteritis, hepatitis, shigellosis, and giardiasis.
•Inorganic Compounds
These are heavy metals and other toxic materials that often come from industrial sources. These metals can include arsenic, barium, chromium, lead, mercury, nitrates, silver, and trace amounts of other metals that are hazardous when ingested. Continuous exposure to these chemical have been proven to cause cancer.
•Organic Compounds
These usually come from household and industrial chemicals as well as agricultural runoff waste, and can include insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Exposure to these chemicals can result in damage to internal organ damage, damage to the nervous system, reproductive system issues, and cancer.
•Radioactive Waste
These come from emissions from power plants or from improperly disposed (buried, but now slowly leaking into water sources) radioactive waste. Exposure to harmful amounts of radioactive waste will cause cancer.
Protecting our water sources is of the utmost importance. Although the there are rules and regulatory bodies in place, often, they are not enough. Whether it is lack of funding, manpower, technology, or political will, not enough is being done. It is our obligation to do our share. Even if it is only to make sure we do not add to the pollution, contaminition, or through conservation.
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June 7th, 2011 by admin
Water and water supply is one of the leading indicators or climate change. In the United States alone, the Interior Department reports that climate change can and most likely will negatively affect the water flow in the country’s biggest water basins.
A precipitous drop in water flow from streams is predicted for areas in the western part of the country that have shown a pronounced increase in population and drought in the last few decades.
Even now, the water supplies of the Western United States are just barely meeting the country’s demand for drinking, crop irrigation, electricity-generation, and filling up lakes and aquifers for various needs, both recreational and industrial.
The increase risk to the county’s water resources for 21st century has been outlined in the new report by the Interior Department. This includes the following:
•Higher precipitation in already wet areas, the northwestern and north-central parts of the American West and lower where it’s already too dry such as the southwestern and south-central parts;
•Temperature increase ranging from 5-7°F;
•A decrease in April 1st snowpack, a standard measurement reference used for river basin runoff projections;
•A decrease in annual stream flow in several river basins including the Rio Grande and the Colorado, and the San Joaquin than can range from eight to twenty percent.
This added challenge of climate change—among many the country is facing with regard to environmental concerns—will be among the first to be felt in the United States.
The situation facing the water systems in the country is echoed all over the world. A third of these water systems have registered a change in flow and were tagged as “dryer.” With population increase, the demand on freshwater resources is a heavy burden for reduced runoff to meet. Being that freshwater is vital to everyday life, the downward trends are a major worry.
One of the greatest factors for lower water levels other than the greater need for water in agriculture is climate change. The havoc it is wreaking on rainfall patterns and the increase in evaporation due to higher temperatures. In some cases the signs of climate change can be deceptive; it can bring about rains so heavy as to cause flooding. Unfortunately, this often comes with longer dry spells in between, making water management more challenging.
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May 30th, 2011 by admin
Never has ecological science been more relevant. As we move further into the 21st century, we find ourselves finally obliged to face the realities of our planet’s precarious ecological condition and do the best we can to find ways to first delay, then to stop and prevent further damage, and ultimately, repair.
Over the last one hundred years, humans have undergone major changes; changes in the way we live, grow our food, harness energy, and consume the planet’s resources. The second half of the previous century alone displayed the fastest and most extensive changes in the planet’s ecological makeup than any comparable time span in human history. This is all due to the need to meet our rapidly growing demand for the basics: food, water, timber for shelter, fiber, and fuel. All these have had a tremendous, irreversible impact on the planet’s ecosystems. The Earth’s capacity to provide for humans is quickly being eroded.
As great as our gains have been in terms of standards of living and quality of life, and economic development, these have been achieved at the cost of the damage or loss of ecosystems. The evidence is all around us. One of the most telling sign is the climate change the planet is currently experiencing; there are also the dangers presented by greenhouse gases. Extreme changes that are all interconnected and signify the Earth’s transformation such as severe deforestation, ice-melt that leads to the rising sea levels, and CO2 emissions.
All around the world various studies have been undertaken and more are still being launched to assess the ramification of ecological changes for human well-being. One of the U.N.’s earlier studies alone, states that the planet’s major ecosystems were in decline and that there is a need for more information about the Earth’s ecosystems and how it affects all of us.
Experts in various fields are continuously coming together to assess the planet’s current condition and to institute a scientific foundation for action to preserve and promote the sustainable use of the environment and their role in the continuing survival and well-being of humans.
The ecological science site is a forum for all interested in any of the related studies and subjects, from intelligence regarding the what, where, who, and how of environmental or ecological impact, to the new technologies revolving around sustainable consumption and energy efficiency.
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