Dependence Of Man On The Environment

There are three main mechanisms by which the chemical composition of groundwater, which is our natural source of drinking water, may be changed: by natural processes, by man's waste-disposal practices such as those for sanitary wastes, liquid industrial wastes, solid wastes, and radioactive wastes, and by spills, leaks, and agricultural activities and other sources unrelated to disposal. The degree of risk posed by contaminants varies according to many factors. These include the volume and toxicity of the contaminant, its concentration in the aquifer, its persistence in the environment, and the degree of human and environmental exposure to the contaminant. In addition, the number of persons affected, or likely to be affected, over time and the percentage of available groundwater both locally and regionally should be taken into consideration. If the contaminants in the groundwater exceed the standards set for drinking water by the federal government, for example, then the water is hazardous for the use for which it was designated under the standards. These standards include, however, only a limited number of chemicals, and thus they do not necessarily protect humans or the environment against either the short-term or the long-term effects of every contaminant that might be found in

Although the amount of pollutants from a single town or construction site may seem insignificant, the combined concentrations of contaminants threaten our lakes, streams and wetlands. When things such as: human and animal waste, decaying plants and animals, discarded litter, or food waste enter surface waters, either dissolved or suspended in stormwater runoff, they can deplete the supply of dissolved oxygen in the water. When dissolved oxygen is reduced below a certain critical level, it can impair or kill aquatic plants and animals (CNYRPDB, 2011).

The experiments conducted for this lab report focused on water contamination and filtration. Experiment 1 was effects of groundwater contamination. Oil, vinegar, and laundry detergent were added to clean water with no means of filtration. The clean water was found to be contaminated. A filtration system consisting of cheesecloth and 60 ml of soil was created and the contaminated samples were filtered through it. The soil and cheese cloth did not affectively filter the contaminants. Experiment 2 focused on

The basis of this experiment was to test how different contaminates effect ground water when absorbed. The results were surprising as that I felt any additives would immediately change the entire break up and color of the water. What was most surprising to me was that filtering vinegar through ground water it came out relatively clean. I also believed that when filtered all of the water would have large traces of dirt, but that was not the case with the vinegar. This means that there are still viable ways to filter and purify water.

High amounts of nitrate from agricultural field watershed contaminate the groundwater, creating a consumption hazard. A nitrate level greater than 10 mg/L causes negative health effects for the local population and aquatic organisms.

The contaminated water has protozoan-a microscopic organism, oocyst-is a parasite protozoan like malaria, viruses, and bacteria. Illnesses such as West Nile and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever have also been reported from poor run off conditions. (Gaffield & Jackson, 2003) As stated in the American Journal of Public Health, "Approximately 99 million people in the United States have acute gastrointestinal illnesses each year, at a cost of billions of dollars, and 6% to 40% of these illnesses may be caused by contaminated drinking water.". Another problem found in contaminated drinking water is Nitrogen. High amounts of nitrogen can bring the risk of Methemoglobinemia-is an oxidized hemoglobin that can not send oxygen to the tissues of the body, the symptoms include shortness of breathe and blueness of skin. It has also been linked to and increase in miscarriages. Copper, Zinc, and Lead, which also have ill effects on humans, can be found in mostly urban areas with so exceptions. These are just a few of the contaminates that are caused by uncontrolled storm water run off. (Gaffield & Jackson,

Water Quality & Contamination Abstract My report was based on how ground water may be affected by many containments present in our surroundings. I believed that all of the water samples would have been contaminated once mixed with the soil. As I predicted vinegar filtered through the soil and came out fairly clean.

Homeowners that water grass may require large amounts of fertilizer that contribute to high levels of nitrates in the aquifer, a major source of drinking water. Water containing nitrates contribute to algae growth and can endanger plants and wildlife in the springs. Lawns with landscaping with non-native plants may also require daily watering and frequent pesticides to keep them healthy and disease-free. Nearly half of all water withdrawn for our supply is used only to water lawns and landscaping. Population increase in Florida has led to more to transforming rural areas and uninhabited land into housing, shopping centers, and buildings. Pavement and roads prevent rainwater absorption into the aquifer and increase run-off of chemicals and other waste. Agriculture also requires chemicals to kill insects and thus absorbed into the ground into our drinking water. Dairy farms produce a lot of animal waste along with the pesticides and chemicals used to maintain the livestock and irrigation that also enter our supply of drinking water. BMP, or best management practices, include water conservation. Humans have a major impact on water contamination and should use caution so that our water is preserves. Contribution efforts on our part are reducing the water usage for lawn care and fertilizers, indoor water

In this experiment water quality and contamination of groundwater were investigated. First, I will observe the effects that many pollutants have on groundwater. I predict that in this experiment the oil and vinegar will create the largest quality of contamination to the water, while the laundry detergent will just create a bad smell to it. Considering the smells and thickness to these ingredients I think that it will cause the water quality to have a bad smell and cause the water to be very cloudy. Once filtering the contaminated water, the water will be clear and purified. Second, I

Three main ways our public drinking waters can become contaminated are by agricultural runoff, which have effects that go all the way from the effects of the remnants left behind from sprayed pesticides and unmanaged animal feces. Second, we have an oil and coal industry that just never stops. What comes from our oil industry ultimately ends up changing and altering the biology of the surrounding water with thermal pollution, and in some cases I have seen this reported as just as if not more damaging than bacterial or sedimentary pollution. The coal industry pollutes surrounding waters with sulfides from leaching. Illustrations are given below.

Small farm communities and individual homeowners who live in isolated locations generally rely on private wells that may contain various chemical and/or microbiological contaminants. These individuals face the potentially high costs of removing these pollutants to ensure that the water is safe for human consumption. Nitrate originating from fertilizer, concentrated animal feeding operations, and septic tanks is one of the most common contaminants in private water systems. Nitrate is particularly problematic for infants due to the danger of methemoglobinemia or “blue baby syndrome”. Point and area sources can also introduce a suite of pharmaceuticals, endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), and other trace organic contaminants. Very few trace

With air and soil pollution comes water contamination. In the event that a leak takes place underground it results in contamination to the groundwater. This groundwater slowly moves into other bodies of water and spreads the contamination. A wide spread area can be affected. (Rinaldi 422). The chemicals that are found in the contaminated water include Sodium Sulfite, Uranium 226 & 228, high levels of Sodium, and too many others to list. Bromite is among the worst because once treated at a water treatment facility it mixes with the chlorine to produce Trihalomethane. Trihalomethane is known to cause cancer. (Ken Dufalla, qtd. "FRACK US"). After repeated reports of drinking water contamination in PA alone, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection released a statement that "[The industry will require an ‘adjustment period' to refine practices.]" (PA DEP, qtd. Bamberger and Oswald

Ground water is the biggest source of drinking water available to human population around the

Nitrates in groundwater have become a major issue around the world and have held people back from drinking clean water. One of the many places being affected by this issue, is a city in the state of Minnesota by the name, Cold Spring.The main issue for such high capacities of nitrate in water is cropland agriculture. Cold Spring has had to forcefully shut down a couple of their city wells due to these high levels of nitrate in their water, leaving the city with a very low capacity of water to use, and drink. This issue has gotten very far, to the point that the safest level for drinking water is 10 milligrams. Drinking water that contains nitrates can be very harmful to the body and can also develop syndromes in babies.

The purpose of this report is to propose a solution to the problem of reduced drinking water quality due to chemical pollution. Some bodies of water in the United States are becoming polluted from chemicals and restrictions are needed to protect drinking water quality.