Water Pollution

Introduction: The purpose of this research is to determine whether there has been a change in the overall water quality of the Lake Tarpon Basin, and if so, whether the quality has improved or worsened. The variables that will determine whether the quality has changed are: nutrients (phosphates and nitrates) and dissolved oxygen (DO). The expected changes are lower dissolved oxygen levels (from the already low levels), higher nitrogen levels (from the already high nitrogen levels), and the state qualifications still are not met for nutrients and dissolved oxygen (Levy, Flock, Burnes, Myers, Weed, River 2010). This topic relates to environmental management because the changes in water quality would be due to pollution, which relates to the question “How does human activity lead to the pollution of water stores?” The hypothesis that will be tested is that Lake Tarpon’s water quality will have worsened since the last measurements by Levy, Flock, Burnes, Myers, Weed, and Rivera in 2010.

In addition, global climate change will exacerbate these challenges faced by countries and populations. Shifting precipitation patterns threaten to reduce water availability in some regions while inflicting stronger storms on others, increasing both potential droughts and floods. This may increase the frequency of more serious

Drought condition exists throughout most of Arizona. Variable amounts of rainfall throughout last year’s where was significantly below the normal with surface water flows, reservoir levels, and well water pumping levels are at some of their lowest ever recorded all of that act as indication of drought occurrence. Drought is a normal recurring feature of climate, not a rare or random event. Climate influence water quality throughout temperature, precipitation, and wind by affecting the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water. For instance, temperature fluctuation results in more stress on aquatic organism within water body, in the same way wind fluctuation has a direct effect on evaporation rate. Municipal water providers in Flagstaff, Williams, Mayer, Pine, Strawberry, and in areas near Sierra Vista, Sonoita, and Picacho have suffered from some potable

As a historically semi-arid environment, California has also suffered heavily from several environmental impacts as a result of the current drought conditions. The first of these is on its forests. The US Forest Service estimates that 12 million trees have died in the past year due to drought; this combined with the drying of forest floor material greatly increases the flammability of the landscape. The result of this is the numerous devastating wildfires that have swept through the state throughout 2015, costing not only wildlife and habitat but also human property (CBS News, 2015) (Lustgarten, et al., 2015) (Google, 2015). Aside from wildfires, the drought and associated loss of habitat is said to be having a negative effect on both flora and fauna due to their contribution to the spread of West Nile Virus, whilst also threatening populations of geese, ducks, salmon and Joshua trees (Lustgarten, et al., 2015) (Beaudry, 2015). Finally, with groundwater contributing up to 50% of stream flow in drought, there is a worry that over usage near the coast could result in irreversible salinization through the drawing in of salt water (USGS, 2016) (Kasler & Reese, 2015).

Heavy precipitation events that historically occurred once in 20 years are projected to occur as frequently as every 5 to 15 years by this late century. Short term droughts are expected to intensify in most regions. Longer term droughts are expected to intensify in larger regions in the Southwest. Flooding may intensify in many U.S regions. Climate change is affecting the groundwater availability also. Sea level rising and storms surges are expected to compromise the sustainability of coastal freshwater and

It is undeniable that climate change is drastically changing our current landscapes throughout the world. There are many individuals who consider climate change to be a natural and organic progression, but many studies indicate that due to excess greenhouse gas emissions, humans are accelerating global warming at an alarming rate. It’s convenient to continuously dismiss the studies and evidence that suggest climate change is real and it could have serious consequences, but when these drastic changes are taking place in our own backyard, it becomes a harsh reality. There is longstanding research, which indicates that the Colorado River has been in a drought since the early 2000’s and researchers allege that due to rising temperatures, the

Richard Smith, Richard Alexander, and M.Gordon Wolman, Water Quality Trends in the Nation's Rivers. 235 Science 1607, 1987.

Climate change data was collected from the IPPC AR4 General Circulation Model (GCM). The GCM is regionally dependent and shows the different mixes of greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere. (Sheffield & Wood, 2007, p.81) The simple mutlicalar drought index (SPEI) is used to show the climatic water balance. Monthly or weekly difference physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) and precipitation and is calculated at different times. (Vicente-Serrano, Beguería, & López-Moreno, 2009, p. 1699) Streamflow data was obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey Hydrological Climate Date Network (HCDN). (Regonda, Rajagopalan, Clark, & Pitlick, 2004, p.374) Snowfall data is gathered from surveys that were performed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and precipitation data was gathered from the National Weather Service Cooperative Network. (Regonda, Rajagopalan, Clark, & Pitlick, 2004, p.375)

To examine whether or not there is a link between drought and water quality types of drought had to be examined in order to choose which drought index to use. A drought is deficiency in precipitation over some period of time. Water shortages can include impacts on vegetation, animals, and/or people. For this project, The Palmer Hydrological Index was chosen because it provides numerical classifications of drought. The PHDI includes standardized calculations for each location based on temperature and precipitation variability of the specific location. This type of calculation makes the data collection and analysis easier, as impairment can be compared to a numerical value and drought is calculated specifically based on the regions temperature and precipitation variability.

Climate change is causing precipitation to increase, and when this happens water grows in the waterways. In the article, “Seven Reasons We Are Facing a Global Water Crisis” by Leah Schleifer

“Arid and semi-arid environments, which represent a substantial portion of Earth's surface, have remained poorly studied. Yet water scarcity and salt content, changes in rainfall, flash floods, high rates of aquifer exploitation and growth of desert regions are all signs that suggest climate change and human activities are also affecting these arid and semi-arid zones” (Buis).

The best way to protect local bodies of water is to give the resources necessary for professionals to analyze the patterns of the ecosystem 2. Currently, information from water testing is extremely scarce and many individuals within the government do not understand the necessity for water monitoring and watershed preservation3. Although there are various laws that work by directly protecting public health, many of these laws do not focus on protecting the entire ecosystem. Much of this negligence is a result of the economic drawbacks and regulations on human development that are required to preserve local bodies of water3. A major issue that greatly affects the entire ecosystem and watershed is climate change. The rapid changing of water parameters has caused many dangers for aquatic organisms and the surrounding environment4. To truly understand this impact, water monitoring is a necessity to preserving the ecosystem and protecting the health of all

Wildfires are common natural disturbances in California. If the wildfires are intense, they can affect the water quality of the impacted and surrounding area. Wildfires may alter surface runoff, promote erosion, affect infiltration, increase sediment loads into bodies of water, increase the temperature of water bodies, and increase nutrient concentrations in water systems. The resulting water quality impacts can then affect aquatic life, the operation of water treatment facilities that treat drinking water, the quality of the drinking water supply, and irrigation systems (Paige and Zygmunt 2012).

Erosion has caused an issue with the contamination of water. Dave Favis-Mortlock stated that, “Movement of sediment and associated agricultural pollutants into watercourses . . . This leads to . . . contamination of drinking water.” These pollutants can enter into drinking water and harm those who drink it. Also, he says that, “Erosion rates do not have to be high for significant amounts of pollutants to make it into the water.” So, due to this our water can be in a state of constant pollution even if our river’s erosion rates are slow. Therefore, erosion has caused an issue with the contamination of water.

All over the world there are many different traces of water pollution. Water pollution is when there are traces of both biological agents and toxic chemicals. If these agents and chemicals bypass the usual number that is found in the water, it will become a threat. Having these chemicals in the water not only affects the human bodies but it also affects the environment.