Wading in Waste
Notes:
- Millions of Americans moving to coastal areas
- A growing number of beaches and shellfish beds along the coast have been contaminated with disease causing microorganisms caused by animal and human waste.
- In 2004, 19,950 days of closures and pollution advisories affecting 1,234 ocean and freshwater beaches.
- The reasons for these closures was caused by an excessive amount of bacteria found in the waters.
- Animal feces going down storm drains, and human waste sewage overflows can cause liver disease, respiratory infections and potentially fatal gastrointestinal disorders.
- In the U.S the increased construction of homes, shopping centers and stores has disrupted natural drainage systems in coastal areas.
- "smart growth" strategies can restore polluted coastlines and provide economic benefits.
- The population of people living in coastal areas is increasing.
- Landscape dominated by things such as homes and concrete that do not let water soak through.
- When it rains, the water goes over these surfaces picking up animals feces and other pollutants washing them into drainage ditches or storm drains which can lead directly to urban lakes coastal creeks or beach areas. In these areas the water is usually untreated.
- Because this runoff emanates from a wide area, it is classified as a non point pollution source.
- This is the leading water contamination problem in the U.S
- Storm water runoff contains pesticides, chemicals heavy metals that are disease causing towards humans. A single poop can contain 23 different bacterial substances.
- Impervious surfaces accumulate pollutants during dry periods and funnel high concentrations of contaminants downstream when it rains. Shellfish sometimes become contaminated.
- To fight microbial pollution, coastal communities can encourage the preservation of green spaces, install filters in storm drains and prevent the installation of septic tanks in areas with porous soils.
- Poorly planned development is the primary cause of microbial pollution in coastal areas.
- People involved in surfing, swimming, bodyboarding etc are in danger of microbial pollution.
- Microbes have triggered disease outbreaks by drinking water that was contaminated by a cattle barn.
- These have even caused deaths.
- Poorly designed sanitation systems can lead to microbial pollution.
- Preserving wetlands is an effective way to guard downstream waters from microbial pollution.
- Clear cutting, wetland drainage, and extensive use of pavement need to stop.
- They need to minimize the amount of impervious surfaces and increase the amount of vegetative surfaces.
- This will help with minimizing the amount of runoff.
- Developers should take advantage of new techniques to reduce the amount of runoff such as parking lots made with porous concrete that allow water to pass through to the soil below.
- Education of the people living in the communities.
Summary: Microbial pollution is a big problem that is occurring in coastal areas. This type of pollution is caused by the poor construction and drainage systems of these areas. When it rains, all of the water that comes down becomes contaminated with fertilizers, and animal feces. This storm water can cause a number of health complications which include liver disease, respiratory infections and potentially fatal gastrointestinal disorders. Because of problems like this, a growing number of beaches and shellfish beds along the coast have been contaminated. The beaches have experienced a great number of closures caused by the amount of bacteria found in these waters. There have been many instances where people have drank the contaminated water and have died. Luckily there is a solution to this problem. One way to prevent contamination is by preserving wetlands and stopping clear cutting. Another thing we can do is to increase the amount of vegetative ground and stop making impervious surfaces that do not let water seep through. There are many new techniques that can reduce the amount of runoff, so developers should take advantage of this. Developers should also plan more effectively when making a community near coastal areas. And one of the most important things we can do is to educate the people because education is everything and if we take the time to educate, the power of the people could help save this problem.
Reflection: After reading this article it made me very concern, because microbial pollution is very serious since it can cause death. However, I am happy that it does not seem too complicated for the developers to fix their ways. Developers need to stop clear cutting, wetland drainage and also the use of pavement. Developers should take advantage of the new techniques such as using porous concrete and adding more vegetation. This will benefit the company because they will be known for being eco friendly.
Reflection: After reading this article it made me very concern, because microbial pollution is very serious since it can cause death. However, I am happy that it does not seem too complicated for the developers to fix their ways. Developers need to stop clear cutting, wetland drainage and also the use of pavement. Developers should take advantage of the new techniques such as using porous concrete and adding more vegetation. This will benefit the company because they will be known for being eco friendly.