A Significant Source of Pollutants for Water Bodies - Essay Example

Sustainable Water Quality A sustainable water infrastructure is important for providing the public with clean and safe water. The quality of water supplied to homesteads determines the environmental, economic, and social health of the community. The Environmental Protection Agency cooperates with states, industries, and other stakeholders to help sustainably manage water and wastewater utilities. The EPA has provided guidelines to ensure that the water infrastructure is cost-effective, resource efficient, and supports the community goals. In the past, majority of ecological and human crises originate from inadequate access to, and mismanagement of water resources. Aquatic ecosystems, land, and community goals may be destroyed in the process of harnessing water. The growing population may increase water-related problems, and the state has to plan for sustainable water projects. Sustainability guarantees access to basic amounts of water necessary for sustaining human health and to sustain the ecosystem. Sustainability of water resources provides room for renewal of these resources ensuring a constant supply of water. Environmental planning agencies have to assess water quality changes associated with land use activities. The main factors influencing water quality are vegetation, farming methods, and soil type. Rain water contains dissolved gases and minerals (150). These minerals react chemically with the soil constituents when rain water reaches the ground. Land use alters the composition and texture of the surface soil. The initial interference involved dumping of human and animal wastes into water systems. Improved farming techniques such as the use of fertilizers and pesticides interfere with water quality. Fertilizer and pesticides runoff increase the nutrient levels present in water naturally. Most of these pesticides contain harmful chemicals that cause water poisoning and chemical reactions in the water. Some of the chemicals are volatile and deposited in the air due to exposure to the atmosphere. Chemicals dissolved in water affect natural minerals in the water and they affect marine and human lives. Deforestation is popular in forests, which are also the catchment areas of rivers. Some farmers practice poor farming methods that loosen the soil structure. Activities such as overstocking and overgrazing deprive the land vegetation cover that cements soil particles together. Runoff from these areas contains sediments that are washed into water sources. Sediment loading increases the amount of soil particles and minerals in water sources. In urban areas, industries produce chemical effluent and gases that contaminate water pathways and the atmosphere (157). These gases dissolve in rain water to form acidic rainfall or increase chemical components in the water. Industrial waste washed into watersheds contains poisonous metals and chemicals that cause health complication in animals and humans. Planners must consider the effect of different land uses on the water quality. Minimizing effluent from industries and agricultural can improve the quality of water distributed to homesteads. The federal government passed the Clean Water Act that regulates discharges of pollutants into water bodies and regulates the quality standards for surface water. In this act, EPA has implemented programs to control water pollution such as setting wastewater standards for industries. According to CWA, discharging pollutants from a point source into navigable waters is unlawful unless a permit is acquired. Point sources are conveyances such as man-made ditches and pipes that carry water. The act also provides assistance to public water treatment projects that improve wastewater treatment (160). These projects convert wastewater to safe water that can be utilized by ordinary citizens. Industries cannot discharge waste water directly into public water treatments areas without prior purification. The pretreatment aims at reducing toxic wastes discharged into these treatment works. EPA has also developed technology-based standards for industries using POTWs to discharge their wastewater. These standards apply to industries in all states that produce effluent that may reach water bodies. Treated wastewater produces biosolids that can be used in agriculture. Treated sewage sludge is used for agricultural purposes. EPA conducted a risk assessment and established limits for use of biosolids in land application. The solid must meet the minimum standards for environmental and human health. This is to reduce the effects of toxics contained in these wastes on human life and the environment. The National Estuary Program protects estuaries in the country by maintaining their chemical, biological, and physical properties. It involves the local communities in protecting the aesthetic and economic values of estuaries. The federal law also protects marine water from pollutions by enacting additional requirements for agricultural establishments and businesses bordering lakes, beaches, and shores. Aquatic feeding programs are also regulated by EPA guidelines to reduce pollution of water bodies by farmers practicing aquaculture. The feeding program is proportional to the weight of fish harvested to ensure that the food is completely consumed. State governments enact laws and guidelines that protect the water resources within the state. These guidelines can be stricter than the federal laws protecting the same resources. State governments and local authorities involve the community in cleanup activities of water resources within the state. The state government is responsible for providing the infrastructure and capital necessary to protect the natural water sources. State governments issue permits to industries that have to discharge their effluent into point sources. These permits work together with the federal laws regulating effluent discharge into point sources. State governments partner with other organizations and institutions that monitor the quality of both surface and underground water. These institutions and government officials conduct inspections in industries, agricultural farms, and treatment plants to ensure that they comply with federal and state laws protecting water quality. State governments fund projects that carry out cleanup activities in water bodies within the state (168). Cleanup activities aim at restoring the natural composition of water bodies that supports marine life and other water dependent resources. The Washington department conducted a cleanup of Willapa River to restore the population of tilapia and salmon in the river. State ecology departments are required to conduct ecological assessment to identify water bodies that do not meet the water quality standards enacted by EPA. Water bodies that fail to meet quality standards require cleanup activities to restore the required standards. State governments provide loans and grants to community projects aimed at cleaning the water bodies. Cleanup activities involve detailed monitoring, field analysis, and laboratory analysis that provide data detailing the pollution levels in the water. Cleanup activities are carried over a number of years and involve several stages. This makes the process capital intensive and the state government has to collaborate with financial institutions for funding. Local councils have several roles that influence the health of the waterways. Local authorities conduct assessments that identify risks posed by water projects. The council identifies zones that protect catchment areas and sensitive landscapes that have to be protected to preserve the catchment areas. Local plans must uphold the community values relying on water resources such as swimming, irrigation, and surfing. These objectives of the local community are considered during the planning process. Local councils must also identify areas where high-risk developments should be avoided or where careful management is required. Local developments must meet sustainable environmental performance levels that are socially and economically viable. These objectives protect the uses of water to ensure that water sources are safe for human consumption. Poor planning can lead to future problems that limit renewability and conservation of water sources. Local development authorities incorporate community environmental values to provide a benchmark for assessing potential impacts of developments in water quality. Local planners develop a performance level that determines the standards for determining quality standards. Water ways and distribution systems must avoid areas with high risk of pollution. Careful planning of industrial runoffs and treatment plants is required for proper managed (169). Poorly managed treatment plants interfere with the distribution process that affects the quality water. Storm water is also a major source of pollution for water sources due to high volumes of water that run off from development areas. Local councils have to propose ways of harnessing storm water and convert it to consumable water. Storm water runs through industrial areas and agricultural lands that increase the chemical components. Assessing sources and paths followed by storm water can make it possible to harness it and reduce its pollution effect on water bodies. Local and federal governments have enacted laws aimed at providing the public with safe water for consumption. Land use activities are a significant source of pollutants for water bodies. Land activities ranging from agricultural activities to industrial effluents affect the quality of water. Farming activities that use fertilizers and pesticides produce chemicals that affect the quality of water. Industrial effluents contain poisonous chemicals that affect human health. EPA has enacted laws that regulate the discharge of industrial effluents into water bodies. Industries have to treat their industrial waste before it is released into point sources. This reduces the amount of chemicals deposited in water bodies that may harm consumers. State governments also have laws that regulate the use of water for farming and in industries that may be stricter than federal laws. State governments and local authorities implement water provision plans that should aim at preserving the quality of water. Planning must respect the community values and protect water catchments to preserve their quality. Work cited Daniels, Thomas L., and Katherine Daniels. The Environmental Planning Handbook for Sustainable Communities and Regions. Chicago: Planners Press, American Planning Association, 2004. Print. Read More