Water as One of the Earth's Most Precious and Vulnerable Resources - Assignment Example

Water is one of the greatest natural resources on earth. Not only because it benefits nature and the continued existence of our planet, but because it is a necessity for all human survival. It may be easy for those living in today's modern world to take advantage of this life sustaining resource because it has been made so simple and easy to access. Modern society has become accustomed to plumbing systems providing a constant source of running water at any given moment. This makes it easy to take advantage of the convenience of running water, and not realize just how much the world relies on the benefits of water. There are four main sources in which today's world population can access and harvest natural water. Surface water is water that can be found in any land situated water source whether it be a lake, river, marsh, or any other type of wetlands. The water levels in surface water sources will vary depending on precipitation and climate. Under river flow is made up of water particles that can be found just beneath the ground of surface water sources. This water is found flowing along sub-surface rocks in the ground just below the surface water and greatly contributes to the overall volume of water held by lakes, rivers, etc. Water found underground in cracks and spaces in the soil is called Groundwater, and is accumulated from precipitation hitting the surface of the soil. The last of the water sources is Desalination. This artificial process converts water from the earth's ocean and converts it into fresh drinkable water known as distilled water. This is an expensive process and therefore only a small portion of the earth's population uses desalination. With our world relying so heavily on these four water sources it is often catastrophic when a water shortage occurs, and it can leave entire populations with little to no water for extended periods of time. This water shortage, or draught, can be caused by a number of different factors. Usually droughts are caused by a combination of climate and human activities in the area. Some of the most detrimental draughts occur between 15 and 20 latitudes because of the naturally arid climates making the earth drier. If a shift in weather occurs too quickly, it can throw off the entire natural water making resources; often taking years for it to gradually recover. If humans residing in these areas where there has been a change in weather do not protect the natural balance, maintaining that the water being taken and used is replaced by the four water sources, draught can easily occur. Often draughts and water shortages can be avoided by taking simple steps and preventing the overuse and waste of water. Whether is be using water efficient appliances, low-flow shower heads and sink spigots, checking plumbing for leaks, collecting rainwater, or waiting to water your garden during the morning and evening hours when water will evaporate more slowly. If every human did their small part to try and conserve the world's water population, the chances of water shortages and draughts would be greatly decreased. Hand in hand with making small efforts to conserve water should also be the effort to reduce water pollution. Water can become polluted when any biological change in the water quality results in harmful effects for the person who consumes it. Not only does water pollution affect the world's drinking water, it also affects the water we use for agriculture and recreation. Bacteria, viruses, disease causing agents, oxygen depriving bacteria, acids, and toxic metals, all contribute to water pollution and are usually caused by human activity. Run off from agriculture, sewage treatment plants, oil wells, and factories all contribute to water pollution, but so do other factors that are much more difficult for humans to control. Often, pollutants can be spread quickly through groundwater making it virtually impossible to stop the spread, acid buildup in the air from automobiles and equipment are just a few types of pollution that is almost impossible to control. Water pollution is not only detrimental to human, but animals and nature as well. The entire future of the planet depends heavily on water because without it there is no way for the earth's ecosystems to survive. One of the most catastrophic instances of a water source being destroyed by pollution was the Exxon Valdez oil which occurred on March 24, 1989 off the coast of Prince William Sound, Alaska. This accident is greatly considered to be one of the most detrimental environmental disasters ever to occur at human fault. The spill was massive, covering an estimated10.5 million U.S. gallons of oil into the sea, eventually covering 11,000,000 square miles of the surrounding ocean. While the oil tanker was on autopilot during its trip from Alaska to California pilot it struck a reef causing a huge split in the body. Hundreds of thousands of animals died including sea birds, sea otters, seals, bald eagles, orca whales, and billion of different varieties of fish. Since the oil killed the plankton and natural resources existing in that part of the ocean, naturally all sea life, and surrounding nature that depending on the sea life were destroyed. The Exxon oil company has since then been widely criticized and forced to pay millions to cover damages that occurred as a result of the accident. When the spill first occurred, science was not as developed as it is today in the capabilities to clean up such a massive contamination. High pressure hot water, mechanical brooms and skimmers were utilized to try and clean up the spill, but the efforts seemed futile. Even today, with the ever present and continued clean up attempts, there still remains over 23 thousand US gallons of oil present along the Prince William Sound shoreline. Scientific studies have proven that it will most likely be more than 30 years from present day before the ecosystem is fully recovered. While the damage cannot be undone, the U.S. government has learned a significant lesson from the spill and has taken every effort to make sure an economic disaster like this never happens again. In 1990 the Oil Pollution Act was passed making it illegal for any ship that has caused a significant oil spill to pass anywhere near Prince William Sound. Water is one of the earth's most precious and vulnerable resources. It is a necessity for the future of not only the human race, but the entire planet. Learning where water comes from, how to conserve it, and how to protect it from pollution are necessary steps to ensuring a healthy life and the lives of future generations. Read More