After learning about water, what it is, how it is important to everything in the world, how it gets polluted, and how we can prevent pollution in our waters, here are some ways that we all can do to accelerate to protect our waters.
Many students are now discovering that they can contribute to scientific knowledge and help the environment through active learning and undergraduate research programs. Internship is a way of doing this.
You can also join a group or an organization to help sanitize, clean, and help people from all of the country who are in need of water or help educate them. By joining an organization such as "A Child's Right," their mission is to serve families in the poorest communities in the world as they implement community-managed projects that integrate water supply, sanitation, and health education according to their website, "A Child's Right." Here are their contacts if interested in joining or learning more.
USA - A Child's Right
1127 Broadway, Suite 102 . Tacoma, WA 98402 USA
Phone: 253.327.1707 . email: acr@achildsright.org
Another organization that is here in Wisconsin is the "Community Shares of Wisonsin." What they do is addresses social, economic, and environmental problems through grassroots activities, advocacy, research, and public education according to their website "Community Shares."
To get to know this organization better contact them through mail, address or phone.
612 W. Main Street, Suite 303
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 256-1066
Fax: (608) 256-8823
Email
You don't have to join an organization if you don't want to. What you also can do is walk around the beaches and collect the garbages in the area. You could also conserve water by using enough or less when cooking, taking a bath, brushing your teeth, watering your lawn, and washing your car with less water. Every little thing counts when using water or doing something that can affect the water, and you'd be surprise how much water you are saving for yourself and the world. This not only helps you but also the people around you.
A Child's Right. N.p., 2006. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.achildsright.org/water_relief_org_links.php>.
Community Shares. N.p., 2011. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.communityshares.com/contact.asp>.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Insufficient Sewage Treatment Causes Water Pollution
Many cities in developing countries are able to afford a sewage treatment system for their community, but for those less unfortunate cities who can not afford one, are faced with spreading of diseases, eutrophication, increase in Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), etc.
According to Cunningham and Cunningham, the World Bank estimates that only 35% of urban residents in developing countries have satisfactory sanitation services (2010.) Even if they had little fresh water, it would go and mix with the sewage. They also state that in Latin America, only 2 percent of urban sewage receives any treatment, and in Egypt, Cairo's sewer system was built about 50 years ago to serve 2 million people. There are about 10 million people today in Egypt which is a huge problem having to deal with insufficient sewage and facing all sorts of disease or health issues
Many rivers and streams in developing countries are more like open sewers, and yet the poor people wash, bath, cook, and drink from it (Cunningham, Cunningham 2010). In most cases, they would not survive for very long before they die. It is very important that countries who have the technology, knowledge, and money should help the poor people. Even without money, knowledge could still help the poor people better themselves and their community.
Cunningham, William P., and Mary Ann Cunningham. Environmental Science. 11. New York: The McGraw-Hill, 2010.500. Print.
According to Cunningham and Cunningham, the World Bank estimates that only 35% of urban residents in developing countries have satisfactory sanitation services (2010.) Even if they had little fresh water, it would go and mix with the sewage. They also state that in Latin America, only 2 percent of urban sewage receives any treatment, and in Egypt, Cairo's sewer system was built about 50 years ago to serve 2 million people. There are about 10 million people today in Egypt which is a huge problem having to deal with insufficient sewage and facing all sorts of disease or health issues
Many rivers and streams in developing countries are more like open sewers, and yet the poor people wash, bath, cook, and drink from it (Cunningham, Cunningham 2010). In most cases, they would not survive for very long before they die. It is very important that countries who have the technology, knowledge, and money should help the poor people. Even without money, knowledge could still help the poor people better themselves and their community.
Cunningham, William P., and Mary Ann Cunningham. Environmental Science. 11. New York: The McGraw-Hill, 2010.500. Print.
Monday, April 18, 2011
The Hydrological Cycle
Air pollution that causes pollution in water may be determine by the hydrological cycle which moves and carries the water.
The Hydrologic cycle is a model that describes the storage and movement of water between the, biosphere, atmosphere, and the hydrosphere(Hubbert 2010). This water evaporates from moist surfaces, falls as rain or snow, passes through living organisms, and returns to the ocean (Cunningham, Cunningham 2010).
The Hydrologic cycle begins with evaporation from the surface of the ocean. According to Bramer, moisture is than transported by the winds around the globe until it returns to the surface as precipitation. Once the water reaches the ground, it may evaporate back again, or penetrate the surface and become ground water states the article of the Hydrological Cycle. The ground water may seep into the river, lake, and ocean, or it may be released back into the atmosphere through transpiration according to the article "A Summary of The Hydrological Cycle." The remains of the water on the Earth's surface is runoffs, which goes back to lakes and rivers that carries it to the ocean (Bramer 2010). The Hydrological Cycle than begins again.
Bramer, Daniel. "A Summary of The Hydrologic Cylce." http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/hyd/smry.rxml. N.p., 2010. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/hyd/smry.rxml>.
Cunningham, William P., and Mary Ann Cunningham. Environmental Science. 11. New York: The McGraw-Hill, 2010.372. Print.
Hubbert, Jason. "Hydrologic Cycle." http://www.eoearth.org/article/Hydrologic_cycle. N.p., 02/23/2011. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Hydrologic_cycle>
The Hydrologic cycle is a model that describes the storage and movement of water between the, biosphere, atmosphere, and the hydrosphere(Hubbert 2010). This water evaporates from moist surfaces, falls as rain or snow, passes through living organisms, and returns to the ocean (Cunningham, Cunningham 2010).
The Hydrologic cycle begins with evaporation from the surface of the ocean. According to Bramer, moisture is than transported by the winds around the globe until it returns to the surface as precipitation. Once the water reaches the ground, it may evaporate back again, or penetrate the surface and become ground water states the article of the Hydrological Cycle. The ground water may seep into the river, lake, and ocean, or it may be released back into the atmosphere through transpiration according to the article "A Summary of The Hydrological Cycle." The remains of the water on the Earth's surface is runoffs, which goes back to lakes and rivers that carries it to the ocean (Bramer 2010). The Hydrological Cycle than begins again.
Bramer, Daniel. "A Summary of The Hydrologic Cylce." http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/hyd/smry.rxml. N.p., 2010. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/hyd/smry.rxml>.
Cunningham, William P., and Mary Ann Cunningham. Environmental Science. 11. New York: The McGraw-Hill, 2010.372. Print.
Hubbert, Jason. "Hydrologic Cycle." http://www.eoearth.org/article/Hydrologic_cycle. N.p., 02/23/2011. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Hydrologic_cycle>
Air Pollution And Water
Besides water vapor causing harm on humans, air pollution is another factor that can cause serious damage to the people, environment and especially water.
Most people believe that air pollution can not affect the water around us since it's up in the sky and not on the ground. But what they don't know is that some air pollutants are able to reach our water resourses such as lakes, rivers, dams, oceans, ponds, and etc... Some fall as dry particles due to gravity, while other air pollutants fall with rain, snow, or fog, and they can enter a body of water directly, or they can fall onto land and enter indirectly with water run-off (Eastburn 2006). They not only affect the water, but also living organisms that depends on the water for their survival.
According to Eastburn, Nitrogen compounds supply an unnatural amount of nutrients to a body of water, which can cause a rapid increase in the growth of algae. The danger of having a rapid increase of algae can cause clogged waterways and upset the balance of the ecosystem. But the most dangerous is that some algae blooms are toxic and are the base of the food web, which can be transmitted to a wide variety of organisms. Besides the increase of algae, Nitrogen compounds can also contribute to water bodies becoming more acidic (Eastburn 2006).
Approximately 2,700 to 6,000 tons of Mercury are released into the air as gas coming from the Earth's crust and oceans each year, and about 2,000 to 3,000 tons are released each year into the atmosphere by human activities, primarily from burning wastes, and especially from fossil fuels such as coal. (Eastburn 2006). According to Eastburn, mercury is soluble in water, therefore bacteria can cause chemical changes that transform it into methyl mercury, a more toxic form. Methyl mercury can cause fish to eat birds, mammals and humans also. Sea creatures can absorb the mercury, and when caught and cook, the mercury would remain, and if we eat it, it can cause nervous system damage or poising.
As you can see, air pollution not only affects the air, but water along with many organisms that depends on the water. So not only do we need to prevent water pollution, we also need to take care of our air.
Eastburn, Teri. "Air Pollution And Water." Windows2Universe. N.p., 03/01/2006. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://www.windows2universe.org/milagro/effects/water_watersheds.html>.
Most people believe that air pollution can not affect the water around us since it's up in the sky and not on the ground. But what they don't know is that some air pollutants are able to reach our water resourses such as lakes, rivers, dams, oceans, ponds, and etc... Some fall as dry particles due to gravity, while other air pollutants fall with rain, snow, or fog, and they can enter a body of water directly, or they can fall onto land and enter indirectly with water run-off (Eastburn 2006). They not only affect the water, but also living organisms that depends on the water for their survival.
According to Eastburn, Nitrogen compounds supply an unnatural amount of nutrients to a body of water, which can cause a rapid increase in the growth of algae. The danger of having a rapid increase of algae can cause clogged waterways and upset the balance of the ecosystem. But the most dangerous is that some algae blooms are toxic and are the base of the food web, which can be transmitted to a wide variety of organisms. Besides the increase of algae, Nitrogen compounds can also contribute to water bodies becoming more acidic (Eastburn 2006).
Approximately 2,700 to 6,000 tons of Mercury are released into the air as gas coming from the Earth's crust and oceans each year, and about 2,000 to 3,000 tons are released each year into the atmosphere by human activities, primarily from burning wastes, and especially from fossil fuels such as coal. (Eastburn 2006). According to Eastburn, mercury is soluble in water, therefore bacteria can cause chemical changes that transform it into methyl mercury, a more toxic form. Methyl mercury can cause fish to eat birds, mammals and humans also. Sea creatures can absorb the mercury, and when caught and cook, the mercury would remain, and if we eat it, it can cause nervous system damage or poising.
As you can see, air pollution not only affects the air, but water along with many organisms that depends on the water. So not only do we need to prevent water pollution, we also need to take care of our air.
Eastburn, Teri. "Air Pollution And Water." Windows2Universe. N.p., 03/01/2006. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://www.windows2universe.org/milagro/effects/water_watersheds.html>.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Water Vapor Affecting Our Weather
Many people knows that due to a build up of emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat trapping gases from human sources affects our global warming. And although we dont want global warming to accelerate any farther, many scientist are now wondering why decrease in water vapor has contributed to slowing of Earth's warming.
Water vapor is a potent heat trapping gas which absorbs sunlight and re-emits heat onto Earth's atmosphere (Bhanoo 2010). Studies have found that from 1980-2000, an increase in water vapor sped the rate of warming during the industrial period states Bhanoo. Methane, which can be found in many industrial companies, when oxidized it produces water vapor, therefore we get warmer weathers.
According to Louise Gray, in 1990 it was studied and shown that about 1/3 of the increase of global temperature was due to an increase in water vapor. Today all has changed and many scientist does not know why there are not alot of water vapors. Today, water vapor has slowed the rate of Earth's warming by 25% states Dr. Soloman in Bhanoo's interview.
Although its great knowing that the decrease of water vapor decreases global warming since we are already battling global warming, its a mystery to everyone why there is a shortage of water vapor in the last ten years.
Bhanoo, Sindya. "Climant Change Is Due To Water Vapor." Sweetness- elite. N.p., 01/29/2010. Web. 3 Apr 2011.
Gray, Louise. "Water vapour is a major cause of global warming and cooling find scientists." Sweetness- elite. N.p., 01/29/2010. Web. 3 Apr 2011.
Water vapor is a potent heat trapping gas which absorbs sunlight and re-emits heat onto Earth's atmosphere (Bhanoo 2010). Studies have found that from 1980-2000, an increase in water vapor sped the rate of warming during the industrial period states Bhanoo. Methane, which can be found in many industrial companies, when oxidized it produces water vapor, therefore we get warmer weathers.
According to Louise Gray, in 1990 it was studied and shown that about 1/3 of the increase of global temperature was due to an increase in water vapor. Today all has changed and many scientist does not know why there are not alot of water vapors. Today, water vapor has slowed the rate of Earth's warming by 25% states Dr. Soloman in Bhanoo's interview.
Although its great knowing that the decrease of water vapor decreases global warming since we are already battling global warming, its a mystery to everyone why there is a shortage of water vapor in the last ten years.
Bhanoo, Sindya. "Climant Change Is Due To Water Vapor." Sweetness- elite. N.p., 01/29/2010. Web. 3 Apr 2011.
Gray, Louise. "Water vapour is a major cause of global warming and cooling find scientists." Sweetness- elite. N.p., 01/29/2010. Web. 3 Apr 2011.
Forms of Water
Earth has many resources in which water is one of them. Water is an essential to every thing that exist and lives. There is water everywhere around us whether we can see it or not. There are three forms of water which are solid, liquid, and gas that we all depend on.
Sold water are frozen water that freezes at a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius, 32 degree of Fahrenheit (American Water Works Association 2002). When waters are about to freeze, the molecules moves farther apart thus expanding, and making it less dense than water. (AWWA 2002). The ice will be much lighter than the same volume of water which is why ice can float.
Liquid Water is water that flows freely. It is wet and fluid (AWWA 2002). Liquid water is the most recognizable because we see and use it everyday. We use liquid water to cook our food, wash our clothes and dishes and many more.
Water as a gas vapor is the changes from liquid to gas. If you take a warm shower you'll see steam like rising from the bottom to the ceiling and that is gas vapor. Water vapor attaches to dust in the air, and in warm temperature it forms raindrops, in cold, it freezes and forms snow or hail.
Earth provides many great resources, and water is one of the most important resource that it could provide for us humans and other living organisms.
Sold water are frozen water that freezes at a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius, 32 degree of Fahrenheit (American Water Works Association 2002). When waters are about to freeze, the molecules moves farther apart thus expanding, and making it less dense than water. (AWWA 2002). The ice will be much lighter than the same volume of water which is why ice can float.
Liquid Water is water that flows freely. It is wet and fluid (AWWA 2002). Liquid water is the most recognizable because we see and use it everyday. We use liquid water to cook our food, wash our clothes and dishes and many more.
Water as a gas vapor is the changes from liquid to gas. If you take a warm shower you'll see steam like rising from the bottom to the ceiling and that is gas vapor. Water vapor attaches to dust in the air, and in warm temperature it forms raindrops, in cold, it freezes and forms snow or hail.
Earth provides many great resources, and water is one of the most important resource that it could provide for us humans and other living organisms.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Ways To Clean And Restore Our Waters
So I've been mentioning how our country and many other countries are going through a water crisis, and how the world's water are getting polluted due to Industrial agriculture, habitat modification, and hydro- modification. Now I will talk about what we humans can do to prevent further damages to our waters and hope that we can create a better future for our kids.
According to Rita Putatanda, she states that toxic products like paints, automobile oil, polishes, and cleaning products should be stored and disposed off properly. As a matter of fact, it is better to use non-toxic, products for the house as far as possible. Also, never dispose off such products by throwing them into your toilet or sink states Rita. She also states the following:
Putatunda, Rita. "Ways to Prevent Water Pollution." Buzzle. N.p., 2011. Web. 21 Mar 2011. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ways-to-prevent-water-pollution.html>.
According to Rita Putatanda, she states that toxic products like paints, automobile oil, polishes, and cleaning products should be stored and disposed off properly. As a matter of fact, it is better to use non-toxic, products for the house as far as possible. Also, never dispose off such products by throwing them into your toilet or sink states Rita. She also states the following:
- Dispose off your trash in a proper manner and try and incorporate the recycling habit as far as possible. Non-degradable products like tampons, sanitary napkins, and diapers should not be flushed down the toilet, for these can end up damaging the process of sewage treatment, and usually end up as litter on beaches.
- Refrain from throwing litter into streams, lakes, rivers, or seas. If you do spot litter on beaches or in water systems, after ascertaining that it is safe, collect them and dispose off them in any nearby waste disposal system.
- Try using environmentally friendly household products like toiletries, soap-based household cleaning material, and washing powder as far as possible.
- Try using natural fertilizers and pesticides as far as possible, or if not, do not overuse them or over-water gardens and lawns. This will help in reducing the pollutants that get into water systems due to runoffs.
- Automobile oil should be re-used as far as possible. Also, it is important to keep your automobile well maintained in order to prevent leakages of toxic fluids like antifreeze and oil.
- Also, actively conserve water by turning the tap off when you do not need running water, such as while brushing teeth. Apart from preventing water shortages, it lessens the amount of water that needs to be treated.
Putatunda, Rita. "Ways to Prevent Water Pollution." Buzzle. N.p., 2011. Web. 21 Mar 2011. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ways-to-prevent-water-pollution.html>.
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