Water Quality - Introduction

Water quality affects the environment, fish, other marine life, and humans in almost all places on the globe. There are many things that may cause water quality to become poor. For example, sedimentation, erosion, and decayed organisms are all natural occurrences that can affect a body of water. However it is also mainly affected by human causes, such as the pollution of chemical substances, run-off, and pesticide use. Almost half of the species that are on the endangered species list or that are threatened are water-dependent organisms. This shows that poor water quality has a drastic affect on almost all wildlife. It is not only the animals in the environment that are dependent on the quality of water, but human beings also need fresh water to survive. As the population is constantly rising all over the world,  it is becoming especially hard for some nations to provide their people with fresh drinking water, especially in highly populated and dense areas. Water quality is an important world issue and a national issue as well. It should be brought to the public’s attention and more should be done to provide high quality water.

Water Quality - Causes Document

There are many causes behind poor water quality. Some causes may be natural, but most are caused by the carelessness of humans. Some causes can be quite preventable if the proper precautions were to be taken. Some causes of water pollution include the overflow of sewage drains or leakage from a sewer. These problems could cause chemicals such as detergents to enter the water column and make it unsafe for not only humans but animals to drink from the water. Another cause of poor water quality is the release of oils, grease, or other chemicals to enter a stream or lake. The introduction of these chemicals into a stream can come from industry, motor vehicles, or from the poor disposal of domestic wastes. This could have a drastic impact on the aquatic life in an area and even disrupt a food chain, killing plants and animals. Since chemicals take a long time to break down this problem would not go away very quickly once introduced. A third major cause of poor water quality is the introduction of nutrients to a lake or stream. Nutrients could enter a body of water from fertilizer runoff on a farm, sewer overflows, and storm water runoff. These nutrients cause the increased growth of algae and weeds in a body of water. These weeds and algae would take all of the oxygen out of the water, killing the fish and other life that lives there. These are called algal blooms and they are detrimental to an aquatic environment. Poor water quality does not have to be an issue however. With close surveillance and participation water issues can be a thing of the past.

Water Quality - Graphic of Causes

Water Quality - Research Document

“Atomic cannonball off the high dive”… and other causes of water pollution. (2005. September 06). Retrieved from http://www.grinningplanet.com/2005/09-06/water-pollution-causes-article.htm

 Causes of bad water quality . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.aquasafestraw.com/water-issues/bad-quality-water 

 Facts:causes of poor water quality. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.uprct.nsw.gov.au/water_quality/facts/causes_of_poor_wq.htm


Upper Parramatta River Catchment Trust (2001). FACTS: Causes of poor water quality. Upper Paramatta River Catchment Trust.

Water Quality - Solution Document

Poor water quality is a problem for people all over the United States and all around the World. However, most of the causes of poor water quality are due to the affect that human beings have on the environment around us. Since humans do so much to create  poor water quality, it should also be our job to find solutions to our problem. There are two types of pollution that cause poor water quality, point source pollution and non-point source pollution. In order to find out how to stop the water quality problems that humans are facing, we must first understand these two forms of pollution. An example of point source pollution might be a pipe from an industrial factory discharging right into a river. Point source pollution comes directly from a source that can be determined and controlled. In order to stop point source pollution from occurring, laws and guidelines have been passed for factories, industries, and even homes. This ensures that anyone who is causing point source pollution will be fined and perhaps even arrested depending on how toxic the waste is and to what extent it was being dumped. Non-point source pollution however is much harder to control. One example of non-point source pollution would be fertilizer running off of a field and into a stream, or chemicals running off into a storm drain on a road. These examples occur quite often and are the main factors in why water quality is so poor in some areas. Since it is difficult to pinpoint the sources of these pollutants it is hard to stop them from entering streams and lakes.

Water Quality - Graphic of Solution

Deforestation - Introduction

Deforestation is the large-scale clearing of forests. Methods of deforestation range from cutting down trees to burning them to bulldozing them entirely. Such destruction most often results in the loss of habitats for a myriad of species of plants and animals. In addition, the loss of tree canopy to shield the soil from the sun will result in once fertile and moist soil becoming dry and barren. Approximately 30% of the Earth’s landmass is covered in forests, but patches nearly the size of Panama are removed each year to deforestation. Trees play a vital role in the natural carbon cycle, by converting carbon dioxide in the air to oxygen. The reduced number of trees means an increased amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.   

Deforestation is, as it sounds, the wide-scale destruction or clearing of Earth’s forests.  Forests cover approximately 30% of the Earth’s land surface, but that number decreases every year. The negative effects of deforestation are overwhelming. About 70% of Earth’s land animals make their homes in forests, and are incapable of living through the deforestation that destroys their habitats. Without trees to block the sun, forest soils, which are usually moist, dry out. The trees are also a vital role in the water cycle because they return water vapor into the atmosphere. In addition, trees can absorb greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Fewer trees mean more gases.  Despite the negative side-effects, deforestation still continues. Although it has been somewhat decreased, considering the world economy and desire for resources, deforestation will probably never be stopped. The most common reason for trees to be cut down is for pecuniary grounds, whether it is for paper, or wood to build homes and buildings.