Water Quality Essay - BIO 220 - Anita Flaa PDF

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1 Anita Flaa July 28, 2020 BIO-220 Vivian Hobbins Water Quality Water quality is a very essential topic and knowing where the water comes from and how it is treated to guarantee it is safe for use. Local water municipals offer an annual water quality report to notify the public of the water safety in their area. It is vital to know where local municipalities get their water, what type of contaminant weaknesses effect local communities, how these contaminants effect the local environment and health of individuals, and the best practices to minimize water contamination. The Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) provisions water to Hemet, California. The EMWD publishes an Annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) no later than July 1 of each year. After obtaining a copy of the 2020 issue reviewing the 2019 year, the CCR notes that the EMDW pulled water samples from their 31 drinking water sources collecting a total of 6,301 samples (EMWD, 2020) during the course of the year to test for 230 contaminants and impurities. EMWD performed 49,324 water quality tests in 2019 to ensure the water provided was nontoxic (EMWD, 2020). The CCR discloses where the water being supplied is coming from. Hemet, Ca is supplied by the Hemet Water Filtration Plant (HWFP). The HWFP handles both Colorado River and State Water Project (SWP) waters. This plant uses the most modern ultrafiltration equipment to remove particulate matter contaminants and generates quality, drinking water. This water treatment facility uses chloramine for final decontamination. Local groundwater also provides this area reverse osmosis filtration method (EMWD, 2020). The

2 EMWD uses the information provided by the California Water Boards Drinking Water Source Assessment and Protection (DWSAP) program to establish the pollution weaknesses of the various water sources used to supply the HWFP. Toxins are currently affecting local areas in Riverside County. For example, the local lakes have been impacted by runoff. California Department of Water Resources (DWR) advised people to prevent physical contact with Moreno Beach at Lake Perris in a neighboring city and avoid eating any fish due to a growth in blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). This is a good example of how runoff pollution is affecting the ecosystem and individuals. Cyanobacteria when strained can release contaminants during cell lysis a key supplier to the presence of cyanotoxins. These contaminants present a threat to individuals health and can have a harmful impact on drinking water quality (Moldaenke, Fang, Yang, Dahlhaus, 2019). These contaminants can also affect other species in the ecosystem, microcystins was the cyanotoxin found in DVLM (DWR, 2020). Microcystins is a prevalent contaminant that can bioaccumulate in aquatic animals like mussels, fish, and zooplankton. The human kidney, reproductive system, and the liver are most effected by microcystins (EPA, 2020). Agricultural runoff with high nitrate numbers can also affect the ecosystem and individuals. Levels surpassing 10 ppm influence the ability of blood to carry oxygen in others, particularly expectant women (EMWD, 2020). High nitrate levels in the environment can cause low oxygen levels (anoxia) killing fish and shellfish (ESA, 2012). The controlling of contamination is crucial and can be done in many ways. Reducing water contamination means to have quality management practices. Here are three instances of quality practices to help put effort into minimizing water contaminations. First, to decrease nitrogen leaching and becoming runoff, putting the fertilizer on the top of the channel at the center of the ridge guarantees retaining of the fertilizers within the root area (Siyal,

3 Bristow, Sˇimu, 2012). Second, correctly disposing of pet waste. Pet waste can carry disease carrying organisms that can be swept into lakes, rivers, and streams adding to nutrient contamination (USU, n.d.). Third, wash your automobile in commercial car washes only. These sites catch and send wastewater to a treatment facility instead of sending them to the storm drains. If washing a car at home, pull the automobile onto the grass to water the yard and keep any contaminants from becoming runoff (USU, n.d.). In conclusion, knowing where and how local water municipalities make water nontoxic and how the public can help minimize water contamination will ensure a future with good water quality. Learning what type of contaminant weaknesses are in the local areas better allows for society to safeguard the ecosystem and individual health by preserving quality water. Reducing water contamination and being sensible with individual water contaminants should be a collective effort.

References

4 California Department of Water Resources. (2020). Moreno Beach at Lake Perris Closed due to Algal Bloom: Public Urged to Avoid Water Contact, Not Eat Fish. Retrieved From https://water.ca.gov/News/News-Releases/2019/May/Lake-Perris-Algal-Bloom-ClosureMay-17-2019 California Department of Water Resources. (2020). Lake Perris Algal Bloom Advisory Reduced to Caution: Moreno Beach Reopens to the Public. Retrieved from https://water.ca.gov/News/News-Releases/2019/June/Lake-Perris-Algal-BloomAdvisory-Reduces-to-Caution-June-2019 California Department of Water Resources. (2020). Lake Perris Algal Bloom Advisory Increases to Warning: Public Urged to Avoid Water Contact. Retrieved from https://water.ca.gov/News/News-Releases/2019/June/Lake-Perris-Algal-BloomAdvisory-Increases-to-Warning-June-2019 California Water Boards. (2020). Drinking Water Source Assessment and Protection (DWSAP) Program. Retrieved from https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/DWSAP Davidson, E., David, M., Galloway, J., Goodale, C., Haeuber, R., Harrison, J., Howarth, R., Jaynes, D., Lowrance, R., Nolan, B., Peel, J., Pinder, R., Porter, E., Snyder, C., Townsend, A., and Ward, M. (2012). Excess Nitrogen in the U.S. Environment: Trends, Risk, and Solutions. Retrieved from https://www.esa.org/esa/wpcontent/uploads/2013/03/issuesinecology15.pdf Eastern Municipal Water District. (2020). Your 2019 Water Quality Consumer Confidence Report. Retrieved from https://www.emwd.org/sites/main/files/fileattachments/emwd_2019_ccr_final.pdf?1592249189

5 Moldaenke, C., Fang, Y., Yang, F., & Dahlhaus, A. (2019). Early warning method for cyanobacteria toxin, taste and odor problems by the evaluation of fluorescence signals. Science of the Total Environment, 667, 681-690. https://doiorg.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.271 Siyal, A. A., Bristow, K. L., & Sˇimu, nek, J., (2012). Minimizing nitrogen leaching from furrow irrigation through novel fertilizer placement and soil surface management strategies. Agricultural Water Management, 115, 242-251. https://doiorg.lopes.idm.oclc.org/DOI:10.1016/j.agwat.2012.09.008. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2020). Learn about Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/cyanohabs/learn-about-cyanobacteria-andcyanotoxins...