Wading in Waste
A.
B. The author is trying make us aware of the situation that is occurring today. Waterborne diseases/microbes come from storm water runoff due to animal feces and human waste. Waterborne diseases get into our oceans and can harm humans in many different ways. If you get these microbes into your system, you can get liver disease, respiratory infections and fatal gastroinestinal disorders. The reason for these microbes getting into the water is because of construction of so many homes, roads, shopping centers and parking lots that disrupt natural drainage systems in coastal areas, and wastes that were once filtered by forests or wetlands are regularly fouling marinas and beaches. This is horrible and the only way we can make sure we are safe from this is to be aware and know this information, in other words, BE EDUCATED. Being educated is the way to make our world a better place.
C. I think that everyone should know this information because it is spring time at the moment and soon it will be summer and people are going to be spending a lot of time in the water and they should AT LEAST be aware of this. This is very dangerous and if people do not know about this soon, it can change their lives forever if they get a disease or disorder. It is something very fragile that we are dealing with and we need to make sure we are taking care of it the right way. I think that the places that have the most storm water runoff should have more wetlands. We need to make sure everyone is aware of this so that they can become educated and then make the decision of what they want to do about it.
- Millions of Americans have moved to coastal areas, particularly in the Southeast to take advantage of their balmy climate, recreational opportunities and natural beauty
- Rapid and poorly planned development is spoiling the beauty in a shocking way
- Growing number of beaches and shellfish beds along the coast have been contaminated by disease-causing-microorganisms coming from animal and human wastes
- In 2004, coastal states ordered 19.950 days of closures and pollution advisories affecting 1,234 ocean and freshwater beaches, or 1/3 of all the beaches monitored by health officials.
- The reason for 85% of closures and advisories was the detection of excessive counts of fecal bacteria in beach waters
- Waterborne microbes move downstream with animal feces in storm water runoff or human waste in sewage overflows and septic-tank leaks.
- They can cause liver disease, respiratory infections and fatal gastroinestinal disorders.
- These illnesses are common in Third World countries with poor sanitation
- The problem in the U.S steams from unwise growth, not poverty
- Construction of so many homes, roads, shopping centers and parking lots disrupted natural drainage systems in coastal areas, and wastes that were once filtered by forests or wetlands are regularly fouling marinas and beaches
- How to reduce microbial pollution? Issue led to conflicts pitting developers and pro-growth politicians against regulatory authorities, commercial and recreational shellfishers,surfers, swimmers, divers and conservationists.
- Innovative solutions are available: "Smart Growth" strategies can restore polluted coastlines and provide economic benefits as well
- Adoption of reasonable controls on coastal development would safeguard the shoreline economy as much as it would protect the public's health.
- In 2004, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration noted that 153 million Americans lived in the countries bordering the seacoasts and the Great Lakes which make up only 17 percent of continental U.S land area.
- Seven million people expected to join the coastal population by 2008. Total is seasonally expanded by hordes of vacationers
- Large areas that used to be forests are being turned into resorts, subdivisions, strip malls, restaurants, office complexes and industrial parks.
- Construction companies are draining wetlands and covering formerly vegetated soils with asphalt, concrete and housing materials
- When it rains, water flows over the surfaces, picking up animal feces and other pollutants and wash them down to drainages ditches or storm drains, leading directly to lakes, creeks or beach areas.
- Storm water runoff isn't treated.
- It is classified as a nonpoint source, because it emenates from a wide area rather than a single source
- EPA stated that this pollution is the leading remaining cause of water-quality problems in the U.S
- Storm water runoff carries fertilizers, pesticides, heavy metals and petrochemicals, but it's the disease-causing microbes-the bacteria, viruses and protozoa from feces that pose a threat to human health
- Microscopic algae can concentrate the harmful organisms that are present in water.
- Humans that eat food that are contaminated with fecal microbes might have a risk of getting gastroenteritis
- Microbial pollution poses a danger to people involved in common recreational activities such as swimming, surfing, wading, diving, snorkeling, waterskiing and boating.
- Anyone in water risks infection by microbes entering through the mouth, nose, eyes or open wounds.
- Illnesses include gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, cellulitis, ear infections, respiratory infections and more serious diseases like hepatits and paralysis.
- Some of the waterborne bacteria that can cause the health problems are E coli, salmonella, yersinia, etc.
- Among many waterborne disease-causing viruses are hepatitis A and Norwalk.
- The microbes triggered severe disease outbreaks in U.S and Canada
- in 1999, outbreak of E coli and campylobacter resulted in two deaths and 116 illnesses in fairgoers in NY's Washington County.
- 2000- E coli and campylobacter caused 2,3000 illnesses and 7 deaths among elderly and infants
- When bacterial counts get too high, authorities issue polluted-water advisories or close beaches
- EPA recommends states use Enterococcus bacteria as a safety indicator for ocean and bay water.
- Storm water runoff from developed areas may have a multiplier effect on bacterial concentrations downstream.
- High flows come from large parking lots or subdivisions may erode the drainage ditches and stream banks, bringing suspended sediments into the water.
- Sediments can physically and chemically bind with pollutants such as phosphate, metals, fecal bacteria and viruses
- Binding to soil protects it from getting killed by ultraviolet radiation.
- Microbes can survive for extended periods in sediment because they are protected from ultraviolet radiation and have ready access to nutrients.
- High concentrations of fecal microbes in sediments found near several public boat ramps
- Poorly designed sanitation systems con contribute to microbial pollution.
- Heavy rains cause overflows that dump untreated human waste into rivers, lakes and bays
- A new dilemma is emerging: in coastal areas where resident do not have sewage hookups and must put waste in septic tanks instead.
- Areas with sandy soils and high water tables are unsuitable for septic systems, because the soils saturate with water, and bacteria can move along through them. Poor planning allowed their presence in many rapidly growing coastal regions.
- Erin K. Lipp and her colleagues determined that Florida Gulf Coast communities, fecal bacteria counts in bays and tributaries increase with the outgoing tide.
B. The author is trying make us aware of the situation that is occurring today. Waterborne diseases/microbes come from storm water runoff due to animal feces and human waste. Waterborne diseases get into our oceans and can harm humans in many different ways. If you get these microbes into your system, you can get liver disease, respiratory infections and fatal gastroinestinal disorders. The reason for these microbes getting into the water is because of construction of so many homes, roads, shopping centers and parking lots that disrupt natural drainage systems in coastal areas, and wastes that were once filtered by forests or wetlands are regularly fouling marinas and beaches. This is horrible and the only way we can make sure we are safe from this is to be aware and know this information, in other words, BE EDUCATED. Being educated is the way to make our world a better place.
C. I think that everyone should know this information because it is spring time at the moment and soon it will be summer and people are going to be spending a lot of time in the water and they should AT LEAST be aware of this. This is very dangerous and if people do not know about this soon, it can change their lives forever if they get a disease or disorder. It is something very fragile that we are dealing with and we need to make sure we are taking care of it the right way. I think that the places that have the most storm water runoff should have more wetlands. We need to make sure everyone is aware of this so that they can become educated and then make the decision of what they want to do about it.