All Hands’ Needed to Control Nutrient Pollution
by Tom Damm
When a harmful algal bloom in western Lake Erie contaminated the Toledo area water supply two years ago, my first thoughts turned to my niece Jen and her family.
They were among the hundreds of thousands warned not to drink their water, cook with it, give it to their pets or ingest it any way after tests found the toxin, microcystin, above the standard for consumption.
Jen found out about the water ban when she turned on the TV at around 8 a.m. By then, there were scenes of panicky residents buying out cases of water from store shelves.
Two days later the water was declared safe to drink again. But the weekend incident served as a wake-up call for many, including members of the Toledo Rotary Club.
The 400-member club – the world’s 11th largest – is putting its considerable people power and resources behind the challenge of preventing another nutrient-driven outbreak of blue-green algae in the lake.
The club invited EPA to its signature event – the second annual Rotary Lake Erie Watershed Conference – to explain to the 300 attendees how excess nutrients – nitrogen and phosphorus – are being reduced in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Jon Capacasa, our EPA Mid-Atlantic Region Water Protection Division director, relayed the history and progress of the Bay partnership, emphasizing the importance of sound science and collaboration.
He reminded them that they’re not alone – that nutrient pollution is a national problem, a threat to public health, aquatic life and the economy, and to solve it we need “all hands on deck,” including civic groups.
Jon offered some websites where Rotarians and others could find projects and activities to get involved, including watershed projects, volunteer water quality monitoring, and outreach campaigns.
All 50 states have reported harmful algal blooms, and recent research suggests the problem is getting worse as a result of climate change.
Check out this site for more information and for additional ways to help reduce nutrient pollution in your area.
About the Author: Tom Damm has been with EPA since 2002 and now serves as communications coordinator for the region’s Water Protection Division.
from The EPA Blog https://blog.epa.gov/blog/2016/11/all-hands-needed-to-control-nutrient-pollution/
So Guys ...All Hands’ Needed to Control Nutrient Pollution
Post Titlle All Hands’ Needed to Control Nutrient Pollution URL Link https://allsciences9.blogspot.com/2016/11/all-hands-needed-to-control-nutrient.html
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar