The Conversation. (April 29, 2020). Climate change threatens drinking water quality across the Great Lakes. Retrieved August 30, 2020 from,  https://theconversation.com/climate-change-threatens-drinking-water-quality-across-the-great-lakes-131883

Global warming is causing toxic algae blooms that are turning lakes from clear to green in the Western United States. The rapid warming of these high elevation environments has caused the concentration of algae in two of these mountain lakes to double in the past 70 years. To collect this information a team of scientists used a gravity corer tool to collect sediment cores. The large change in algae was due to the green algal blooms, chlorophytes, that thrive in warm temperature. The amount of algae found in these lakes would most likely be found in a highly polluted area affected by agricultural runoff, not isolated mountain environments. Climate change causes the accumulation of nutrients , such as phosphorus and nitrogen, that cause algae blooms. These blooms sicken wildlife and destabilize aquatic environments. On another note, these freshwater and marine algae blooms, “have a huge negative economic impact, affecting fisheries, tourism and human health”.

This article shows yet another instance in which Global Warming is changing our environment in ways we never thought possible. These algae blooms are a problem throughout the entire US and severely affect many freshwater sources. They damage the environment and ecosystems that surround them and pollute the little fresh water we have and need. Ultimately, these blooms are caused by human carelessness, we have caused and worsened global warming and we have dumped chemicals and waste into waterways for years and years causing permanent damage. The environments and ecosystems around the US are connected in many ways and if we continue to mess up and destabilize parts of it, it will all suffer the consequences and come back to harm us.

The Guardian. (January 22, 2020). US drinking water contamination with ‘forever chemicals’ far worse than scientists thought. Retrieved August 30, 2020 from,  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/22/us-drinking-water-contamination-forever-chemicals-pfas

The US drinking water has been alarmingly widely polluted with perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. They are resistant to breaking down in the environment and some have been linked to many health problems such as, “cancers, liver damage, low birth weight and other health problems”. Some of the highest levels were found in Miami, Philadelphia, and New Orleans drinking water. These dangerous chemicals are used in everyday things such as, Teflon, Scotch-guard, and firefighting foam. Samples were taken in 31 states at 44 sites and only one location had no detectable PFAS, and only 3 had the recommended safe amount. Furthermore, in 34 infected sites, contamination had not been publicly reported to the EPA. The EPA is trying To help states and communities with the issue but cannot give a timeline. 

The amount of pollution is in the water we all commonly drink and deem ‘clean’ is shocking. This article exposes the lack of awareness and action against PFAS. So much of our freshwater is being contaminated faster than we can see and it is going to continue to be a major issue until we find an approach to address it. Furthermore, the development of this country and many new chemically engineered protections has negatively affected the planet in ways. If we are going to continue to grow and expand our creations and technology, the chemicals we use need to be disposed of in a safe way, or else we won’t live long enough to see the result.

The New York Times. (May 20,2020). Dam Failure Threatens a Dow Chemical Complex and Superfund Cleanup. Retrieved August 30, 2020 from, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/20/climate/michigan-dam-dow-chemical-superfund.html

Floodwaters from two breached dams in Michigan flowed into a Dow chemical complex, threatening a Superfund toxic-cleanup site downriver. First the floodwaters overwhelmed the ponds designed to hold brine water, used by Dow. They flooded causing two dam failures and spreading the contaminated water. Over the years Dow has dumped many chemicals into their water, which led to dioxin contamination all along the Tittibawasee and Siginaw Rivers and even into Lake Heron. Dioxin can, “damage the immune system, cause reproductive or developmental problems, and cause cancer”. The Superfund cleanup for the Tittibawasee river began in 2007, and 13 years of work could have been ruined by the flooding. Although Dow agreed to pay $77 million to fund projects that would work to restore nearby fish and wildlife habits, they still released pollution from the plant for decades. The river is so polluted that signs next to it warn people to not eat the fish there or some in contact with the soil and river sediment. 60% of these Superfund sites are affected by flooding and wildfires countrywide. Climate change is causing this new and increasing problems, however the Trump campaign refuses to provide more information on how the government plans to adapt and ready these sites to withstand the changing climate. 

This article shows how we must learn and adapt around climate change, because no matter how hard we try to undo our polluting mistakes the earth has the power to wipe out our efforts. Not only must we adapt, but we must still keep every person and business of all sizes accountable for contributing to pollution and climate change. The careless release of toxic chemicals from the Dow plant has caused almost unfixable damage to the rivers ecosystem and environment, it has gone so far it has reached Lake Heron, a haven for much of the little fresh water we have. 

The Conversation. (April 29, 2020). Climate change threatens drinking water quality across the Great Lakes. Retrieved August 30, 2020 from,  https://theconversation.com/climate-change-threatens-drinking-water-quality-across-the-great-lakes-131883

Over the years the water in parts of the Great Lakes has severely declined. It all started in 1970, after a century of urbanization and industrialization. During these developments factories were allowed to dump waste into waterways and bad sewer systems commonly sent raw sewage into the lake and river. This dumping and polluting cause toxic algae blooms and foul water. To combat these affects the US made the Clean Water Act and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the US and Canada. These steps helped a lot, however over time their shortcomings combined with climate change has created many new problems. Water temperature and precipitation is rising, and smaller “nonpoint” sources, “such as fertilizer and other nutrients washing off farm fields and suburban lawns,” has been fairly unregulated. The accumulation of this runoff has spurred the creation of severe toxic algae blooms similar to those from 1970. These blooms make the water taste and smell bad, and sometimes unsafe to drink, also they, “have long-term impacts on the lakes’ ecosystems. They deplete oxygen, killing fish and spurring chemical processes that prime the waters of Lake Erie for larger future blooms”. The development projects to combat this will, improve and manage stormwater and stop and process sewage before they are transported to the lakes. They also have green roofs, infiltration gardens, and reclaimed wetlands to filter and remove excess nutrients to slow runoff during extreme precipitation events. All of these along with smart real time sensors to help avert crises, will reduce the size of the algae blooms and reach almost 50% reduction in nutrient runoff.

The Great Lakes together hold 20% of the world’s surface freshwater. Many people take this for granted and think that because the lakes are so huge that runoff and human waste will not significantly harm them. However, this article shows the severe results in consistent runoff and stormwater exposure. Humans can pollute any body of water and it is extremely important that the correct measures and laws are instilled, so that we don’t destroy large amounts of the little freshwater we have to begin with. It was very important that commissions and alliances that oversee the well being of these lakes took appropriate action to reduce this pollution, however it is still very concerning that we let the water backslide into the state it once was in 1970. 

Wbur. (August 14, 2020). EPA Moves To Reduce Runoff That Feeds Toxic Algae In Charles River. Retrieved August 29, 2020 from, https://www.wbur.org/earthwhile/2020/08/14/epa-stormwater-toxic-algae-phosphorus-charles-river

Due to the toxic algae blooms that grow on the Charles River every summer, the Environmental Protection Agency is trying to find ways to reduce this stormwater pollution in the river. The EPA is contacting private institutions on the Charles River watershed to discuss the proper procedure. This process might entail, permitting requirements for large private properties and if necessary, “certain commercial, industrial, and institutional properties in the Charles River watershed — like office parks, industrial parks, shopping centers, private colleges and universities, and hospitals — would be subject to new federal Clean Water Act stormwater permits,”. It seems the missing piece is to start regulating privately-owned sources of pollution. This action was prompted by a petition from Charles River Watershed Association and the Boston based Conservation Law Foundation. Now it is up to the authority of the EPA under the Clean Water Act to limit the storm runoff into the Charles. 

This article shows how the impact of water pollution has pushed the community and surrounding organizations to take real action. Toxic algae blooms are extremely harmful, and so it’s very important that this be as mitigated as possible. These issues of water pollution need to be taken seriously because these polluted waters can cause a lot of damage and are left unregulated. For example, if a dog drinks out of a river with toxic algae blooms it can die.This also shows that everyone needs to be held accountable for polluting and harming the environment, whether it be on private land or not. Privately owned properties cannot do whatever they want and leave the river and environment to suffer the consequences. Clean water is not only vital to the ecosystems, but we need it to survive.