The Problem
The topic selection for the development of the adaptive management plan is based on the claim of residents and conservation groups of the increase levels of air pollution and pollution of surface and groundwater resources in Lower Yakima Valley on Yakima, Washington with the improper disposal and management of manure from their Concentrate Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO’s) of the dairy’s industry.
Nevertheless, the dairy’s industry claims that tests conducted by the EPA does not link their farms with groundwater pollution due to the possibility of other sources of pollution as indicated on the same report. However, current levels of production of manure, storage, disposal methods and the lack of sources upgradient from the dairy’s …show more content…
This region is one of the primary producers of vegetables, fruits and wine industry on the state of Washington. However, in the last 30 to 40 years’ large scale dairy’s has been established which has resulted in an increase of water pollution with nitrates of groundwater wells which is the primary source of drinking water for many residents in the lower valley.
Nitrate can be found in the water and soils as a natural form of nitrogen and it’s usually found in shallow groundwater with normal concentrations up to 1.1 mg / L. However, when higher levels are found, it’s mostly due to human activities. Nitrate chemical characteristics made them highly soluble in water and highly mobile in soil, which enhance the contamination of groundwater and soil. Furthermore, Nitrate concentration on drinking water is limited to 10 mg/L by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and exposure to higher levels of nitrate can result in methemoglobinemia commonly known as blue- baby …show more content…
The study breakdown was as follows: phase 1 purpose was to identify possible major sources, phase 2 to identify nitrate pollution downgrade from the sources identified and to establish sampling location areas and wells, phase 3 to provide feedback to residents of nitrate pollution on their wells. The samples were taken at the sources identified, at residential wells downgradient from the sources and additional samples were taken upgradient from the
The topic selection for the development of the adaptive management plan is based on the claim of residents and conservation groups of the increase levels of air pollution and pollution of surface and groundwater resources in Lower Yakima Valley on Yakima, Washington with the improper disposal and management of manure from their Concentrate Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO’s) of the dairy’s industry.
Nevertheless, the dairy’s industry claims that tests conducted by the EPA does not link their farms with groundwater pollution due to the possibility of other sources of pollution as indicated on the same report. However, current levels of production of manure, storage, disposal methods and the lack of sources upgradient from the dairy’s …show more content…
This region is one of the primary producers of vegetables, fruits and wine industry on the state of Washington. However, in the last 30 to 40 years’ large scale dairy’s has been established which has resulted in an increase of water pollution with nitrates of groundwater wells which is the primary source of drinking water for many residents in the lower valley.
Nitrate can be found in the water and soils as a natural form of nitrogen and it’s usually found in shallow groundwater with normal concentrations up to 1.1 mg / L. However, when higher levels are found, it’s mostly due to human activities. Nitrate chemical characteristics made them highly soluble in water and highly mobile in soil, which enhance the contamination of groundwater and soil. Furthermore, Nitrate concentration on drinking water is limited to 10 mg/L by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and exposure to higher levels of nitrate can result in methemoglobinemia commonly known as blue- baby …show more content…
The study breakdown was as follows: phase 1 purpose was to identify possible major sources, phase 2 to identify nitrate pollution downgrade from the sources identified and to establish sampling location areas and wells, phase 3 to provide feedback to residents of nitrate pollution on their wells. The samples were taken at the sources identified, at residential wells downgradient from the sources and additional samples were taken upgradient from the