In the first module, Watersheds, they discussed the basics of what a watershed is, who came up with this concept and why, that watersheds are everywhere, and activities that can harm watersheds. A watershed is a unit of land where all the water eventually drains, whether above the surface or below, to a common place or point that is downslope. This common place can be the junction with a larger stream or river, a lake, or reservoir, or an ocean. This water starts off as precipitation and some is lost to evaporation and transpiration as some moves towards the common point.
Most civilizations started in the United States along the East coast where there is plenty of rain and water, but as people started to move west, the need for watersheds grew. …show more content…
The EPA set guidelines for water quality with the Clean Water Act of 1972, but it is up to the states to maintain these guidelines and regulate the quality of the water. Between 1976 and 2000 the number of contaminants that were regulated went from 22 to 91. Contaminants actually occur in higher amounts in urban areas than in agricultural areas. Some of the contaminants include: insecticides and herbicides, human and animal waste, phosphorous, volatile organic compounds, and trace elements (mercury, zinc, lead, and cadmium.) In the past 30 years there has been a shift in the leading environmental problems. In the 1960’s it was: industrial and municipal water pollution, major land development, and toxic waste from factories. In 2000 the leading environmental issues had switched to: polluted runoff, widespread suburban sprawl, and domestic and agricultural chemicals. Most of the issues are from non-point sources, where they are widespread over large areas. To fix these issues it has to start with every person doing their …show more content…
In the water quality module, I liked the that they show how human influence is the leading cause and also that human ignorance is also a huge problem with only a small percentage knowing the real cause of what is happening. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like in these three modules. I thought they were all done really well and presented the information in a fun and informative way that was interactive. These three modules are extremely relevant to anyone that cares even a little for the planet and wants to make changes for the better. It provides useful tips on things you can do to lessen your impact on watersheds and water quality. I would definitely recommend this to a friend as part of their water management training, because the information would be extremely beneficial to get a basic understanding of the subject in an easy and fun
Most civilizations started in the United States along the East coast where there is plenty of rain and water, but as people started to move west, the need for watersheds grew. …show more content…
The EPA set guidelines for water quality with the Clean Water Act of 1972, but it is up to the states to maintain these guidelines and regulate the quality of the water. Between 1976 and 2000 the number of contaminants that were regulated went from 22 to 91. Contaminants actually occur in higher amounts in urban areas than in agricultural areas. Some of the contaminants include: insecticides and herbicides, human and animal waste, phosphorous, volatile organic compounds, and trace elements (mercury, zinc, lead, and cadmium.) In the past 30 years there has been a shift in the leading environmental problems. In the 1960’s it was: industrial and municipal water pollution, major land development, and toxic waste from factories. In 2000 the leading environmental issues had switched to: polluted runoff, widespread suburban sprawl, and domestic and agricultural chemicals. Most of the issues are from non-point sources, where they are widespread over large areas. To fix these issues it has to start with every person doing their …show more content…
In the water quality module, I liked the that they show how human influence is the leading cause and also that human ignorance is also a huge problem with only a small percentage knowing the real cause of what is happening. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like in these three modules. I thought they were all done really well and presented the information in a fun and informative way that was interactive. These three modules are extremely relevant to anyone that cares even a little for the planet and wants to make changes for the better. It provides useful tips on things you can do to lessen your impact on watersheds and water quality. I would definitely recommend this to a friend as part of their water management training, because the information would be extremely beneficial to get a basic understanding of the subject in an easy and fun