Let's Help End Nutrient Pollution
Hello
everyone, I’m thankful to you for following this blog. This has been a journey to
learn about the important environmental issue of harmful algal blooms that
impact our environment, health, animals, and drinking water supply. While it
may seem like a formidable crisis that is increasing in severity and
occurrence. It is however possible to control this issue as suggested by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
As
an individual effort in your home, choose detergents/soaps that are phosphate
free to reduce the excess phosphates that will runoff into bodies of water.
Ensure that washing machines and dishwashers are run with a full load to help
cut down on unnecessary soap runoff (What You Can Do: In Your Home,
2022). Pet waste left behind will be added to the runoff and end up in the
drains during storms, this waste also contains fertilizer-like nutrients
resulting in overgrowth of algae, make sure to pick up after pets. Septic
systems should be properly maintained to avoid overflow. Use water wisely to
reduce the volume of water to sewage treatment plants. Reduce the use of electricity
to help reduce emissions of nitrogen pollution from energy production. Avoid
the unnecessary use of fertilizers in your lawn and garden. Fast-acting
fertilizers will be washed away with rain, while slow-release compost is a
better option that helps recycle organic waste (What You Can Do: In Your
Yard, 2022).
Raise
awareness and education in your community on HABs and the research conducted by
the EPA. Direct community involvement in monitoring and helping collect samples;
for example, the National Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (PMN) is a
community-based network of volunteers monitoring marine phytoplankton and
harmful algal blooms (HABs). There are many other community involvement projects
like water quality monitoring and joining local watershed groups (What You
Can Do: In Your Community, 2021).
Let’s take action in our homes and communities to cut down on nutrient pollution. Learn about the progress EPA has made in your state with regards to controlling nutrient pollution and understand how you can help raise awareness in your community. EPA has partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture to reduce excess nutrients in waterways. States that have not met the numerical criteria are being provided financial and technical assistance to help them achieve the goals set forth by EPA.
Please watch my video below, it highlights the call to take action for reducing nutrient pollution.
In conclusion, I would like to remind everyone that it is our responsibility to protect our environment and water not just for ourselves, but also for our future generations. Support your local watershed groups, keep your neighborhoods clean and reduce the waste that ends in drains. These little steps can help achieve the goal of reducing nutrient pollution and hopefully reduce the occurrence of algal blooms in our waterways.
Discussion Question: what has been the most surprising factor that is impacting our environment that you learned about this semester?
References
What You Can Do: In Your Community. (2021, November 4). US EPA. Retrieved August 9, 2022, from https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/what-you-can-do-your-community
What You Can Do: In Your Home. (2022, March 23). US EPA. Retrieved August 8, 2022, from https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/what-you-can-do-your-home
What You Can Do: In Your Yard. (2022, January 31). US EPA. Retrieved August 8, 2022, from https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/what-you-can-do-your-yard
Hello Sumera,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for presenting such a critical environmental issue! If it were not for you and your information shared, I would never know what I know now about algal blooms.
As mentioned in my blog, small actions accumulate, and over time, they become a massive issue—the fact of not knowing how our detergent selection can make this matter either better or worse. Also, the negative effect of fertilizers and all the organic waste that goes into the ocean is incredible.
As you have mentioned in your blogs, education is an excellent way to start controlling this environmental issue. Also, start searching for organizations in your area that support environmental issues to help to control the damage. The EPA is a very important organization in this country, and it greatly supports all of our local environmental organizations; we have the duty to support and defend it.
Regarding your question, all environmental issues presented in this class are fascinating and important, but yours was more impacting on me. I somehow knew about algal blooms, but not at this level. As previously mentioned, the fact that the Mississippi River has created a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico was impacting, but it makes much sense after you explained the root of the damage. It is interesting how all the damage we humans are causing to this planet has caused all the environmental issues presented in this class. All the pollution, fuel emissions, greenhouse gases, and others are severely damaging our planet, and we are now facing the consequences. Great job!
Thank you Paola for reading along and learning with me.
DeleteHello Sumera, It was a beautiful presentation on such a critical environmental issue. Choose phosphate-free detergents and soaps for your household as a personal effort to lessen the extra phosphates that will discharge into bodies of water. To reduce unwanted soap runoff, make sure that washing machines and dishwashers are run with a full load. Leaving pet waste behind will cause it to mix with stormwater runoff and end up in the drains. Because this waste contains nutrients that are similar to fertilizer and will cause an overgrowth of algae, it is important to tidy up after your pets.We are currently experiencing the effects of all the pollution, fuel emissions, greenhouse gases, and other factors that are seriously harming our world.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anil for watching the presentation of my topic. I agree that many of the issues that we are experiencing are the results of pollution and greenhouse gases.
DeleteHello, Sumera
ReplyDeleteI never knew much about algal blooms until all of your blog posts. It’s more towards areas near the ocean and such and that’s why I haven’t heard much about it. I have heard about how harmful it can be but this has made it make more sense. I am very sensitive to certain detergents/soaps so I do tend to pick those without phosphate to help with my skin reaction. The area that I live in is very pet friendly. The only issues I have seen is that they don’t pick up after their pets. I think that’s rude and disgusting. I’m sure they don't know that it can end up in drains during storms or that it can cause an overgrowth of algae. Maybe this topic can be mentioned more within the pet industry. The pictures used within your presentation are awesome. It flows greatly with the topic and it’s very clear. I do wish it went a little slower so I am able to read it better without having to pause. One of the most surprising factors that I have seen within algal blooms is that all states have nutrient pollution and that it all goes into the dead zone at the end of the Mississippi River Basin. I remember hearing about the “dead zone” back in middle school but it was never brought up again. The picture that was provided from EPA is very informative and make readers/viewers more engaged by seeing number and facts. Overall, great presentation, and I was glad to be able to learn about algal blooms.
Hello Linda, thank you for watching the video and liking it. I appreciate the feedback you provided and will keep that in mind next time I post a video. All of the pictures in the video are part of the blog series and came from the research process. Anyhow, I am so happy to learn that you are already doing so much to help the environment.
DeleteHello Sumera, this was great to look at and read. I had no idea that things such as waste could cause so much damage in the world that we are living in today. I live in the city in a very pet friendly environment. People are constantly walking their dogs. Something that I noticed is that people tend let their pets poop on the sidewalk or in the grass without picking it up and placing it in the trash. There are so many bad things that can come from the waste and it is having a negative effect on the world. I am more knowledgeable now that I have looked at your blog.
ReplyDelete