Download 3. Don`t over-water lawns and gardens

History of the Great Lakes
All was flowing calmly until June of 1969. One hot summer
day, the Cuyahoga River that ran through Cleveland, OH, on
it’s way to Lake Erie, caught fire because of it’s pollution
level. Obviously this was a serious event, because what body
of water have you heard of catching fire? A year later, after
the flames on the Cuyahoga, the Great Lakes Water Quality
Act, and Clean Water Act were introduced to protect the
Great Lakes from such levels of pollution.
How did Cuyahoga happen?
In the 18th and 19th century people believed water could dilute any
substance. Industries and individuals began dumping everything into
the streams, rivers, and other bodies of waters. Including, but not
limited to industrial run-off, sewage, and animal carcasses.
In the 20th century, people started realizing how important it is for
clean water, and how it correlates directly to our health. However as
more people and businesses moved to the Great Lakes area, the
more rivers and lakes became polluted.
Now, pollutants enter the lakes in many different ways, but the
three main ways are point source, nonpoint source, and atmospheric
pollution.
Point Source Pollution
This is when pollution enters a waterway through a specific location. An
example would be a drainpipe, draining directly into a nearby river.
Industrial plants, and sewage plants are the main culprits of point source
pollution. Point source pollution can include many different organic and
inorganic substances, including toxic metals and human waste. The name
point source is sensible because you can pin point where the pollution came
from. Since you can find the specific location, this form of pollution has been
the easiest to control of the three.
Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS)
On the other side of point source, non point source pollution, like it sounds,
you can not pin point the specific location because it comes from many
different sources and is extremely difficult to control. Therefore, this form
of pollution may be the top hazard facing our Great Lakes today, yes
including Lake Michigan.
NPS pollution is mainly caused by run off. When rain and melted snow move
across the land, they pick up numerous pollutants along the way, and
eventually dump them into rivers and lakes. Other common NPS pollutants
include fertilizers and pesticides from farms and homeowners. Oil, grease,
and salt from roadways also contribute. Along with sediment from
construction sites, eroding shorelines, and animal and human waste.
Atmospheric Pollution
Atmospheric pollution is also known as air deposition. It is another form of
NPS, but instead of being spread through run off, the pollution falls from the
sky. As water moves through the hydrologic cycle it falls to earth as either
rain, or snow. After that it evaporates into the air from land and surface
water. Pollutant emitted through the air, such as smoke from power plants,
take the same path and can be deposited into waterways hundreds of miles
away from it’s source.
Acid rain is the most well-known form of atmospheric pollution. Other major
sources include coal-burning energy plants, the combustion of fossil fuels and
waste, such as from hospitals, produces extreme amounts of mercury in the
air. Mercury is a toxic chemical that is fatal to humans and animals in large
quantities.
Clean Water Act of 1972 (CWA)
Consisted of a set of rules to control pollution. The CWA set wastewater
standards for industry, along with quality standards for all contaminants in
surface waters. Because of the CWA it is unlawful to discharge any
pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit was
obtained. This act was made to protect the recipients of the Great Lakes
water. This act is also often referred to as the Great Lakes Water Quality
Act
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest Great Lake
by surface area and volume. The
Northern edge of the Lake is touching
Wisconsin and stretches between the
U.P to Ontario, Canada. Some compare
Lake Superior to a freshwater ocean
because it can’t be seen from the other
side of the Wisconsin shoreline. Some
common fish found in the lake are
Rainbow Trout, Walleye, Lake Trout,
and Carp.
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is the only one of the
Great Lakes completely located in the
U.S. It is the second largest by volume,
and the third largest by surface area. It
is bounded West to East by WI, IL, IN,
and of course MI. The word “Michigan”
referred to the lake itself, believed to
come from the Ojibwa word
“Mishigami” meaning “great water.”
Typical fish found in this lake are
Yellow Perch, Smallmouth Bass,
Largemouth Bass, and Lake Trout.
Lake Huron
This lake is the third largest of the
five. Hydrologically it is inseparable
from Lake Michigan, because the two
are joined by the Straits of the
Mackinac. On the East of the lake is
Ontario, and on the West, Michigan.
Common fish found in the lake
consist of, but are not limited to,
Sea Lamprey, Northern Pike, Lake
Sturgeon, and Walleye.
Lake Erie
Fourth largest, or second smallest of
the Great Lakes. This lake is the
southernmost, and shallowest of the
five. Ontario is to the North, and Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and NY are to the South
of this lake. Michigan is to the West.
The lake is named after the Erie tribe
that used to inhabit the surrounding
area. Outflow from this lake provides
hydroelectric power to Canada and the
U.S, as it spins turbines at Niagra Falls.
Lake Ontario
The smallest of the five lakes. North
and southwest it is touching the
Canadian province of Ontario, and
South and East by NY. This lake is an
outlet to the Atlantic Ocean via the
St. Lawrence River. This is the only
Great Lake that doesn’t share a
shoreline with the state of MI.
Now that you all understand
geographically where the lakes
are located, we can move on to
the problem and steps to solve
it.
The Problem
The first step to solving a problem, is admitting there is one.
The pollution level in the Great Lakes is ridiculously high.
What isn’t entering our lakes? There’s mercury, sewage,
human waste, animal waste, hospital waste, bacteria, food,
plastics, pesticides, acid rain, the list could go on and on.
Pollution is plaguing our beautiful lakes and turning the
Great Lakes to the Garbage Lakes.
The Solution
To clean up our lakes there are many precautions we can all take. First off, I
would like to establish meetings bi-weekly, open to the public. In the
meetings we will discuss ways we can all help to clean up our water, along
with new legal standings, legal hearings, local projects, etc. After all, dirty
water is Michigan’s biggest health risk, and continues to threaten both quality
of life, and public health. When water from rain and melting snow runs off
roofs and roads into our rivers, it picks up toxic chemicals, dirt, trash and
disease-carrying organisms along the way. Many of our water resources also
lack basic protections, making them vulnerable to pollution from factory
farms, and industrial plants. This can lead to drinking water contamination,
habitat degradation, and beach closures. Together we will work to protect
our water from pollution by…
1. Decreasing impervious surfaces around your home. Having fewer hard surfaces
of concrete and asphalt will reduce runoff from your property. Landscape with
vegetation, gravel or other porous materials instead of cement. Planting
vegetation at lower elevations than nearby hard surfaces allows runoff to seep
into soil, not into our lakes.
2. Use native plants and natural fertilizers. Native plants need less water, are
more tolerant of drought conditions, cost less to maintain and provide habitat for
birds and butterflies. Apply natural fertilizers and soil conditioners, such as
compost, to stimulate plant growth. Compost bins are widely available for
purchase, or you can make your own. Composting decreases the need for chemical
fertilizers, helps soil retain moisture, and diverts waste from landfills.
3. Don't over-water lawns and gardens. According to the EPA, "nationwide,
landscape irrigation is estimated to account for almost one-third of all residential
water use, totaling more than 7 billion gallons per day." Limiting irrigation to
vegetated areas, preventing overspray onto sidewalks, driveways, and street curbs
can help. To know how much water your lawn is getting, use a rain gauge. Overwatering lawns not only wastes water, but can also increase the leaching of
fertilizers into groundwater. Watering before the sun comes up, or after it sets, will
also decrease the amount of water lost to evaporation.
4. Recycle and dispose of all trash properly. Never flush non-degradable products
such as, disposable diapers or plastic tampon applicators down the toilet. They can
damage the sewage treatment process and end up littering beaches and waters. And
make sure to properly dispose of all pet waste from your property to keep it out of
storm drains and water supplies.
5. Correctly dispose of hazardous household products. Keep paints, used oil,
cleaning solvents, polishes, pool chemicals, insecticides, and other hazardous
household chemicals out of drains, sinks, and toilets. Many of these products contain
harmful substances, like ammonia and formaldehyde. Contact your local sanitation,
public works, or environmental health department to find out about hazardous waste
collection days. If a local program isn't available, request one. Incorrect disposal of
personal care products leads to the presence of harmful residues in our waterways
and, ultimately, in our drinking water.
6. Use nontoxic household products when possible. Discarding harmful products
correctly is important, but not buying them in the first place is even better. Ask local
stores if they carry nontoxic products. If they don’t, I’m sure you can work
something out with them, or find another store that does.
7. Recycle used motor oil. Don’t pour waste oil into gutters or down storm drains.
Resist the temptation to pour it on the ground too. A single quart of motor oil that
seeps into groundwater can pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water. If you don't
have a place to recycle used motor oil in our community, ask your local sanitation or
public works department to create one. Keep up with car maintenance to reduce
leaking of oil, coolant, antifreeze and other hazardous fluids.
8. Be "green" when washing your car. Skip the home carwash. Take your car to a
professional carwash. Carwashes are required to drain their wastewater into sewer
systems, where it is treated before being discharged. This spares our local rivers and
bays from the brake fluid, oil and automotive fluids that could otherwise
contaminate our water. Many carwashes also recycle their wastewater, and use about
less than half the amount of water of a home carwash.
9. Help identify, report and stop polluters. Our plan is to monitor industries and
sewage treatment plants that are discharging wastes, along with citizens doing so.
We can be effective working together with state environmental agencies.
Last, but not least
10. Be an activist. Come to the bi-weekly meetings to educate yourself
about water issues in our community. We will contact our public officials
and attend hearings to encourage them to support laws and programs to
protect our water. We will ask officials to control polluted runoff, ensure
protection for wetlands and other aquatic ecosystems, reduce the flow of
toxics into our waterways, and strengthen enforcement. In the summer
months we can volunteer for a beach or stream clean up project. If us,
residents of Michigan don’t care about our lakes, protect our lakes, and
take pride in them, who will?