Water Pollution Essay Research Paper PollutionRoads highways

Water Pollution Essay, Research Paper

Pollution

Roads, highways, and bridges are a source of significant contributions of pollutants to our nation’s waters. Contaminants from vehicles and activities related to road and highway construction and maintenance are washed from roads and roadsides when it rains or snow melts. A large amount of this runoff pollution is carried directly to water bodies.(Urban Industry 1) Runoff pollution is that associated with rainwater or melting snow that washes off roads, bridges, parking lots, rooftops, and other nonnatural surfaces. As it flows over these surfaces, the water picks up dirt and dust, rubber and metal deposits from tire wear, antifreeze and engine oil that has dripped onto the pavement, pesticides and fertilizers, discarded cups, plastic bags, cigarette butts, pet waste, and other litter. These contaminants are carried into our lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans. Contaminants in runoff pollution from roads, highways, and bridges include sediment which is produced when soil particles are washed away from the land and transported to surface waters. some of these soil particles settle out of the water in a lake, stream, or bay onto aquatic plants, rocks, and at the bottom of the water. This sediment prevents sunlight from reaching aquatic plants, gets caught in fish gills, makes it hard for some organisms to breathe. Natural erosion usually occurs gradually because plant life protects the ground. When land is cleared or changed to build a road or bridge the rate of erosion increases. The plants and trees are removed and the soil is left exposed, to be quickly washed away in the next rain. Erosion around bridge structures, road pavements, and drainage areas can damage and weaken these man made structures. Other pollutants such as heavy metals and pesticides adhere to sediment and are transported with it by wind and water. These pollutants degrade water quality and can harm aquatic life by interfering with photosynthesis, respiration, growth, and reproduction. Oils and Grease: Oils and grease are leaked onto road surfaces from car and truck engines, spilled at fueling stations, and discarded directly onto pavement or into storm sewers instead of being taken to recycling stations. Rain and snowmelt transport these pollutants directly to surface waters. Heavy metals come from some “natural” sources such as minerals in rocks, vegetation, sand, and salt. But they also come from car and truck exhaust, worn tires and engine parts, brake linings, weathered paint, and rust. Heavy metals are toxic to aquatic life and can potentially contaminate ground water. Debris: Grass and shrub clippings, pet waste, food containers, and other household wastes and litter can lead to unsightly and polluted waters. Pet waste from urban areas can add enough nutrients to estuaries to cause premature aging, or “eutrophication.” Road Salts: In the snowbelt, road salts can be a major pollutant in both urban and rural areas. Snow runoff containing salt can produce high sodium and chloride concentrations in ponds, lakes, and bays. This can cause unnecessary fish kills and changes to water chemistry. Fertilizers, Pesticides, and Herbicides: If these are applied excessively or improperly, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides can be carried by rain waters from the green parts of public rights-of-way. In rivers, streams, lakes, and bays, fertilizers contribute to algal blooms and excessive plant growth, and can lead to eutrophication. Pesticides and herbicides can be harmful to human and aquatic life. Recognizing and Controlling Runoff Pollution Erosion gullies on land cleared of vegetation at a road construction site are a sign of sediment runoff. Iridescence (rainbow colors) in runoff water is a sign of spilled petroleum products washing off roads. Other signs of runoff pollution during road construction include obvious changes in streams or rivers downstream from the construction, such as bank erosion and sloughing, muddy or oily water, and sandbar relocation. Clumps of mud on roads leaving a construction site can lead to sediment flows heading for drainage ditches and storm inlets that empty into nearby streams. Rad projects should incorporate pollution prevention , preferably by reducing the amount of pollutants released, into an effective runoff pollution control plan. Best management practices such as permanent storm water retention/detention ponds, slope protection, or grass strips, and temporary sediment traps, silt fences, diversion trenches, and provisions for washing vehicles before they leave the construction site are all means to reduce runoff pollution. Pollution Prevention and Control Programs and Regulations The need to protect our environment has resulted in a number of pollution control laws, regulations, and programs. The implementation of these programs takes place at all levels – federal, state, and local. Clean Water Act In 1987, Congress established the Nonpoint Source Management Program under section 319 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), to help states address nonpoint source, or runoff pollution by identifying waters affected by such pollution and adopting and implementing management programs to control it. These programs recommend where and how to use best management practices (BMPs) to prevent runoff from becoming polluted, and where it is polluted, to reduce the amount that reaches surface waters. Coastal Zone Management Act and Reauthorizatio