Combined Water Issues Map from WaterCAMPWS
In reporting about our current and impending national freshwater issues I have occassionally received criticism/feedback along the lines of “water conservation may be important in places like Africa, but we live in the U.S…so quit the scare tactics!”.
I find this ‘we-invented-water!’ attitude troubling considering the myriad of water issues facing our country today. Issues that, if not dealt with soon, will become a crisis making the oil problem look like a bad hair day.
So how best do I illustrate our current water woes to the folks who do not appreciate my water conservation tips?
…I got it! How about I get some leading minds in the field together to impart their focused wisdom? And accompany said wisdom with PICTURES!
Great idea me!
WaterCAMPWS, help!…
WaterCAMPWS (Center of Advanced Materials for the Purification of Water with Systems) consists of university faculty, research scientists, graduate and undergraduate students, and municipal practitioners in fields related to water purity from University of California Berkeley, MWRDG-Chicago, Clark Atlanta University, Howard University, University of Michigan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, NRMRL-EPA, Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, Sandia National Laboratories, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Yale University.
WaterCAMPWS has listed the threats to our water supply as:
- Increased demand by energy production.
- Agricultural run-offs, such as:
nitrates
phosphates
pesticides
herbicides
hormones - Leaching of radioactive materials and heavy metal
- Depletion of aquifers
- Contamination of aquifers by:
salt water
pollution intrusion
industrial, organic, and biological toxins
Let me break these threats down further–time for the pictures…
High Demand
Ironically, the aqua blue areas in the map denote water-stressed areas. Areas where water withdrawals are greater than 1.120 billion gallons per day! The Southwestern US is the most water-stressed area in our country.
Acid Rain
Results primarily from the converting of nitrogen and sulfur oxide emissions from industrial factories and power plants into nitric and sulfuric acid in the upper atmosphere.
Arsenic Contamination
A result of its use in pesticides and metallurgy.
Microbial Contamination
A USGS survey tested surface and ground water for E. coli and coliform bacteria contamination exceeding EPA safety limits.
Mercury Contamination
Mercury has many industrial uses and is released into the environment primarily from the burning fossil fuels.
Nutrient Contamination
Elevated nutrients in the water supply is most commonly an issue in agricultural areas where run-off from fields adds nutrients from fertilizer application to streams and other surface water–and from there into shallow groundwater.
Radon Contamination
Radon is a decay product of uranium and its elevated levels in the water supply is usually associated with the prevalence of uranium in the surrounding bedrock.
Mining Pollution
Displaced soil from mining often ends up in surface water. Additional sediments result in increased salinity due to dissolved solids. Mercury was used extensively in gold mining, and the legacy of that use continues today.
Organic and Industrial Toxins
Water in urban areas is often contaminated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs). One of their primary uses are as gasoline additives, the most well-known being MBTE. Another major organic pollutant is a class of chemicals called polychlorinated vinyls (PCVs) that were once used as industrial coolants.
Pesticide Contamination
Chemicals applied to farm fields, orchards, and lawns end up in the run-off that enters the ground and surface water.
Radioactive Contamination
The principle source of radioactive contamination in the water supply results from the presence of uranium ore, and other radioactive elements, in the surrounding bedrock. Some contamination is also a result of industrial and military activities.
Heavy Metals Contamination
The most common contaminant in this map is lead, although cadmium, iron, selenium, chromium, and other are also measured here.
My goal in organizing this information from WaterCAMPWS is to illustrate the current problem on a national scale. A problem that will become a crisis if we don’t start changing our habits NOW.
Image credits and information from WaterCAMPWS. For more in-depth information (and more maps!) visit the WaterCAMPWS website.
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Joe Mohr
Environmental/Political cartoonist for PlanetSave, Elephant Journal, Wend Magazine, Twilight Earth, Ecopolitology, EcoSnobberySucks, and more...Joe also does a kids enviro-toon called Hank D and the Bee on EcoChildsPlay and NaturalPapa. Joe lives in University City Missouri and spends his free time with his beautiful wife, enthusiastic daughter, and curious toddler of the same name. He also enjoys writing, drawing, painting, walking, biking, skateboarding, gardening, reading, listening to music, playing sports, and watching plays (especially the plays his wife's site-specific theatre company, Onsite Theatre puts on). Visit Joe's online cartoon gallery at JoeMohrToons.com.
2 Responses to Top Colleges Working Together to Solve Nation’s Water Woes
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Good post. Water is a basic need that people take for granted. It is shocking that a modern country like ours has some many problems. The maps show that few areas are untouched by this problem.
Bravo! Although Blue Planet Run Foundation focuses on providing safe drinking water to those who lack access around the world, we are also working to raise awareness about the domestic issues. This is an incredible display – have you considered trying to make it a traveling exhibition?