Water pollution affects human health, the economy, wildlife, and ecosystems.

The amount
of water pollution is growing in the world and affecting the way humans live today. One of the
major concerns is water pollution. Water is vital for humans and animals to survive and if society
allows for this act to continue the future will run into much greater issues. Water pollution can be
viewed on three main levels; global, regional, and local.
When discussing water pollution globally, the main focus is on the pollution in the
oceans. Ocean pollution comes in many forms and varies in severity. Oil pollution and plastic
pollution have proved to be some of the more major concerns discussed when referring to the
pollution found in the ocean. The ocean is home to over one million species of animal and plant
life, provides us with energy, and gives us access to various ways to travel (Connor, 2012). Oil
pollution to our oceans affects all of these factors and inhibits good water quality, often hurting
chains of industries, causing a domino effect to occur. When the oil is released into the ocean
waters, the pure salt water that the ecosystems need is disturbed and the pollution results in
disturbing metabolic activity and it can interfere with animal membranes (EPA, n.d).
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, ten to twenty-five
million gallons of oil spill into the earths oceans each year (EPA, n.d). These spills can be
extremely harmful not only to humans but to the many ecosystems due to the fact that they
contaminate drinking water and cause severe environmental problems with the killing wildlife
and plants. The EPA is responsible for enforcing laws that will protect the oceans. The Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 and the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule both
set standards for oil pollution and respond with the appropriate actions when needed (EPA, n.d.).
The Oil Pollution Act strengthened the EPAs preparedness to prevent and respond to major oil

spills and continues to require the development of Area Contingency Plans to prepare for oil
spills on a regional scale.
The EPA and many other groups devote their lives to protecting the water because they
realize how important it is in modern society. They have found many ways to prevent the
dumping of oil into waterways that could potentially harm the surrounding environment. Various
groups have conducted extensive research concerning how oil is released without intent and have
determined solutions for the issue. The EPA has placed many acts and rules into effect that
regulate these issues and have plans ready for how to respond in case of an emergency. For
example, one very common issue that we might recognize in the ocean is plastic pollution. The
EPA responded to this problem by issuing the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act
of 1987 (U.S. EPA, 2012). This law aims to reduce the amount of garbage that ships dump in the
ocean and prohibits all ships from dumping any plastics into the sea. By placing this law into
effect, the EPA is protecting animals such as whales, sea turtles, and other marine life from
eating the plastic pollution and dying from choking or intestinal blockage. Also plastic pollutants
can have a long term impact on the environment because they absorb toxic chemicals and
transport them to locations in drinking water without anyone being fully aware.
On a regional scale, the National Coastal Condition Reports advocate for the protection
of United States coastal water and the Great Lakes. The NCCR works along with the EPA and
other regional organizations to maintain water quality(EPA, n.d). The increasing development,
pollution, and destruction of the coastal waters and lakes call attention to the need for their
protection. The shore lines of the Great Lakes provide for the lives of the 35 million locals and
tourists who reside and visit there. The lakes on their own are the worlds largest surface
freshwater ecosystem and contain twenty percent of all surface freshwater on the planet

(Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant). Globally, surface freshwater accounts for 1.2% of the earth's water
supply.
Pollutants are found to be trapped within the lake given its outflow rate of less than 1
percent per year. Because of this, the pollution becomes more concentrated with time since the
lakes are essentially a closed system (Safe Drinking Water Foundation, n.d). Because of this, it
takes about ten to thirty years to eliminate it. The sources of pollution are mainly caused by
runoff from local farms and industries and by city waste. The Great Lakes Initiative was
implemented to create definite water quality standards for non-related Great Lake cleanups of
surrounding wetlands and habitats (National Wildlife Foundation, n.d.). The EPA funds a
majority of the programs benefitting the lakes which leads to economic benefits to the
surrounding community, creating a more attractive destination which is ultimately leading more
tourists to visit the region. The Great Lakes Legacy Act was then created to help with the funding
of the lakes restoration. The Act partners the project area with nonfederal sponsors who provide
thirty-five of project costs.
Canada and the United States have agreed to protect the Great Lakes restoring them to
their natural conditions. These laws have been reviewed to avoid loopholes. Any penalty would
be reconciled in funds that would directly benefit the restoration of the lakes. Working along with
the Coast Guard as well, the emergence of invasive species of foreign fish like zebra mussel,
round goby, and alewife from ocean ships will be monitored for a 2016 removal date. United
States citizens can assist on a basic level by simply taking responsibility of rainwater by
installing a rain barrel or a rain garden to reduce runoff. Their support of pending programs can
greatly benefit the potential on their implementation.

One local concern for water pollution deals with the contamination of the groundwater.
Every time it rains, some of the water seeps underground forming what are called aquifers.
Aquifers are bodies of permeable rock that can hold or transmit groundwater. Many communities
obtain their drinking water from chemical containing aquifers that can enter the soil and rocks.
Aquifers can contain chemicals such as arsenic from pesticides or cyanide from fertilizers
(Waller, 1982). Groundwater becomes contaminated when products such as gasoline and oil are
released into the water making it unsafe and unhealthy for human consumption. Fertilizers and
pesticides can also overtime pollute the groundwater. Most shockingly, it is possible for
untreated waste from septic tanks and chemicals from underground storage tanks and landfills to
contaminate the groundwater as well. Drinking contaminated groundwater can have serious
health effects such as hepatitis and dysentery (The Groundwater Foundation, n.d).
The EPA created the Groundwater Program on November 8, 2006. The program provides
for extra protection against pathogens in water systems (EPA, n.d). They are particularly
concerned about disease-causing pathogens that can be found in fecal contamination mixing with
the ground water. The parasite Cryptosporidium could be found in groundwater and leads to a
Cryptosporidiosis outbreak (Morris, n.d). This pathogen affects an individual's intestines and can
last for up to one month. If the EPA laws are not followed, criminal or civil action can be taken.
Lawsuits can be filed and a court conviction could result in fines or even imprisonment (EPA,
n.d.).
Using all natural and nontoxic household cleansers can help protect groundwater by
reducing the amount of potential chemicals that could contaminate the water. Disposing of waste
properly and reducing chemical use by cutting down on the utilization of fertilizers and
pesticides can cause a positive benefit as well (2). The earth requires civilization to go beyond

protecting the groundwater and move towards its preservation. Taking shorter showers, turning
off the faucet when brushing ones teeth and only running full loads in the washing machine can
help conserve the local groundwater.

Works Cited
Connor, S. (2012, November 15). A million species of animals and plants live in the ocean say
scientists | Science | News | The Independent. Retrieved from
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/a-million-species-of-animals-and-plantslive-in-the-ocean-say-scientists-8320295.html
EPA. (n.d.). Enforcement Basic Information | Enforcement | US EPA. Retrieved from
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/enforcement-basic-information
EPA. (n.d.). Ground Water | Ground Water | US EPA. Retrieved from
http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/index.cfm
EPA. (n.d.). Oceans, Coasts, Estuaries & Beaches | Ocean Dumping | US EPA. Retrieved from
http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/oceandumping/

EPA. (n.d.). Oceans, Coasts, Estuaries & Beaches | Oceans, Coasts, Estuaries & Beaches | US
EPA. Retrieved from http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/
EPA. (n.d.). Summary of the Oil Pollution Act | Laws & Regulations | US EPA. Retrieved from
http://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-oil-pollution-act
EPA. (n.d.). The Oceans and Coastal Protection Division Frequently Asked Questions | Oceans,
Coasts, Estuaries & Beaches | US EPA. Retrieved from
http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/faq.cfm
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. (n.d.). Great Lakes Legacy Act - Great Lakes Mud. Retrieved from
http://www.greatlakesmud.org/great-lakes-legacy-act.html
Morris, B. (n.d.). Groundwater issues pathogens. Retrieved from
http://www.groundwateruk.org/Groundwater-issues-pathogens.aspx
National Wildlife Federation. (n.d.). What We Do to Protect the Great Lakes - National Wildlife
Federation. Retrieved from https://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/ProtectHabitat/Waters/Great-Lakes.aspx
Safe Drinking Water Foundation.Retrieved from
http://www.safewater.org/PDFS/resourcesknowthefacts/TheGreatLakes.pdf
The Groundwater Foundation. (n.d.). Ways to Protect Groundwater. Retrieved from
http://www.groundwater.org/action/home/top10.html

U.S. EPA. (2012). Oil Spills Research | Land and Waste Management Research | US EPA.
Retrieved from http://www2.epa.gov/land-research/oil-spills-research
Waller, R. M. (1982). Contaminants Found in Groundwater, USGS Water Science School.
Retrieved from http://water.usgs.gov/edu/groundwater-contaminants.html