Water Resource Plan

Water pollution has become a major problem in our water sources. People think that when they litter or dump in our waters that their little contribution will not hurt anything, but everyone’s little contributions add up to some major problems. Our water ecosystems and the species that reside in them are being destroyed and we need to take the steps necessary to stop this. Why would anyone use the source of most of the world’s food as a dumping ground for garbage? People need to start realizing what it is they are doing when they do not take the proper steps to dispose of their garbage and the problems they are making for the future. Water pollution can come from many different sources. Not only does it come from people dumping their garbage into our bodies of water but it can also come from sewage and wastewater runoff, industrial waste, oil pollution, underground storage leakages, and radioactive waste. Global warming is even causing water pollution. (Grinningplanet. com) Pesticides, fertilizers, oil, gasoline, and mining are just a few of the harmful sources of wastewater runoff that flow into our rivers and lakes from being left behind on the ground. (Water-pollution. org) All these things can be prevented and I would like to propose a plan to do exactly this. To stop water pollution, we must stop the dumping. The first phase of my plan is to not only post signs and â€Å"NO DUMPING† warnings near every major body of water but also to put into effect a major fine for any person caught dumping their wastes. Now how to enforce such a fine and catch the perpetrators? I propose to put â€Å"rangers† along the banks of any body of water where dumping is known to take place. This would not only provide more jobs for the people in these hard economic times but it would also be a source of income to pay these workers and to help enforce these new laws. With more workers keeping an eye out for such people, the more people that get caught and the more fines that need to be paid. Now one might say that such signs are already posted near water sources and they do nothing to ward of people meaning to do harm to our water. But that is what the rangers would be for, to catch these people in the act and be there to take the necessary steps to collect the fine. As for pollutions that already exists. This is where phase two of my proposal comes into play. Instead of inmates only picking up garbage along the highways, they alternate between that and picking up garbage along to riversides. Because litter is litter and we do not want to forget about it anywhere. Volunteer programs and delinquent programs can also be put into place for those that want to help and for those that need community service hours in order to stay out of trouble. This way we can stop people from adding more pollution and also help get rid of the pollution that already exists. Runoff is another issue. This takes a few more steps than preventing garbage pollution and it is also where phase three will take place. To this I would like to incorporate mandatory courses to any industrial businesses that end with waste products that need to be disposed of. This course will teach these people the proper and safe way to dispose of their toxins and places that they can do so legally. This course will be free to these companies but if they do not participate they will be fined, which will in turn help to fund the program and pay the employees that teach the course. In order to stop the problem, one must attack it at its source. My proposal will not only help save our water but help to prevent further damage to them as well. It will not have any affects on the surrounding communities that reside amongst the rivers and lakes and will not be any kind of annoyance or inconvenience to their neighbors. It will only be there to help and nothing but benefits will come from it. My only hope is that we can stop this polluting of our waters before it is too late. It is only a matter of time before these pollutants start affecting the food that we fish out of these waters and put into our bodies. Who is to say that a contaminated fish would not in turn make the person that eats that fish sick as well. It is already fact that 40% of America’s rivers and 46% of America’s lakes are already too polluted for fishing, swimming, or aquatic life. (Grinningplanet. com) Let’s take the steps to make sure that percentage does not get any worse.References http://www.grinningplanet.com/2005/09-06/water-pollution-causes-article.htm http://www.grinningplanet.com/2005/07-26/water-pollution-facts-article.htm http://www.water-pollution.org.uk/causes.html