Preserving Blue Gold
The importance of having access to clean and safe water for our well being cannot be overstated; it is essential for our physical survival. Nonetheless, increasing levels of pollution caused by human activities have significantly compromised the quality of available freshwater sources across several states within America. Therefore there’s an urgent need to explore ways through which we can conserve freshwater resources while addressing current challenges that pose risks to their safety standards.
It’s no secret that water quality remains a major concern throughout the United States, one which demands immediate attention from policymakers across the board if we hope to stem further damage to our fragile ecosystems. According to a recent assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nearly half of all rivers and streams in America are currently facing some form of pollution. That’s not all, over 70% of assessed beaches were deemed potentially unsafe for swimming when tested under pristine conditions! A closer look at key drivers behind these worrying trends reveals three main culprits: agriculture-related activities such as pesticide/fertilizer use; industrial processes emitting harmful chemicals into aquatic environments; and urbanization-driven impacts resulting in increased impervious surfaces like concrete or asphalt roads with each causing harmful effects on natural freshwater resources even further. It is high time we take decisive action towards reversing this trend before it is too late!
Water conservation refers to the responsible use of this finite resource by ensuring sustainability practices are implemented at all times. The importance of making efforts to conserve water can never be emphasized enough due to its scarcity nature. In recent years, there has been increasing awareness about preserving this precious commodity throughout the United States. An EPA report indicates that individual households consume over 300 gallons each day; more than fifty percent is directed towards watering lawns or gardens outdoors primarily. This same study suggests that if everyone in America was to install efficient appliances and fixtures at home, there could be savings exceeding three trillion gallons of water per year.
Water-related ecological challenges exist throughout the Americas due primarily to anthropogenic actions. The use of pesticides within farming practices, as well as industrial waste discharge into rivers, has led to significant contamination issues, while expanding urban areas have had similar detrimental impacts on surrounding environments. These types of human-made pollutants coupled with erratic weather patterns stemming from climate change exacerbate issues regarding both accessibility & safety relating to freshwater across North & Latin America alike.
The solution to America’s current issues regarding both water quality and preservation begins with a concerted effort aimed at cutting back on chemical usage within agriculture, industry, and developmental land projects across the nation. To achieve this objective effectively requires farmers exploring natural-based techniques used for pest control while purposely downsizing their dependence on pesticides or harmful fertilizers. Likewise industries need to focus on adapting sustainable practices that will lessen the impact of toxic chemicals released into water sources. Urban areas also play a vital role in prioritizing conservation efforts by implementing green infrastructure solutions such as rain gardens or green roofs which will play a critical part in preventing unwanted pollutants from accumulating in our already overburdened water sources.
One possible solution to overcome the crisis posed by diminishing freshwater supply is through enhanced awareness and promotion of sustainable practices amongst all stakeholders. In order for individuals to participate actively in keeping our freshwater clean and conserved, they must adopt a range of behaviors ranging from addressing leakages promptly to using more efficient household gadgets which help reduce waste. Governments too have their role cut out for them; incentivizing purchases of eco-friendly items through rebates or tax credits would be one step toward achieving our desired objective of a cleaner tomorrow!
The issue of maintaining high levels of clean drinking water while preserving dwindling resources bears significant importance for the United States today. Beyond current incidents involving compromised sources or excessive usage patterns flows an undercurrent of a threat against future access to safe drinking supplies if not addressed promptly. Consequently, it becomes paramount that we investigate plausible reasons behind these concerns plaguing our nation regarding conservation and quality issues so that practical solutions can be enacted as soon as possible. Implementing strategies geared towards sustainable practices with minimal chemical interventions remain a viable solution towards securing fresh drinkable water obtainable by upcoming generations.
“Clean It Up” by Pysh (2016)
In this Meghan Trainer cover, the song “Clean It Up” talks about the damage and hardships our water sources are facing in our country as well as how to fix them. They sing about what healthy things should be in the water, like stable levels of nitrogen or phosphorus, and toxic things for the water eco systems like sludge, and pathogens that carry bacteria and diseases. The song also has a line about red-colored water due to waste drainage from a mine. The song fully encompasses the pollution issues we face in our country’s water system; and why we store and treat our water is important.
“Water is Life” by Simpson (2011)
The song “Water is Life” was written to shed light on water conservation in Fiji and other islands in Oceania. Water is extremely important on these islands, since they are so small. There is not a lot of space or resources to get clean fresh water. There is also not a lot of space to dump waste, since it will likely end up back in the water there. The name of the song Water is Life is suggesting that without water there would be no life in these islands. The line “treating water as a treasure in our urban community” relates perfectly to “Preserving Blue Gold” in the sense that water is as precious as treasure and gold and should be treated as such.
Water conservation has become an urgent issue across America today, considering how essential clean drinking water is for our survival as individuals as well as communities collectively. Hence, extensive advocacy leading up several measures being put in place towards keeping this resource available indefinitely sustainably. In recent years, increasing indications of degradation due to pollution among other detrimental human activities which pose severe threats around diverse dimensions — public health wise ecological dangers to our economies as well. It is crucial that we put in place measures that can ensure the conservation of our water resources, which is achievable through sustainable practices inclusive of proper disposal of hazardous materials while reducing usage where possible; supporting initiatives from organizations like The Nature Conservancy or The Sierra Club go a long way towards achieving this goal. To secure the longevity of our environment for ourselves and future generations requires concerted efforts from all involved parties: individuals, communities, industries as well as governmental organizations. In order to conserve precious water resources effectively it is crucial that we work together towards this common goal.
In my opinion water is the most important thing on this planet for us humans. The importance of water cannot be overstated since it represents a fundamental aspect necessary for human survival by serving various purposes like cooking, cleaning and drinking among others critical functions in daily life. Our bodies are composed primarily of water (up to 60%), making it vital to maintain adequate hydration levels. Lack thereof causes significant health risks. But beyond individual-level use lies its value in agriculture production processes as well as industrial processes requiring constant supplies of clean water resources sustainably managed. Water is a rare commodity as we only have a limited amount of it. People should do their part in preserving it as much as they can. Safeguarding our clean water supply is a responsibility we all share as members of society. To promote sustainability, consumers should strive to conserve water at home by making practical changes, like taking shorter showers or using high efficiency appliances. Communities have an important role too, they should raise awareness through public education campaigns and work towards stricter regulations on outdoor water use. At the institutional level, there must be more emphasis on adopting sustainable management practices that prioritize conservation over waste, while governments need to enact stronger policies designed to preserve vital natural resources. Water is life, let’s make it sustainable for life.
- ”Clean Water Law”. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, March 10, 2022, www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-water-act.
- “Drinking water.” CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 14, 2022, www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/index.html.
- Gleick, Peter H. “Water in Crisis: Pathways to Sustainable Water Use.” Green Applications, Vol. 8, no. 3, 1998, pp. 571–579. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/2641262.
- Gokcekus, H. “Water Conservation: The Case for Price Incentives.” Environmental Management Magazine, vol. 92, no. 3, 2011, pp. 819–825. Science Direct, doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.10.003.
- “Ground Water and Drinking Water”. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, March 11, 2022, www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water.
- “Water Conservation.” The Nature Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/who-we-are/how-we-work/water-conservation/.
- “Water Conservation.” Sierra Club, Sierra Club, www.sierraclub.org/water-conservation.
