|
Water is a necessity of all living things so people should be more educated on the processes of managing water resources.
Water is a resource that has many uses including transportation, agriculture, domestic and commercial uses. It supports all forms of like and affects our health and lifestyles. We use water for sanitation, drinking and other human needs. Examples of the amount of water used by individuals in their households are:
Therefore, the average American uses 140 to 160 gallons of water per day. On March 9,2000 the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes finalized a Cooperative Agreement with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to perform an “Overview of Water Resources In and Near Lands of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes.” The USGS and the tribe are funding this project equally. This project will quantify the water resources and determine the water quality for the water within the reservation borders of the tribe. On September 20,1999 the President of the Wichita Tribe and U.S. EPA Regional Administrator signed a Tribal Environmental Agreement. TEA (Tribal Environmental Agreement) is a commitment to work together through direct and routine communications to protect and preserve the environment of the tribe. Through this agreement, the EPA recognizes that the tribal government itself best accomplishes the establishment and enforcement of environmental and public health standards and codes on Wichita lands. EPA also has standards on pollution. Pollution is often a consequence of producing and disposing of these goods. Waste is unwanted discarded material and when it is released to the environment, it becomes pollution in households. Changing what you use: Using non-hazardous or more efficient products (for example, using vinegar and hot water instead of hazardous commercial drain cleaners or purchasing products with less packaging) Changing what you do: Using more efficient or less wasteful methods (for example, turning off lights when you leave the room) Improving your housekeeping: Minimizing spells and leaks (for example, immediately cleaning up outdoor spills is washed into the storm sewer) Pesticides use has become common in and around the home. For example, the following pesticides are common household products you may be familiar with:
Cockroach sprays and baits These pesticides can cause problems but do not have to be used if you can prevent the pest problem from occurring. Pesticides if used improperly can also create health risks to humans, pets and the environment. An effective, less or non-toxic approach to pest management is:
>Practice good sanitation and proper maintenance of structures and grounds Now for some questions.
Why is water pollution prevention and conservation important?
What is pollution and why is it important? How can pollution prevention help you? It protects our health and environment by reducing the need to protect us from the harmful effects of pollution. It can also conserve natural resources and saves money. For example, your household could conserve valuable resources by using energy-efficient appliances. How can pollution prevention help you? It protects the environment but also our health by reducing our exposure to pollution. It also prevents a pest problem from occurring.What are pesticides? Pesticides are chemicals used to control undesirable insects, weeds, and rodents and those they are used in homes and other buildings, on lawns and gardens, and on people.
From gathering this information it is simple to say you are going to do something but to actually do it is another thing. What you should have learned is what to use to prevent pollution and what pesticides are. Surface and Ground Water management is another thing along with contamination in Oklahoma water systems. Sharing surface and ground water resources is of great importance to the citizens of Oklahoma. The State of Oklahoma depends on information gathered by the USGS and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and on interpretations of these data to determine water rights. The USGS in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, monitors water levels in key wells throughout the State. Water levels in other wells are measured in conjunction with specific projects. Many additional wells are measured annually by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Water Contamination Contamination of our surface water and ground water resources has become one of the most pressing issues in the management of the Nation’s natural resources. The USGS has sampled the rivers, wells, and springs at about 25,000 sites in Oklahoma these samples have been analyzed for a broad range of inorganic and organic substances, including pesticides and herbicides, that might affect the suitability of the water for human consumption or nonconsumptive use.
With all the information I have gathered and studied I feel as if pollution, pesticides, surface and ground water, and contamination play an important role in our daily lives and in our futures so from this report I hope you have learned ways to live by and help everything around you so that we can live longer and fuller lives.
|