English Paper

The water quality is a major concern for everyone. Not only does poor quality of our water supply affect us but it affects all living things. When our water is contaminated we all get sick and could even die from it. There are several ways for our water supply to be contaminated.

There are various ways that our waters have become contaminated. Some of these waste matters that contaminates are “chemicals and metals, nutrients enrichment, pathogens and bacteria, and calefaction” (The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation, 1998-2012) found in our water. Biological pollution is a real worry for us.

Another major cause for our polluted water in urban areas is the runoff rain carrying chemicals into our water system. The rain carries chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, and suspended solids (small solid particles). These runoffs that are not perturbed or distracted into storm sewers are dumped into streams or lakes.

Two of the public notice signs used by Huron County Health Unit.

Some of these pathogens become sediments on the floor of our lakes, streams, and rivers. Once these sediments are stirred up in the water they become suspended in our water again. That’s how fish and other living organisms can be reintroduced to the harmful effects.

Causes and Effects 3

Not only do the rain water and its runoff carry these harmful things into our water, but the air does too. Some chemicals and pathogens get air born. Then when it rains it forces these things down into our water directly making this another way for our water system to get contaminated and polluted. There has also been diesel spills and oil spills on Lake Huron.

“Non-point source pollution includes many activities that occur around lakes . These activities can be difficult to manage effectively yet may have extremely harmful impacts on lake water quality.” (Sarah Hicks | Kent State University) These are contaminates that are introduced into our water. We cannot track them back...