(Photo source)

 

Water resources to their limits: the Western United States California and its liquid gold  The Mississippi River and the impact of warming climate Uses of this water resource Some cultural tips   Different ways of using water in the Usa Irrigation use Thermoelectric energy use Public supply use Industrial use Domestic or self-supply use Livestock and aquaculture use Mining use Drinking Water AWRA: American Water Resources Association The Awwa Research Foundation (AwwaRF)   U.S Environmental Protection Agency: Water and Earth Day Earth Day USGS: US Geological Survey References Photo source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_River The Mississippi River in New Orleans

 

 

Water resources to their limits: the Western United States

 

More than a half of all the water flowing on the surface is used by human beings, in particular for agriculture (70%). This can have adverse effects on the water cycle of the planet.

 

In the USA only 2% of the rivers can freely flow, while the main water streams of the planet (Colorado, Nile, Gange) are intensely exploited. As a matter of fact only a minimal part goes into the sea. Nowadays 87% of the water available on the Earth is used for agriculture and this can be of benefit to farmers. Just to cite one example, in California water usually costs 25 cent/m3, whereas for farmers it is 0,5 cent/m3. A low price can bring about waste and inefficiencies in the use of water (Politecnico di Milano, 2001).

 

There is no leeway for changes in current water allocations; United Nations Population Fund report noted that water use has grown six-fold over the past 70 years. The Western United States provide us with a good example, as the water resources existing in this territory are already stretched to their limits. Moreover, in this area water availability could dramatically be altered by climate change, in particular greenhouse warming.

 

In a study on potential greenhouse impacts, leading scientists describe the way water problems could evolve over the next 50 years throughout the West as a result of climate change. These studies show that climate changes could have a devastating impact on water resources in some parts of the West over the next half century.

 

In the Columbia River System of Washington State, residents and industries will have to choose between water for summer and fall hydroelectric power or spring and summer releases for salmon runs. Accelerated Climate Prediction Initiative research (ACPI) shows that because of climate changes, the river will be not enough for both.

 

The Colorado River Reservoir System will not be able to meet all of the demands placed on it because reservoir levels will be reduced by more than one-third . The greatest effects will be on lower Colorado River Basin states. All users of Colorado River hydroelectric power will be affected by lower reservoir levels and flows, which will be reduced to 40 percent.

 

In the Central Valley of California current water system performance levels will not be reached; reductions will be on the reliability of water supply deliveries, hydropower production and instream flows.

 

Population and economic growth are already placing severe pressure on water resources in the West. Climate change is a very important factor that has to be taken into account when thinking about the future (Pacific Northwest national Laboratory, 2001).

 

 

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California and its liquid gold 

 

 

 

 

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“Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting over” Mark Twain 

 

Twain's words well describe the water issue in California. In this country, water may be the most vital resource for urban centers, industry, agriculture and environmental preservation, but it is also the object of a considerable controversy.

 

What is a the core of this controversy is the fact that the water distribution is steadily exacerbated by California’s population growth and periods of drought, together with a series of conflicts between competing users of available supplies.

 

Given that about 75% of the water is originated in the north third of the state – north of Sacramento – and that about 80% of water needs are in the southern two-thirds, California had to face the distribution problem by creating the most complex system for storing and transporting water in the world. This system is made up of dams, reservoirs, pumping plants and aqueducts which carry about 50% of the state's water for hundreds of miles.

 

In California there are two main sources of surface water for agricultural and urban areas, i.e, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Bay-Delta) and the Colorado River.

 

 

 

• The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the San Francisco Bay

 

        

 

 

 

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The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the San Francisco Bay not only form the largest estuary of the West Coast of North America which receives flows from the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Mokelumne, Cosumnes and Calaveras rivers but they also constitute an essential part of California’s water system. From the Delta water is distributed throughout the country to the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project. Not only is the Delta of vital importance for the economy of California but it is also fundamental for its environment in that it provides the habitat with many species of plants and animals and supports agricultural and recreational activities.

 

 

• The Colorado River

 

 

 

 

 

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The Colorado River provides with water not only California, but also Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, before flowing into the Gulf of California in Mexico. The Colorado River Compact of 1922 determined the amount of water that each State could use. However California did not respect the Compact. Given that the situation is critical in the all Western State, the secretary of the Interior has ordered for California to reduce its use of the Colorado River.

 

 

 

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The Mississippi River and the impact of warming climate

 

 

 

 

 

Photo source 

 

The name of this river comes from the old Ojibwe (the second most commonly spoken Native language in Canada) word misi-ziibi , meaning ‘great river’. This word was then rendered as Messipi in French and finally transformed into its actual name by the Americans.

 

Mississippi  is one of the world's major river, the largest and longest in North America. It flows for 3,750 kilometers and passes through a dozen countries. It provides 15 million people with  fresh water and it is the place where North American industries discharge their waste.For nearly 200 years, farmers had been the primary users of the basin, thus alterating the hydrologic cycle and energy bugdet of the region. 92% of nation's agricultural exports is grown thanks to the water of Mississippi and 60% of all grain export from USA is shipped via Mississippi river through the port of New Orleans.

 

Shipping at the lower end of MIssissippi is centered on petroleum products, iron, steel, grain,rubber,paper, wood,coffee and cool.

 

Unfortunately, the Mississippi basin is extremely vulnerable to floods and droughts and these extremes could be worsened by global warming and El nino cycle.

The volume and the power of the river can make floods disastrous for millions of people living near the river, costing millions of people lives, damaging properties, distroying ecosystems and affecting the supply of safe drinking water.

 

The 1993 flood in Kansas City, St. Louis and Missouri One shows the catastrophic impact of climate change on Mississippi river fo it caused the death of more than 50 people and ten billion of dollars in damage across a dozen States.

 

The Mississipi River has its source in Lake Itasca (Minnesota) and its mouth is the Gulf of Mexico (Louisiana). Its major tributaries are the Ohio River, Missouri River and Arkansas River. Together with its tributaries, it touches 31 U.S. states and 2 Canandian provinces. Some of the major cities which lie along this river are New Orleans (LA), Memphis (TN), St. Louis (MO), Minneapolis, and St. Paul (MN).

 

 

Nothing's easy for New Orleans flood control

 

New Orleans has depended for ages on levees and luck because of its position in between the Mississippi and Lake Pontchartrain. Most areas of the city is already below sea level. The city must be protected by devastaing floods that could threaten it moving a wall of water into the lake and the city.

 

A team of engineers is considering several ways to protect the heart of the city: on the one hand, they are studying a plan involving the shift from barriers at Lake Pontchartrain’s inlets to higher levees along the lake shore; on the other, they are working on the shift from floodgates at the mouth of the city’s stormwater outfall canals that drain into Lake Pontchartrain to higher floodwalls along the length of the canals (Carter, N. T.-Analyst in Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division (January 26, 2006). Protecting New Orleans: From Hurricane Barriers to Floodwalls).

 

The Federal Government is making significant efforts as well to improve the New Orleans Flood Defense System (NOFDS). The Corps of Engineers working at long-term projects are carrying out several studies on the issue. 11 Lines of Defense have been proposed to provide basic basis in order to develop long-tern plans:

 

 

 

 Photo source

 

 

City planners and engineers are going on working to find ways to improve and implement an evacuation plan for the 1.3 million residents in the metropolitan region and soften a storm's blow. Italian engineers are working as well at the project to safeguard Venice from the damaging effects of high tides: the so called Mo.S.E. is a prototype that has been already constructed.

As New Orleans grew as a seaport, petrochemical hub and tourist, neighboring marshes were drained and the levee system expanded to keep the water out of new suburbs and industrial parks, hastening the drying that led to sinking, and making a bad situation even worse and for certain aspects out of control.

 

 

New Orleans Hurricane Protection with Hurricane Katrine Breaches and Flooding

 

 

Photo source

 

 

Uses of this water resource

Mississippi dam

photo source 

 

The Mississippi  River has always been a very useful resource for Americans, who mainly use it to get drinking water, for recreation, industry and above all for freight. However, some works had to be done on this river through the years in order to navigate it safely and obtain more from it, e.g. hydropower.

The upper part of the river is commonly known to be a “rebellious and undependable servant”, because of its floods or draughts, rapids and submerged rocks. Works to improve the river’s situation have been carried out since the 1830s.

In the 1930s the ‘Nine Foot Navigation Project’ was authorized and a navigation channel 9 feet deep and 400 feet wide was created. In order to do this, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began constructing 29 locks and dams between St. Paul and St. Louis. Both locks and dams are primarily used for navigation since they form a sort of stairway of water which allows ships to easily go up and down the river.

Moreover, there are a few dams (Minneapolis/St. Paul, Rock Island, and Keokuk) which also provide hydroelectric power to their communities.

 

Some cultural tips

 

The Mississippi River is commonly considered as a natural boundary for the division of the United States into eastern and western sections, with places often being described as east or west "of the Mississippi".

Because of its size and historical importance, the Mississippi has many nicknames, such as: 

• The Father of Waters
• The Gathering of Waters
• The Big Muddy (more commonly associated with the Missouri River)
• Big River
• Old Man River
• The Great River
• Body of a Nation
• The Mighty Mississippi
• El Grande (de Soto)
• The Muddy Mississippi
• Old Blue
• Moon River

 

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Different ways of using water in the Usa

 

The quantity of water used by a country depends on the basic needs and availability of water itself. However, the level of economic development, together with the presence of urbanization, play a fundamental role in water consumption.

 

Water use in the Usa can be divided into the following different categories.

 

1. Irrigation (40%);
2. Thermoelectric energy (39%);
3. Public supply (13%);
4. Industry (5%);
5. Domestic, self-supplied water (1%);
6. Mining (1%);
7. Livestock and aquaculture (less than 1%).

 

Irrigation use

 

The largest use of fresh water in the Usa is linked to agricultural needs, such as growing crops and protecting them against frost, controlling weeds or maintaining green areas like parks or gardens.

 

 

Even though, in the past, irrigation exploited mainly surface water, the number of withdrawals from ground water has recently doubled, also thanks to new technologies, such as microirrigation systems and sprinklers.

 

 

Irrigation application rates vary according to annual rainfall, conservation techniques, surface water availability, energy costs and farm commodity prices. A decline in application rates is the outcome of an efficient combination of irrigation systems and methods. However, application rates in Eastern United States tend to be lower than in the Western United States where the land is much more arid.

 

The run-off from agricultural fields contains fertilizers, animal manure and pesticides, which are the major causes of water pollution. This is why the U.S. Department of Agriculture chose the two following methods to convince farmers to decrease polluted run-off.

 

• Cross-compliance. If the farmers want to receive public subsidies, they are to adopt measures concerning soil conservation and erosion control.
• Conservation payments. The farmers who accept to take erodible and streamside land out of crop production will receive a certain amount of money. (See http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/A-Bi/Agriculture-and-Water.html)

 

Thermoelectric energy use

 

Most of the water used for this purpose is derived from surface water and, in particular, from saline water. The production of electric power generated by heat exploits different sources, such as fossil fuels, geothermal heat and nuclear fission.

 

The fact that thermoelectric power provides half of total water withdrawals casts light on the importance of not wasting water. This is why new technologies requiring less water are needed. Experts are working in order to improve plants efficiency, increase water recycling and change the laws with the aim of reducing the discharge of pollutants in waterways.

 

Public supply use

 

Public-supply water systems consist of public and private facilities that withdraw water from reservoirs, lakes, rivers and wells and deliver it directly to homes, companies and schools. In 1950, only 62% of the population of the United States drank water coming from public suppliers. Nowadays, the situation has deeply changed, since the vast majority of Americans use these systems in order to get water at home.

 

The largest quantities of water are withdrawn in California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois. More precisely, the most relevant surface water withdrawals are made in California and Texas, whereas the largest ground water withdrawals have been recorded in California and Florida.

 

The development of water supplies

 

As water is one of the most important elements essential for life, many civilizations in the past often developed in proximity to rivers or the sea. The ancient Romans were the first to recognize the benefits of transporting fresh water into a densely populated area and in the first century B.C. they built the first aqueduct, which was more than 32 Km long. As time went by, water systems have become more and more sophisticated and the water quality has improved. However, even today, in some countries millions of people suffer and die from waterborne diseases. This is due to the fact that there the water is infected and there are not proper sanitation facilities and clean water supplies.

 

The causes of waterborne diseases

 

Micro-organisms present in faecal matter, inorganic, volatile, synthetic, and radiological chemicals are among the main causes for waterborne illnesses. Inorganic compounds can derive from fertilizers, whereas synthetic organic chemicals include pesticides and herbicides used for agricultural purposes. Volatile organic chemicals can be found in compounds such as fuels, oils, or solvents. Finally, radiological compounds derived from natural and human-made processes.

 

In the United States, the federal Safe Drinking Water Act regulates public water supplies. Such public water supplies are regularly tested in order to ensure that the water is safe for people to drink.

 

Industrial use

 

Water is mainly used by companies producing wood and paper products, food, metals, oil, gasoline and chemicals. They need water either to fabricate, cool, wash, process, dilute and transport specific items, or to make products whose chemical composition necessarily requires water.

 

Domestic or self-supply use

 

It includes household water use which is not obtained from public supply. In the past, when the vast majority of people lived in rural areas, they supply their water by drilling a well and pumping water to their homes. Nowadays, people who still use this kind of system keep on withdrawing water from the ground. However, thanks to some water policies in the United States promoting the use of public-supplied water, the number of private wells has been drastically reduced. Currently, 43 million people usually use self-supply systems at home.

 

Livestock and aquaculture use

 

Water plays a vital role in livestock watering, feedlots and other needs of animals, such as chickens, pigs, cattle and sheep (one single cow can drink 30-45 gallons of water per day, which is the equivalent of a bathtub full!). It is also connected to the production of poultry, meat, milk and eggs.

 

Aquaculture raises organisms living in water, such as finfish or shellfish, for food, conservation, restoration and sport. It involves several farming systems using self-supplied water. This industry is facing challenges coming from environmental groups, concerning water contamination and obstructions to coastal navigation. Even the relationships between fishers and farmers are rather tense because of economic interests.

 

Idaho mainly uses water for aquaculture (73% of the total surface water withdrawals for aquaculture); Mississippi, Arkansas, California, Louisiana and Utah account for 86% of the ground water withdrawals for aquaculture.

 

Mining use

 

Mining industries use water to extract minerals in the form of solids -such as coal, iron, gravel and sand-, gases -like natural gas- and liquids, like petroleum.

 

Most of ground water withdrawals for mining is saline, whereas most of the surface water ones are freshwater. Mine drainage can cause many problems to the environment and water purity itself. The drainage is formed when pyrite reacts with air and water, thus creating sulfuric acid, which is one of the biggest causes of water contamination and an impediment to the reproduction of plants and animals.

 

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Drinking Water

 

 

The human body is over 70% water. Drinking water is therefore essential for human beings to live. In the United States, a great number of households are supplied with potable water, even though about 90% of this water is used for other purposes, such as washing clothes, bathing, irrigating the gardens.

 

Most of the water comes from public water suppliers, but some families take the water from private wells. Specific organizations, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, check water regularly in order to guarantee its quality and safety. In addition, every community water supplier has to inform its costumers once a year about the local drinking water quality. It is worth noting that there is not only one specific standard for the quality of drinking water in the States, because water sources are different and water receives different treatments. Moreover, the guidelines vary form state to state.

 

photo source  

 

It is important to check the water regularly to protect public health. When water is taken directly form a river or a reservoir often contains dirt and pieces of leaves. This is why water has to be cleaned in treatment plants. Disinfection is the most common treatment. In the past, chlorine, a chemical element which kills pathogens and germs, was mainly usedin order to disinfect the water. Nowadays, the use of chlorine has been reduced and less harmful disinfectants are used. 50% of the drinking water in the United States comes from ground water, often filtered naturally.

 

The first American Drinking Water Standard was issued in 1914. This standard established the allowed amount of bacteria per liter. Later, additional standards were accepted, for example for copper and zinc and in 1962, 28 standards for different substances existed. The most important drinking water standards are the Clean Water Act 1972, which repairs and protects the quality of the water and the Safe Drinking Water Act, which aims at guaranteeing a safe drinking water quality.[18]

 

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AWRA: American Water Resources Association

 

 

PHOTO SOURCE

 

 

AWRA is the acronym for American Water Resources Association. It is a non-profit professional association dedicated to the advancement of men and women in water resources management, research, and education. AWRA’s membership is multidisciplinary; its diversity is its hallmark. It is the professional home of a wide variety of water resources experts including engineers, educators, foresters, biologists, ecologists, geographers, managers, regulators, hydrologists and attorneys.

 

AWRA’s logo includes the words community, conversation, and connections. Many members appreciate the openness that occurs within its community and conferences. Through open discussion at conferences and in the Journal of the American Water Resources, water resources professionals of many different disciplines come together for joint action to resolve critical issues that confront them.

 

The mission of AWRA is to promote understanding of water resources and related issues by providing a multidisciplinary forum for information exchange, professional development and education. The assocaition promises a balanced and  professional approach to solving water resources challenges in a comfortable atmosphere.

 

AWRA objectives include:

 

-The advancement of water resources research, planning, development, management and education.

-The establishment of a common meeting ground for physical, biological, and social scientists, engineers, and other persons concerned with water resources.

-The collection, organization, and dissemination of ideas and information in the field of water resources science and technology

 

Immediately after the issuance of the Articles of Incorporation, an announcement of the formation of the AWRA was widely distributed both in the united States and abroad.

 

The purposes of AWRA  given in the Articles of Incorporation are:

 

1.Advancing the science and technology of water resources by:

 

a.Encouraging the preparation of original papers on water resources

b.Holding meetings for the presentation and discussion of original papers and partecipating in international congresses.

c.Compiling papers and reports of value to scientists

d Developing and promulgating standards, codes and formulas

f.Offering rewards and other honors to encourage contribution to the science and technology of water resources

 

2.Enhancing the status of the association by:

a.Cooperating with educational institutions in the maintenance of high standards of education

b.Requiring a high standard of ethical practice by members of the association

c.Encouraging the personal and professional development of young scientists

d.Supporting activities looking to the increased importance of water resources research

 

3.Cooperating with other engineering and technical societies

 

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The Awwa Research Foundation (AwwaRF)

 

The Awwa Research Foundation is a non-profit organization which was established in 1966 to sponsor water-related research and allow water utilities and public health agencies to provide safe and affordable drinking water to consumers, thus improving the quality of life.

 

 

How does the Foundation operate in order to achieve its goals?

 

1.   By sponsoring research. The Foundation sponsors a thorough research program, which is deemed to be one of the most scientifically credible and best-coordinated programs all over the world.

Four main, strategic goal areas are at the core of this research program:

 

• High-quality water. The AwwaRF provides research to help water utilities deliver high-quality water to enhance public health.

• Efficient and customer-responsive organization.  The AwwaRF develops organizational systems and processes to help water utilities be efficient

• Infrastructure reliability. The AwwaRF provides research to help water utilities optimize infrastructure reliability to ensure a continuous, and safe supply to customers.

• Environmental leadership. The AwwaRF provides research to help water utilities demonstrate environmental leadership through protection and sustainable use of water resources, development of alternative water sources, and proper management of residuals.

2.     By developing knowledge.The Foundation identifies research needs, develops research programs and implement the results of its findings. This knowledge is then delivered to the whole water supply community.

3.      By promoting collaboration.The Foundation cultivates collaborative partnerships with a network of organizations situated all over the globe in order to leverage funding and share expertise. Currently, almost 900 water utilities and 50 consulting firms and manufacturing companies voluntarily subscribe to the Foundation in order to support research. Most of them are located in the U.S.A. The subscribers provide monetary support annually to fund research projects, as well as expertise in a wide range of topic areas. The total amount of money is also supplemented every year by several million dollars allocated by the U.S. government. In return for their support, all the subscribers enjoy a number of benefits, such as the access to the Foundation’s research information through the Web site and to the network of researchers and experts and the possibility to submit proposals for research projects.

 

 

 

The governing body of the Foundation is the Board of Trustees, whose tasks are the following

 

-         Approve all major activities and projects.

-         Provide policy direction to staff.

 

-         Monitor financial and technical progression of all activities.

 

-         Define the annual research agenda, based on input from the Research Advisory Council and other councils and committees.

 

-         Establish the subscription rate.

 

 

The Foundation’s subscribers, drinking water community experts, working professionals and technical advisory groups take part in the process of evaluating proposals and examining high-priority projects in order to develop a research agenda, which has to be approved by the Board.

Then, each approved project is assigned an advisory committee of experts in a specific area of study, such as biological sciences, chemistry, engineering, management and communications. A full-time staff of more than 40 employees coordinates the various research functions.

The Research Advisory Council (RAC), the Foundation's senior body of technical advisors, monitors the research results, develops and submits to the Board and annual Solicited Research Agenda, which submits to the Board, as well as a Strategic Research Plan, which basically documents the research planning strategy adopted by the Foundation to achieve its goals. It is updated every year under the direction of the Research Advisory Council.

 

Why is the Strategic Research Plan (SRP) so important?

 

•             It identifies near-term issues (needs, challenges and opportunities for improvement), as well as long-term trends that will serve as a starting point for the development of specific research programs.

 

•             It is used by the Foundation staff to develop the research agenda

 

 

•       It is used by researchers to develop their own research suggestions.

 

•         It is used by the Foundation staff to evaluate these proposals.

 

•        It informs the Foundation stakeholders of research priorities and goals.

 

 

[10]

 

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U.S Environmental Protection Agency: Water and Earth Day

 

 

 

(Photo source)

 

 

 

 

 

History

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) was created in July of 1970 by the White House and Congress because people were increasingly asking for cleaner water, air and land. Its main tasks consisted of trying to repair environmental damages already done and to guide American people in cleaning the environment and improving their behaviour and ideas about environment.

 

 

Organization

 

EPA’s headquarter offices are in Washington DC, but there are also 10 regional offices and about doze labs all over the country.  The staff includes 18.000 people across the country and they all have a high education and technical training: there are engineers; scientists; policy analysts; legal, public affair, financial, information management and computer specialists. The Administrator who guides EPA is appointed by the President of the United States.

 

 

EPA does many activities, such as:

 

1. it works on developing and enforcing regulations that implement environmental laws enacted by Congress
2. it supports with financial assistance State environmental programs
3. through environmental researches it is trying to solve current and future environmental problems
4. it sponsors voluntary partnerships and programs
5. it educates people to develop an environmental consciousness 
6. it informs people about environmental issues and its activities

 

 

Water

The Agency’s main task in this area is to protect the nation’s water through regulatory and voluntary programs. In fact, EPA enforces federal clean water and safe drinking water laws, provides support for municipal wastewater treatment plants, and takes part in pollution prevention efforts aimed at protecting watersheds and sources of drinking water.”

 

Hereafter there are some of EPA’s Web pages where these projects are explained:

 

• Office of Water
• Surf your Watershed

 

In the table which follows are summarized all the goals The Agency wants to accomplish in order to improve the condition of the nation’s water. It can be seen as a brief summary of the EPA's Startegic Plan for the period 2003-2008.

 

 

 

KEY WATER OBJECTIVES/SUBOBJECTIVES IN THE NEW EPA STRATEGIC PLAN   Clean and Safe Water
Protect Human Health Water Safe to Drink Fish/Shellfish Safe to Eat Water Safe for Swimming	Protect Water Quality Improve Water Quality On a Watershed Basis Improve Coastal and Ocean Waters
Heathy Communities and Ecosystems
Protect Community Health US/Mexico Border	Protect Ecosystems Ecosystem Scale Protection (Estuaries and Wetlands) Protect the Great Lakes Protect Chesapeake Bay Protect the Gulf of Mexico

 

 

Here you can find the complete program of Clean and Safe Water and Health Communities and Ecosystems.

1. Clean and Safe Water 
2. Health Communities and Ecosystems 

 

This agency treats many aspects of the water issue, providing infomation, news, projects and links to other sites dealing the same problems.

These topics are various , such as:

 

• Aquatic ecosystems
• Drinking water
• Ground water
• Storm water
• Surface water
• Wastewater
• Water Pollution (general aspects, control, effects, legal aspects)
• Water quality Monitoring

 

 

 

 

Earth Day

 

(Photo source)

 

 

 

The first Earth Day was organized on April 22 of 1970 and it brought together 20 milion people across America. Nowaday, this day is celebrated all over the world, America and 100 other countries. It is a world-wide compaign organized annually in order to get people interested and aware about the enviromental problems all around the globe. It is the Birthday of the Earth, it is a special day to celebrate the Earth: nature, water, air and ground...

 

EPA, through this event, lists numerous enviromental tips to put in pratice: at home, in our community, at school, at work, while shopping. Every occasion is good to become environment-friendly!

 

Save water is one of these sections. They mark the importance of using water efficiently. In that way we will conserve supplies for future generations. It is not such a huge effort, in fact all of us can follow these simple steps to save water:

 

1. if you have a leak, fix it
2. prefer 5-10 min showers to bath
3. turn of the tap while brushing your teeth
4. use water-efficient irrigation systems (ex. rain shut-off devices)
5. use high-efficiency washing machines or use the appropriate load size selection
6. change you old toilets with new and improved high-efficiency models (they use less water per flash)

 

There are also various tips on how to save energy and how to recycle.

 

Remember, 22 of April!!!

 

 

 

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USGS: US Geological Survey

 

 

 

 

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About USGS

 

USGS (US Geological Survey) is the biggest water, earth and biological science and mapping agency in US. It collects information and data about natural resources conditions. Moreover, it monitors the environmental and water situation in US by analysing large-scale data and investigations supplied by its experts; thus providing scientific understanding about environmental problems and issues. It also  provides information that benefits Us citizens such as publicAtions, data , maps and application softwares. Impartial scientific information supplied by USGS experts represents useful material to resource managers, planners and other customers. Usgs  water resources office are located in every state.

 

 

Among its taks there are some water resources programs (for example about water quality, about ground water, about hydrologic research) as well as regional studies (Chesapeake bay, Mojave desert, Platte river, San Francisco bay and South Florida area) and international programs (for example one study on the situtaion of Botswana).

 

 

Map of real-time streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the day of the year (United States)

 

 

 

 

photo source 

 

 

 

 

The map represents streamflow conditions as computed at USGS gaging stations; the colors represent real-time streamflow compared to percentiles of historical daily streamflow for the day of the year.

 

(The flow category “Low” indicates that the estimated streamflow is the lowest value ever measured for the day of the year. Similarly, the flow category “High” indicates that the estimated streamflow is the highest value ever measured for the day of the year).

 

 

The Water Resources Discipline

 

The Water Resources Discipline is one of the science disciplines of the USGS. The WRD provides  reliable, impartial, timely information that is useful to understand US water resources. WRD is actively contributing to:

 

• reduce loss of life which results from water-related natural risks such as floods, droughts and land movement;

• improve the management of ground-water and surface-water resources for domestic, agricultural, industrial, recreational, commercial and ecological uses;

• preserve and protect water resources for human health, aquatic health, and  environmental quality;

• promote a sustainable and responsible management of US natural resources in for the benefit of present and future generations.

 

 

USGS workforce is made of 4300 people situated in all 50 states at a total of 179 locations, working with 1300 State and local agency co-operators.

 

 

 

Programs: USGS Cooperative Water Program

 

 

As the primary Federal science agency for water-resource information, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) monitors the quantity and quality of water in US rivers and aquifers. Moreover, it is contributing to improve the application of hydrologic information and makes it sure that any potential users can benefit of such information. Consequently, in order to optimize its activities it cooperates with water resources agencies at the State, local, and tribal levels: thanks to the so called Cooperative Water Program. For more than 100 years, the Cooperative Program, thanks to shared efforts, has been a highly successful cost-sharing partnership between the USGS and water-resource agencies. Throughout its history the Program  has produced many benefits such as:

 

• important contributions to meeting USGS aims;

• meaningful partnership sharing Federal and non-Federal financial resources;

•  wise and sustainable water-resources management and useful information and solutions for water-related problems.

 

 

 

USGS and the National Research Program

 

USGS is for example committed in other program named National Research Program. NRP conducts basic and oriented research in support of the mission of the same USGS. The aim of NRP is to provide new knowledge by making some studies in complex hydrologic processes that are not yet well understood. The focus of these researches varies from time to time depending on their focus on some specific different areas or the necessity to study some new techniques to address to water resources issues.

All new knoledge and methodologies developed thanks to NRP apply to investigations of USGS, to investigation on water made by other agencies and more in general to the scientific community.

Through the years, many of the most important researches and resource assessment inititatives related to water resource problems had their origins in the NRP.

In addition to the studies that USGS conducted with NRP, there are also other reserch studies about water conducted by USGS in the whole United States. Information about all these studies is arranged by state.

 

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References

                                                                   

[1]  Politecnico di Milano (2001). "Sviluppo sostenibile". Retrieved on April 16th, 2007 from http://www.giuliodeleo.it/via/sviluppo/cap5/cap5.htm

 

[2] Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (2001). "WARMING STUDY INDICATES WATER PROBLEMS IN THE WEST". Retrieved on April 16th, 2007 from http://www.21stcenturyradio.com/articles/02/1126151.html

 

[3] Mississippi River . Retrieved on 17 April, 2007 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_River.

 

[4] The Mississippi and Its Uses. Retrieved on 17 April, 2007 from http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/missriver/Interp/MissUses.htm.

 

[5] Assessing Regional impacts of Climate change 

 Retieved on 16th April, 2007 from  http://www.nsc.org/EHC/jrn/weather/mississi.htm

 

[6] Climate  change sensitivity assessment on upper Mississippi river basin streamflows using  SWAT1    

 

Retrieved on 16th April, 2007 from      http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4038/is_200608/ai_n17183974

 

[7] Liquid Gold. California’s water. An Exhibit by the Water Resources Center Archives. Retrieved on 17 April 2007 from http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/WRCA/exhibit.html

 

 

[8] Glenn Totten. California Issues: A Briefing on California Water Issues. Retrieved on 17 April 2007 from http://www.water-ed.org/cabriefing.asp

 

[9] William Anderson. The Economics of Water in the West. Retrieved on 17 April 2007 from http://www.mises.org/story/1557

 

[10] United States Geological Survey. Retrieved on April, 19 th 2007 from http://water.usgs.gov/

 

[11] AWRA.American Water Resources Association.Retrieved on 17 April 2007 from

http://www.hydroweb.com/awra.html

 

[12] J.Paul Riley,Jerry R.Rogers.The American Water Resources Association:Past, Present and Future.

Retrieved on 17 April 2007 from

http://www.awra.org/about/AWRAhistory.pdf

 

[13] U.S. Environmental Protection agency, http://www.epa.gov/

 

[14] USGS Water Resources of the United States. Retrieved on 19th April 2007 from http://water.usgs.gov/index.html

 

[15] http://www.awwarf.org/

Retrieved on 18th April 2007

 

[16] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. How is drinking water treated? Retrieved on 19th April 2007 from http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwh/treat.html

 

[17] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Drinking Water and Health: What you need to know. Retrieved on 19th April 2007 from http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwh/index.html

 

[18] Lenntech, Water disinfection application standards (for USA), Drinking water disinfection in the USA. Retrieved on 19th April 2007 from

http://www.lenntech.com/water-disinfection/usa-water-disinfection-regulation.htm

 

[19] Carter, N. T. (January 26, 2006). Protecting New Orleans: From Hurricane Barriers to Floodwalls. CSR Report for Congress. Retrieved April 22, 2007 from http://digital.library.unt.edu/govdocs/crs//data/2006/upl-meta-crs-8479/RL33188_2006Jan26.pdf?PHPSESSID=9e6ca8e9a7e3040a4f0755b704a16d12

 

[20] Independent Levee Investigation Team (July 31, 2006). Engineering for success. In New Orleans Levee Systems Hurricane Katrina (chapter 14). Retrieved April 22, 2007 from http://www.ce.berkeley.edu/~new_orleans/report/CH_14.pdf

 

 

 

Photo source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_River

 

 

The Mississippi River in New Orleans