1. Find and summarize 3 environmentally related news articles from your hometown.

Transcription

1 Matthew Morris CE 321 Environmental Engineering 9/2/ Find and summarize 3 environmentally related news articles from your hometown. State: Groundwater near Coulbourne Woods contaiminated decades ago Recently, the communities near Coulbourne Mill and Morris Mill Road have discovered their wells to be contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE). While the origin of the contamination remains unknown, it is speculated to have occurred by the spreading of untreated septic sewage on the land prior to the community s development. To help mitigate the situation it has been proposed to connect the community to the city s water system. However, funds appear to be unavailable for such a costly project. Perdue, farmer wins pollution lawsuit Poultry and cattle farmer Alan Hudson has won his case in a lawsuit by the Waterkeeper Alliance for violating the Clean Water Act. The Waterkeeper Alliance had claimed that high levels of E. coli in the Pocomoke River had been the result of the improper storage of chicken manure. However, no evidence showed that this was the cause. Instead, it is suspected that the source of bacteria was more likely from cow manure caught in water runoff. 100,000 Gallons of Raw Sewage Overflows into Wicomico River A pumping station failure has resulted in a release of over 100,000 gallons untreated sewage into the Wicomico River. The Salisbury sewer system is outdated and in need of serious upgrades to avoid future discharges. 2. What watershed is your home-town located in and what environmental impacts may exist? My home-town is located in the Lower Wicomico unit (HUC ) of the Wicomico Watershed (DNR, 2007). Within this watershed multiple issues exist which can negatively impact the environment. These include:

2 Morris 2 Agricultural Development: Over 35% of this land has been developed for agricultural use (DNR, 2007). Runoff from these areas tend to be rich in sediment and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) that cloud the water and feed algal blooms (DNR, 2007). Residential Development: Residential development is rapidly increasing and accounts for over 14% of land use (DNR, 2007). This development has increased the amount of impermeable surfaces and therefore the total volume of runoff. Wastewater Management: The limited capacity and age of Salisbury s wastewater treatment plant continually results in the illegal discharge of sewage into the river when receiving large volumes of storm water. 3. Name three actions/behaviors that you could improve and would be considered sustainable living practices. Taking 5 minute showers to conserve water Nelson, A. (2007). Steering Sustainability in an Urbanizing World: Policy, Practice, and Performance. Replacing disposable items with reusable ones Saylor, A., Prokopy, L.S., & Amberg, S. (2011). What s Wrong with the Tap? Examining Perceptions of Tap Water and Bottled Water at Purdue University. Environmental Management 48, Walking or biking whenever possible instead of driving Taylor, R.E., & Allen, W. (2008). Changing household behaviors: learning for urban sustainability. The Innovation Journal: The Public Sector Innovation Journal, 13(2). Adopting these behaviors could easily be accomplished though minor lifestyle changes. For instance, I could eliminate bottled water from my life by using a reusable water bottle. Also, I could identify/eliminate unnecessary driving. I tend to frequently drive to Wawa when I could just as easily walk or bike there. Additionally, I could shorten my showers by timing them and recording their lengths in a log book.

3 4. Find 3 definitions of sustainability and compare them to the Bruntland Commision definition. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development (SARE), a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable agriculture, defines sustainability as: Morris 3 Developing new, innovative strategies to produce and distribute food, fuel, and fiber that focus on profit over the long term, stewardship of our nation s land, air and water, and quality of life for farmers, ranchers, and their communities (SARE). The Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) defines sustainability as the following: A complex system of interacting approaches to the restoration, management and optimization of human health that has an ecological base, that is environmentally, economically and socially viable indefinitely, that functions harmoniously both with the human body and the non-human environment, and which does not result in unfair or disproportionate impacts on any significant contributory element of the healthcare system (ANH, 2010). Triodos Bank defines sustainability as: Using money to bring about positive and lasting change; placing value on people and planet, as well as profit (Triodos Bank). Sustainability as defined by the Brundtland Commision: Development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland Commission, 1987). In comparison to the Brundtland definition of sustainability, the definitions by SARE, ANH, and Triodos are much more specific and reflect their individual sources. For example, the definition by SARE distinctively mentions the quality of life for farmers and ranchers. Also, the three definitions by SARE, ANH, and Triodos each make links to the economy, environment, and society (the three pillars of sustainability ) while the Brundtland definition does not. However, while these three definitions have slightly different focuses, each capture the Brundtland idea of keeping the future in mind.

4 Morris 4 5. Using the EPA s website, research an area that interests you. Define the topic, explain why it is of interest, and describe where to search for more information. Carbon Capture and Storage: Most of the world s energy is produced by the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. However, these energy sources are also the major producers of greenhouse gases (GHG) and other pollutants. As population growth continues to place higher demands on energy usage and global climate change becomes more accepted, cleaner and renewable energy solutions are necessary to ensure a sustainable future. While many of these alternatives, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power are steadily growing, it will take decades before they become societal norms and overcome the economy s deep rooted dependence on fossil fuels. One possible solution to this environmental and energy crisis could be the implementation of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) with fossil power plants and industrial processes. This could allow for a significant reduction of GHG emissions, while still utilizing much of the current energy infrastructure. In this method, CO 2 is captured and pumped into geologic reservoirs, where it is trapped from entering the atmosphere (EPA, 2013). While the available storage volume in the U.S. is uncertain, it could be as high as 20 billion tonnes or up 6,700 years worth of CO2 emissions (EPA, 2013). Currently, no legal regulation explicitly prohibits CCS implementation and new regulations are now being developed to govern such projects. For example, the Underground Injection Control program has finalized its criteria for Class VI wells (EPA, 2013). This new well class specifies all guidelines for CO 2 sequestration from site selection to post-closure monitoring (EPA, 2013). Also, small scale demonstration projects now exist and show the method to be technologically feasible. However, CCS is not without challenges. Primarily, capturing and storing CO2 is extremely expensive and energy intensive. Also, it may present an environmental risk if CO2 interacts with groundwater or leaks to the surface (EPA, 2013). For more information regarding this topic, the Department of Energy has published multiple reports presenting the state of CCS technologies and their sustainability.

5 References Morris 5 Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) (2010, June). Sustainable Healthcare Working Towards the Paradigm Shift. Retrieved from AB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anh-europe.org%2Ffiles%2F SustainableHealthcare_White- Paper.pdf&ei=pdUmUqPAI_K9sQS3uYHwDQ&usg=AFQjCNGMC4KtByIWYBl1Zq4y l3yauj0sqa&bvm=bv ,d.cwc Brundtland Commission. (1987). World Commission on Environment and Development-Our Common Future. Retrieved from AC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fconspect.nl%2Fpdf%2FOur_Common_Future- Brundtland_Report_1987.pdf&ei=p9cmUti4KarKsASO7oCIDw&usg=AFQjCNGg3DczY P6qVAZAU5cCl-0mO22VTg&bvm=bv ,d.cWc Carbon Dioxide Capture and Sequestration. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Retrieved September 2, 2013, from Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). (2007, February) Water Quality Assessment Wicomico River, Maryland. Retrieved from AA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dnr.state.md.us%2Firc%2Fdocs%2F pdf&ei= VNkmUtjiMfa_sASBroHACA&usg=AFQjCNHcaTSpQX7iZlAP1P30stV6jJSfmw&bvm =bv ,d.cwc What s different about sustainable banking?. Triodos Bank. Retrieved September 2, 2013, from What is Sustainable Agriculture?. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE). Retrieved September 2, 2013, from