Lisa S. Alter
Students will explore both point and nonpoint pollution sources, culmination in a “Town Meeting.” Six problems will be focused on;
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Low dissolved oxygen (hypoxia)
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Toxic contamination
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Pathogen contamination
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Floatable debris
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The impact of these water quality problems and habitat degradation and loss, on the health of living resources.
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Land use and development, resulting in habitat loss and degradation of water quality.
There was a major population influx to coastal area and watershed of the Sound after World War II. This increased population worsened pollution, altered land surfaces, reduced open spaces, and restricted access to the Sound. Use of the Sound as a place to dispose of human and other waste increased dramatically. Paving over of land and habitat destruction, added even more stress to the Sound and its waters. Due to regulations, loss of tidal wetlands by filling, dredging and development has slowed down, but pollution and habitat loss are still a problem. (Atkin, Bangser, Jacobson, Smith, Wade Backer, 1991)
It took a few million years for the Sound to form, but only a couple of hundred years to pollute it. 32.6% of the Sound’s watershed is found in Connecticut. 1.8% of the Sound’s watershed is found in New York. These are the two states bordering the Sound. The rest of the Sound’s watershed is found in Mass, NH., and VT. Imagine the Sound as a large pool, filled with saltwater that flows in and out. Add freshwater from rivers and streams. Add the plants and animals that depend on it. Finally, add the following; groundwater seepage, surface runoff, rainfall, storm drain overflow, sewage treatment plant outflow, and industrial wastewater. (Atkin, Bangser, Jacobson, Smith, Wade, Backer, 1991)
Many parts of the Sound are beautiful and healthy, some have really been cleaned up, but pollution in the Sound is still a major problem.
Sources of water pollution are divided into two types; point sources and nonpoint sources. Point sources are easy to see and understand. Any pipe or ditch spilling wastewater directly into the Sound is a point source. (Atkin, Bangser, Jacobson, Smith, Wade, Backer,1991)
Nonpoint sources of pollution are much harder to identify and understand. These sources, their damage and control will be the focus of the pollution part of this curriculum. Sources of nonpoint pollution include; runoff from construction sites, farms, paved surfaces, marinas, garbage dumps, contaminated groundwater, and overfertilized lawns. Stormwater runoff is a major source of this type of pollution and it can originate anywhere in the watershed. Your home is also a contributor to this type of pollution. Anything that you spread or spill in your yard (examples include overuse of pesticides), that gets into the groundwater, can end up into the Sound. If your septic system overflows or you litter near a storm drain, you might be a contributor. (Atkin, Bangser, Jacobson, Smith, Wade, Backer, 1991) See appendix