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Earth’s water systems are threatened by human activity. The creation of river diversions, poor fishing and farming practices, and pollution are destroying ecosystems, habitats (Figure 4.27), and water supplies. What actions can we take to protect the oceans and rivers? Here, we focus on ways to reduce the serious problem of water pollution. REDUCING POLLUTION In the past, people hoped pollution in the water system would biodegrade naturally over time. Now the volume of pollution is too high. Many governments—national, provincial or state, and local—are finding ways to reduce pollution by doing the following: Setting water-quality guidelines: Scientists determine safe levels of harmful substances to allow in water. Water for human use has a higher standard than water that will be used for other purposes, such as watering livestock. Making stricter regulations: Regulations are rules that businesses, organizations, and households must follow. Ideally, regulations prevent any pollution, such as toxic chemicals and oil, from entering water. Encouraging technology: With strict water-quality guidelines and regulations put in place, people and businesses will be forced to reduce pollution. They will be looking to purchase technologies to help them achieve this. In turn, there will be more incentive for others to invest money and time in developing new technologies to prevent and clean up pollution. Switching to renewable energy: If more renewable energy sources are found and used, energy companies can stop drilling for oil on the ocean floor, which would help reduce oil spills (Figure 4.28). Limiting the use of fertilizers and pesticides: Limiting the amount of fertilizers and pesticides farmers spray on their crops will reduce the amount that washes off fields and into rivers and then oceans. Encouraging consumer awareness: If consumers are aware of the consequences of their purchases, they may be more likely to make choices that will reduce water pollution. For example, they can buy products that will not cause water pollution, such as cleaning products that biodegrade easily and will not end up in streams. HOW CAN WE PROTECT EARTH’S RIVERS AND OCEANS? biodegrade slowly broken down into natural parts by natural processes FIGURE 4.27 Because their aquatic habitats are being threatened, many sea creatures are endangered, including Mediterranean monk seals. FIGURE 4.28 This Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is being treated after encountering oil in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. A massive oil spill was caused by a drilling platform disaster. What can I do to help these sea creatures survive? I wonder how biologists decide when plants and animals are endangered? 126 NEL UNIT 1: Physical Patterns in a Changing World
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HOW CAN WE PROTECT EARTH’S RIVERS AND OCEANS? · 2014-10-29  · HOW CAN WE PROTECT EARTH’S RIVERS AND OCEANS? biodegrade slowly broken down into natural parts by natural processes

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Page 1: HOW CAN WE PROTECT EARTH’S RIVERS AND OCEANS? · 2014-10-29  · HOW CAN WE PROTECT EARTH’S RIVERS AND OCEANS? biodegrade slowly broken down into natural parts by natural processes

Earth’s water systems are threatened by human activity. The creation of river diversions, poor fishing and farming practices, and pollution are destroying ecosystems, habitats (Figure 4.27), and water supplies. What actions can we take to protect the oceans and rivers? Here, we focus on ways to reduce the serious problem of water pollution.

REDUCING POLLUTIONIn the past, people hoped pollution in the water system would biodegrade naturally over time. Now the volume of pollution is too high. Many governments—national, provincial or state, and local—are finding ways to reduce pollution by doing the following:• Setting water-quality guidelines: Scientists determine safe levels of harmful

substances to allow in water. Water for human use has a higher standard than water that will be used for other purposes, such as watering livestock.

• Making stricter regulations: Regulations are rules that businesses, organizations, and households must follow. Ideally, regulations prevent any pollution, such as toxic chemicals and oil, from entering water.

• Encouraging technology: With strict water-quality guidelines and regulations put in place, people and businesses will be forced to reduce pollution. They will be looking to purchase technologies to help them achieve this. In turn, there will be more incentive for others to invest money and time in developing new technologies to prevent and clean up pollution.

• Switching to renewable energy: If more renewable energy sources are found and used, energy companies can stop drilling for oil on the ocean floor, which would help reduce oil spills (Figure 4.28).

• Limiting the use of fertilizers and pesticides: Limiting the amount of fertilizers and pesticides farmers spray on their crops will reduce the amount that washes off fields and into rivers and then oceans.

• Encouraging consumer awareness: If consumers are aware of the consequences of their purchases, they may be more likely to make choices that will reduce water pollution. For example, they can buy products that will not cause water pollution, such as cleaning products that biodegrade easily and will not end up in streams.

HOW CAN WE

PROTECT EARTH’S RIVERS AND OCEANS?

biodegrade slowly broken down into natural parts by natural processes

FIGURE 4.27 Because their aquatic habitats are being threatened, many sea creatures are endangered, including Mediterranean monk seals.

FIGURE 4.28 This Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is being treated after encountering oil in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. A massive oil spill was caused by a drilling platform disaster.

What can I do to help these sea creatures survive?

I wonder how biologists decide when plants and animals are endangered?

126 NELUNIT 1: Physical Patterns in a Changing World

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CHAPTER 4: Patterns of Rivers and Oceans 127NEL

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HEROES IN ACTION

A CALL TO ACTION 1. How could you raise awareness of this

issue in your community?

2. What other types of action could you

take to protect the world’s fresh water?

In 2011, Naomi Estay Casanova, 15, and

Omayra Toro Salamanca, 16, of Chile, in

South America, read a newsletter about

Antarctica. It described the problem

of pollution from oil spillage there. The

newsletter explained that the pollution

was worse than people thought. Toro says,

“We were worried about

this situation and were

basically looking for a

solution to it.”

The girls got in touch

with José Manuel Pérez-

Donoso, a scientist at the

University of Chile, who was

studying the properties of

bacteria from Antarctica.

He permitted them to

use his lab to study more

than 100 different types

of bacteria. Estay and Toro hoped to find a

bacteria that could degrade or break down

oil. In the event of an oil spill in the Antarctic,

this bacteria could be used to make the oil

less toxic to the environment. Eventually

Toro and Estay were successful. They

discovered a strain of bacteria that could

degrade oil molecules even in extremely

low temperatures. They won the Antarctic

School Fair, which allowed them to travel to

Antarctica for one week.

While they were there,

they visited the bases of

different countries and

hiked on the glaciers, and

they also learned how to

take samples of bacteria

from snow.

By 2013, Estay and Toro

had identified 12 strains

of bacteria that could

break down oil at low

temperatures. With this

discovery, they won the 2013 Stockholm

Junior Water Prize.

“After winning the prize, my personal

mission is to share our experience with

other young people, to create interest

about how they must protect natural

resources like water,” said Toro. Estay

added, “We wanted to share our research

with the world so that everyone knows the

importance of the Antarctic continent ...

which is our biggest freshwater reserve.”

(Figure 4.29)

“WE WANTED TO SHARE OUR RESEARCH WITH THE WORLD SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ANTARCTIC CONTINENT ...

WHICH IS OUR BIGGEST FRESHWATER RESERVE.”

NAOMI ESTAY CASANOVA AND OMAYRA TORO SALAMANCA:

PROTECTING THE ANTARCTIC FROM OIL SPILLS

FIGURE 4.29 Antarctica contains around 70% of the world’s fresh water.

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TAKING ACTION Government efforts to protect rivers and oceans can only work if citizens support the efforts and take actions on their own. What can you do to help?• Use the Internet to find out what rivers in your province or territory

might be diverted or dammed.• Learn more about coral reefs and how you can help to keep them healthy.

Here are some simple things that you can do to reduce river and ocean pollution:• Reuse plastic bags and containers whenever possible.• Refuse to buy products that come with too much plastic packaging.• Reduce, reuse, and recycle all of your waste.• Volunteer with an environmental group that is working to protect rivers

or oceans, such as the group shown in Figure 4.30.• Support an organization that is working to clean up rivers and oceans.• Write letters to elected officials to tell them that you want action to clean

up rivers and oceans.

1. GATHER AND ORGANIZE Research different ways to

protect coral reefs from harm. Summarize your

findings using a graphic organizer.

2. SPATIAL SIGNIFICANCE Where are most of the

ocean’s coral reefs? Locate them on a map.

How many are near Canadian coasts? Why

should Canadians care whether coral reefs

are damaged?

3. GEOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE Which forms of ocean

pollution—garbage, toxic wastes, fertilizers, and

oil pollution—are connected to the way you live

your life and the products that you use? Make a

personal plan for reducing the chances that you

will contribute to ocean pollution.

CHECK-IN

FIGURE 4.30 Volunteers pick up trash along the shoreline southwest of Manila on World Oceans Day.

How can I help to reduce water pollution?

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