This research paper discusses the problem of pollution in urban catchments, its causes, types, and effects on physical, chemical, and biological attributes. It also highlights the adverse effects of pollution on people and the management implications for resolving this issue.
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Running head: STREAM POLLUTION IN URBAN CATCHMENTS STREAM POLLUTION IN URBAN CATCHMENTS Name of the Student: Name of the University: Author’s Note:
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1STREAM POLLUTION IN URBAN CATCHMENTS ABSTRACT The problem of urban catchment pollution had emerged as one of the most issues that the different nations of the world are presently facing. For instance, presently it had been seen that the different urban catchment areas are suffering from the problem of water and land pollution which are adversely affecting the natural ecosystem of the same. More importantly, the excessive amount of both land and water pollution that the different urban catchment areas suffer from had started to take a toll on the natural biota or for that matter the animals as well as the plants which are dependent on the urban catchment areas for their survival. In addition to these, it had been seen that the people or for that matter the human beings who live in the vicinity of these urban catchment areas are also getting adversely affected by the pollution that these urban catchment areas are facing. For instance, they had to suffer from different kinds of skin diseases and other kinds of health ailments because of the polluted waters of the urban catchment areas that they consume or use. Thus, it becomes important for the national government of the different nations of the world as well as the regionals bodies to take the help of various adequate measures for the immediate resolution of this issue.
2STREAM POLLUTION IN URBAN CATCHMENTS Table of Contents 1.0Introduction...........................................................................................................................3 2.0 Causes of Pollution in Urban Catchments.................................................................................3 3.0 Type of Pollution in Urban Catchments....................................................................................5 4.0 Effects of Pollutants...................................................................................................................6 4.1 Effects on Physical and Chemical attributes.........................................................................6 4.2 Effects on Biota.....................................................................................................................7 4.3 Effects on People...................................................................................................................7 5.0 Management Implication...........................................................................................................8 6.0 Conclusion.................................................................................................................................9 7.0 References................................................................................................................................10
3STREAM POLLUTION IN URBAN CATCHMENTS 1.0Introduction As opined by Chen et al. (2018), a catchment refers to an area of wherein the natural rainwater gets collected and it is often bounded by different natural land regions like hills, plateaus and others. Paule-Mercado et al. (2017) are of the viewpoint that the different kinds of catchments are more commonly found in the rural regions rather than the urban regions because of the scarcity of the people that out there and also the naturalness of the landscape of the concerned region. However, in the present times it had been seen that different catchment areas have also sprung up in the urban regions as well and an important feature of these urban catchments is the fact that they are largely man-made in nature (Namugize, Jewitt & Graham, 2018). In this relation, it needs to be said that one of the most important issues that the different urban catchment areas are facing presently can be attributed to the problem of pollution which as a matter of fact had emerged as one of the biggest wicked problems that the world is presently facing (Unda-Calvo, Martínez-Santos & Ruiz-Romera, 2017). More importantly, it had been seen that the evil of pollution is not only taking a toll on the quality of water of the urban catchments which in the present times had emerged as one of the major sources of fresh water in the urban regions but also the people and the plants or the animals which are reliant on them as well. This paper intends to undertake an analysis of urban catchment pollution and also the negative connotations of the same from the perspective of the entities which are affected by the same. 2.0 Causes of Pollution in Urban Catchments Borris et al. (2016) are of the viewpoint that there are various causes of pollution in the urban catchment areas and the majority of these causes can be attributed to the man-made
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4STREAM POLLUTION IN URBAN CATCHMENTS activities or for that matter the activities undertaken by the human beings. As discussed by Sharley et al. (2016), one of the most important causes of pollution in the urban catchments can be attributed to the non-biodegradable wastes deposed by the individuals in these natural sources of fresh water. For instance, it had been seen that the human beings are increasing resorting to the usage of different kinds of plastics and other similar products which are non-biodegradable in nature and thereby these are not being decomposed by the natural agents of the planet after they are being disposed by the individuals (Walsh et al., 2016). Furthermore, in the majority of the urban regions it is seen that these wastes are either dumped in the water bodies or for that matter buried in the land. However, as stated by Abell et al. (2019), the major problem arises because of the non-decomposable nature of these wastes they get deposited within the water bodies and start to pollute the same. Halliday et al. (2015) have noted that an important cause of the pollution in the urban catchments can be attributed to the sentiments from the artificial fertilizers which are being carried by rain water, air and others to the catchment regions. An important example of this is the pollution caused to the different urban catchments in South Australia on the score of the artificial fertilizers used by the sugarcane plantations which are located in the concerned region (Chen et al., 2018). In addition to these, it had been seen that the different urban catchment areas have emerged as a major tourist attraction or for that matter a place of entertainment for the city- dwellers in the present times because of the natural beauty of the same. However, the problem arises because the different kinds of tourist activities or for that matter the entertainment activities that the individuals indulge in near these urban catchment areas cause a substantial amount of pollution to these catchments and thereby adversely affect their ecology (Janes et al.,
5STREAM POLLUTION IN URBAN CATCHMENTS 2017). Lastly, the animal excrements and other natural sources of waste are another important cause of pollution in the urban catchment areas. 3.0 Type of Pollution in Urban Catchments As discussed by Geissen et al. (2015), although the urban catchment areas in the present times are susceptible to different kinds of pollution yet the majority of them can be categorized in two broad categories, namely, water pollution and land pollution. Xu et al. (2017) are of the viewpoint that water pollution is perhaps the most important cause of pollution which is found in the different urban catchment areas of the world. This can be explained on the basis of the fact that the different kind of industrial run-offs, fertilizer run-offs, the wastes which are being dumped in these water bodies and others are adversely affecting the quality of these water bodies or for that matter the natural sources of fresh water (Paule-Mercado et al., 2016). More importantly, as opined by Ferreira, Walsh and Ferreira (2018), these have started to take a toll on the natural ecosystem of these catchments and it is seen that both the flora and the fauna of these catchments are finding it very hard to sustain themselves because of the high level of water pollution. In addition to these, it is seen that the wastes generated by the tourists and the different entertainment activities are also causing a substantial amount of water pollution in the urban catchment areas. Miller and Hutchins (2017) have noted that along with the extensive amount of water pollution, the different urban catchment areas in the present times also have to suffer from the adverse effects of land pollution as well. For instance, presently it had been seen that the large number of non-degradable wastes which are being generated by the human beings are being buried under the earth which are not being decomposed by the natural agents of the planet. The
6STREAM POLLUTION IN URBAN CATCHMENTS resultant effect of this is that they are adversely affecting the quality of the trees or the plants which grow in proximity to these catchment areas by causing land pollution (You et al., 2015). More importantly, since the water which gets collected in the urban catchment areas is actually run-off water from the nearby lands thus they in turn also get contaminated because of the polluted nature of the land (Sharley et al., 2017). Thus, it can be said that the problem of land pollution indirectly contributes towards the problem of water pollution in the different urban catchment areas as well. 4.0 Effects of Pollutants 4.1 Effects on Physical and Chemical attributes Livesley, McPherson and Calfapietra (2016) are of the viewpoint that the problem of pollution in the urban catchment areas have started to take a toll on the physical as well as the chemical attributes of the objects which are in the vicinity of these catchment areas. For instance, the high level of pollution often changes the physical attributes of the dams, hills and other natural bodies which are in proximity to the urban catchment areas. More importantly, in some of the cases it had been seen that the walls of the dams and other artificial bodies which have been constructed near the urban catchment areas are getting corroded or for that matter are disintegrating because of the high level of pollution faced by the catchment areas (Paule- Mercado et al., 2017). On the other hand, the adverse effect of the same on the chemical attributes of the dams or for that matter the artificial bodies constructed near the urban catchment areas can in no way be relegated to the background (Borris et al., 2016). For example, it had been seen that the polluted water as well as the polluted land in the vicinity of the urban catchment
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7STREAM POLLUTION IN URBAN CATCHMENTS areas start slow chemical reactions which over a prolonged period of time start to take a toll on the natural landscape or for that matter the artificial buildings that are in proximity to the same. 4.2 Effects on Biota As discussed by Ferreira, Walsh and Ferreira (2018), perhaps the most adverse effect of urban catchment areas is perceptible when the aspect of the biota or for that matter the animals and plants which inhabit the concerned areas is being taken into account. Walsh et al. (2016) are of the viewpoint that the high level of pollution in the urban catchment areas had stunted the growth of the plants and the trees which naturally grow in these areas since the land and the water of the catchment areas are the major sources of life support for them. More importantly, it had been seen that the fishes which live in these water bodies are also getting adversely affected because of the high level of pollution and as a matter of fact it had been seen that they have developed different kinds of diseases. Furthermore, it had been seen that many species of fishes which inhabit these catchment areas have either become extinct or for that matter are facing extinction in the present times (Geissen et al., 2015). In addition to these, the problem of eutrophication by reducing the oxygen content of these water bodies is making the survival of both the plants and the water animals highly difficult. Thus, it can be said that the problem of land and water pollution in the urban catchment areas have adversely affected the animals and the plants of these regions or for that matter its biota and thereby is presently threatening the natural ecosystem of the concerned regions substantially. 4.3 Effects on People Miller and Hutchins (2017) are of the viewpoint that the adverse effect of the water and the land pollution that the different urban catchment areas are facing presently while affecting the natural ecosystem or for that matter the biota of the concerned regions is also adversely
8STREAM POLLUTION IN URBAN CATCHMENTS affecting the people residing in the vicinity of the same as well. For instance, it had been seen that the water of the urban catchment areas are the primary sources of water for the people living in the proximity of the same. The resultant effect of this is that the people who are consuming or for that matter using the polluted water of these urban catchments had to face the adverse effects of the same (Namugize, Jewitt & Graham, 2018). More importantly, it had been seen that the people in the present times who consume or use the polluted water of the urban catchments have developed various kinds of skin diseases and a plethora of other health issues like cholera, diarrhea and other kinds of problems (Janes et al., 2017). Thus, it can be said that the pollution which the urban catchment areas are presently facing is adversely affecting the people who reside in the vicinity of the same. 5.0 Management Implication As stated by Sharley et al. (2017), the problem of excessive pollution that the different urban catchment areas are presently facing has important implications which the regional as well as national governments of the nations need to take into account for the resolution of the same. For instance, the regional or for that matter the local bodies need to collaborate with the national government for the effective resolution of the issue under discussion here. This can be done effectively by putting restriction of the amount of wastes which are being dumped in the catchments or in the vicinity of the same, limiting the amount of tourist activities or for that matter the recreational activities near these catchment areas, taking adequate measures for the purpose of restoring the natural ecosystem of the concerned region and others (Unda-Calvo, Martínez-Santos & Ruiz-Romera, 2017). More importantly, stringent penalties need to be imposed on the individuals who are found violating these stipulations or for that matter causing harm to the natural ecosystem of the urban catchment areas.
9STREAM POLLUTION IN URBAN CATCHMENTS 6.0 Conclusion To conclude, the urban catchment areas are a major source of water as well as recreation for the individuals residing in the urban regions. However, in the present times it had been seen that the different urban regions are facing a substantial amount of threat because of the high level of water as well as land pollution that they have to face. More importantly, the excessive amount of land as well as water pollution from which these urban catchment areas are presently suffering from is taking a toll on the biota or for that matter the animal as well as plants whose lives are being supported by the natural ecosystem of these urban catchment areas. In addition to thee, it had been seen that the people who are residing in vicinity to these urban catchment areas also have to suffer from different kind of skin diseases and other health ailments. Thus, it becomes important for the local or the regional bodies and also the national governments of the different nations of the diverse nations of the world to effectively resolve the issue of urban catchment pollution in the best possible manner.
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10STREAM POLLUTION IN URBAN CATCHMENTS 7.0 References Abell, R., Vigerstol, K., Higgins, J., Kang, S., Karres, N., Lehner, B., & Chapin, E. (2019). Freshwater biodiversity conservation through source water protection: Quantifying the potential and addressing the challenges.Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems,29(7), 1022-1038. Borris, M., Leonhardt, G., Marsalek, J., Österlund, H., & Viklander, M. (2016). Source-based modeling of urban stormwater quality response to the selected scenarios combining futurechangesinclimateandsocio-economicfactors.Environmental management,58(2), 223-237. Chen, L., Zhi, X., Shen, Z., Dai, Y., & Aini, G. (2018). Comparison between snowmelt-runoff and rainfall-runoff nonpoint source pollution in a typical urban catchment in Beijing, China.Environmental Science and Pollution Research,25(3), 2377-2388. Ferreira, C. S., Walsh, R. P., & Ferreira, A. J. (2018). Degradation in urban areas.Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health,5, 19-25. Geissen, V., Mol, H., Klumpp, E., Umlauf, G., Nadal, M., van der Ploeg, M., & Ritsema, C. J. (2015).Emergingpollutantsintheenvironment:achallengeforwaterresource management.International Soil and Water Conservation Research,3(1), 57-65. Halliday, S. J., Skeffington, R. A., Wade, A. J., Bowes, M. J., Gozzard, E., Newman, J. R., & Jarvie, H. P. (2015). High‐frequency water quality monitoring in an urban catchment: hydrochemical dynamics, primary production and implications for the Water Framework Directive.Hydrological Processes,29(15), 3388-3407.
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12STREAM POLLUTION IN URBAN CATCHMENTS Sharley, D. J., Sharp, S. M., Bourgues, S., & Pettigrove, V. J. (2016). Detecting long-term temporaltrendsinsediment-boundtracemetalsfromurbanised catchments.Environmental pollution,219, 705-713. Sharley, D. J., Sharp, S. M., Marshall, S., Jeppe, K., & Pettigrove, V. J. (2017). Linking urban land use to pollutants in constructed wetlands: Implications for stormwater and urban planning.Landscape and Urban Planning,162, 80-91. Unda-Calvo, J., Martínez-Santos, M., & Ruiz-Romera, E. (2017). Chemical and physiological metal bioaccessibility assessment in surface bottom sediments from the Deba River urban catchment:HarmonizationofPBET,TCLPandBCRsequentialextraction methods.Ecotoxicology and environmental safety,138, 260-270. Walsh, C. J., Booth, D. B., Burns, M. J., Fletcher, T. D., Hale, R. L., Hoang, L. N., & Wallace, A.(2016).Principlesforurbanstormwatermanagementtoprotectstream ecosystems.Freshwater Science,35(1), 398-411. Xu, F., Liu, Z., Cao, Y., Qiu, L., Feng, J., Xu, F., & Tian, X. (2017). Assessment of heavy metal contaminationinurbanriversedimentsintheJiaozhouBaycatchment,Qingdao, China.Catena,150, 9-16. You, L., Nguyen, V. T., Pal, A., Chen, H., He, Y., Reinhard, M., & Gin, K. Y. H. (2015). Investigationofpharmaceuticals,personalcareproductsandendocrinedisrupting chemicalsinatropicalurbancatchmentandtheinfluenceofenvironmental factors.Science of the Total Environment,536, 955-963.