\"Saving the bay\" was the title of an article that appeared in Daily Press, our
ID: 105611 • Letter: #
Question
"Saving the bay" was the title of an article that appeared in Daily Press, our local couple of years ago. Another article titled "What's Killing the Chesapeake Bay?" appeared in the Washington Post also a few years ago. Both of these articles were referring to the many years of pollution of the Chesapeake Bay. Considering that the Chesapeake Bay watershed covers a wide geographical area (from New York to Virginia), provide a detailed discussion nature (source) of the Bay pollution problem. Include in your discussion "point source" and "non-point source" pollution.Explanation / Answer
ANSWER:
High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus fuel unnaturally high levels of algae growth in the water, blocking sunlight from reaching underwater grasses that serve as food and habitat. When the algae die they are decomposed by bacteria that consume the oxygen in the water.
Excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous come from fertilizers, wastewater, septic tank discharges, air pollution, and runoff from farms, cities, and suburbs. Excessive amounts of sediment are carried into our waterways from erosion and from construction sites.
POINT SOURCE:
1) Air pollution from power plants and motor vehicles falls back to the ground and is washed into our waterwaysby rain.
2) Discharge from waste water treatment plants and factories are released into rivers and bay
NON POINT SOURCE:
1) Animal waste and fertilizer wash off agricultural land or contaminate groundwater, polluting rivers , streams and the bay.
2) The drain fields of septic systems deliver pollution to rivers and bays through contaminated groundwater.
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