Describe the issue (Water availability and quality in the US ) and expand on how

Question

Describe the issue (Water availability and quality in the US ) and expand on how exposure and human health may be modified for the given topic in relation to climate change. This may be in terms of both severity, frequency and geography. Additionally, you should indicate if you think that there are Environmental Justice (EJ) issues associated with the health aspect, and expand on the nature of this concern. This could include location, built environment and lack of empowerment of affected groups. Finally indicate what may be useful to remediate the selected problem

Explanation / Answer

water availability and its quality The quality of any body of surface or ground water is a function of either both natural influences and human influences.
Without human influences water quality would be determined by the weathering of bedrock minerals, by the atmospheric processes of evapotranspiration and the deposition of dust and salt by wind, by the natural leaching of organic matter and nutrients from soil, by hydrological factors that lead to runoff, and by biological processes within the aquatic environment that can alter the physical and chemical composition of water.

Typically, water quality is determined by comparing the physical and chemical characteristics of a water sample with water quality guidelines or standards. Drinking water quality guidelines and standards are designed to enable the provision of clean and safe water for human consumption, thereby protecting human health. These are usually based on scientifically assessed acceptable levels of toxicity to either humans or aquatic organisms.

Declining water quality has become a global issue of concern as human populations grow, industrial and agricultural activities expand, and climate change threatens to cause major alterations to the hydrological cycle.

Globally, the most prevalent water quality problem is eutrophication, a result of high-nutrient loads (mainly phosphorus and nitrogen), which substantially impairs beneficial uses of water. Major nutrient sources include agricultural runoff, domestic sewage (also a source of microbial pollution), industrial effluents and atmospheric inputs from fossil fuel burning and bush fires. Lakes and reservoirs are particularly susceptible to the negative impacts of eutrophication because of their complex dynamics, relatively longer water residence times and their role as an integrating sink for pollutants from their drainage basins. Nitrogen concentrations exceeding 5 milligrams per litre of water often indicate pollution from human and animal waste or fertilizer runoff from agricultural areas.

An emerging water quality concern is the impact of personal care products and pharmaceuticals, such as birth control pills, painkillers and antibiotics, on aquatic ecosystems. Little is known about their long-term human or ecosystem impacts, although some are believed to mimic natural hormones in humans and other species.

WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE-
EJ usually refers to the belief that all citizens, regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic class, should equally share in the benefits of environmental amenities and the burdens of environmental health hazards. Most definitions have common “themes” of justice in distribution, procedures, and process.

Environmental Justice (EJ) is not universally defined. EJ has different meanings to various communities and institutions; therefore, the EJ definition is based in place, time, and perspective. It is often explained using examples of environmental injustices, focusing on the distribution of environmental risks.

Most definitions talk about the “environment” as a place where we live, work, play, and pray; it is the environment of the everyday. Because of this new view of the environment, the Environmental Justice Movement (EJM) has caused a major shift in the idea of environmentalism (Taylor, 2000 and Pena, 2005).Environmental justice affirms the right of all workers to a safe and healthy work environment, without being forced to choose between an unsafe livelihood and unemployment It also affirms the right of those who work at home to be free from environmental hazards.
-Environmental justice protects the rights of victims of environmental justice to receive full compensation and reparations for damages as well as quality health care.Let's use the EPA's definition as an example:
-Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

Fair treatment means that no group of people, including a racial, ethnic, or a socioeconomic group, should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies. Meaningful involvement means that:

potentially affected community residents have an appropriate opportunity to participate in decisions about a proposed activity that will affect their environment and/or health;
the public's contribution can influence the regulatory agency's decision;
the concerns of all participants involved will be considered in the decision making process; and
the decision makers seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected.

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