Abstract In this article the writer notes that in the early 21st century, the megacities of the developing world are facing an unprecedented series of environmental pressures. These are all ultimately due to the rapidly accelerating growth and development of such urban areas, whose immense populations and industries are negatively impacting local and regional environments on a significant scale. The writer argues that, while the poor of these cities face many challenges as a result of development - from poor nutrition to poor sanitation, air pollution and housing crises, the unsafe water supplies of these cities is the most urgent problem that they face.
From the Paper "Scholars studying the issue of safe water supplies in the mega cities of the developing world agree that the nature of this development problem is shaped by its context. In this regard, there are two primary factors that we must consider. First, the development of the mega cities of the developing world is radically different than the development of mega cities in the developed world as in the latter case development was gradual, while in the former it is accelerated. Thus, while cities such as New York had a century to develop water systems to cope with growth, the cities of the developing world have had only a generation. Consider, for example, the fact that the population of Mexico City in 1950 was 3.1 million, and a generation later, in 1980, was 13.4 million. The second primary factor is that while in the developed world mega cities their economies grew in close parallel to the growth of the cities' populations, in the developing world this connection is far more uncertain."
Abstract Although the United States has one of the safest public water supplies in the world, it needs ongoing protection from both naturally-occurring and man-made contaminants. This paper discusses the public health history and current issues in watersafety. The paper looks at what caused the United States to set standards for its public water supply, as well as the laws and statutes which were formulated. The paper also examines what the future holds and whether the United States' water supply is as safe as we think it is.
From the Paper "In March of 2001, the Bush Administration suspended the 1996 Amendments to the SWDA. They rejected the arsenic safety standards. In a highly controversial situation, after severe public heat and political backlash, in October 2001, the Bush Administration finally conceded to the 10 ppb value. However, during the suspension, the administration required new studies to be carried out, suggesting the earlier research was inadequate. As Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) stated, ?It came back and bit them in the arsenic.? In September 2001, studies by the National Academy of Sciences completed their new studies on arsenic exposure. Their new study stated that even 10 ppb is too high and recommended lowering the standard to 3 ppb in order to protect the public health."
This paper compares the urban pollution problems of Toronto and Beijing by evaluating the consequences of different environmental forms and how each city is addressing this pollution.
Abstract This paper explains that Beijing is very much a heavy industrial city dominated by fuel and material processing facilities with a high population density although signs of western-style suburbanization are appearing. The author points out that Toronto, which is cleaner and less dependent upon massive industrial works, is well-known for carefully weighing the implications of various urban design proposals upon local communities and has a less dense population; however, this city has the problem of more local vehicles causing far too much greenhouse emission. The paper stresses that China is not doing its part to combat global warming. The paper concludes that Beijing's infrastructure pales alongside Toronto's because its mass as a global "mega-city" makes it difficult for city planners to construct a city capable of comfortably accommodating its population.
From the Paper "At this juncture, it is appropriate to look more closely at Toronto in terms of its urban build form and in terms of commonplace life-style activities in the city that have some environmental impact. Unsurprisingly, the habitation density in the outer part of the city is much lesser than it is within the interior. The buildings are more widely-spaced and more diminutive in height; there are also many plazas and these plazas tend to have small retail stores within their embrace that accommodate almost all of the needs of a local inhabitant. Finally, there is plenty of "green space" in this area."
Tags: suburbanization, greenhouse gas, vehicles industry mega-city
Abstract "Las Colonias" are comprised of Mexican immigrants whose dreams were shattered when they realized the promise of the "American Dream" was merely a myth. This paper looks at the hazards of the drinking water in this region, and the government's policy in treating this problem. It analyzes whether the treatment is different because it is aimed at an immigrant population group.
From the Paper "When we speak of Third World countries, the vision that comes to mind is usually that of impoverished, yet geographically distant communities, which are a supplemental concern to issues in our own country. However within the United States, Third World conditions exist that affect not only the indigent communities, but the surrounding communities as well. One of the most notable of these is the area along the U.S.-Mexican border known as "Las Colonias"."
Tags: border, drinking, hazard, latinos, mexicans, poverty, safety, texas, water
Abstract The name "Los Angeles" has become shorthand for a whole condition of modern civilization: A state of unplanned, disordered, sprawling, polluted, congested chaos. This paper discusses how the great mega-city of Los Angeles seems to embody the problems of the modern world on a mega-scale. The writer focuses on the role that the imagery and reality of transport ? above all, freeways and motor transport ? played in shaping perceptions of this vast and extraordinary modern metropolis.
From the Paper "Los Angeles is not a new city: founded in 1781 and incorporated in 1850, it is the second-oldest city in California and one of the longest-established urban centres in the United States. Yet a recent writer on Los Angeles transport has asserted that it "is known throughout the world as the prototype of the late twentieth-century city". Elsewhere Los Angeles has been described as ?a harbinger of the modern American city ? a prototype for the American metropolis of the late twentieth century?. This perception of Los Angeles, for all its relative antiquity, as (for good and ill) a city of modernity and futurity reflects the overwhelmingly twentieth-century nature of its growth. The form that growth has taken has been seen (again, for good and ill) as embodying the fundamental qualities of a pattern of development "typical of twentieth century urbanization". This pattern of urbanism is identified particularly with North America but, partly by virtue of being American, has exercised great influence across the world: a decentralized, dispersed, suburbanized, consumerized, motorized urbanism that we now find adopted in almost every part of the globe where people have congregated in towns and cities."
Abstract This research work seeks to isolate and characterise microorganisms found in Ekosodin, Benin City. It examines borehole (underground) water for microorganisms and investigates the quality of the drinking water. The paper also analyses the tests that were performed and discusses the results. Finally, the paper presents recommendations for the future.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Origin Of Water Sources Of Water (Underground)
Importance Of Water Microbes And Underground (Borehole) Water Literature Review
Availability Of Underground Water Major Sources Of Pollution Of Groundwater
Underground Water Quality
Aim
Materials And Method
Total Bacterial Count
Cultural Characterization
Pure Culture Preparation And Preservation
Gram Staining
Motility Test
Oxidase Test
Coagulase Test
Biochemical Test
Discussion And Conclusion
Recommendation
From the Paper "The borehole water in Ekosodin and environs is the sole potable water supplied to sixty per cent of the students on campus. Therefore the basis of the investigation is on the quality of the said water. The selected borehole water samples were analyzed for the presence of coliform bacteria, as this is one of the means of assessing the purity of water supplied to the school in general."
"The result above shows that the presumptive count and mean of the water samples is 4.48 bacterial per 100ml of water. This falls within the normal range of standard values suggested by the World Health Organization (1971). At this point, the water could have been accepted for consumption but the usefulness of this count as an indicator of bacterial water contamination or its consumption quality has been questioned by some analysis partly because coliform bacterial detection which are potentially subjected to inferences."
Abstract This environmental paper examines the San Diego-Tijuana water epidemic. The author presents the history and current factors involved in the problem: contamination and draught. It highlights the political issues involved in environmental city management for these Mexican and American border cities.
From the Paper "In recent decades the world has come to realize that the earth's resources are not comprised of a bottomless pit. It has been acknowledged that there are resources that are threatening to run out or contaminate so that they can no longer be useful to mankind. One of the most important resources the world has is the water supply. "
Tags: environment, earth?s, resources, water, supply, contamination, mexico, usa, united, states, america, contamination, political, draught, environmental, city, management
Abstract This paper describes undisclosed bottled water contamination in America. The paper reports that most of the bottled water is not frequently checked, and that a small percent of it is unsafe for the public. It illustrates how the American public has been advertised into perceiving that bottled water is pure and clean. The author calls for the labeling of bottled water to disclosing the water source, treatments and other key information.
From the Paper "According to a four-year scientific study made recently public by Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) stated that the sales of bottled water in the United States have been blown up in recent years, mainly as a result of a public awareness of purity driven by advertisements and packaging labels featuring unspoiled glaciers and crystal-clear mountain springs. However, bottled water sold in the United States does not necessarily cleaner or safer than most tap water (NRDC)."
Abstract This paper begins with a general overview of the safety needs of a classroom. The paper shows how, while labs, home-economics, and mechanics classes have obvious safety regulations, it is important to provide proper safety provisions in every single classroom. The study also includes specific examples of accidents that can happen in the classroom and what can be done to quickly and effectively treat them.
From the Paper "If any material does get into the eye or lodged behind a contact lens, ?immediately flush the open eye with lukewarm, gently flowing water for at least 10 minutes. If irritation continues, obtain medical attention.? Temporary mild skin irritation was also noted as another possibly result of using the stream tables. Goldsmith recommended washing hands and applying a skin lotion before handling the material, and, if the skin should become irritated anyway, rinse the area with plenty of clean water. Cleaning up is another opportunity for the dust hazard, so it is recommended that any spilled material not be dry-swept, but first dampened or sprayed with water before sweeping to cut down on airborne dust. Also, conduct any experiments using the equipment over old newspapers that can be rolled up and tossed into closed garbage cans when the project is finished."
Tags:water, emergency, er, teacher, education, nurse, material, hazard
Abstract The author of the paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the topic of water management with regard to the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) and the Colorado River Aqueduct. With regard to increasing demands for fresh water and the decreasing amount of water available from the Colorado River, the writer examines measures that must, in the writer's opinion, be taken to manage water resources including the implementation of policies to encourage consumers to reduce water consumption.
From the Paper "The Colorado River Aqueduct and flow from the Colorado River is being managed relatively effectively today, largely because of the 2007 agreement. The agreement allows the MWD to create an "intentionally created surplus" (ICS) of water, and then store it in Lake Mead for use during shortages or droughts. The surplus water is a result of water conservation in farmlands, and the MWD is testing the program with Lake Mead officials now. There are things that could be managed differently, however. Consumers are the biggest users of water, and lawns and gardens are a large part of that usage. It would seem prudent for Southern California water districts to encourage homeowners to replace lawns and landscaping with low-water xeriscaping, as that would save a lot of water throughout the region. In addition, there needs to be more research and development into alternative technologies, such as desalination, underground water storage, and stormwater management."
Abstract An experiment that looks at a large amount of data and interpreting this to draw conclusions on water balance within animals. Looks at hormonal responses, salt concentrations, nitrogenous wastes, water losses and water intake via foods. Data is provided in results, and is fully interpreted, with focus on kidney function and wastes with respect to water balance within the body.
From the Paper "In human?s, the role of water balance is controlled by the kidneys, which act as an internal filter, removing wastes from the blood such as nitrogenous compounds which can be toxic if they accumulate. In an average adult male, there is approximately 5 litres of blood within the body, and of this, 1 litre of blood passes through the kidneys in I minute, so the total blood volume is filtered roughly every 5 minutes. "
Abstract This paper studies the connection between agriculturally-based land pollution, such as from herbicides and pesticides, and contaminated water. The paper presents research studies and statistics that indicate that this is the most significant and damaging source of water pollution. The paper also looks at the impact of water diversion through damning for irrigation projects. The paper concludes by discussing the international ramifications of land-based water pollution.
From the Paper "Rachel Carson, in her landmark book "Silent Spring" was the first to discover the pollution and contamination of land as well as water by insecticides. These chemicals are absorbed in the earth, and then run off into water- lakes or rivers and streams, and eventually into the oceans. The most recent catastrophe on Chesapeake Bay which contaminated almost the entire shrimp and scallop crop was presumed to have been caused by a chemical spill which began a "fouling" process that was like a fatal domino effect. From the pristine water, of the Bay it then ran off into nearby farmland, not only damaging crops, but also polluting one of the largest poultry producing areas in the country."
Abstract This paper explains that, to understand the importance of water resource management, environmentalists must understand the importance of the geography and political structure of Abu Dhabi, one of seven Emirates in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), which is a feudal society with absolute power in the hands of the Sheikh and his ministers, located on the Arabian Peninsula. The author points out that the region has a fragile ecosystem, which already shows the effects from oil exploration, transportation and processing. The paper stresses that water is a precious commodity in the desert and every country in the region is actively investigating the options to make the best and most effective use of this commodity. Many charts, diagrams and illustrations.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Conventional and Unconventional Water Sources
Importance of Water Resource Management
From the Paper "Environmental protection groups and governments are constantly engaged in a struggle to critically identify the measures that can be taken to protect and save the environment. The need to develop a consistent tool that can be used universally by all countries is increasingly being stressed upon. One such tool is the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI). A product of the World Economic Forum, the ESI has been created to measure countries based on a wide-ranging and comprehensive set of factors that are designed to 'rank' to country. In reality, many of the issues and the concerns that are displayed in the ESI relate more to the concerns of the Western's more developed nations and many of the developing countries around the world feel pressurized to maintain standards that are not ideal for their situation."
Abstract This paper discusses the state of water contamination the San Pablo Bay and the Sacramento River, which are two bodies of water associated with the San Francisco Bay. The author points out that both of these bodies of water are analyzed for the state of lead, MtBE and copper contamination. The paper relates that potential or existing management options are discussed.
From the Paper "The Sacramento River and the San Pablo Bay are currently home to numerous contaminants, including Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MtBE). These contaminants, which originate from various sources, affect the health of wildlife, as well as the health of people who enjoy the wildlife resources in the area. The San Pablo Bay, one of five interconnected bay sections making up the San Francisco Bay, receives downstream waters from the Sacramento River, connecting the study and health of both waterways. The levels of contaminants must be monitored to maintain water quality and the health of the environment in the Sacramento River Basin and the San Francisco Bay region. Management options are underway and guidelines for contaminants exist but they must constantly be reevaluated to best combat the threats such contaminants pose to the area."
Abstract This paper is based on the short story, "So Much Water, So Close to Home," from the book, "Where I'm Calling From," by Raymond Carver. The paper discusses Mrs. Kanes discovery of Stuarts lack of compassion. It gives examples from the book of times when Stuart acted without compassion, and how Mrs. Kane dealt with his actions.
From the paper:
"In 'So Much Water, So Close to Home' the main character, Mrs. Kane, uses the tragedy of the her husband's discovery to learn that Stuart lacks the ability to show human compassion by his downgrading the discovery to 'nothingness' and that unless he changes or she begins to act now, she will be drug down with him and end up not much better than the girl found floating in the water."
Tags: calling, carver, close, home, much, short, so, story, water
