No more can they hum, for their gills are all gummed. Oh their future is dreary. I hear things are just as bad up in Lake Erie. In , the final line about Lake Erie was removed, after the lake was cleaned up. A Canadian study by Sierra Legal graded 20 Canadian and American cities on their wastewater treatment facilities. There were four Canadian cities in the top ten and seven Canadian cities in the bottom ten. The cities of Kingston, Sault Ste. Marie and Windsor all in Ontario were the only three cities to have wastewater treatment facilities that were capable of only primary treatment, which only removes up to 55 percent of fecal coliforms from the water!
There were more American cities than Canadian cities that had adequate phosphorus removal processes. The Great Lakes have been receiving large quantities of many harmful substances for many years.
Even after laws are developed to limit the amount of pollution, it takes many years before the lake can return to normal. Many toxic substances can bioaccumulate as they move up the food chain. This means that, while the chemical concentration may be low in the water, it may be a little more concentrated in a minnow, a little more concentrated in a small fish, and a little more concentrated in a larger fish, and so on.
By the time the food chain reaches birds and other animals that eat fish, the concentration of toxic substances may be very high. In many of the states and in Ontario, there are warnings against human consumption of certain fish, because the toxins can be so concentrated that people would become ill.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the toxins in Lake Michigan were so concentrated in the mids that one meal of lake trout from Lake Michigan would expose a person to more PCBs than they would be exposed to if they drank lake water for their entire life!
Another area of concern is the biodiversity of the aquatic life in the Great Lakes. The balance of the aquatic ecosystem in the Great Lakes has been disturbed with the introduction of exotic species. Non-native plants and animals have eliminated certain species of native plants and animals. This change may not seem significant, but it can significantly change the habitat of the lake over time.
There is some good news. The concentration of some chemicals, like polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs; used as cooling and insulating fluids in industrial transformers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs; emitted through the burning of fossil fuels are decreasing, but it will take between 10 and 30 years to completely eliminate them from the water.
The Great Lakes have been described as a giant set of lungs, which have finally been given a chance to exhale. In other words, the atmospheric concentrations of PCBs have decreased enough to allow the chemical to evaporate from the water.
There is still a great deal of pollution that enters the Great Lakes, but the improvement so far has shown that the efforts are not futile. Most areas of concern are near cities and industries, where pollution is more concentrated. In many regions, stringent waste disposal regulations are being developed and applied, and agricultural practices are being observed, so that runoff and sediment pollution can be minimized.
The Great Lakes are an extremely important water source to Canadians and Americans, as well as to the world.
It is very important that the lakes be protected, so that they can continue to provide safe drinking water for the 35 million people in the Great Lakes region, as well as sustainable industry and agriculture. The Safe Drinking Water Foundation has educational programs that can supplement the information found in this fact sheet.
Operation Water Drop looks at the chemical contaminants that are found in water; it is designed for a science class. Operation Water Flow looks at how water is used, where it comes from and how much it costs; it has lessons that are designed for Social Studies, Math, Biology, Chemistry and Science classes. Operation Water Spirit presents a First Nations perspective of water and the surrounding issues; it is designed for Native Studies or Social Studies classes.
Operation Water Health looks at common health issues surrounding drinking water in Canada and around the world and is designed for a Health, Science and Social Studies collaboration. Operation Water Pollution focuses on how water pollution occurs and how it is cleaned up and has been designed for a Science and Social Studies collaboration.
To access more information on these and other educational activities, as well as additional fact sheets, visit the Safe Drinking Water Foundation website at www. Please help us to continue to educate the leaders of today and the leaders of the future! State of the Great Lakes Pollution Watch. Pollution in the Great Lakes Basin Teach Great Lakes. Water Pollution in the Great Lakes.
You will receive a newsletter from Safe Drinking Water Foundation approximately every three months. You will also receive additional email messages from time to time. They also provide hydro-electricity, transportation, and manufacturing and agriculture support. The Great Lakes are vital to our health, economy, and way of life; we must protect them to ensure safe drinking water for decades to come.
The Great Lakes are an incredible resource to those that live on their shores. Unfortunately, the last years have introduced toxic chemicals, pollutants, and invasive species that continue to put the lakes at risk.
Since then, conditions have improved as a result of governments and industries working alongside communities to protect the lakes. However, development and expanding infrastructure continue to severely impact the water and have resulted in:. The report gives an overview of the current water conditions using nine indicators of ecosystem health, with data collected from government and non-government scientists. Research shows the following:. Millions of people rely on the Great Lakes for their drinking water, which is considered safe if filtered properly.
The city of Toronto treats over 1 billion litres of drinking water every day. That water is collected from Lake Ontario through intake pipes deep below the surface and at least 1 km from the shore. First, it passes through multiple screens and filters and is disinfected with chlorine or ozone. To remove suspended impurities and bacteria, it goes through gravel and sand filters.
Other chemicals are then added:. The taste of chlorine or other chemicals in tap water can be off-putting. November 16, November 17, Nov 17, AM. Cook County Higher Education. Nov 17, PM - PM. November 18, Nov 18, PM - PM. Fairlawn Mansion. November 19, Search Events Submit Yours.
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