Wednesday, March 23, 2011

The Zebra Mussel



Interesting fact: Zebra mussels are actually razor sharp and can cut the feet of swimmers without them feeling it at first.
The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymopha, is a freshwater shellfish native to  the lakes of Eurassia, in southern Russia. This species spread through Europe to area in Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Sweden by canals. In 1988, the zebra mussel was introduced to North America and quickly spread in the Great lakes. It is theorized that the species was transported accidentally in the ballast water of ocean ships travelling through the St Lawrence River.  It has since spread to lakes in Minnesota, Wisconsin, various other states and in July 2009, to Laurel Lake in Massachussetts.


Zebra mussels cover over the substrate, thus posing a serious threat to native freshwater mussels and clams because they actually smother them. This species breeds prolifically since one female produces 1 million eggs per year. The monotypic colonization of these mussels has actually benefited some populations as a steady food source. Theorized effects of this invasive species includes possibly increasing the number of small mouth bass in Lake Erie and  yellow perch in Lake St Clair. Scientists have suggested that this species may be the source of avian botulism which has killed a variety of birds in the Great Lakes. These filter feeds can process as much as 1 gallon of water per day/mussel and thus large populations quickly clear the lakes they have colonized. This cleansing, though, removes the food supply for larval fish and other invertebrates, disturbing the existing food chain. Also, clearer water allows more light to penetrate the waters and can cause aquatic plants to increase in size, number, or density. These plant blooms can be beneficial to some species, like providing ideal nursery areas for young fish and animals, but can pose a threat to human recreation and municipal water.


Zebra mussels can colonize very densely; they can even grow up to a foot thick in some places. Also they are able to attach themselves to “all types of living and non-living surfaces including boats, water-intake pipes, buoys, docks, piers, plants, and slow moving animals such as native clams, crayfish, and turtles” (glsc). Certain chemicals can be applied to boat hulls to prevent zebra mussels from attaching themselves. When attached to pipelines, zebra mussels can clog water for municipal water supplies and hydroelectric plants. It is quite costly to prevent such situations.
There is no way to eradicate Dreissena polymopha from a lake once it has become established, people instead must prevent their introduction. This species is usually transported through human activity including “recreational boating, fishing, and diving practice” (glsc). Thus certain actions such as removing zebra mussels from boat hulls and decontaminating diving gear can prevent the spread of this invasive species.

Monday, February 28, 2011

5 Reasons Not to Buy Bottled Water




1. Not a good value. Bottled water costs you, the consumer, about 5 cents an ounce (assuming it’s a 20 ounce bottle that costs $1) compared to the less than 1 cent per gallon of municipal water.

2. Not healthier than tap water. Tap water is much more tightly regulated because municipal water falls under the oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency which regularly tests water quality.

3. Bottled water = waste. Bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year.

4. Bottled water means less attention to public systems. Some affluent people switch to a reliance on bottled water because of defects in their local tap water. This prevents people from taking action and solving the problem to improve their local source.

5. The corporation of water. According to the documentary film Thirst, water is considered the “Blue Gold” of this century. This movie demonstrates “the rapid worldwide privatization of municipal water supplies, and the effect these purchases are having on local economies. Water is one of human’s most precious resources and multinational corporations are interfering with the control and access of it.


Sources:
http://www.sustainablefootprint.org/en/cms/gebruikerscherm.asp?itemId=393

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Check the Facts






Sources:
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/bottled/

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Tapped


The truck in the video contains the amount of bottles Americans consume every 4 seconds.
Clearly, reducing the consumption of bottled water is an important environmental initiative, so what is stopping you from using a reusable water bottle?

Click here to view the best BPA-free, stainless steel, aluminum, or sports water water bottles on the market.


Sources:
http://www.consumersearch.com/water-bottles
www.youtube.com
www.cbs.com

Monday, December 6, 2010

What's on Tap?

In 1999, the National Resource Defense Council conducted 1,000 separate tests of over 100 brands of bottled water and concluded that “bottled water is not necessarily any purer or safer than city tap water.” Tap water contamination is a concern in parts this nation especially due to our growing population, but under new “right to know provisions,” all tap water suppliers are required to provide an annual report on water quality for their customers. The NRDC also released a study which provides information about water quality in major cities. Although the NRDC supports filtration systems, it recognizes that filters and bottled water are not long term solutions to water quality issues. The latest report entitled “What’s on Tap?” stated that in order to protect drinking water “states and cities upgrade drinking water treatment facilities, invest in water conservation measures, and replace or update pipes and water distribution system components.”

Sources:


Sunday, October 10, 2010

An Essential Component


Water is an essential component to all life. In humans, 2/3 of the weight of our bodies and 75-90% of each of our cells is comprised of water. The unique properties of H20 are necessary for a variety of chemical processes including photosynthesis and metabolism. Dr. Wolfgang Ludwig said “All life processes are directly or indirectly connected with water, therefore it entitles water to have a very high priority in the environmental situation.” While water covers over 70% of the Earth’s surface, less than 3% of this is fresh water.