The Devastating Power Of Pollution - 1196 Words

The Devastating Power of Pollution Think about all the bodies of water on our planet. Every river, lake, stream, and is essential to the way our world functions. Unfortunately, our society has done very little to preserve these water sources and as a result, our rivers, lakes, streams, and oceans are suffering from many forms of pollution. Every oil spill, discarded water bottle, and obstructive dam continually add to our already-polluted waters, and very little is being done to reverse this problem. The most prominent issue being studied today is stormwater runoff. The collection of fine sediments, chemicals, and debris, are a serious pollution concern. Many solutions and technologies have already been developed, but the number one†¦show more content†¦They can range from anything such as grassed waterways and rooftops to rain gardens strategically placed in areas of heavy storm water runoff. They can be simple, like choosing a paint color that blends machinery into an envi ronment, or they can be complex like monitoring and production technologies. One of the most effective BMPs used today are pervious surfaces. This can be applied to parking lots, cul-de-sacs, and turf pavers. When a surface is porous, it reduces the amount of stormwater runoff by absorbing the excess water into the pavement. It also doesn’t allow for the collection of sediments or other hazardous materials because the water does not run along the asphalt. The field of sediment pollution has many innovative solutions and techniques that help reduce or eliminate the harmful effects of stormwater runoff. Some examples include constructing porous asphalt, grass rooftops, riparian forest buffers (a grove of trees and shrubs), bio-retention lakes, storm water wetlands, and dry ponds (Metro Council, nd). Each of those practices can make a dramatic change in amount of pollution in urban and rural areas, but it is important to make sure BMPs are properly constructed and maintained. If not, then there could be serious damage to the environment and require great costs to the community. BMPs like to take advantage of abundant energy sources, such as sunlight. By using a renewable