Biology Vista
2009
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Biology Vista
How safe is San Diego drinking water?
Do you know how healthy your drinking water is? If you live in Southern California, you should have some reservations. San Diego and Riverside counties have especially missed the grade. So how does San Diego drinking water rank amongst big city utilities and what can you do to ensure you're safe from the potential risks lackluster tap water presents?
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) rated big city (population over 250,000) water utilities on a scale of 1-100, with 100 being the worst. These ratings were based on three factors: the total number of chemicals detected; the percentage of chemicals found of those tested; and the highest average level for an individual pollutant, relative to legal limits or national average amounts, including for the most common pollutants (disinfection byproducts, nitrate and arsenic). San Diego tap water came in at a dismal 92 out of 100. Surrounding areas such as the City and County of Riverside came in at 99 and 97 respectively.
Whether you live in or near the city of San Diego, or surrounding cities such as Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, Escondido or the beach communities, what contributes to the region's ability to provide clean and healthy tap water? The San Diego region is a semi-arid environment, with a limited supply of indigenous water. Our region is dependent on a mix of local supplies from reservoirs built within the region (15%), and the importation of outside drinking water sources (more than 80 percent). These sources include water from the Colorado River, as well as the Northern California Delta system.
According to the Southern California Metropolitan Water District (MWD), most water supplies in Southern California begin as snowmelt or rainfall that flows into rivers. However, 75 percent of that runoff occurs in the northern parts of the state, while the majority of California's population lives in the south. What's in the runoff?
Tap water contaminants cover a wide range of compounds, including agricultural chemicals, effluents from industrial and municipal wastewater facilities, water treatment and distribution byproducts, urban runoff and naturally occurring substances whose levels rise as a result of suburban sprawl and deforestation. Whatever the sources of water pollution, these contaminants pose potential health risks to the public, especially infants and children and other vulnerable populations.
According to the EPA, agricultural activities are the largest source of water pollution in rivers and streams around the country. Additionally, as the U.S. population continues to grow, water supplies are strained by increasing loads of wastewater and storm water runoff laden with pollutants of urban areas and suburban sprawl — chemicals from automobile emissions, road surfaces, yards and homes, and from wastewater treatment plants that dump effluent into waterways at a rate of 60 gallons per person every day.
Additionally, scientists are finding that our rivers, streams and drinking water are contaminated with antidepressant and anticonvulsive medications; antimicrobial hand soap and toothpaste chemicals such as triclosan and triclocarban; active ingredients in oral contraceptives and thyroid hormone treatments; fragrance compounds; flame retardants; plasticizers such as Bisphenol A; and hormone-mimicking detergents.
With most private homes receiving water from a municipal supply, which is treated at the municipal water treatment plant, this water has the potential to become contaminated in many different ways. One way to combat this is with ultraviolet disinfection. Ultraviolet light disinfects when it is applied to the water at a specified intensity and length of time. Waterborne microorganisms are rendered "micro biologically dead" by penetrating the cell wall and affecting the microorganism's DNA so that it is unable to reproduce.
Ultraviolet Disinfection has become the most popular alternative or supplement to traditional chemicals such as chlorine and chloramines. By installing a UV treatment system, you can eliminate the possibility of contaminated water from microorganisms such as E. coli, fecal coliform, and Cryptosporidium. These systems also offer the advantages of being safe and easy to operate, easily adapted to fit existing plumbing, does not inject any taste or odors like chlorines do, and does not produce any undesirable by-products.
About the Author
Vibrant Water Engineering, serving San Diego County including Vista, Escondido, and Oceanside, specializes in design, engineering, and installation of water treatment systems for residential, commercial, medical, and industrial applications. Vibrant Water is a manufacturer of reverse osmosis, water conditioning, water softening, nano filtration and custom water treatment applications. For more information on Vibrant Water treatment systems, contact us at http://www.vibranth2o.com or call 760-734-5955.
biology question please help?
10 points
On the cliffs above the beach in Goleta and Isla Vista, the plants are fixing carbon
at the rate of 500 mg C per square meter per day. The plants are respiring 250 mg C per
m^2 per day, and decomposers in the soil are respiring 300 mg C per m^2 per day because
of the warm temperatures.
Write a mass balance equation that represents the system.
Is the cliff ecosystem a net source or net sink of carbon?
Please show your work.
Inputs - outputs = net
If net is positive you have a sink (=accumulation) if it is negative you have a source (=loss)
500 - (250+300) = 500 - 550 = -50
it is a source
John H
WMSU - BIOLOGY 1C 07-08 LA VISTA del MAR
