Human Impacts on Freshwater Ecosystems Essay Example

When listing how the Earth has been affected negatively by human activity, many things can be said. However, one ecosystem, in particular has been greatly affected.Despite only making up 1% of Earth’s surface, freshwater biomes have contributed to life on Earth by homing millions of species. But, the freshwater can be fragile with human activities harming the livelihood of the habitat and its species.

One of the ways humans impact freshwaters is through irrigation. Irrigation is a supply of water to help with the production of crops. Irrigation is often used when the need for water for plants and crops is greater than the amount provided with rainfall. However, diverting water for irrigation reduces the available water for the regions’ wildlife. Changes caused by irrigation can lead to new ecosystems being developed but also create disruptions to the natural balance and have severe side effects. Similarly, the overuse of water is caused by using the same waterways that support wildlife and plants to provide municipal water for cities and plants. Reducing the number of water in lakes and other freshwater biomes creates pressure on aquatic populations as it limits the amount of living space available and in some cases, it completely dries up the biome. 

Freshwater ecosystems near cities and towns also face another threat from runoff and pollution. Things like industrial dumping, pollution from combustion engines (burning of fuel and oxidizers (air/oxygen) to create a working engine), agricultural fertilizers, and pesticides often end up in waterways by either falling directly into or being carried by rain into them. These toxic pollutants can often lead to the death of life in the ecosystem or genetic mutations that can destroy a population over time.

However, things like system failures and floods can also release toxic chemicals into waterways.  The chemicals can then either kill large numbers of wildlife populations or create an imbalance in the ecosystem. This imbalance can trigger the growth of algae which takes up the available oxygen choking off the wildlife. It can also lead to the development of toxic organisms that affect wildlife and eventually humans. 

Objective #2 

In order to protect rivers and other bodies of freshwater, farmers have come up with a few ways to limit the use of water. One of the methods used is reducing site water requirements. Less water is used by limiting the number of plants that have high water requirements and instead of replacing them with plants that require less water to survive. Similarly, another way being used is sensor systems that automatically shut off once it starts raining to avoid the unnecessary use of water from rivers. 

 More common ways of saving water:

• Turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth
• Fixing Leaks
• Plant a rain garden to catch rainwater runoff from roofs, driveways, and other hard surfaces.
• Sharing information/Having conversations about saving water with family and friends

 WHAT IS ECO-FRIENDLINESS

The term eco friendly simply put, it describes something that is not harmful to the environment. It commonly describes products or practices that contribute to green living and/or help conserve resources like water and energy. Most eco-friendly products contain glass, wood, metal, or plastic from waste products that mode into something new. They are also non-toxic and biodegradable which is less demanding on landfills and many ecosystems.

An eco-friendly way of preserving freshwater ecosystems (for companies/businesses) 

1. first complete a water quality analysis to identify possible problems in the water. 
2. Then with the result create goals. The goals are often set in reduction of algae, aquatic weeds, or foul odors.
3. Use common tools like beneficial bacteria (made of high concentrations of naturally occurring aquatic bacteria that help improve water quality by speeding up the natural process of nutrient cycling and breakdown of organic material.) , nutrient remediation products, vegetative buffers(help filter pollutants and sediments that enter water through run-off), erosional control and aeration(helps improve water quality by increasing oxygen levels. ) 
4. Frequent monitoring and maintenance lead to improved aquatic habitat and better life for animals who rely on it. 

Other methods include:

• Shopping wisely (avoiding things that are difficult to recycle or dispose of)
• Reduce  Waste (reuse what you can)
• Organize/Participate in Cleanups

Save Water Methods 

In addition to saving money on your utility bill, water conservation helps prevent pollution in nearby bodies of water.

1. Check your toilet for leaks
2. Take shorter showers
3. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth
4. Check faucets and pipes for leaks
5. Use dishwashers for full loads only
6. Turn off the faucet while washing vegetables
7. Turn off the water when hand washing dishes
8. Water your lawn only when it needs it
9. Install Composting Toilets (if legal in your area)

Another way is to reduce ‘Urban Runoff Pollution’ which you can do by

• Buying eco-friendly household cleaners
• Properly storing and disposing of toxic materials
• Use pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers carefully and sparingly
• Pick up animal waste and dispose of them in garbage cans
• Control leakage of oil, antifreeze, and other fluids from cars by regular inspections and maintenance

Another major contributor to the harming of freshwater biomes and their wildlife is runoff. Runoff is a form of pollution in which rain falls on streets, sports fields, and other lands and mixes with what's on the ground, and eventually ends up in nearby rivers and lakes. Once these pollutants enter bodies of water, microbes such as plankton and algae absorb them. Then fish consume either the microbes or the pollutants directly. As animals like birds eat them, they increase the number of pollutants in their bodies creating a process called biomagnification. These pollutants eventually reach humans as they ingest the toxins while eating seafood.

Man-made surfaces such as roads, parking lots, and sidewalks are impervious surfaces. It means that instead of being absorbed like soil, runoff just continues to travel as it doesn't allow any liquid to pass through. However, when communities plant shrubs and other plants, erosion is being prevented therefore preventing runoff from traveling into bodies of water. 

How to reduce runoff 

• Disconnect/Redirect Downspouts ( downspouts are often directed to driveways or other paved surfaces sending the water directly into the streets)
• Use a rain barrel to capture rain from your roof
• Plant a rain garden (Rain gardens can also help filter out pollutants in runoff and provide food and shelter for butterflies, birds and other wildlife.)
• Plant trees(their roots take up the water)
• Reduce impervious surfaces; install permeable pavement (permeable surfaces increase the filtering off pollutants that contribute to water contribution)
• Plant a green roof (green roofs have a layer of plant material that absorbs water like a sponge)

Benefits of Water Conservation 

• Saving water has many benefits such as but not limited to
• Saving money
• Protecting drinking water resources
• Minimizing water pollution
• Maintaining the health of aquatic environments 
• Saving energy used to pump, heat, and treat water

Objective #3

A way to further improve the efforts being made is adopting the ‘Solid Waste Management(SWM) and Volume-Based Disposal Fees(WBWF)’

Seoul, the most populous city in South Korea with a population of over 9.9 million people has one of the most meticulous waste recycling systems with its use of SWM, WBWF, and ban of problematic plastic and packaging. They were able to increase the number of recyclables starting in the year 1991 by creating a compulsory separation of collection where things like household waste are separated into food waste, recyclable material, and the rest to be in landfills. 

Then again in 1995, another method was introduced. It was Volume-Based Disposal Fees(WBWF)’. Its main objective was “To impose waste treatment costs on each polluter based on the amount of waste generated, and to provide free collection service for recyclable wastes, thereby inducing a reduction in generation of wastes at source and encouraging the collection of recyclable wastes.” This system uses five different kinds of waste bags to categorize waste into domestic waste, food waste, business waste, public purpose, and construction debris. Residents pay different fees for the bags depending on the size and region while having a free collection of the recyclables. 

(Source:http://susa.or.kr/en/content/solid-waste-management?ckattempt=1)

This system has led to 17.8% reduction in Municipal Solid Waste and a 21% increase in recyclable waste in the first year alone and has increased even more as time has gone by with the strict implementation of it as individuals can get a fine up to $1000 for violations of the garbage disposal 

Rule.

Conclusion

Though Earth’s freshwater biomes have been negatively impacted by human activities and sometimes natural events like rain, there have been many methods created over the years to lessen the effect on fragile ecosystems.From practicing things like simply turning off the water while brushing your teeth to planting rain gardens, to become habits, we can help preserve the health of our freshwater ecosystems to better benefit the wildlife and we that depend on it.