Mindy Medrana

3B
Water for the World

Science can be used to solve the local issue of water pollution, but it comes with
consequences. Back Bay and North Landing River, sources for drinking water of the
community of Virginia, have increasing levels of pollution. Since 1998 scientists have
been studying and experimenting the effects of uncleanliness on bodies of water but are
facing financial, environmental, and societal challenges. Nevertheless, applying science
to address this problem can affect the health of the environment, economy, and society of
Virginia.
Scientists have conducted experiments called Total Maximum Daily Loads
(TMDL) for water quality testing. TMDLs help them distinguish how much pollution the
waters can hold while still complying to the clean-water standards of the region. To do
this, water quality models are used, which employ mathematical expressions obtained
from controlled experiments. The data found will benefit the ecosystem once it is put to
use by assessing, comparing, and finally proposing ideas for the improvement of water
quality.
The tools and materials needed to conduct these experiments in the past have cost
millions: $28 million for 15 years. More money is still needed to employ the plans
scientists made in order to clean up the watershed, but the state does not have any to
provide. Meanwhile, the impurity of water affects the economy by using money for
studies and will further affect the economy by costing residents more money to purify the
waters before it can be sent to their homes.
If the source of defilement is not found and prevented from further impacting the
health of the water, the health of the surrounding community will be at stake. Although
only 243 out of 54,000 houses are in danger of contaminated water as of March 2013,
that is enough to fail to comply with water quality standards. Thus, even though science
is applied to solve a society's water pollution concern, it can compromise the health of the
society.
Science utilized to evaluate and construct a solution for pollution interacts with
environmental, financial, and societal factors. Data collected from experimenting will be
used to improve the state of the water, however, the process for conducting these
experiments is costly and thus injurious to the local economy. If the situation gets worse,
unclean waters will infect the surrounding community and harm the welfare of the
society. This only proves that science comes with negative and positive effects. It is
important to acknowledge these effects in order to balance unfavorable consequences
with constructive results.











Works Cited
Glossary. Water Environmental Protection Agency. EPA. Web. 3 Nov. 2013.
What is a TMDL? Water Environmental Protection Agency. EPA. Web. 3 Nov. 2013.