|
A Cost Effective Way to Improve Water Quality
Water always runs downhill. Through out Earth’s history, rainwater has run from high places to low, running off the surface of the land or seeping below into ground water. All of it eventually ends up in local waterways, whether a small creek or a mighty river. That water has always carried with it nutrients from the land, such as nitrogen and phosphorus. In the right quantities, this has been necessary for life. Without this “feeding,” the intricate system of microbes, plants, animals and fish couldn’t survive. But, you can have too much of a good thing. If there are too many nutrients and sediment, the system can grow too fast, clog up and become unhealthy for all inhabitants, including humans.
In the last 50 years, due to growth in population, industry, developed land and increased agricultural production, we are sending too many nutrients and too much sediment into our waterways. As contaminated waterways have become more prevalent in the United States, the need to reduce pollutants has brought together diverse groups working to find ways to improve water quality. While many things can be accomplished by individuals and groups acting on their own, government regulation has been used to protect public health and economic interests. As industries and local governments launch efforts to reach new regulatory goals, Water Quality Trading Markets are becoming a way to balance the polluted waterway budget.
 Go to Next Step Water Quality Trading—How it Works
Go to the Water Quality Trading Glossary of Terms
|
