Learning   Portfolio

            Mankind’s influence on water quality and availability is strong, and humans affect the water they use on a daily basis. “… The ecosystems with which we interact are directly linked to the well-being of our natural water resources.” (UNESCO) As humans interact with their surroundings, they leave a lasting impact. Our natural resources are influenced by a number of factors. “Many of these are primarily the result of human actions and include ecosystem and landscape changes, sedimentation, pollution, over-abstraction and climate change.” (UNESCO) Humans directly and deliberately affect the environment around them. In order to better conserve our water resources, it is important to understand how human interaction truly affects the water we use.

 

            People use water for basic needs and survival in ways such as bathing, watering gardens, and simply staying hydrated. (Keystone College) These uses are for survival and recreation, and the issues they present are simple to solve. Though these actions consume large amounts of water over time, humans need not stop doing these things, but they should make an effort to reduce the water being used. Small water-use reductions like turning off the sink when brushing one’s teeth or taking shorter showers can ultimately save a considerable amount of water. (Keystone College) However, mundane everyday tasks that consume water aren’t the largest problem when it comes to our water resources. Freshwater meant for consumption can be contaminated or depleted through landscape changes. “… Each type of landscape change will have its own specific impact, usually directly on ecosystems and directly or indirectly on water resources.” (UNESCO) The many ways that humans change the world around them, such as forest clearance, urbanization, roads, and wetland removal and reduction, damage the water in those environments.

 

            To assess the damage done to natural water environments, scientist look towards ecology, an underlying science that provides a better understanding of what is necessary for these ecosystems to survive. At the University of Michigan, scientist study what they call political-industrial ecology to study the “urban water metabolism of Los Angeles.” (Cousins) Their goal is to study specific sources from the city to discover why the city of Los Angeles consumes the mass amount of water it does and to single out these reasons in an effort to see how to fix or work around them. This is meant “to ‘black box’ the methodologies that guide the carbon emissions calculus and the social, political, ecological, and economic processes that perpetually reshape nature.” (Cousins) By studying the historical and political mysteries of Los Angeles’ water consumption, scientists can then assess more easily how to solve issues such as reducing human impact on the natural environment.

 

            In Taiwan, the MingDao University dormitories have a significant influence on the nearby lake. This landscape development has caused sewage and other pollutions to be drained into the lake, damaging this water resource greatly. Students at MingDao University came up with a solution to the problem with a solar powered artificial floating island called SAFI, in 2014. SAFI, set on the lakeshore by the dormitory, is capable of reducing eutrophic contents, electronic conductivity of sewage, and enhancing dissolved oxygen in the water. (Chang) Overall, this island is able to sustain itself and part of the lake at the university. However, one small island isn’t capable of maintaining the entire lake. “…The area without the influence of the SAFI lacks dissolved oxygen and water plants.” (Chang) The SAFI is only able to clean up one area inside the lake, but the potential this machine has is unlimited. With more development, machines like the SAFI can make a huge impact on water environments throughout the world, and make our natural environment cleaner and more beautiful to live in.

 

            Having a good understanding of what human activities affect our environment and water resources will help in conserving those necessities. Humans use water in their everyday lives for survival and recreation. The environments people exist in are constantly being changed and affected due to human interests. By studying the ecological and political aspects of water consumption, it is easier to produce effective ways to reduce damage to water environments. People obviously need these resources dramatically to maintain today’s societal expectiations. That is why it is so important to ensure access to these resources will not be lost as humans continue to develop throughout the world.