City of Atlanta Water Quality Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

City of Atlanta Water Quality Report - Essay Example Microbial contaminants can come from sewage treatment plants, livestock, and wildlife. Inorganic contaminants are salts and metals and can be naturally occurring in soil and river beds. Organic chemicals can be synthetic and volatile and are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production (http://www.atlantawatershed.org/pdf/WQR2009.pdf). They can also come from gas stations or septic systems. The EPA has strict guidelines regarding pollutants in water, the food and drug administration provides guidelines for bottled water that is sold to citizens. The main source of the Atlanta water supply is the Chattahoochee River, providing 75 % of the drinking water, processed by two water plants. Total coliform detected in the water supply was 1.4 % in 2009. The detected level of turbidity was 0.4 %, both of these are within acceptable range and likely explained as naturally occurring. Turbidity was found in 100% of samples, probably a result of runoff. Turbidity is the cloudiness of the water or unsettling of sediment. Both copper and lead were well below the threshold of the action level, which is when this contaminant would require some further treatment. Chlorine and fluoride are additives and within their respective proper ranges of detection. Organic contaminants noted were likely the byproduct of drinking water and naturally occurring. Water pollution of unacceptable adulterants do not appear to be a problem with Atlanta and they have consistently been well within limits. The Atlanta regional commission and the Metropolitan North Georgia water planning district both sponsor and collaborate for the ‘Clean Water Campaign’ which focuses on public education and the negative effects of soil runoff and water pollution (http://www.atlantaregional.com/environment/water/clean-water-campaign). It is estimated that over a thousand stream miles are in Atlanta violate state standards.