Freshwater: Detailed examples to illustrate the role of different stakeholders

Question 1

Location

Answer 1

Lake Erie USA

Question 2

Acronym for remembering stakeholders

Answer 2

In Ghosts Are Demons
Industry
Government
Agriculture
Domestic

Question 3

In 1970 why was Lake Erie declared ‘dead’?

Answer 3

Due to algal blooms generated by sewage and pollution from industrial waste had killed much of the lake’s aquatic life.

Question 4

What is the cause of the algae blooms?

Answer 4

Biologically: most productive of the great lakes due to receiving a lot of sunlight, most nutrients.
Anthropogenically: nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous found in sewage and fertilizers overfeed the algae and the lake made warmer from climate change causes algae to thrive.

Question 5

How was the algal bloom problem solved the first time around 1960s/70s?

Answer 5

During this period the primary source of nutrients was poor sewage treatment so solved the issue by greatly improving sewage treatment.

Question 6

What is the primary source of nutrients for today’s algal blooms?

Answer 6

Agricultural runoff. Nutrients e.g. phosphate coming from fertilizers applied to the land or manure from an animal.

Question 7

Why is phosphate needed?

Answer 7

because corn soybeans and wheat are all users of phosphates so we have to have it. It would be a drag on the farms’ ability to grow crops if they didn’t have it.

Question 8

How does industry play a role in combating the issue?

Answer 8

Most US wastewater treatment facilities in the basin are currently permitted to discharge 1.0 mg/L of total phosphorus.

• But, many are discharging at lower rates and others present opportunities to reduce discharges in the absence of significant investments in new technologies.
• e.g. Detroit Facility through optimisation methods is discharging only 0.3 mg/L

Question 9

How does government play a role in combating the issue?

Answer 9

• Ohio = highly motivated to solve the problem - making significant investments in projects to ensure they can provide clean drinking water to residents.
• Ohio has adopted new regulations to restrict application of fertilizer on frozen or snow covered ground and require fertilizer applicators be trained and certified in proper nutrient management.

Question 10

How does agriculture play a role in combating the issue?

Answer 10

• some agriculture practices like the runoff generated fertilizers were the cause of the 2011 algae bloom.
• farmers forced to attend 3 hour course to be certified in the correct use of commercial fertilizers. BUT many don’t want to be there and still 10,000 farmers still need to be certified.
• Developed filter strips to plant between farm and surface water to provide a buffer and protect water and soil quality to prevent leaching from fertilizers.

Question 11

How does domestic play a role in combating the issue?

Answer 11

• locals desperate to avoid future algae blooms as they do not want to run out of water.
• they do not just rely on Lake Erie as a main source of drinking water, it is also a major source of revenue: Visitors to Ohio’s Lake Erie - bordering communities: supports over 123,000 jobs and produces tax revenues of $1.8 billion.