Colorado Springs imports mountain streams, as an estimated 75% of the water comes from Leadville, Breckenridge, and Aspen. Streams’ water is collected and kept in several reservoirs such as Blue River systems and Twin Lakes (Dyjak, 2021). In addition, local surface sources and groundwater are directed to Colorado Springs Utility for treatments. Therefore, water quality is used to assess the desirability of water for specific usage based on physical, chemical, and biological elements. Individual states and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are tasked with creating water quality standards and determining how it affects human health and aquatic life (EPA, 2020). Over the recent years, the water quality in Colorado Springs has been having a high level of contaminants beyond the recommended level.
The first contaminant present in the water reports is chromium 6, which is a harmful metal not regulated by EPA. In recent years, Colorado Springs has experienced high concentrations of chromium 6 in its drinking water. The sources of this contaminant are chromate production, pigment production, metal processing, stainless steel welding, and tannery facilities. The chromium 6 levels in the Colorado Springs water quality report indicate high levels of 20 parts per billion (Dyjak, 2021). These levels are twice as high as the levels known to have to increase cancer risk. Even though EPA has determined the chemical to be a known human carcinogenic through inhalation, it has not determined its cancer risks from drinking water.
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The next contaminant depicted in the water quality report is lead. The sources of lead are old lead service pipes and burning of fossil fuels (CSU, 2020). In addition, when corrosive control measures fail, lead contaminates drinking water, and a continuous process can attain hazardous levels. The report indicated that the lead level was 5 parts per billion, within the 15 parts per billion recommended level (EPA, 2019). However, EPA, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and CDC establish exposure to lead, whether in small or large amounts, is harmful to children.
Thirdly, there are several emerging contaminants such as Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) and Per and Polyfluoralkyl Substances (PFAS), man-made chemicals. DBPs are normally formed when organic materials that occur naturally react with chlorine-based disinfectants (CSU, 2020; Dyjak, 2021). In addition, these chemicals are not well regulated but increase health risks. On the other hand, PFAS are found on various non-stick, stain-resistant products and firefighting foam from several chemical companies. Even though they are not regulated, they are toxic and persistent in the environment and are considered forever chemicals that do not leave the human body once they enter (Weis, 2021; Dyjak, 2021). Some of the wells in Colorado Spring have PFAS levels more than 20 times more than the advisory levels.
These contaminants in the water quality report have some adverse effects on the environment and human health in our community. The major environmental impact is the destruction of biodiversity. Water contaminants interfere with aquatic ecosystems by causing hatching delays, deformities, and increased mortality among different species. Secondly, leaching of lead in society is dangerous as it increases the toxicity level of the soil, which has adverse effects on agricultural effects (Tandy et al., 2017). The soil is rendered unsafe for agricultural activities since it increases lead levels in the human body.
Furthermore, regarding human health, there is an increased risk of cancer since some of the contaminants are carcinogenic. Chromium 6 is dangerous when inhaled and causes lung, nasal, and sinus cancer (Dyjak, 2021). Also, DBPs cause central nervous system complications and have an increased risk of kidney, bladder, liver cancer. The second human health impact is as a result of lead. Lead poisoning is the most common health hazard of lead in water. This condition can be hard to detect since signs and symptoms do not appear until dangerous amounts of lead accumulate. It has adverse effects on children since it inhibits their development activating and may cause brain damage (Miracle, 2017). In addition, lead poisoning may strain various human organs such as kidneys and liver and lead to failure.
Due to the adverse effects of water pollution on both humans and the environment, several management practices are recommended to be implemented to eliminate the pollutants from both tap water and bottled water. Firstly, the state should introduce strict laws that govern companies responsible for water pollution in the area. EPA may have established the action limits of the contaminants, but having low levels or none is better for human consumption and environmental conservation. This measure will also reduce the number of legal cases where individuals sue their water suppliers and chemical companies based on contaminants that create health risks.
Secondly, people should practice green agriculture by minimizing the use of pesticides, fertilizers, cleaning products, and herbicides, which are huge contributors to the contaminants present in water. The excess use of these products leach into water reservoirs that supply the entire Colorado Springs area (Solar Impulse, 2021). In addition, the chemicals and automotive fluids should not be disposed into the storm sewer system or sanitary sewers, for they end up in rivers, which are a major source of water in the area. The last measure involves wastewater treatment, which removes pollutants from wastewater through chemical, biological or physical processes. The more efficient these processes are implemented, the cleaner the water becomes and safer for human consumptions. Therefore, several industries should incorporate these methods, such as using filters such as Under Sink Filters, which remove lead in water. Lead is a hazardous metal, and drinking and agricultural water need to be clean of the metal.
In conclusion, water quality is achieved through a collective effort from the community. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recommends actions that control the levels of particular contaminants in water in the public water systems to ensure the safety of tap water for human consumption. In addition, best practices for both industries and agriculture sectors should be implemented to reduce the contaminant levels.
References
Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU). (2020). 2020 Drinking water quality report . https://www.usafa.af.mil/Portals/21/documents/2020%20Water%20Report%20Bio-Environmental/USAFA%20and%20CSU%20Combined%202020%20CCR.pdf?ver=2020-07-01-091249-087
Dyjak, A. (2021, April 27). Problems we found in Colorado Springs drinking water . Hydroviv. https://www.hydroviv.com/blogs/water-quality-report/colorado-springs
EPA. (2019, November 18). Basic information about lead in drinking water . https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water
EPA. (2020, May 21). What are water quality standards? https://www.epa.gov/standards-water-body-health/what-are-water-quality-standards
Miracle, V. A. (2017). Lead poisoning in children and adults. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing , 36 (1), 71-73. https://doi.org/10.1097/dcc.0000000000000227
Solar Impulse Foundation. (2021). Solutions to water pollution: How to improve water quality? https://solarimpulse.com/water-pollution-solutions
Tandy, S., Meier, N., & Schulin, R. (2017). Use of soil amendments to immobilize antimony and lead in moderately contaminated shooting range soils. Journal of Hazardous Materials , 324 , 617-625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.11.034
Weis, K. (2021, March 3). Elevated levels of 'Forever chemicals' found in some Colorado drinking water districts . CBS Denver. https://denver.cbslocal.com/2021/03/03/chemicals-water-denver-colorado-pfas/
