A Brief Note On Surface Water And Water Pollution

Surface water (rivers, streams, and lakes) are the main sources of domestic, industrial and irrigation water uses in many areas in the world, and play a very important role in hydrologic and biogeochemical cycles. As important as these surface waters are, only a minimum number are maintained and can be found in their natural condition due to intensive human activities such as urbanization and surface water pollution, making it a great environmental concern worldwide (Zhao et al., 2011). Every time it rains, rivers and streams and are subject to â€Å"non-point† source pollution. These rivers and streams are highly vulnerable water bodies because of the role they play in carrying off and assimilating point (e.g., domestic wastewater and†¦show more content†¦By characterizing the spatial and temporal variation in the water quality of rivers and streams, results from water quality analysis can provide an improved understanding of the environmental conditions and m help p olicy makers establish priorities for sustainable water management (Cooper et al., 2002 and Antonopoulos et al., 2001). Watershed-scale analysis of water quality variables can illustrate the changing influence of various human activities in different sub-basins and as one proceeds from headwaters to downstream. Reports on stormwater quality management program have shown that Greensboro currently faces water pollution problems in its main rivers and lakes (Greensboro Water Resources Dept., Report, 2013). Water quality at most of the regularly monitored stations in major rivers and streams in the county are below the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) standards suitable for human consumption and aquatic life sustainability including sites along the Buffalo Creeks and Reedy Fork Creek. The condition of the water in Greensboro Rivers and streams is related to land use and the quality and quantity of the rainfall washing off the landscape. In an urban setting like Gree nsboro, the predominant factors in determining the water quality characteristics of rivers and streams are the pollutants washing off Greensboro’s