REPORT18

Many parts of the U.S. contain canals, rivers and just water in general that is heavily polluted due to changes in the environment, oil spills, and companies dumping waste into the water. This is a problem that must be stopped soon because the chemicals in the waste that has taken over a great part of the water that surrounds us are toxic and can cause many people who are exposed to that water to have diseases such as tuberculosis and something must be done to make our water cleaner.

One big problem in Florida is oil pollution. Little bits of oil spread fast across great lengths to create oil slicks that have a big and bad impact on the marine ecosystem of the coral reefs. "Workers use special nets to clean up a California beach after an oil tanker spill. Tanker spills are an increasing environmental problem because once oil has spilled, it is virtually impossible to completely remove or contain it. Even small amounts spread rapidly across large areas of water. Because oil and water do not mix, the oil floats on the water and then washes up on broad expanses of shoreline. Attempts to chemically treat or sink the oil may further disrupt marine and beach ecosystems. "

"In this picture, demonstrators with "oil-covered" plastic animals protest a potential drilling project in Key Largo, Florida"

The New River, a river that flows between Mexico and California, is known as the most polluted river in the world. Millions of gallons of sewage flows into the river and all kinds of diseases exist in the river like polio, hepatitis, you name it that river probably has it. By night, Mexicans just looking for their new freedom go down this filthy river knowing that they wont be caught because no police official has the nerve to go down to the river and fish them out in order to keep themselves healthy and safe: media type="youtube" key="036Uy5FhtA8&hl=en" height="344" width="425" The source of most of this heavy pollution is waste from agricultural and chemical surplus from the farm industry irrigation. this causes the water to have traces of mercury in it which is one of the most poisonous metals on earth a long with pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl which was banned in the 1970s because it was so toxic. Many ideas have popped up to help clean the water such as: •The installation of an automatic bar screen (trash collector) right at the border. • An enclosed canal (“box culvert”) to contain the rerouted New River where it flows through the developed area of Calexico, including overflow provisions. Other features will include a trash rack and increased security near the point where the Calexico New River enters the United States. • Create an open space for recreational facilities such as walking/running trails and a soccer/baseball field in the area along the existing river channel. • The cleaning of the River bottom and of the contaminated soil. • Improve New River habitat efforts, such as native vegetation and restored or artificial wetlands, developed in cooperation with fish and wildlife agencies, to mitigate adverse impacts of constructing the improvements. - http://www.calexiconewriver.com/pas.php and the epa has paid for 55 percent of a $50 million addition to Mexicali's sewage treatment facilities and refurbishing of equipment, however the improvements couldn't completely clean up the river and my more steps still need to be taken in order to take on the residual pollution that was affecting Mexico which traveled along through the imperial valley and got dumped into the Salton Sea. In conclusion, many changes are being made to make the U.S. a cleaner place and to slow down the pollution of water but we must continue these steps and take more action so that our health will no longer be endangered to polluted waters.