Frank Rose 4/12/13 010:003:015 Spr13 Rhetoric

Toledo Surprise?
The rivers in Iowa specifically the Iowa River itself are among the most polluted rivers in the country. There are several reasons for this pollution, some that weigh out the others in degrees of severity. The Iowa River is a branch of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa. It is about 323 miles long. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2013)The largest tributary of the Iowa River is the Cedar River (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2013). The entire river is polluted. Most notably, the Iowa City portion of the Iowa River is polluted beyond belief. There are many causes of said pollution none of which are easy to amend; however, the one that is most impairing and worth specifically advocating for is called nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source pollution occurs when various forms of water such as rainfall, irrigation water, or snowmelt runs over land (or in the ground) and picks up pollutants on journey. Subsequently, it deposits these pollutants into streams, groundwater, and lakes. The United States Environmental Protection agency lists some common elements of nonpoint pollution: excess fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, oil, grease, toxic chemicals, salt, and bacteria (2012). These pollutants need to be kept out water in rivers for many reasons. People require clean water for drinking. Even recreation is harmed by polluted waters. For example, there are people that depend on clean water for swimming, boating, fishing, and sometimes just

relaxation. Aquatic animals require clean water just to survive in their environment. This form of pollution can originate from nearly any area outdoors that contacts running water (part of the reason why nonpoint source pollution is so difficult to control. There is a specific name for the area of land that nonpoint pollution comes from and that is a watershed. According to the Borough of South Plainfield, humans have an effect on the pollution that enters rivers due to nonpoint solution via watersheds. How the land in a watershed is used by people, whether it is farms, houses or shopping centers, has a direct impact on the water quality of the watershed. (2013). In other words, a watershed uninterrupted by human activity and meddling is one thing; however, an urban mini-mall could change the shape and contents of a watershed entirely. This could result in even more pollution than what would naturally occur. For example, as rainwater washes over a parking lot, it will pick up litter, salt, filth, and motor oil. Then, the water will carry these pollutants into to the lake or river located nearby. This is the most important issue regarding pollution in the Iowa River. In contrast to nonpoint source pollution, point source pollution originates from a specific point or location, i.e., a waste treatment plant, or large factory. Point source pollution is definitely not as dangerous and imminent as nonpoint source pollution right now. As pointed out by ecologists Keith Loage and Dennis L. Corwin, point source pollutants are much easier to control compared to nonpoint source pollutants (2000). The reason point source pollution is easier to control than nonpoint source pollution is quite intuitive: if you know the exact source of pollution, it is much easier to control. Nonpoint source pollution is difficult to control when

compared to point source pollution because it is nearly impossible to pinpoint exactly how, where, and when the pollution is carried to a body of water. With this in mind, point source pollution is actually increasingly avoidable and measurable. Nonpoint source pollution is practically impossible to measure and very hard to avoid which is what makes nonpoint source pollution in the Iowa River very important. Some will argue that the Iowa River is just as polluted as any river in the United States; however, a U.S geological survey clearly and unrestrictedly pronounces that rivers in Iowa (especially the Iowa River) are some of the most polluted in the country. Some of the statistics show Iowa's waters are even more troubled than those in bordering states that also are major grain producers states an article from the Des Moines Register (2006). This is shocking considering the large amount of waste and pollution that is secreted by grain production every year. A publication from Iowa State University argues another important issue regarding water pollution in Iowa: pesticide contamination. In order to fully understand this specific type of contamination, one must first understand two different ways of describing water in the environment: surface water and groundwater. While the names might evoke feigned understanding, these two types of water in an environment are actually a little different than the average person might deduce. Surface water refers to the water we see in streams, rivers, and lakes. The Iowa River would be an example of surface water. This means the entire river is surface water, not just the water you can see literally at the surface, like the name might suggest. Ground water, on the other hand, is water stored in aquifers , or formations of

cracked rock, sand, or gravel that hold water and yield enough water to supply wells or springs (2005). Pesticides contaminate groundwater and surface water in different ways. If a pesticide is sprayed near a river, for example, the residual spray could land in the water; thus, contaminating surface water. More common, however, is contamination of groundwater. Pesticides that are sprayed directly onto the ground seep through the ground and end up in the aquifers described earlier. Whether or not the pesticide being used is water-soluble (i.e. it dissolves in water) will affect the rate at which the pesticide is incorporated in the groundwater source. Either way, nearly all pesticides are broken down into their base chemicals given enough time. It is these chemicals that are most harmful to our water environment; however, this form of pollution mostly occurs in rural areas (2005). It is for this reason that nonpoint source pollution is more important than pesticide contamination when considering the Iowa River in Iowa City. Regardless, any kind of pollution, whether it be nonpoint source pollution, point source pollution, or pesticide contamination, is dangerous to the people living in these environments. Amelia Schoeneman, a reporter for Environment Iowa, reported that only 9% of Iowas 1,648 concentrated animal feeding operations have the necessary permits to protect our waterways from the excess nutrients, pathogens, growth hormones, antibiotics, chemicals, and heavy metals that run off from these operations (2012). Adequately published on October 31 st, this article outlines the horrifying facts regarding pollution in Iowan Rivers. In the forefront, human health concerns are what motivate the sick feelings evoked when hearing these facts. A freshman at the University of Iowa had similar feelings during an interview ironically conducted

near the stinking perimeter of the Iowa River. Its upsetting that we go to school on such a cool campus; yet, we are unaware of the damage we are doing to it the student replied after being told of the notorious pollution in the Iowa River (2013). To conclude, there is one most important source of pollution that needs to be addressed as soon as possible: nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source pollution is the cause of over half the pollution in the Iowa River especially near Iowa City. Other forms of pollution include point source pollution and pesticide contamination; however these forms of pollution are nowhere near as damaging as nonpoint source pollution. This pollution is a problem for various reasons; human health and safety are at the forefront.

Works Cited "Iowa River." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2013. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/293197/Iowa-River>. "Iowa River Pollution." Personal interview. 15 Apr. 2013. "Newscasts." Report: Iowa River Among the Nation's Most Polluted. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. <http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/1957-1>. Peterson, David. "Rivers in Iowa among the Nation's Most Highly Polluted." Desmoinesregister.com. The Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2006. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. <http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20060324/NEWS/104050006/Rivers-Iowa-amongnation-s-most-highly-polluted?nclick_check=1>. "Report Says Iowas Rivers among Most Polluted." Report Says Iowa's Rivers among Most Polluted. North Iowa Today, n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. <http://northiowatoday.com/2012/04/10/report-saysiowas-rivers-among-most-polluted/>. Roage, Keith, and Dennis L. Corwen. Point and NonPoint Source Pollution. Rep. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Point and NonPoint Source Pollution. Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. <http://pangea.stanford.edu/~keith/111.pdf>. Schoeneman, Amelia. "News Release." 10 Scary Facts Plauging Iowa's Waterways. Environment Iowa, 31 Oct. 2012. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. <http://environmentiowa.org/news/iae/10-scary-factsplauging-iowas-waterways>. "South Plainfield Borough - Middlesex County, New Jersey." South Plainfield Borough - Middlesex County, New Jersey. South Plainfield Borough, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. <http://www.southplainfieldnj.com/spnj/Announcements/Stormwater Advisory & Education/>. "Watershed Pollution." Watershed Pollution. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. <http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/WaterQuality/WatershedImprovement/WatershedBasics/ WatershedPollution.aspx>. "What Is Nonpoint Source Pollution?" Home. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 27 Aug. 2012. Web. 15 Apr. 2013. <http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/whatis.cfm>.