Gutierrez 1

7 July 2020

Professor Sobocinski

Literature Review

In the past few decades, society has become increasingly aware of the negative effects of

pollution and litter on our ecosystems. Freshwater, a vital resource that makes up just 3% of

earth’s water, can become unsanitary and unsafe if managed improperly. Determining the factors

that contribute to the health of a freshwater body enables researches to properly assess their

health and safety. What are harmful freshwater pollutants and how can they be identified?

Though humans have relied on freshwater for sustenance since the dawn of humanity, the

history of water quality assessment begins much more recently. In 1854, in the midst of the

London cholera outbreak, physician to Queen Victoria John Snow hypothesized that the outbreak

may have been related to the health of nearby drinking water sources. He traced a neighborhood

outbreak to a well that had become contaminated with wastewater. Snow’s observations

“provided a basis for water management for decades” and alerted the public to the effects of

water contamination on human health (Okun 22).

The rise in interest in water quality assessment can be attributed to the rapid

industrialization of Europe and the United States in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The switch

from an agrarian society to one dominated by coal and petroleum-powered factories lead to

advancements in transportation, waste management, trade, and production that shaped industry

as we know it today. With those improvements, however, came a dramatic increase in pollution.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica,

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“With relatively few exceptions, the world’s modern environmental problems began with

or were greatly exacerbated by the Industrial Revolution. The global challenges of widespread

water and air pollution...can be traced back to this moment in human history” (Rafferty).

Encyclopedia Britannica is a useful source of information as its purpose is to inform

readers, has multiple reviewers to ensure impartiality, and uses reliable academic sources when

gathering information. It is available to anyone with an internet connection but likely targets

adolescents and adults.

When assessing freshwater quality, there are several preliminary factors that can signal

health. The most commonly tested chemical elements are the amounts of nutrients like

phosphorous and nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, pollutants such as pesticides, metals, oils, and

fertilizers, and the acidity of the water, usually measured using pH. In addition to chemical

testing, several biological factors can be used during an assessment. These include the presence

and number of bioindicator organisms such as ​invertebrates, bacteria, algae, viruses, and

protozoa​ ​ Lastly, if a water body’s physical characteristics including velocity, discharge, and

flow levels change significantly, it can induce potentially harmful effects on its flora and fauna

(Capital Regional District)​. The chemical makeup, diversity, and quantity of aquatic life and the

physical characteristics of freshwater can all signal its health. The Capital Regional District

(CRD) website is a source of information about the regional government for several areas on

southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands​. Its purpose is to inform citizens and

decision-makers about issues in the area and public services. It is a reliable source of

information.
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Though it is widely accepted that freshwater pollution must be limited and monitored to

ensure human and ecosystem health, debate exists surrounding the impacts of certain industrial

activities on water pollution. For example, the environmental impact of fracking on water quality

is a debated source of pollution today. Mark Zoback, a former professor of geophysics at

Stanford, believes that ​“​If developed in a responsible manner, natural gas can be the critical

transition fuel that reduces the environmental impacts of fossil fuels and keeps us on a path

toward a decarbonized energy future” and does not cite any potentially negative side effects of

fracking on water quality. He is currently conducting a comprehensive study of the development

and use of natural gas (Golden). Environmental justice organization Greenpeace, however,

argues that due to the immense amount of water that becomes polluted when fracking, the

practice “can pose a threat to local water resources, especially in areas where water is already

scarce” (Greenpeace). While both publications come from credible sources (Stanford News and

Greenpeace researchers) and include reliable data, their purposes differ. The purpose of Zoback’s

research is to measure the success and implementation of fracking whereas the underlying

purpose of Greenpeace’s article is to persuade corporations to avoid fracking. Zoback’s

information was retrieved in an edition of the Stanford News, which seeks to inform the Stanford

community about new developments at Stanford. Greenpeace is an environmental non-profit

organization that targets individuals passionate about the environment and emphasizes the

negative effects of animal abuse and environmental pollution.

In our society, misconceptions surrounding different methods of water quality analysis

are limited. However, misconceptions have existed about the importance of water quality testing

and the impacts of water quality on humans. ​For example, in London, until Snow’s discovery of
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the effects of polluted water on diseases, “the spread of cholera was attributed to poisons in the

air emanating from the miasmas rising from the Thames during the occasional hot summers that

frequented London”. His research introduced a previously unrecognized principle: “​that water

should be taken from the highest-quality source available and be protected from contamination”

(Okun 24). Okun’s article, “Historical Overview of Drinking Water Contaminants and Public

Water Utilities” seeks to inform viewers of the history of drinking water contaminants and public

water utilities and concludes that “waiting for scientific evidence before adopting regulations is

not adequate if protection of public health is the goal” (21). This source is reliable because it was

published by the National Academic Press and shows no identifiable bias.

The dramatic increase in human impact on freshwater quality in the form of pollution

largely began during the industrial revolution. Since then, numerous methods of assessing water

quality have been developed to monitor the safety of our freshwater and limit its health

degradation. Numerous indicators of freshwater health exist, including biological, chemical, and

physical traits. Additionally, certain pollutants harmful to freshwater and human health are

monitored by governments to ensure health and safety. Future research can be conducted on the

history of water pollutants, the development of water quality regulations, and the relative success

of each method of analysis on freshwater bodies in varying ecosystems. Additionally, the

impacts of certain pollutants on different freshwater bodies can be researched to better answer

the research question.

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Works Cited

Capital Regional District. “Fresh Water Quality & Flows”​ The Capital Regional District

(CRD), n​ .d.,

https://www.crd.bc.ca/education/our-environment/concerns/fresh-water-quality-flows​. Accessed

1 July 2020.

Golden, Mark. “New research initiative at Stanford to comprehensively study

development and use of natural gas” ​Stanford News Service, ​June 12 2015,

https://news.stanford.edu/pr/2015/pr-natural-gas-study-061215.html​. Accessed 7 July 2020.

Greenpeace. “Fracking’s Environmental Impacts: Water”. ​Greenpeace, n.d.,

https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/global-warming/issues/fracking/environmental-impacts-water/​.

Accessed on 7 July 2020.

Norris, R.H & Barbour M.T. “Bioassemnet of Aquatic Ecosystems”. ​Encyclopedia of

​ he National Academic Press, 2009, pg 21.

Inland Waters, T

Okun, Daniel A. “Historical Overview of Drinking Water Contaminants and Public

Water Utilities." ​Identifying Future Drinking Water Contaminants,​ The National Academies

Press, 1999, pg. 22-4.

Rafferty, John. “Industrial Revolution”. ​Encyclopedia Britannica, n​ .d,

https://www.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/industrial-revolution​. Accessed 7 July 2020.