Feb 28
In many parts of Milwaukee, stormwater is shuttled directly to rivers and Lake Michigan. Wastewater is dealt with separately and sent to a treatment plant for processing. But Sandra McLellan of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, says the infrastructure is aging. “Many of the pipes that are taking waste from our homes that should be …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/stormwater-management/human-waste-in-water/
Feb 27
Cows wading in a stream might make a pretty picture. But the reality is a lot less pleasant. Jinjun Kan is a microbiologist with Stroud Research Center. He’s been monitoring streams in the Delaware River Watershed for bacteria that are present as a result of fecal contamination. And he’s found high levels, especially in summer. …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/agricultural-runoff/good-fences-make-good-water/
Feb 26
Every day, about 20 million gallons of oil travel through an underwater pipeline at the narrow passage that connects lakes Michigan and Huron. “There’s a lot of concern that this line could rupture,” says Mike Shriberg of the National Wildlife Federation, which helps organize the Great Lakes Business Network. It’s a coalition of more than …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/toxic-contamination/oil-and-water-in-the-straits-of-mackinac/
Feb 25
In a stagnant pond, you may see what looks like matted, green hair floating in the water. But it’s not a swamp monster. It’s filamentous green algae. Piotrowski: “People typically go, ‘EW!’ but the truth is that they’re totally benign. They don’t produce toxins. They’re incredibly beneficial because they’re reducing nutrients in the water.” Michael …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/biodiversity/the-good-guys-of-the-algae-world/
Feb 24
Water bottles, plastic bags, and straws tossed on the sidewalks of lakeshore cities may be headed on a long, wet journey. “For coastal communities, somewhere between 15 and 40 percent of that mismanaged waste will end up in the water system,” says Matthew Hoffman, associate professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. And all that …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/marine-debris/loads-of-litter-in-the-lakes/
