Read the article on salt water intrusion by linking to: http://americancityandco

Question

Read the article on salt water intrusion by linking to:

http://americancityandcounty.com/mag/government_saltwater_intrusion_floridas/

Research the topic further, then post responses to the following:

1) Discuss how salt water can contaminate freshwater wells, taking into consideration the mechanism of contamination and the location of the wells. (8 points)
2) Using appropriate examples, explain why this is a problem. (4 points)
3) Identify to whom and when (or why) salt water intrusion can become a serious problem for coastal or interior South Florida. (2 points)
4) Reply to at least one student’s post on this discussion by adding information missing from the students post or that enhances their discussion. (3 points)

5) All responses need to have good grammar, spelling, sentence and paragraph structure. (3 points)

Explanation / Answer

SALT WATER INTRUSION is a natural process that usually happen in the area near sea and could easily affect human activity and wildlife that depend on fresh water in that particular area. Saltwater intrusion involves the movement of seawater inland into fresh groundwater aquifers due to higher density if seawater compared to freshwater. Right now the saltwater intrusion is a big headache for Florida, Georgia, California and many other European countries.

MAJOR CAUSES of saltwater intrusion:

1. Rising of SEA WATER LEVEL which is usually caused by global warming became major reason for increase in the quantity of saltwater.

2. AGRICULTURE is the other reason which has become a root cause, because agriculture do require large amounts of fresh water as it will not be suitable at areas nearby sea.

3. OVER PUMPING OF GROUND WATER also termed as groundwater extraction is the primary cause of saltwater intrusion. Because this will decrease the water levels and pressure which allows saltwater to intrude.

The MAJOR EFFECT with this saltwater intrusion is that it can easily contaminate all available freshwater wells and make them unfit for drinking. Saltwater intrusion is not a new concept, in fact it has a long history in Florida. As saltwater intrusion became a serious problem for coastal areas of Florida as the saltwater contacts with freshwater communities, they become toxic and greatly alters ecosystem especially plants. Apart from affecting plants and ecosystem, saltwater intrusion also do harm wildlife as the saltwater can easily diminish prey for species like FLORIDA PANTHER and BLACK BEAR.

Well Fields are major source of water supply and if once saltwater enters wells it is highly impossible to reverse the action and South Florida water management district is regional governmental agency that manages the water resources in the southern part of the state. The district do periodically map underground saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers and controls water use and also operates its regional water management system using several coastal salinity control structure and prevent the intrusion of saltwater into coastal aquifers.

As mentioned above saltwater intrusion is the movement of saline water into fresh water, this can obviously lead to contamination of drinking water sources and results in ZONE OF TRANSITION (saltwater and freshwater interference). This can greatly affect humans because salt water is useless to be honest unless treated. Well known truth is that global warming will continue to cause a rise in sea levels and will cause greater saltwater intrusion and this is not only a FLORIDA problem but also other residents of coastal regions.

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