Lake Huron Pollution

The Northern American Great Lakes are the world’s largest freshwater system and include, Lake Erie, Michigan, Huron, Superior, and Ontario (University of Michigan). These lakes are an important source of fresh water and are home to many species of wildlife. Due to the belief that water could dilute any substance, the lakes became dumping grounds for many different pollutants (University of Michigan). The pollution of American waterways first became a national issue in June of 1969, when the Cuyahoga River caught on fire due to pollution. Water pollution is defined as “a change in the chemical, physical, and biological health of a waterway due to human activity” (TEACH). After this fire, increased pollution controls were established which eventually led to the Great Lakes Water Quality Act and Clean Water Act in the 1970s (TEACH). Water quality has recently become a major issue along the southern shores of Lake Huron. The pollution in Lake Huron is largely due to nonpoint source pollution, point source pollution, pollution from industrial plants, and air pollution

Nonpoint source pollution is the top hazard facing the Great Lakes today. Non-point source pollution is another term for polluted runoff and cannot be traced back to a specific location (University of Michigan). “Nonpoint source pollution is the cumulative result of our everyday personal action and our local land use policies (Centre for Costal Conservation, 2012). Common nonpoint source pollutants include pathogens, nutrients, and toxic contaminants. Pathogens are disease-causing microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses that come from the fecal matter of animal and humans. These pathogens enter the lake from improperly functioning septic systems, leaky sewer lines, and boat sanitary disposal systems (Centre for Coastal Conservation). Nutrients are compounds that plant fuel plant growth. These nutrients can come into waterways from agricultural fertilizers, septic systems, and yard wastes. Toxic contaminants are substances that harm aquatic and human life. These contaminants are created by an array of human activities such as; heavy metals, pesticides, and organic compounds (Centre for Coastal Conservation). Toxic pollutants are resistant to breakdown and commonly pass through the food chain to be concentrated in top predators (Centre for Coastal Conservation).

A second contributing hazard to pollution Lake Huron is point source pollution. In contrast to nonpoint source pollution, point source pollution involves pollutants that enter waterways through a specific entry point, such as a drainpipe emptying into a river (TEACH). Point source pollutants include many different organic and inorganic substances (human waste and toxic metals) that enter waterways through sewage disposal. Since point source pollution can be traced to a specific ejection point it has been the easiest source of pollution to regulate.

Point source pollution leads to the third