Lydersen, Kari. \"Three Environmental Groups

¶ … Lydersen, Kari. "Three Environmental Groups to Sue Water District." New York Times. 5 March, 2011. Retrieved online: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/us/06cncpulse.html?ref=earth

There is a "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico, an area in which little marine life can survive because of the presence of a certain type of algae. Researchers working for the federal government have determined the cause for the proliferation of the algae. The cause is that untreated wastewater from Chicago has been flowing down river into the Gulf of Mexico. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago has not been removing enough nitrogen and phosphorous from treated water before dumping it. As a result, the Chicago water treatment centers are polluting their local rivers, the Illinois and the Mississippi Rivers. Those rivers flow into the Gulf of Mexico. Based on the evidence compiled by the government researchers, three environmental groups are suing the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago for violation of the federal Clean Water Act.

3. Technical Terms: Dead Zone: An area of a large body of water that should, but can no longer support life. Excessive amounts of phosphorous and nitrogen, which are nutrients for algae, are washing into bodies of water like the Gulf of Mexico. Those nutrients then "overfertilize the water and cause massive algae blooms. As the plants die and sink, they decompose and deplete dissolved oxygen. Bottom dwellers and other creatures that cannot flee are suffocated by falling oxygen levels." The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is 7,722 square miles (Resource: Winter, 2010).

4a. Where is the issue occurring? The issue is occurring at multiple locations, showing the interconnectedness of water resource usage.

The ultimate problem is occurring in the Gulf of Mexico, where a dead zone has been documented.

The problem originates miles away in Chicago, which is located at a conjunction of major water resources including the Great Lakes and the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.

4b. Why is there an issue at this location?

As a result of Chicago's reckless water treatment program (or lack thereof), raw sewage is basically being dumped into waters and is affecting communities of human and non-human residents many miles away.

Wastewater dumped into the south-flowing rivers in the Chicago area flow into the Gulf of Mexico.

The issue is also affecting regions closer to Chicago.

4c. Who (human or nonhuman) is impacted by this issue, and at what scale is the impact occurring?

All oceanic life is affected by the presence of the algae in the Gulf of Mexico.

Human beings are affected directly and indirectly: Directly because toxic levels of phosphorous are seeping into clean water reserves and also seeping into the food chain. Indirectly because what Chicago is doing affects tourism and fishing industries in the Gulf of Mexico region.

d) What solutions, if any, have been proposed to address the issue?

Currently, the main solutions include 1. Suing the responsible parties so that the financial sting warrants immediate action; 2. Raising awareness so that such practices do not occur elsewhere; 3. Raising awareness so that the Environmental Protection Agency and other bodies in charge can intervene.