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;...

Raising awareness so that the Environmental Protection Agency and other bodies in charge can intervene.
e) Where else might this issue occur (global perspective)? Is the same reasoning for the issue applicable to all locations, or are there multiple drivers that influence this issue? If so, what might some of them be?

This issue can occur anywhere on the globe, because wastewater must be treated before it is released back into the ecosystem.

5. Questions for the class

How do municipalities treat wastewater? What are some of the best ways to treat wastewater, given that it requires chemical intervention in order to remove the toxins present in raw sewage?

References

Winter, a. (2010). This Year's Gulf 'Dead Zone' Among Largest Ever. New York Times. Retrieved onlinehttp://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/08/03/03greenwire-this-years-gulf-dead-zone-among-largest-ever-24761.html