What’s in the Water? A Glimpse into the Challenges of Our Most Precious Resource

Clean fresh water is a requirement for all forms of life. Yet water scarcity and water quality are under some level of threat in most places worldwide.  Around the Great Lakes, fresh water is abundant, but what about the quality of our water? Are enough protections in place to prevent contamination or excessive use?   Improvident use of chemicals–pharmaceuticals, pesticides, personal care products– as well as other disposable materials has led to serious challenges for the environment and particularly for our surface water.   This presentation will highlight studies on the fresh water issues of Great Lakes Cladophora overgrowth, advanced wastewater treatment, inadequate surface water monitoring and the emerging threat of microplastic pollution.