Nutrient Pollution


                     Only Rain Belongs Down the Drain

Did you know that not picking up after upper dog on a family walk can contribute to a much larger issue than you think? 

What is nutrient pollution ?

According to NOAA its defined as, 
the process where too many nutrients, 
mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, are added
to bodies of water and can act like fertilizer,
causing excessive growth of algae. 
What causes this issue?
  • Animal waste
  • litter
  • motor oil
  • yard clippings
  • fertilizers and pesticides
  • soapy car washes

 Rain and snowmelt wash pollutants from streets, construction sites, and land into storm sewers and ditches. Eventually, these empty the polluted stormwater directly unto steams and rivers with no treatment.


What Can YOU do to prevent this? ⤸

You're going to have to view my video to find out!




I decided to create a YouTube video discussing what nutrient pollution is and how YOU can prevent it. I choose this topic because of my geographical location is surrounded by the Great Lakes and its really important to spread the word about the dangers of this pollution. 

This is my official YouTube video, feel free to watch!
⤶



Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic my original idea needed to be altered. I wanted to create small business like cards with information on where to discard toxic and hazardous waste such as fertilizers, paints, oils, etc. My hope was to have a local home and garden store distribute them to customers at checkout. Since face to face contact isn't an option currently, I altered my project to an online video. 





To collect all my video footage 
I drove around for a few days 
collecting everything I needed 
to create the final project. I used iMovie to make the YouTube video.



The Erie County of New York's Environmental website used the phrase ‘only rain belongs in the drain’. that is an example of a condensation symbol which Cox and Pezzullo, states “A condensation symbol is a word or phrase that ‘stirs vivid impressions involving the listeners’ most basic values” (Pezzullo & Cox, 83).




In order to reach a larger audience I posted this Instagram story to encourage my followers to view my video.
⤵


This is an image of me watching my final video after days of hard work

                                  ↓


References 


    Balpataky, K., & Balpataky, K. (2017, October 25). Ontario Environmental Commissioner Reports on Nutrient Pollution. Retrieved from https://www.watercanada.net/ontario-environmental-commissioner-reports-on-nutrient-pollution/

Pezzullo, P. and Cox, R. (2018). Environmental Communication and the Public Sphere, 5th Edition. Sage Publications.

    Facts and Figures about the Great Lakes. (2019, April 4). Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/facts-and-figures-about-great-lakes









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