Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
￿
Along the East Coast, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), an
air pollution-reducing chemical additive to gasoline whose use
was banned in 2007, has been found in some groundwater. 12
In general, the MTBE ended up in groundwater supplies
as a result of leaking fuel tanks or runoff contaminated by
gasoline.
In September 2010, Governor Steven L. Beshear of Kentucky
sought federal disaster assistance for 35 counties hit hard
by drought in the western and west-central portions of the
commonwealth. 13
Tennessee also looked to federal relief in September 2010 for
water-related natural disasters. In some parts of the state, the
problem was too much water, as in flooding, and in others
it was too little water that left parched fields and decimated
crops. It's not the first year water has been an issue for the
state. As of February 2009, 57 counties in the state had been
designated natural disaster areas for agriculture as a result of
persistent drought conditions. 14
In Massachusetts, minimal rainfall along the upper Charles
River one recent year left Bostonians wondering just how
much longer their water will last, especially if one factors in
the pollution runoff problems in the Charles and Mystic riv-
ers, which serve the area. Brockton residents, however, have
an alternative. In fall 2008, the Aquaria desalination plant
came online; it taps brackish water from the Taunton River.
In Florida—the Southwest Florida Water Management District
(including Sarasota) declared a water shortage emergency
in spring 2008. Low water levels in the area's primary water
supply source, the Peace River watershed, prompted that dec-
laration. Indicative of the changing nature of weather and
water (or lack of) accompanying it, Florida experienced its
all-time wettest May in 2009. 15
Arnold Schwarzenegger, then governor of California, declared
a state of emergency in February 2009, to help the state cope
with three consecutive years of drought. According to esti-
mates, the cost of drought at that time amounted to up to
$644 million 16 and it's not over yet.
￿
￿
￿
￿
￿
Search WWH ::




Custom Search