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Current Issue Envirothon allows you to explore a current environmental issue each year and relate it to the core Envirothon topics (forestry, soils, wildlife and aquatics). The Ontario Forestry Association prepares materials on the Current Issue each year with examples and case studies specific to Ontario.
2009-2010 Protection of Groundwater
Access to clean and safe drinking water is essential to a healthy and
thriving community. If a safe drinking water source is compromised or
lost, there would be harmful consequences to human health, the
environment, and the economy. These losses can be prevented or mitigated
to protect current and future sources. The potential for contamination
and the high cost of treatment and expense of locating or developing
alternate sources make it imperative for government to adopt and
implement effective strategies for long-term protection. Many factors
including increasing populations and extensive development, put stresses
on groundwater supplies. These include the use of pesticides,
fertilizers, animal manure, and storm water runoff which contains
metals, nutrients, salts and other chemicals that can leach into
groundwater basins. Planning for groundwater protection often receives
insufficient attention for addressing periods of drought, water
conservation and efficiency, pollution prevention, recharge zones,
surface water management and conjunctive use, storm water management and
future water needs. Due to its nature, most communities have no clear
understanding of how much groundwater is available. Envirothon
participants will learn the importance of groundwater and efforts that
need to be taken to protect this resource for the future.
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