Pollution from agricultural runoff has brought great danger to both human beings and the organisms that live in water. Various chemicals used in crop production are dragged into water sources, poisoning the water (Kennen & Kirkwood, 2015). This poses a danger to the existence of living organisms. Consumption of contaminated water by humans leads to waterborne diseases such as cryptosporidiosis which causes diarrhea, vomiting, fever, weight loss, and stomach cramps (Lichtfouse, 2009). The essay below describes significant ways in which this form of pollution can be prevented.
First, fencing of livestock grazing areas at about 100 meters from water sources would reduce agricultural runoff into surface waters. When sources of pastures are fenced, they allow the livestock to feed at specific paddocks at a given time (Miyazaki, 2005). They thus prevent overgrazing; hence reduce elimination of the topsoil through pollution. The distance also prevents the probability of any possible pollution from reaching the water source, thus preventing pollution.
Also, farmers should implement the use of cover crops. This is where certain grasses, clovers, and grains are used to keep nutrients away from water sources. Here, the plants recycle the excess nitrogen preventing any probabilities of soil erosion (Marsalek, 2001). If the soil is not eroded, it does not find itself or the farm chemicals into the water sources, thus preventing pollution.
Lastly, nutrient management can be used to prevent the pollution of surface waters by agricultural chemicals. This is where farmers apply the right amount of farm nutrients at the right time of the year, and also by the use of the right method (World Water & Environmental Resources Congress, 2004). This calculation will prevent chances of excess nutrients being drawn into rivers, thus reduce the existence of waterborne parasites.
References
Kennen, K., & Kirkwood, N. (2015). Phyto: Principles and resources for site remediation and landscape design.
Lichtfouse, E. (2009). Sustainable agriculture. Dordrecht: Springer Verlag.
Miyazaki, N. (2005). Mankind and the oceans. Tokyo: United Nations University Press.
Marsalek, J. (2001). Advances in urban stormwater and agricultural runoff source controls. Dordrecht [u.a.: Kluwer Academic.
World Water & Environmental Resources Congress. (2004). World Water Congress 2003: World Water & Environmental Resources Congress 2003 and related symposia. Reston, Va: American Society of Civil Engineers.
