By: Taylor Allen, Yanil Arias, Kayla Dillon, Danielle Petry

Impact on WatershedsIndustries are well known for discharging waste into

water supplies and air, a less obvious hazard is pollution of the ground beneath industrial structures and storage areas.

Industries produce toxic waste which contain heavy metals.

Once these heavy metals are filtered into the water, they can be fatal to marine life and can cause health problems, or even death to humans.

Some stretches of river have no fish at all from the factories routinely discharging effluent into them.

Impact Continued…Construction industries contaminate

water sources with materials used and pollute rivers and lakes with heavy silt or sediment run-off.

Nonpoint-source pollutants majorly affect water as well, these come from construction sites, parking lots, irrigation, drainage, and septic systems.

Purpose of Commercial Land Use

It is obvious to say that commercial land use comes into play to make our lives as humans easier and improve society for us.

Whether it is something important or not we take advantage of the fact that we have land to make it better in some way.

Even though commercial land use does improve our lives and changes over time like we as humans do, it still isn’t always a good thing in all aspects.

Purpose Continued…Our environment is a very fragile thing

that we take advantage of at certain times and don’t realize the consequences until it is too late.

Many examples of commercial land use are shopping malls and centers(Martinsburg Mall), factories, grocery stores (Wal-Mart, Martins), restaurants(McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Burger King), etc.

Materials UsedConstruction industry contaminates the water with materials

such as cement, lubricants, plastics, and metals. Truck drivers pollute the water with salt, antifreeze, and oils.Sewage plants pollute the water with a material such as

domestic sewage and not properly filtering out the sewage and chemicals.

Product/Outputhttp://www.be.wvu.edu/bber/pdfs/BBER-2010-

04.pdfMalls produce and distribute all kinds of goods

such as clothing, supplies, electronics, as well as housing restaurants inside.

Grocery stores and restaurants send out all types of food, packaged, fresh, and frozen.

Industries depending on the type produce different things. Construction produces residential land use, Coal distributes tons of coal, and the Timber industry sends out wood, the Glass industry produces all types of glass artwork.

Direct and Indirect Affects and Effects on Watershed

Point source pollution is a direct effect on water pollution.

These contaminants usually enter the water directly, mostly through a pipe.

Sewage treatment plants and industries are examples of point source pollution.

They are usually easier to regulate since the source is known.

Effects Continued…Non point source pollution is a another

example of indirect effects on a watershed. Like the name describes, the source of this

pollution is unidentifiable because it comes from the entire landscape.

Runoff is the major reason for non point source pollution. Commercial land use runoff includes sediment, pathogens, nutrients, oxygen-demanding substances, heavy metals, oil and other petroleum products, and road salt.

Effects of RunoffEffects of RunoffIncrease frequency and severity of flooding

Ground water recharge reducedStreams have a reduced base flowErosion increasesNatural filtration of water reducesStream health declines

Shopping malls and centers(Martinsburg Mall)

Factories, Concrete plants(Capitol Cement)

Grocery stores (Wal-Mart, Martins, Food Lion)

Restaurants(McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Burger King), etc.

Examples of Commercial Land Use

Mill Creek Estimate the land use impacts and their

approximate locations:

(1) slight, (2) moderate, (3) high;

(W) watershed, (M) within ¼ mile, (S) streamside.

Land use Impact Location

single family residences S 3

recreation S 1

paved roads S 2

bridge S 2

Industrial areas W 1

active construction W 2

abandoned mining W 1

logging W 2

pastureland M 1

cropland W 1

sub-urban developments M 1

parking lots S 1

Chemical conditions Result UnitsTemperature (C/F) 5.5 CpH

7.5  Conductivity

680 usDissolved Oxygen 10 ppmNitrate/Nitrite

0 ppmAlkalinity

275 ppmTurbidity

0 JTUBacteria (Fecal/E-coli) na naOther chemical tests

Mill Creek Data

Satellite Maps

Mill Creek Examples

Examples of Local Commercial Land Use

More Examples of Commercial Land Use

Satellite View of MHS

ConclusionsIn the end, commercial land use doesn’t really

have any good outcomes for our environment. In the process of creating all of these products that we use on a daily basis to go on with our lives, pollution is running its ugly course to destroy our natural surroundings and one big aspect of that is our watershed. If we don’t take care of what we have now, then our future is headed for a deadly ending. We need to find solutions now to fix and prevent negative affects on our environment on which we depend on so much.

Pollution Facts and What We Can Do

1. Water from rain, storm drains, and ditches flows directly to streams and bays with little or no treatment. 2. We all live in a watershed. What you do on your property does affect streams, even if you don’t live on a

stream. 3. Small amounts of contaminants from all over the land add up to cause pollution in our water.. 4. Failing septic systems pollute. Untreated wastewater from failing septic systems can contaminate nearby

streams, drinking water sources, and bays. •Inspect your septic system every 3-5 years. •Pump as needed.

5. Soap from washing your car at home pollutes. Soap and dirt from washing your car can flow through our

storm drains and ditches and end up in our streams untreated. •Wash your car at a commercial car wash, on the grass, or on a graveled area.

6. Soap from charity car washes can pollute if not handled properly. •Many charity car washes use available alternatives to prevent dirty, soapy water from going down the storm drain. Commercial car wash water goes to the sewer and is treated.

7. Oil and antifreeze from leaking cars pollutes. When it rains, water runs over the ground and picks up oil,

antifreeze, and other pollutants and carries them to our streams and bays. •Put a drip tray under your car to catch car leaks. •Fix car leaks.

8. Garden and lawn chemicals pollute. •Pull weeds by hand. •Avoid use of chemicals. If necessary, use sparingly and as directed. •Call for information on alternatives to weed and bug killers.

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