After the Storm

Summary

This script addresses the escalating conflict between civilization and natural disasters, focusing on the aftermath's insidious effects on watersheds. It explores the concept of watersheds, the pollution runoff crisis, and its global impact on water quality and availability. The script highlights efforts to mitigate pollution in California's Santa Monica Bay and the Mississippi River's dead zone, emphasizing individual and community actions to protect our water resources.

Takeaways

• 🌪️ Natural disasters like blizzards, hurricanes, and floods cause significant damage to cities and communities.
• 💧 After the storms, there's a hidden threat to our water resources from polluted runoff.
• 📍 A watershed is an area of land that drains water into a body of water like rivers, streams, or oceans.
• 🌎 Everyone lives in a watershed, which affects the water quality of the areas where they reside.
• 🚰 Our water sources are becoming more contaminated each year, with polluted runoff being a major issue.
• 🌎 Water east of the Continental Divide drains into the Atlantic, while water west drains into the Pacific.
• 🌊 Polluted runoff can contain a variety of contaminants, including trash, dirt, bacteria, toxic chemicals, and fertilizers.
• 🚫 Over a billion people worldwide lack access to adequate fresh water, highlighting the importance of water conservation.
• 🏞️ The Environmental Protection Agency recommends a 'watershed approach' to address the unique environmental challenges each watershed faces.
• 🏡 Individual actions, such as proper pesticide use, not dumping waste, and picking up after pets, can significantly reduce pollution in our watersheds.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script?

The main theme of the video script is the impact of civilization and pollution on natural water bodies, emphasizing the importance of watersheds and the need for collective action to protect water resources.

What is a watershed as described in the script?

A watershed is defined in the script as an area of land that drains to a body of water, such as a river, stream, ocean, estuary, or bay. It includes all the land where rainwater, snowmelt, and other drainage from that area flows into a common body of water.

What are the consequences of polluted runoff mentioned in the script?

Polluted runoff has several consequences, including creating a hazardous soup of pollutants that can harm the environment, affecting human health with illnesses from contaminated water, and contributing to the creation of hypoxic (low oxygen) zones in larger bodies of water like the Gulf of Mexico.

What is the significance of the Santa Monica Bay watershed mentioned in the script?

The Santa Monica Bay watershed is significant because it drains a dangerous amount of polluted runoff after each storm, which has been linked to reports of illness affecting people who swim there. This demonstrates the direct impact of polluted runoff on human health.

What is the role of wetlands in the Mississippi River watershed as described in the script?

Wetlands in the Mississippi River watershed play a crucial role in filtering pollutants from the water. They trap sediment, chemicals, and other pollutants, thus providing cleaner water downstream. They also serve as an important habitat for birds and other wildlife.

What is hypoxia in the context of the Gulf of Mexico as discussed in the script?

Hypoxia in the context of the Gulf of Mexico refers to an area of water lacking in vital oxygen, caused by an overabundance of nutrients leading to large algae blooms that die off and decompose, using up the oxygen in the water.

What steps can individuals take to reduce pollution in watersheds according to the script?

Individuals can reduce pollution in watersheds by properly disposing of hazardous waste, not washing cars on streets to prevent soap runoff, not dumping motor oil in the street, cleaning up after pets, avoiding use of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides when rain is expected, and not overspraying chemicals during irrigation.

What is the 'Watershed Approach' recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency in the script?

The 'Watershed Approach' is a method that looks at each watershed for its own unique set of environmental challenges and solutions, emphasizing the need for a systematic and tailored approach to remediate and clean up each watershed.

How does the script illustrate the importance of public awareness in addressing water pollution?

The script illustrates the importance of public awareness by highlighting how actions in one's own watershed can affect others downstream and vice versa. It emphasizes that everyone lives in a watershed and thus has a role to play in protecting water resources.

What is the significance of the New York City watershed agreement mentioned in the script?

The New York City watershed agreement is significant because it represents an unprecedented partnership to protect the city's water supply by preserving land, upgrading sewage treatment plants, and restoring stream corridors, thus avoiding the need to build a costly filtration facility.

How does the script suggest using green spaces to prevent stormwater runoff?

The script suggests using green spaces such as green roofs and rain gardens to prevent stormwater runoff. These spaces allow water to percolate into the ground and get filtered, rather than running off into the street and storm drain system, thus reducing polluted runoff.

Outlines

00:00

🌪️ Natural Disasters and Watershed Awareness

The script begins with a narrator discussing the devastating impact of natural disasters such as blizzards, hurricanes, and flash floods on human settlements. It then transitions to the theme of post-disaster recovery and the unnoticed damage to our water resources. The narrator introduces the concept of a watershed and its importance through a series of interviews with people who have varying levels of understanding of the term. The correct definition is provided by one interviewee, explaining that a watershed is an area of land that drains water into a body of water such as rivers, streams, or oceans. The segment emphasizes the ubiquity of watersheds and the increasing contamination of water sources due to polluted runoff.

05:02

🌊 The Global Impact of Polluted Runoff

This paragraph delves into the global water crisis, highlighting that 97% of Earth's water is salty ocean water, with less than 1% available for human use. It discusses the polluted runoff as the nation's biggest water quality problem, affecting water bodies like the Santa Monica Bay in California. The polluted runoff is described as a hazardous mixture of trash, dirt, bacteria, toxic chemicals, and fertilizers. The segment also covers the health risks associated with polluted water, such as increased illness among swimmers, and the measures taken by authorities to monitor and report on water quality.

10:03

🌎 The Mississippi River and Hypoxic Zones

The script focuses on the Mississippi River watershed, which drains a significant portion of the United States and contributes to a large 'hypoxic zone' or 'dead zone' in the Gulf of Mexico. This phenomenon is caused by an excess of nutrients leading to algae blooms that deplete oxygen in the water. The paragraph discusses the historical context, the role of farming and fertilizers in nutrient runoff, and the impact on marine life and local economies. It also touches on the importance of wetlands in filtering pollutants and the rapid loss of these ecosystems.

15:06

🏙️ New York City's Watershed Protection

This section of the script outlines the efforts to protect New York City's water supply from polluted runoff. The city faced the choice between constructing a costly filtration plant or investing in a program to safeguard the watershed. The 1997 watershed agreement led to a partnership to preserve the water quality, which included land acquisition, sewage treatment plant upgrades, and stream restoration. The script also covers the impact of agricultural practices on water quality and the implementation of strategies to reduce runoff pollution.

20:08

🌱 Individual and Community Actions for Cleaner Water

The final paragraph emphasizes the role of individual and community actions in preventing pollution and protecting watersheds. It discusses the importance of responsible practices such as proper waste disposal, reducing car wash runoff, and the judicious use of fertilizers and pesticides. The script encourages citizen participation in water conservation and highlights various strategies that can be adopted at both personal and community levels to ensure cleaner water for future generations.

Keywords

💡Watershed

A watershed is defined as an area of land that drains to a body of water, such as a river, a stream, the ocean, an estuary, or a bay. In the context of the video, watersheds are crucial as they are the primary pathways through which rainwater drains and potentially carries pollutants into water bodies. The video emphasizes that everyone lives in a watershed, highlighting the importance of understanding and protecting these areas to maintain water quality.

💡Polluted Runoff

Polluted runoff refers to water that has picked up trash, dirt, bacteria, toxic chemicals, and fertilizers as it flows over surfaces like streets and parking lots. The video underscores the issue of polluted runoff as it creates a hazardous 'soup of pollutants' that can contaminate water bodies, affecting both the environment and human health. It is depicted as a significant water quality problem in the nation today.

💡Flash Floods

Flash floods are sudden and intense floods that occur as a result of heavy rainfall or the rapid melting of snow or ice. The video mentions flash floods as one of the natural disasters that can drastically alter landscapes and communities, wiping entire towns off the face of the earth, emphasizing the fury of nature and its impact on human settlements.

💡Ecosystem Collapse

Ecosystem collapse refers to the disruption and potential extinction of an ecosystem's species due to environmental changes. In the video, this term is used to describe the potential outcome of continued pollution and hypoxia (low oxygen levels) in water bodies, such as the Gulf of Mexico. It illustrates the severe consequences of human actions on the environment and the urgent need for remedial actions.

💡Hypoxia

Hypoxia is a condition where water bodies have very low levels of dissolved oxygen, which is critical for the survival of aquatic life. The video explains that hypoxia develops when excess pollutants, primarily an overabundance of nutrients, lead to large algae blooms that die off and decompose, using up the oxygen in the process. The Gulf of Mexico's 'Dead Zone' is cited as an example of a hypoxic zone.

💡Impervious Surfaces

Impervious surfaces are solid surfaces that do not allow water to penetrate, such as concrete, asphalt, and rooftops. The video discusses how these surfaces contribute to the problem of polluted runoff, as rainwater cannot seep into the ground but instead flows over these surfaces, picking up pollutants and carrying them into storm drains and water bodies.

💡Sewage Treatment Plants

Sewage treatment plants are facilities designed to process human sewage and industrial wastewater to remove contaminants before discharging the treated water into the environment. The video mentions upgrading these plants as part of the strategy to protect the New York City watershed from polluted runoff, emphasizing the role of improved infrastructure in maintaining water quality.

💡Green Roof

A green roof is a roofing system covered with vegetation planted over a waterproofing membrane. The video describes the New Ford Rouge Center's green roof as a method to reduce polluted runoff by absorbing rainwater and providing a natural filter for contaminants. This concept illustrates an innovative approach to stormwater management and urban greening.

💡Rain Gardens

Rain gardens are landscaped depressions designed to channel and temporarily hold runoff, allowing water to soak into the ground and be filtered through plants and soil. The video presents rain gardens as a community-based strategy for preventing polluted runoff, showcasing a simple yet effective way to clean up urban runoff.

💡Nutrient Runoff

Nutrient runoff is the loss of fertilizers, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, from agricultural lands into water bodies. The video explains that reducing nutrient runoff in the Mississippi River watershed is key to solving the hypoxia problem in the Gulf of Mexico. It highlights the impact of farming practices on water quality and the need for better management of fertilizer use.

💡Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The Environmental Protection Agency is a U.S. government agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment. In the video, the EPA is mentioned in relation to the Safe Drinking Water Act and its role in presenting New York City with options to protect its water supply from polluted runoff. This reference illustrates the EPA's regulatory function and its involvement in safeguarding water resources.

Highlights

Natural disasters like blizzards, hurricanes, and floods cause massive destruction to cities and communities.

After the storms, there is insidious damage to our nation's water resources.

A watershed is defined as an area of land that drains to a body of water, such as a river, stream, or ocean.

Polluted runoff is identified as the biggest water quality problem in the nation.

Water east of the Continental Divide drains to the Atlantic, while water west drains to the Pacific.

Pollutants in runoff include trash, dirt, bacteria, toxic chemicals, and fertilizers.

Pollution of water resources is a global issue, with a billion people lacking access to fresh water.

97% of Earth's water is salty ocean water, and less than 1% is available for human use.

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends a 'watershed approach' to address water resource threats.

Santa Monica Bay Watershed in California struggles with polluted runoff after storms.

Pollution in Santa Monica Bay has been linked to illness in people swimming in the area.

The city and county of Los Angeles perform daily tests to monitor water quality in Santa Monica Bay.

Beach warnings are posted based on the health department's analysis of water samples.

The harmful effects of polluted runoff are a growing concern worldwide.

Individuals can help reduce pollution in watersheds by being conscientious about waste disposal and runoff.

The Gulf of Mexico faces an ecosystem collapse due to a hypoxic zone caused by polluted runoff.

The hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico is about the size of New Jersey.

The shortage of oxygen in the Gulf is killing fish and other sea life, affecting the regional economy.

Hypoxia develops when an area of water receives excess pollutants, primarily an overabundance of nutrients.

The Mississippi River's nitrogen levels have tripled since the 1950s, contributing to the growing hypoxic zone.

Louisiana's wetlands, once abundant, are quickly disappearing due to human activities.

Wetlands are important for filtering pollutants and providing habitats for wildlife.

Eliminating the hypoxic zone will require more than saving wetlands; reducing nutrient runoff is key.

New York City's water supply, sourced from the Catskill Mountains, is threatened by polluted runoff.

New York City's watershed agreement of 1997 is an unprecedented partnership to protect the city's water supply.

The program includes purchasing and preserving land, upgrading sewage treatment plants, and restoring stream corridors.

Farmers are provided funding to implement agricultural management practices to reduce runoff.

New York City has an extensive water quality monitoring program to ensure tap water is fresh.

Individual participation is crucial for keeping our watersheds free of pollutants.

Green roofs and rain gardens are strategies for preventing stormwater runoff.

We all live in a watershed, and we all have an impact on our environment.

Transcripts

Narrator: IT'S CIVILIZATION VERSUS NATURE'S FURY:

RAGING BLIZZARDS BURY CITIES UNDER THOUSANDS OF TONS OF SNOW;

HOWLING HURRICANES TEAR APART COASTAL COMMUNITIES

WITH WIND AND RAIN;

AND FLASH FLOODS WIPE ENTIRE TOWNS OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

AS THE SKIES CLEAR, PEOPLE BEGIN TO PICK UP THE PIECES.

BUT AFTER THE STORM--INSIDIOUS DAMAGE IS STILL BEING DONE.

OUR MOST VITAL NATURAL RESOURCE IS UNDER ASSAULT--

OUR NATION'S WATERS.

WE'RE AT THE CHATTAHOOCHEE NATURE CENTER,

AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT A WATERSHED IS.

FIRST VICTIM.

I NEED YOU TO TELL ME WHAT A WATERSHED IS. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA?

WATERSHED?

A WATERSHED?

WHERE PEOPLE GO TO THE BATHROOM?

SWEATING, I GUESS.

SOMETHING TO DO WITH SWEATING?

UH-HUH.

LIKE, AFTER YOU RUN, WHEN YOU--

YOU PERSPIRE.

AND THEN YOU SHED IT.

UH-HUH.

WE WANTED TO ASK YOU IF YOU KNEW WHAT A WATERSHED WAS.

A WATERSHED?

YEAH.

IS IT KIND OF LIKE THE RAIN?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT A WATERSHED IS?

A SHED THAT HOLDS WATER.

COME HERE FOR A SECOND. I WANT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT A WATERSHED IS?

NO.

NO.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH?

UH...I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT A WATERSHED IS?

YEAH.

THAT'S JUST A DRAIN POOL, I GUESS YOU'D SAY, OR THE DRAIN AREA.

THAT'S WHERE THE RAINWATER DRAINS INTO THE RIVER.

CORRECT. THAT'S A GREAT ANSWER.

A WATERSHED IS THAT AREA OF LAND THAT DRAINS TO A BODY OF WATER,

BE THAT IF IT'S A RIVER, A STREAM, THE OCEAN, AN ESTUARY, A BAY.

WHEREVER YOU LIVE DRAINS TO SOME WATER BODY, AND YOU LIVE IN A WATERSHED.

SO EVERYONE LIVES IN A WATERSHED.

Narrator: AND IN THIS MODERN INDUSTRIAL AGE,

OUR WATER SOURCES ARE BECOMING MORE CONTAMINATED

WITH EACH PASSING YEAR.

THE BIGGEST WATER QUALITY PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN THE NATION TODAY IS

POLLUTED RUNOFF.

Narrator: ALL WATER EAST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE DRAINS

TO THE ATLANTIC,

WHILE WATER WEST OF THE DIVIDE FLOWS TO THE PACIFIC.

AND ONE DROP OF RAIN CAN CROSS MANY DIFFERENT WATERSHEDS ALONG THE WAY.

AS RUNOFF FLOWS INTO RIVERS, STREAMS, AND STORM DRAINS,

THE WATER PICKS UP TRASH, DIRT, BACTERIA,

TOXIC CHEMICALS, AND FERTILIZERS--

CREATING A SOUP OF POLLUTANTS THAT IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF POLLUTED RUNOFF EXIST WORLDWIDE.

Man: THE U.N. ESTIMATE IS

THAT THERE'S ABOUT A BILLION PEOPLE ON THE PLANET RIGHT NOW

WHO DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE ACCESS TO FRESH WATER.

[MEN SPEAKING SPANISH]

Narrator: 97% OF ALL WATER ON EARTH IS SALTY OCEAN WATER.

OF THE REMAINING 3% THAT'S FRESH, OVER 2/3 IS FROZEN IN GLACIERS AND POLAR ICE.

THAT LEAVES LESS THAN 1% OF ALL THE PLANET'S WATER FOR OUR USE.

I PREDICT IN THE FUTURE THAT SOME OF THE U.S. WATER NEEDS

ARE GOING TO COME THROUGH PIPELINE,

BECAUSE WE HAVE JUST OVERUSED OUR SUPPLY.

Narrator: TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEX THREATS

FACING U.S. WATER RESOURCES,

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RECOMMENDS

ADOPTING A "WATERSHED APPROACH."

WE'RE TRYING TO RECONNECT SOME OF THE RIVER.

Narrator: IT'S A METHOD THAT LOOKS AT EACH WATERSHED

FOR ITS OWN UNIQUE SET OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS.

Man: IN MANY CASES, PEOPLE MISTAKENLY IDENTIFY

LARGE DISCHARGE PIPES IN THE WATER AS THE PROBLEM,

BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE PROBLEM.

IT MAY BE COMING FROM AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF;

IT MAY BE COMING FROM STORMWATER RUNOFF OVER PARKING LOTS

AND IMPERVIOUS SURFACES.

EVERY WATERSHED IS DIFFERENT,

AND YOU NEED TO LOOK AT EACH WATERSHED IN ITS OWN TERMS

AND THEN THINK SYSTEMATICALLY ABOUT HOW YOU REMEDIATE,

HOW YOU CLEAN UP THAT WATERSHED.

Narrator: IN CALIFORNIA, THE SANTA MONICA BAY WATERSHED DRAINS

A DANGEROUS AMOUNT OF POLLUTED RUNOFF AFTER EACH STORM.

Gold: WHEN IT RAINS, LITERALLY THE WHOLE RESIDUE OF URBAN LIVING

ENDS UP GETTING WASHED INTO THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM

AND ENDS UP GOING STRAIGHT INTO THE BAY,

ON SANTA MONICA BAY'S BEACHES, WITH NO TREATMENT WHATSOEVER.

Man: IT'S ACTUALLY LIKE A GIANT TOILET FLUSHING,

BECAUSE ALL OF THE POLLUTION,

THE DOG MESS THAT'S BEEN BUILDING UP AND BUILDING UP AND BUILDING UP,

WHEN IT RAINS IT JUST FLUSHES INTO THE STORM DRAIN

AND GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE SURF.

Narrator: IN 1996, THE SANTA MONICA BAY RESTORATION COMMISSION PROVED THERE WAS

A LINK BETWEEN THE CONTAMINATED RUNOFF IN THE SANTA MONICA BAY

AND REPORTS OF ILLNESS AFFLICTING PEOPLE WHO SWIM THERE.

Yamaguchi: WHAT WE DID FIND WAS AT THE OUTLETS OF STORM DRAINS,

NO MATTER WHERE THEY WERE UP AND DOWN THE BAY,

IF THERE WAS A FLOW OF RUNOFF INTO THE SURF ZONE,

THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE SWIMMING IN THOSE AREAS

DEFINITELY EXPERIENCED HIGHER INCIDENCES OF ILLNESSES.

THE POLLUTANTS IN THE WATER AFFECT SURFERS

BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY THE INDICATOR SPECIES WITH ALL THE POLLUTANTS.

WHEN WE'RE IN THE WATERS, WE'RE INGESTING IT THROUGH OUR SKIN,

IN OUR MOUTH.

EVEN IF PEOPLE DON'T TAKE A SWALLOW OF WATER,

IT'S STILL GETTING INTO OUR SYSTEMS--

OUR EARS, ANY ORIFICE ON YOUR BODY.

AND IT CAUSES INFECTIONS; IT CAN CAUSE COLDS,

SORE THROATS, AT THE VERY LEAST.

Woman: I WOULDN'T WANT TO SWIM IN WATER THAT'S GOT THOSE DISEASES IN THERE,

YOU KNOW, JUST FLOATING AROUND MAKING MORE DISEASES.

Man: I'VE SEEN IT PRETTY MUCH AS BAD AS IT CAN BE.

I'VE SEEN CRAP FLOATING OUT IN THE WATER, LITERALLY.

GENERICALLY, WE CALL IT FECAL COLIFORM.

MORE SPECIFICALLY, YOU MIGHT KNOW OF IT AS E. COLI,

SALMONELLA, OR ENTEROCOCCUS.

WHATEVER'S IN POOP.

THERE'S TIMES WHEN IT TASTES FUNKY, FOR SURE.

Narrator: EVERY DAY, THE CITY AND COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

PERFORM A BATTERY OF TESTS TO KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED

ABOUT WATER QUALITY IN THE SANTA MONICA BAY.

CESAR ARZADON BEGINS THE MONITORING PROCESS EACH MORNING

BY TAKING A SERIES OF COASTLINE WATER SAMPLES.

THEN IT'S BACK TO THE LAB FOR ANALYSIS.

Man: MOST OF THE BACTERIA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE, IT COMES FROM FECES.

AND WHEN YOU PUT IT UNDER THE UV LIGHT,

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A DIFFERENT KIND OF COLOR.

IT'S A FLUORESCENT SIGN THAT THERE IS A BACTERIA,

AND IT'S CALLED E. COLI.

AND THAT ONE DEFINITELY IS FECES, UH, FROM ANIMALS,

OR IT COULD BE HUMANS, ALSO.

Narrator: THE RESULTS ARE REPORTED TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT,

AND BEACH WARNINGS ARE POSTED AS NECESSARY.

[SEALS HONKING]

Man: THE NUMBER OF BEACH POSTINGS HAS DECREASED,

AND 85% OF THE BEACHES THAT HAVE BEEN MONITORED IN CALIFORNIA

HAVE RECEIVED EITHER "A" OR "B" GRADES,

AND THAT'S SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN 4 YEARS AGO.

Narrator: BUT WHILE PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN CALIFORNIA,

THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF POLLUTED RUNOFF ARE

A GROWING CONCERN EVERYWHERE.

SO, WHAT CAN THE AVERAGE PERSON DO TO HELP REDUCE POLLUTION IN OUR WATERSHEDS?

Yamaguchi: HOW YOU APPLY PESTICIDES OR NOT IN YOUR GARDEN,

HOW YOU WASH YOUR CARS, UH, MAKING SURE

THAT YOU DON'T THROW CIGARETTE BUTTS OUT ONTO THE STREET.

DO NOT DUMP THINGS ON THE GROUND,

ESPECIALLY OILS OR ANY CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS.

PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOGS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.

AND JUST BE A CONSCIENTIOUS CITIZEN AND DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING ON THE GROUND.

Dojiri: I THINK ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

AND NEEDS TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

IF NOT YOU, WHO?

Narrator: COMING UP...

Man: WE'RE HEADING FOR WHAT'S KNOWN AS AN ECOSYSTEM COLLAPSE.

Narrator: CAN THE GULF OF MEXICO BE SAVED FROM POLLUTED RUNOFF?

Narrator: IT WAS A FLOOD OF APOCALYPTIC SCALE:

26,000 SQUARE MILES OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY

INUNDATED BY WATER, MORE THAN 200 LIVES LOST,

AND 600,000 PEOPLE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES.

THE FLOOD OF 1927 WAS THE MOST DISASTROUS IN U.S. HISTORY,

AND ITS EFFECTS ARE STILL FELT TODAY.

AFTER THE FLOOD OF '27, MASSIVE LEVEES WERE PUT IN PLACE.

AND WHILE THEY HELPED PROTECT THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN FROM FLOODING,

THE LEVEES AND OTHER HUMAN ACTIVITIES

WOULD ULTIMATELY HARM THE WATERSHED IN UNFORESEEN WAYS.

THE GULF STATE OF LOUISIANA IS

THE TERMINUS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER--

THE MIGHTY WATERSHED THAT DRAINS 41% OF THE AREA

OF THE LOWER 48 STATES INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO.

Man: WE RECEIVE WATER FROM AS FAR AWAY AS MONTANA,

FROM MICHIGAN, TO PENNSYLVANIA, OHIO, IOWA.

ALL THOSE WATERS DRAIN RIGHT PAST THIS AREA RIGHT HERE.

Narrator: BUT BY THE TIME ALL THAT WATER ENTERS THE GULF,

IT HAS ACCUMULATED ENOUGH CONTAMINANTS FROM POLLUTED RUNOFF

TO CREATE AN ENORMOUS "HYPOXIC ZONE"--

AN AREA OF WATER LACKING IN VITAL OXYGEN.

Rabalais: THE SIZE OF THE LOW-OXYGEN ZONE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO IS

ABOUT 9,000 SQUARE MILES.

THAT'S EQUAL TO THE SIZE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

Narrator: THE SHORTAGE OF OXYGEN IS KILLING FISH AND OTHER SEA LIFE

AND COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON THE REGIONAL ECONOMY.

Twilley: WE ARE THE LARGEST NAVIGATION PORT IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE ARE THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE WORLD.

WE HAVE THE LARGEST FISHERY IN THIS COUNTRY.

Woman: WHEN WE WAS CRABBIN', A LOT OF TIMES ALL OUR CRABS WOULD BE DEAD,

AND WE CAN'T EVEN SELL THEM.

THE REASON HYPOXIA SHOULD BE OF CONCERN TO MOST CITIZENS IN THIS NATION IS

BECAUSE IT'S A SIGN.

IT'S A SIGN OF THE DEGRADATION OF OUR WATER RESOURCES.

WE'RE HEADING FOR WHAT'S KNOWN AS AN ECOSYSTEM COLLAPSE.

IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE AN ECOLOGICAL DISASTER CAUSED

BY THE OFFSHORE HYPOXIC AREAS,

THEN THAT ABSOLUTELY TRANSLATES INTO AN ECONOMIC DISASTER.

Narrator: SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS CAUSING THIS DEAD ZONE IN THE GULF?

HYPOXIA DEVELOPS WHEN AN AREA OF WATER RECEIVES

EXCESS POLLUTANTS--PRIMARILY AN OVERABUNDANCE OF NUTRIENTS

WHICH PRODUCE LARGE ALGAE BLOOMS THAT DIE OFF AND LEAD TO LOW OXYGEN.

AND SINCE THE MISSISSIPPI GETS FED BY TRIBUTARIES

THAT FLOW THROUGH 31 STATES,

THAT ADDS UP TO A STAGGERING VOLUME OF CONTAMINATED RUNOFF.

YOU HAVE DRAINAGE INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO FROM THE OHIO RIVER,

THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, AND THE MISSOURI RIVER.

YET EACH OF THOSE 3 MAJOR RIVER SYSTEMS ARE WATERSHEDS IN AND OF THEMSELVES

WITH THEIR OWN CHALLENGES AND THEIR OWN PROBLEMS.

Rabalais: THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAS ALWAYS DELIVERED

A LOT OF WATER, AND THAT HASN'T CHANGED OVER THE CENTURIES.

WHAT'S CHANGED IS THE AMOUNT OF NUTRIENTS IN THAT WATER.

Narrator: IN FACT, THE MISSISSIPPI'S NITROGEN LEVELS IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER

HAVE TRIPLED SINCE THE 1950s--

AND THE GROWING HYPOXIC ZONE OFF THE LOUISIANA COAST CONTAINS

THE DISTURBING EVIDENCE.

Man: IT'S LIKE A RUSTY COLOR, STINKY, ROTTEN-LOOKIN'.

YOU SEE FISH JUST SWIMMIN' SIDEWAYS, GASPING FOR AIR AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND, UH, WHEN YOU PULL UP THE NETS,

NOT ONE SHRIMP ALIVE, ALL DEAD, ORANGE.

THE, UH, FISH, THEY'RE ROTTEN,

LIKE MELTIN' AWAY AND STUFF LIKE THAT, CAN'T BREATHE AND STUFF.

AND IT'S JUST ROTTEN.

THIS IS JUST A FACT OF LIFE,

THE WAY WE TREAT OUR WATER SYSTEMS,

BECAUSE WE USE THEM AS OUR GARBAGE DUMPS.

WE USE THEM TO DILUTE OUR POLLUTANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT,

AND IT FLOWS DOWNSTREAM.

I BELIEVE THE STATISTIC IS THAT IF YOU'RE IN NEW ORLEANS,

THE WATER THAT IS GOING BY YOU HAS PASSED THROUGH HUMAN GUTS

SOMETHING LIKE 3 OR 4 TIMES BEFORE IT GETS TO YOU.

Narrator: INCREDIBLY, LOUISIANA BOASTS A NATURAL RESOURCE

THAT REMOVES POLLUTANTS FROM THE DRAINING MISSISSIPPI: THE ONCE ABUNDANT WETLANDS.

Braun: PLANTS THAT GROW IN WETLANDS PRODUCE

THESE WONDERFUL FILTERS FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS COMING INTO THEM.

THEY TRAP SEDIMENT, THEY TRAP CHEMICALS.

AND WHAT LEAVES THE WETLANDS IS MUCH, MUCH CLEANER WATER.

Narrator: WETLANDS ALSO PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT HABITAT

FOR BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE.

SADLY, THE LOUISIANA WETLANDS ARE QUICKLY DISAPPEARING.

Twilley: COASTAL LOUISIANA HAS LOST ABOUT 1.2 MILLION ACRES

OF WETLANDS IN THE LAST 100 YEARS.

WHEN WE LEVEED OFF THE MISSISSIPPI,

IT CUT OFF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WATER FROM THE MARSHES.

Narrator: IN ADDITION TO THE LEVEES,

A NETWORK OF MAN-MADE NAVIGATION CHANNELS IS ALSO COMPROMISING THE WETLANDS

BY ALLOWING SALTWATER TO SEEP INTO THE MARSHES.

St. Pe: ONCE THAT SALTWATER TRAVELS UP THESE CHANNELS

AND OVERFLOWS THE BANKS OF THESE CHANNELS

OUT INTO FRESHWATER SYSTEMS, SUCH AS THIS CYPRESS SWAMP,

UH, THAT SALTWATER SITS OUT THERE AROUND THE ROOTS OF THESE TREES AND KILLS THEM.

THEY CANNOT SURVIVE SALTWATER; THEY'RE FRESHWATER PLANTS.

Narrator: ELIMINATING THE HYPOXIC ZONE WILL TAKE MORE THAN SAVING OUR WETLANDS.

REDUCING NUTRIENT RUNOFF IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WATERSHED

IS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM.

IT'S AN ISSUE INVOLVING OVER HALF THE STATES IN THE NATION

AND A VAST ARRAY OF INDUSTRIES-- PARTICULARLY FARMING,

WHICH USES NITROGEN-RICH FERTILIZER TO GROW ITS CROPS.

FERTILIZERS ARE HELPING THE UNITED STATES PRODUCE THE FOOD FOR THE WORLD,

BUT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS OVERUSE.

Rabalais: THERE ARE SCIENTISTS WHO HAVE DONE THE ANALYSES

AND PREDICT THAT YOU COULD REDUCE FERTILIZERS

BY ABOUT 12% WITHOUT REDUCING CROP PRODUCTION

AND SEE A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF NITROGEN GOING INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

Narrator: EXPERTS SAY THE FIRST KEY TO CHANGING BEHAVIOR IS

RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS.

Rabalais: WE ALL LIVE DOWNSTREAM OF SOMEBODY,

AND WE ALL LIVE UPSTREAM OF SOMEBODY.

SO WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE DOES IN THEIR WATERSHED AFFECTS

THE WATER THAT I RECEIVE, AND WHAT I DO IN MY WATERSHED AFFECTS THE WATER

THAT SOMEBODY ELSE RECEIVES DOWNSTREAM.

Narrator: IF WE DON'T CLEAN UP OUR ACT, OUR WATER RESOURCES,

WHICH WE SIMPLY CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT, WILL BE RUINED.

COMING UP...

CAN THE WATER SUPPLY FOR 9 MILLION NEW YORKERS

BE SAVED FROM THE RAVAGES OF POLLUTED RUNOFF?

Narrator: IN JANUARY OF 1996,

ONE OF THE MOST DEVASTATING WINTER STORMS IN HISTORY

SLAMS THE EAST COAST.

2 FEET OF SNOW DUMPS ON NEW YORK

AND THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR.

SCHOOLS, AIRPORTS, AND ROADS ARE SHUT DOWN.

BY THE TIME IT'S OVER, THE BLIZZARD AND RESULTANT FLOODING

CAUSE $3 BILLION IN LOSSES, AND 187 LIVES ARE TAKEN.

AND IN THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS OF UPSTATE NEW YORK,

THE SNOWMELT TRIGGERS ANOTHER POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING CRISIS.

STORMWATER RUNOFF CONTAMINATED WITH TRASH, DIRT, FERTILIZERS,

AND PESTICIDES FROM NEARBY FARMS AND COMMUNITIES THREATENS

THE FRESHWATER SUPPLY.

AND THE CATSKILL SYSTEM OF RESERVOIRS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT,

FOR IT IS THE BIGGEST WATERSHED OF NEW YORK CITY,

PROVIDING DRINKING WATER TO OVER 9 MILLION PEOPLE.

Man: THE MIRACLE OF THIS CITY'S WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

IS LARGELY UNKNOWN TO MOST NEW YORKERS.

YOU ASK PEOPLE, "WHERE DOES THE WATER COME FROM?"

OFTEN PEOPLE SHRUG THEIR SHOULDERS AND SAY, "NEW JERSEY."

I FIGURED THAT WE WERE PROBABLY OUR OWN SEPARATE WATER SYSTEM

THAN FROM UPSTATE.

I'D RATHER BE DRINKING WATER FROM UPSTATE THAN THE HUDSON RIVER.

I DON'T KNOW THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF HOW LARGE THE PROBLEM IS

AND HOW CLOSE TO CRISIS MANY OF OUR WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS ARE.

Narrator: TO PRESERVE THE PURITY OF THE RESERVOIRS AND ENFORCE THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT,

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESENTED THE BIG APPLE

WITH 2 OPTIONS: EITHER BUILD AND MAINTAIN A $6 BILLION FACILITY

TO FILTER ALL OF THE CITY'S TAP WATER

OR FUND A $1 BILLION PROGRAM TO PROTECT THE WATERSHED FROM POLLUTED RUNOFF.

Man: WHEN IT COMES TO OUR INVESTMENT IN CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER,

PRESERVING OPEN SPACE, FIXING ANTIQUATED SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS,

WE CAN'T WAIT.

IT DOESN'T GET ANY LESS EXPENSIVE; IT GETS MORE EXPENSIVE.

Narrator: WITH THE HISTORIC WATERSHED AGREEMENT OF 1997,

AN UNPRECEDENTED UPSTATE-DOWNSTATE PARTNERSHIP

WAS FORGED TO PROTECT THE NEW YORK CITY WATER SUPPLY.

THE WATERSHED AGREEMENT IS SAVING NEW YORK CITY

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

Narrator: THE PLAN INCLUDES PURCHASING AND PRESERVING

355,000 ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED WATERSHED LAND,

THE UPGRADING OF SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS,

AND THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF STREAM CORRIDORS.

Man: WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS A MAIN TRIBUTARY, THE ESOPUS CREEK.

DURING FLOODING, WE WERE SEEING A LOT OF SEDIMENT

COMING OUT OF THE STREAM.

THE CLAY GETS INTO THE WATER COLUMN, AND IT BECOMES VERY TURBID.

AND THEN IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TREAT AND CLEAN THAT WATER.

SO, FROM A WATER QUALITY PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT EROSION.

Narrator: THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING FOR FARMERS

THAT IMPLEMENT AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.

Ward: WELL, HAVE A VERY EXCITING PROGRAM

WITH THE WATERSHED AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL

WHERE WE ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL FARMERS.

WE LOOK AT HOW THEY'RE HANDLING THE ANIMALS SO THAT THE RUNOFF

ASSOCIATED WITH MANURE, FERTILIZER, AND THAT FARM ACTIVITY ISN'T GETTING

INTO THE STREAMS AROUND OUR RESERVOIRS.

THIS WATER HERE IS BASICALLY THE WATER YOU'RE GOING TO BE DRINKING DOWN IN THE CITY.

AND, UH, I FEEL I'VE GOT A RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY

MY BEST TO KEEP IT CLEAN FOR WHEN IT GETS DOWN THERE.

IT USED TO BE WHEN IT RAINED HERE ON THE FARM,

THE WATER THAT RAN AWAY FROM THE BACK OF THE BARN HERE

WAS FULL OF MUD, MANURE, AND IT WOULD JUST RUN BROWN

AND RIGHT INTO THE STREAM.

2 YEARS AGO, WE'D SPREAD EVERY DAY.

UH, WE'D HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT, SPREAD IT ON THE FIELDS,

IF THE SNOW WAS DEEP, WE'D SPREAD IT ON THE SNOW.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, IF THE GROUND WAS FROZEN WHEN THE SNOW MELTED,

THE NUTRIENT VALUE OF IT FOR FERTILIZER WAS GONE,

AND IT WOUND UP DOWN IN THE RESERVOIR.

Narrator: WITH NEW YORK CITY FUNDING, A SECURE, ABOVE-GROUND,

STEEL TANK THAT CAN HOLD 400,000 GALLONS OF MANURE

WAS INSTALLED ON THE MEADOWBROOK FARM.

Johnson: THAT'S ENOUGH STORAGE FOR 6 MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

NOW WE CAN STORE IT,

SPREAD IT WHEN IT'LL DO THE MOST GOOD TO US

FOR FERTILIZER, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO SPREAD IT EVERY DAY.

Man: I WORKED WITH TIM ON THE PLAN TO DEVELOP

THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'RE GOING TO MAKE.

THE PLAN REALLY BELONGS TO THE FARMER.

AND IT'S A COLLABORATION OF THEIR IDEAS

AND WHAT TECHNICAL ADVICE WE CAN BRING TO THE PROGRAM.

BUT THE FARMER MAKES THE DECISION.

Narrator: IT'S A PROGRAM THAT SEEMS TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY.

HERE'S TO THE FARMERS WHO ARE WORKING SO HARD TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT

CLEAN WATER TO PUT IN OUR COFFEE.

Narrator: TO GUARANTEE THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY IS

FRESH AT THE TAP, COMPREHENSIVE TESTS ARE PERFORMED

BY THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION--

BOTH IN THE LAB AND AT OVER 1,000 SAMPLING STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

Man: NEW YORK CITY HAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE

WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAMS IN THE NATION, IF NOT THE WORLD.

WE'RE SAMPLING EVERY DAY. 365 DAYS A YEAR.

I'VE BEEN DRINKING THIS WATER FOR 53 YEARS.

NOTHING ELSE.

BEST WATER IN THE WORLD. NEW YORK CITY.

STRAIGHT FROM THE TAP TO MY LIPS.

Narrator: COMING UP...

THE FUTURE OF OUR WATER SUPPLY REMAINS AT RISK,

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING EVERYONE CAN DO TO HELP PROTECT IT.

FIND OUT HOW NEXT.

Narrator: TO KEEP OUR WATERSHEDS FREE OF POLLUTANTS WILL REQUIRE

THE ACTIONS OF EVERY CITIZEN, COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS.

Mehan: PAVED CONCRETE SURFACES, ASPHALT, PARKING LOTS,

SIDEWALKS...

THE QUESTION IS DO WE NEED TO HAVE AS MANY AS WE DO?

BECAUSE TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU HAVE TOO MUCH IMPERVIOUS SURFACE,

THE WATER IS NOT RETAINED ON SITE.

IT DOESN'T SOAK INTO THE GROUND;

IT RUNS OFF, PICKS UP SPEED, CARRIES POLLUTANTS

AND CONTAMINANTS INTO THE WATER BODY.

Narrator: ONE STRATEGY FOR PREVENTING STORMWATER RUNOFF IS OCCURRING

AT THE NEW FORD ROUGE CENTER IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN.

THIS REMODELED TRUCK PLANT IS COVERED BY A GREEN ROOF

THE SIZE OF 8 FOOTBALL FIELDS.

PLANTED WITH A POROUS GROUND COVER, IT REDUCES

THE AMOUNT OF POLLUTED RUNOFF RELEASED INTO THE WATERSHED.

THE THING THAT TENDS TO GET THE MOST ATTENTION IS

THE 10-ACRE GREEN ROOF,

BUT THAT'S REALLY JUST PART OF A PHILOSOPHY THAT IF AN AREA

DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PAVED OR BUILT UPON

IT'S GOING TO BE GREEN SPACE.

Narrator: AND COMMUNITIES ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTING GREEN SPACE STRATEGIES,

SUCH AS RAIN GARDENS.

THEY SLOPED THE LOT IN SUCH A MANNER

THAT ALL THE FLOW GOES TOWARDS THIS LANDSCAPING,

WHERE, BASICALLY, THE POLLUTED RUNOFF CAN PERCOLATE

INTO THE GROUND AND GET FILTERED RATHER THAN GOING STRAIGHT

ONTO THE STREET INTO THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.

AND REALLY A VERY SIMPLE APPROACH TO CLEANING UP OUR RUNOFF IN URBAN AREAS.

Narrator: BUT PERHAPS THE MOST POWERFUL COURSE OF ACTION IS INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION.

Mehan: PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

FOR THE STATE OF OUR WATERS, AND WATER CONSERVATION IS ONE AREA

WHERE THEY CAN DO THAT AS A COMMITTED CITIZEN.

ALL THOSE THINGS YOUR MOM TOLD YOU: TAKE A SHORT SHOWER,

DON'T LET THE WATER TAP RUN WHILE YOU'RE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH.

Yamaguchi: TAKING YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE

TO A CLEANUP AND RECYCLING DAY.

DON'T WASH YOUR CAR ON THE STREETS AND PUT ALL THOSE SUDS

DOWN INTO THE DRAIN.

Gold: WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR USED MOTOR OIL,

YOU DON'T DUMP IT INTO THE STREET.

EVERYBODY'S GOTTA CLEAN UP AFTER THEIR PETS.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S A BIG CONCERN.

FERTILIZERS, HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES--

MAKE SURE YOU DON'T USE THEM ANY TIME THERE'S ANY CHANCE OF RAIN

COMING UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

WHEN YOU'RE IRRIGATING YOUR LAWN AND YOUR GARDEN,

MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT OVER-SPRAYING

AND CAUSING ALL THOSE CHEMICALS

TO END UP GETTING INTO THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.

THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IS

IF EVERYBODY DOES THEIR PART.

Narrator: WE ALL LIVE IN A WATERSHED;

WE ALL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT;

AND WE MUST ALL PLAY A ROLE IN THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION

OF OUR VALUABLE WATER RESOURCES.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

AND TO GET A FREE BROCHURE CALLED "AFTER THE STORM," VISIT: