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Pollution that is discharged to the environment by a single permitted discharge
point. (Fact: Industry has really cleaned up their act since the EPA implemented its
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System under the Clean Water Act.)
Pollution that is discharged largely by run-off from the surface of the land to
a body of water. (Fact: The upper Houston Ship Channel is affected
by this type of pollution due largely to run-off from the greater Houston area.)
About half of Galveston Bay’s oyster population has been closed to harvest due to
this type of contamination. (Fact: Oysters continually filter water so are at a
high risk of picking up bacterial contamination from the water and are a good indicator of
water quality.)
Discarded litter, oil, and other items thrown in storm drains in the Houston
area are eventually transported here via runoff. (Fact: Storm drains do not lead
to a wastewater treatment plant but empty directly into area streams that lead here.)
Automobile exhausts contribute to this type of pollution. (Fact: Now
automobiles must be tested for unsafe air emissions during the annual inspection in an
effort to reduce harmful emissions.)
This type of water pollution is responsible for injuring and killing birds and
fish. (Fact: One quart of oil can pollute up to 250,000 gallons of water.)
Since the pesticide DDT was banned, this long-legged fish-eating bird has made a
drastic come-back! (Fact: DDT prevented the this bird's eggs from hardening which
in turn prevented them from hatching.)
Chemical releases to the ground can seep through many layers of soil and eventually
wind up polluting this. (Fact: Many old river beds exist under ground in our area.
These old beds have sandy layers that can allow contaminants to travel more quickly
through the soil.)
Smoke from the recent forest fires in Mexico could damage these human organs.
(Fact: These fires were started as controlled burns by farmers to increase crop
production, but got out of hand due to dry, windy conditions.)
One environmental catastrophe that occurred somewhere on the planet.
One type of non-point source pollution. (Fact: The general public is
largely responsible for this type of pollution.)
The U.S.E.P.A. stands for this. (Fact: The EPA was established in 1970
to protect the environment nationwide.)
The EPA has identified this type of pollution as the nation’s main cause of
water quality problems. (Fact: This type of pollution damages our aquatic
ecosystems in three ways- chemical contamination, biological constituents, and physical
degradation of land causing silt to run off into water bodies.)
This bottom dwelling bivalve is used as an indicator for water quality
contamination. (Fact: they filter water for food particles and in the process
pick up other contaminants present in the water.)
These two legislative Acts have been instrumental in reducing water and air
pollution. (Fact: The CAA was enacted in 1970 and the CWA came later in 1972.)
Our state environmental protection agency is the TNRCC. What do the letters
stand for? (Fact: Before the title change, the TNRCC was referred to as
the Texas Water Commission.)
When water pollutants settle to the bottom, they are incorporated here.
(Fact: Sediments act as a storage compartment for many contaminants and since many
organisms feed off the bottom, contaminated sediments can play a role in food web uptake
of pollutants.)
Pump-out stations at many marinas around the Bay collect this material from
boats for safe treatment and disposal. (Fact: If not managed properly, this type
of pollution causes localized low dissolved oxygen levels especially in marinas.)
Sea turtles often ingest this type of debris, mistaking them for jellyfish.
(Fact: Regardless of where sea turtles may travel (up to 2800 miles away) they will return
to their birth site to nest!)
Disease-causing microbes including viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms
that are harmful to humans. (Fact: Pathogens can be introduced into
Galveston Bay in many ways – two of the most common are through illicit sewage
connections and sewage illegally discharged from boats.)
One of the pollutants resulting from water-based recreational activities.
(Fact: Did you know that there are more than 9200 wet slips in the Galveston Bay system
– that’s a lot of boats!)
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