Pollution in Aliso Viejo, CA, Research Paper Example

Part one: examination of one community’s environment

Aliso Viejo is the newest city in Orange County and was incorporated in 2001. This is the 34^th city in the county and spreads over an area of 7 square miles with Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods, Laguna Hills and Laguna Niguel as its boarders. Prior to incorporation this was an area completely planned under Mission Viejo Company. Air quality in Aliso Viejo is 4 in a scale of 100 while that of water quality is 64 in a scale of 100 (Sperlings). This paper tries to identify the common environmental issues in Aliso Viejo and to analyse environmental policies and its importance.

Air pollution

One of the biggest environmental issues faced by this area is the emission of greenhouse gases. According to various reports CO2 concentration has increased by almost 30% after industrial revolution. CH4 concentration have doubled with NOx concentration increased by 15%. According to the National Park Service this increase in emission is caused by fossil fuel combustion for energy, heating and transportation.

Such change in climate can lead to spread of pest vectors, disease and can endanger valuable ecosystem and species. Such climate change is likely to threaten the coastal infrastructure, increase number of wild fire, water shortage and serious health issues to public. Main pollutants of air in this area are carbon monoxide, lead, ozone, sulphar dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. According to reports air pollution in this area is reducing over years (Usa.com).

It is found that ozone and particulate matters are the only factors causing pollution in this area and that too only by moderate level between an AQI of (51-100). All other pollutants have an AQI below 50 which is good percentage (Usa.com).

Change in climate also threatens the life of people as it affects their health and wellbeing by causing severe change in environment like extreme hot and cold conditions, declining the quality of air, increasing allergic plant pollen and fostering the spread of vector and communicable borne diseases. It also affects the basic life of human life as it affects food, water, shelter and security. Those suffering from chronic lung and heart disease, infants and elderly are at higher risk along with those having mental disabilities (Sperling).

Water pollution

As there is no water area in Aliso Viejo region, water in this region is not directly polluted by daily activities. But at the same time various factors like temperature changes and other activities affect the water quality in this area. Main issue is likely to occur with the supply of water from Sierra snowpack which will be reduced. This will increase the vapor transpiration rate from open water sources, plants and soil (Sperling).

Construction activities are one of the major factor causing pollution of water in Aliso Viejo. Pollutants like metals, trash, vehicle fluids and solvents along with nutrients, pesticides and bacteria from activities of land scaping associated with construction activities cause water pollution. Sediments that are washed from construction sites cause severe and major pollution to water source when it enters such sources. It carries several other pollutants and pesticides along with it. Such pollutants include cement wash, cleaning solvents, car fluids, asphalt, fuel, motor oil and grease(City of Aliso Viejo).

Water pollution resulting from mixing up of water with sediment, chemicals, construction debris, litter and paint leads to contamination of water. Urban runoff has affected the quality of water in the area badly. Excessive use of water for cleaning (vehicles and household) and irrigation carries trash, oil, pesticides, vegetation and bacteria along with it to the storm drain system. Further urbanization has also resulted in gardening and landscaping activities, which also polluted the water in the area. Soil, garden chemicals, pesticides, yard wastes and over watering are the cause of such pollution. They enter the gutters, streets and storm drain and enter the local creeks polluting water. Grass clippings, leaves and tree trimmings that are blown to gutters and streets are also causing pollution of creeks. Catch basins are clogged by these particles increasing the risk of flooding of streets (Usa.com).

Pet waste is another pollutant which wash into storm drains during rain from the sidewalks, beaches, lawns and trails where they are left, and enters the creeks and ocean directly, leading to pollution. Pet waste also needs high level of oxygen to decompose and hence dissolve large amount of oxygen available in water which is necessary for fish to survive. Further pet waste also has bacteria which might cause illness to life in ocean.As urban runoff is directed (without being treated) to Aliso Creek, Wood Canyon Creek and eventually in to Pacific Ocean, this has polluted all these water sources by a high degree. US Environmental Protection Agency has considered urban runoff as the second largest cause of water.

Hazardous and other wastes

Hazardous waste is another major threat faced by Aliso Viejo. Items like paint, oil, e-wastes etc. are hazardous to life in the area and need to be disposed properly. Paint from construction sites and households of not disposed properly will mix with water and contaminate it. It will also contaminate the air by spreading poisonous gas emitted from diffusion. Oil if not disposed properly will damage water quality and vegetation by entering soil. Most people do not know how to dispose such waste properly and in most cases hazardous waste is mixed with other wastes which makes it difficult for people to differentiate. Usually this is thrown away with regular home garbage (Cr &R).

Hazardous waste disposed from household are solvents, used motor oil, wood preservatives, pool chemicals, pesticides, old road flares, empty containers and cans, latex paints and cleaning products.

Most residents are not aware of the fact that damages radio, TV sets, mobile phones, computers etc. can cause more damage. Mercury contained in these materials will enter water and soil and is very harmful to health if consumed. Another waste is medical waste and waste of fluorescent bulbs (Dispose Hazardous Waste).

Refrigerators, air coolers and conditioners and television contain lead in large quantity which is also hazardous and must not be left carelessly. They will emit greenhouse gases which are highly toxic and can damage the whole environment leading to ozone depletion. Aliso Viejo has a hazardous waste collection centre to collect such waste where wastes are collected as separate category and will be disposed properly (OC Waste and Recycling).

Conclusion

Thus it is found that the biggest environmental issue faced by Aliso Viejo is that of air pollution, though both water and hazardous wastes also contribute to this. Authorities have been able to reduce pollution in the area by great extent and they have emerged to be far more successful in this than near counties, but still need to take more effort to sort out the problems caused by urbanisation, polluting water, air and soil by releasing hazardous waste. Environmental pollution in Aliso Viejo is heavily due to urbanisation and can be reduced to a high extent if people in the county put their effort to avoid pollution.

Part two:  first principles in environmental policy

Theories on environment by Singer, Leopold, Rolston and Hardin necessitate attention to environment, but each of them find various reasons behind depletion of resources. Singer is of the opinion that it is important to care for environment as all are “part of the same creation with the same intrinsic value” (Singer). Headvocates for equal consideration of interest of all creations and says that human beings are mere care takers of property. He is of the opinion that all creations are to be preserved for they are of intrinsic value.

Leopold at the same time feels that it is wrong to see the world in terms of “economic worth of human beings” (Leopold). Hence he says that environment is to be preserved to maintain its stability, integrity and beauty.

Rolston says that it is the moral duty of human beings to protect species (Rolston).

At the same time Hardin finds free access and un restricted demand as the cause for depletion of resources (Hardin).

It can be seen that all of them are of the opinion that environment is to be preserved, though each find different reasons or methods for that. But most convincing among all these views is that of Singer who finds equal interest for all creation in the environment.

Hardin

Though the opinion of Hardin that free access with an unlimited demand (Hardin) is one reason behind depletion of environment and resources, it is not possible to protect resources by placing restrictions or by limiting demand. One reason is that those individuals who are interested in such resources will find a way or another to use it. It cannot be said that the depletion of resources is the ‘tragedy of commons’ (Hardin), because it is the common people who come up with solutions in most cases. If a collective restraint is placed on use of resources, it will also effect individual interest.

At the same time his view can be applied to environmental issues like sustainability. It is the collective effort of commons that leads to sustainability and the role of individual in this is limited. His view is acceptable when issue of water, forests, non-renewable energy sources and air is concerned. This is because commons can donate to this by a great extent.

Rolston

Rolston finds it as the moral duty of individuals to protect environment (Rolston). Though it is the duty of individuals not to destroy resources, there is no moral duty for humans not to destroy any resources. He is of the opinion that earth and its resources is a holistic and unified entity with an ethical worth which no species is of any particular significance. Every animal including human beings try to survive and to defend their lives. If they continue to think of moral values and ethics it won’t be possible to survive in this environment.

The concept can be considered true to the extent that human beings are using natural resources not only for survival, but to satisfy their needs which are far beyond what is necessary for survival. There is a moral duty for humans to use nature and its sources only to that extent which is necessary for their survival. Thus the idea put forward by Rolston is acceptable only partially and to certain extent and cannot be accepted as it is.

Leopold

He proposed the idea of ‘land ethic’ where by everything is seen in terms of economic worth (Leopold). But this cannot be accepted because not all resources are used by humans on the basis of economic worth like using water. Water is not always used with any economic intention. It is used for drinking and several other activities which have no economic worth. Likewise, many other species, other than human beings, also use resources for survival. Hence his theory of ‘land ethic’ solely based on economy is not acceptable.

Another issue with this theory is that it does not consider conservation of nature, which is the most important factor necessary for its preservation. His theory is solely connected to economic worth and at times some resources of economy are used for the preservation of another and here there is no economic worth.  At times it is necessary for human beings to make use of environment on economic basis for their survival which cannot be considered bad. This is while making use of woods for building shelter, cutting wood to prepare agricultural land or for fuel etc.

Singer

Singer’s theory was found to be most appropriate in present situation because he considers all the creations as of equal value (Singer). This is true because it is not possible for one to exist without any other creation and each creation in this world coexist in such a way to support each other and the whole environment itself. Though he advocates equal consideration of interest he is not of the opinion that equal treatment of interests. This is not possible in today’s economy where interest of human beings is more than that of other animals, yet it is important to consider the interest of other species. This is because not all animals on this plant have the same interest in all resources. This approach helps to give privilege to those who are more in need of resources.

According to him interest of each living being is to be weighed according to their properties and demands. Thus taking the life of another being is not weight equally but according to the goal for which such an act was performed (Des Jardins). It can be viewed that this is more similar to the policy of ‘survival of fittest’, but does not advocate utilization of resources to an extent where others will have to suffer from the act of one living being. Thus according to this theory resources will be used in a way necessary for one living being, but not more than necessary or in a way likely to hurt others. Thus he considers needs of individual living beings as most important and all of them are treated equally.

Thus it is this principle that is to be applied in today’s environment and this will help to protect our environment.

References

CityofAlisoViejo. Best Management Practices for Construction Sites & Home Remodeling Projects. 2013. 5 February 2014 <http://www.cityofalisoviejo.com/Portals/0/Construction%20BMPs%20Pamphlet%20-%20English-1.pdf>.

Cr&R. City of Aliso Viejo. Hazardous waste. 2014. 5 February 2014 <http://ww2.crrwasteservices.com/cities/Aliso_Viejo/residents/>.

Des Jardins, J, R. Environmental Ethics. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2012.

Disposehazardouswaste. Hazardous Waste Disposal in Aliso Viejo, CA. 2014. 6 February 2014 <http://www.disposehazardouswaste.com/california/hazardous-waste-disposal-in-aliso-viejo-ca/>.

Hardin, G. ” The Tragedy of the Unmanaged Commons.” Trends in Ecology & Evolution (1994): 199.

Hardin, G. “The tragedy of the commons.” Science (1968): 1243-1248.

Leopold, A. A Sand County Almanac. New York: Oxford University Press, 1949.

OCWasteandRecycling. How to use Orange County’s Hazardous Waste Collection Centers. 2014. 6 February 2014 <http://www.cityofalisoviejo.com/Portals/0/Documents/EnvironmentalCare/OC_Household_Hazardous_Waste_Collection_Centers.pdf>.

Rolston, H. Environmental ethics. Temple University Press, 2012.

Rolston, H. A New Environmental Ethics: The next millennium for life on earth. New York: Routledge Chapman & Hall, 2011.

Singer, P. Practical Ethics. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1993.

Sperlings. Health in Aliso Viejo. 2009. 6 February 2014 <http://www.bestplaces.net/health/city/california/aliso_viejo>.

Usa.com. Aliso Viejo, CA Air Quality. 2009. 6 February 2014 <http://www.usa.com/aliso-viejo-ca-air-quality.htm>.