integrate the individual policies into one international policy document.

What did solution did you write about for part 1:

Mexico: Build more reservoirs and infrastructure

Italy:

Ukraine

Outline

Introduction:

Water treatment:

Types of treatment for each country’s problems

short explanation of how treatment methods work

advantages and drawbacks

Water policies:

Standards for drinking water

limits on point and nonpoint sources of pollution

advantages, drawbacks for each country

use the united states safe drinking water act as an example

highlight how the policy sets standards for everyone(water equity)

Conclusion:

summarize

highlight synergy between the above two sections(ex. reduced pollutants = less water

treatment required)

Key points from assignment sheet:

“develop an international policy that could theoretically be implemented to ​help

secure equitable​ access to water in all your countries”

“this includes listing 1) chosen water issue, 2) proposed solution, and 3) potential

positives and/or challenges of solution.”

Assignment #3, Part 2

The three countries that this proposal is intended for all have strong differences in

water usage, climate and demand. In order to solve the issues that are faced, a broad policy

composed of two components is necessary. First is the application of water treatment

facilities in order to increase both water quality and quantity. Second, the introduction of

government policies in order to reduce water contamination and set standards for safe

drinking water. By utilizing both of these measures the countries will be able to supply their

citizens with sufficient water that is safe for consumption. Within these broad areas countries

will have their own specific implementations, for example Mexico deals with more

agricultural runoff while Ukraine has more industrial pollutants. These will require different

treatment methods and policy choices.

Construction of new water treatment plants or the improvement of existing facilities

will be able to address the issues of the three countries. The many methods of water

purification offer options for targeting specific contaminates and choices for various budgets.

The threats to the countries are organic substances from agricultural runoff in Mexico and

industrial pollutants in Italy and Ukraine such as ​polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). For

dealing with chemicals from industrial sources the proposed options are carbon filters and

reverse osmosis systems. Carbon filters utilize activated carbon which has been process to

have great surface area allowing for it to absorb pollutants. Reverse osmosis forces water

through a membrane with pores sized for water molecules. Carbon filters provide a relatively

low cost solution, though not as effective as reverse osmosis which can remove nearly all

contaminates. Reverse osmosis while effective is expensive, require frequent filter changes

and produces wastewater containing concentrated contaminates. Between these two filtration

devices the choice should be based on the levels of pollution, if carbon filters are sufficient

then they should be deployed, reverse osmosis otherwise. For water supplies with agricultural

contaminates the suggested treatment option is slow sand filtration. In this mode of filtration

large beds of fine sand able to remove organic substances. The sand beds when saturated with

water allow for the growth of organisms that consume the undesired material as the water

trickles through. These filters are cheap, simple to operate and can operate without electricity.

The issues with this system are its large land usage and slow filter rate. Slow sand filters are

suitable for improving Mexico’s water supply due to the country having a lower population

density and greater land availability. Through the application of these technologies safe water

can be provided to all citizens.