Demand assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Demand assessment - Essay Example There are various options for controlling diffuse pollution which are listed and discussed in the following sections. Soil and water pollution is a common feature of population growth which is brought about by industrialization, development in agriculture, and exploitation of natural resources. Man-made chemicals, pest control, discharge from agricultural activities; and chemical waste products from industries all contribute towards pollution. Diffuse pollution is a form of pollution which results from long term contamination from urban or rural human activities. Diffuse pollution originates from different sources. In rural areas diffuse pollution has a different context when compared to urban diffuse pollution. Rural diffuse pollution problems arise from poaching livestock, spraying of chemicals, the use of fertilisers in farming, soil erosion due to extensive forestry etc. These problems can be controlled by using the following options: Nitrogen and phosphorus are harmful chemicals which lost from the soil seep into groundwater and surface waters, and pollute them. Agro chemicals impact the ecology of river waters and drinking water through mere 0.1ÃŽ ¼g/1 (Defra 2009) Experts (DArcy 2004; Halm and Grathwohl 2005) are of the view that diffuse pollution control strategies should either reduce or restrict polluting substances. These can be achieved by adopting combination strategies to improve the environment. Intervention should be based on the following hierarchy of preferred control measures: The most preferred control option(s) for diffuse pollution should fall into the three broad categories of drainage infrastructure, containment or behavioural change. From the above listed diffuse pollution control options, the author recommends the following for each problem: i. Pollution from livestock - fencing of livestock is a viable option as it would help contain cattle heads