{"id":990,"date":"2021-08-09T04:57:36","date_gmt":"2021-08-09T11:57:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coral.org\/?page_id=990"},"modified":"2024-06-25T04:10:12","modified_gmt":"2024-06-25T11:10:12","slug":"clean-water-for-reefs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/what-we-do\/local-engagement\/clean-water-for-reefs\/","title":{"rendered":"Clean Water for Reefs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Clean water is vital for coral reefs and humans. Around the world, wastewater and polluted runoff cause severe damage to coral reefs, pose risks to human health, and threaten the tourism industry.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Challenge<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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\"Honolua,
Photo credit: Renee Capozzola<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Land-based sources of pollution can easily\u2014and often invisibly\u2014harm coral reefs.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Directly discharged sewage and inadequately treated wastewater from cesspools and septic tanks carry high levels of nutrients, bacteria, chemicals, and pathogens into the marine environment. Activities like farming, logging, road construction, animal husbandry, and mining can produce pollutants such as sediments, fertilizers, and pesticides that run into the ocean when it rains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An overabundance of either nutrients or sediment upsets coral reef ecosystems, promoting the growth of excess algae and bacteria and blocking the sunlight reefs need to survive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Our Solution<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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We utilize science-based conservation strategies to ensure coral reefs have the clean water they need and to protect our coastal environments for people and wildlife:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
  1. We scientifically monitor water quality<\/strong> to understand the nature of the problem (e.g., its source and magnitude) and identify solutions.<\/li>
  2. We build and update sustainable wastewater treatment infrastructure<\/strong> by collaborating with governments and communities.<\/li>
  3. We educate community members, local governments, and the tourism industry<\/strong> about the detrimental effects of poor water quality on human health, and coral reefs.<\/li>
  4. We reduce sediment and nutrient delivery<\/strong> to coastal waters by motivating shoreline property owners to employ reef-friendly best practices.<\/li>
  5. We restore and reforest streams and watersheds<\/strong> to create healthy landscapes that capture and stabilize nutrients and sediments before they reach the ocean.<\/li><\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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