These include agriculture and food-processing, golf courses, resorts, and commercial and residential developments.
Water is the most vital of our resources.
Lake Baikal in Siberia. The use of fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemical agents designed to enhance or control the growth of plants and other organisms has produced both benefits and potentially hazardous consequences. Chemical use can be expensive, generally must be repeated regularly, and is increasing seen in a negative light by the general public - because it is perceived as the source of much of the water pollution problem. This is particularly the case in golf course and resort developments, because of regulatory pressures and environmental concerns. Effluent water is generally higher in nutrients which encourage the growth of algae and bacteria, and may itself contain pathogenic organisms.