In fact, man has thought of wetlands as wasted areas that breed mosquitoes and other pests while serving little purpose. They have been used as trash dumps or filled in for urban or agricultural development. Many wetlands have been incorporated into recreational areas. Often the wetlands are modified so that lake areas can be used for water sports such as swimming, fishing, and water skiing. Any animals living in these wetlands must then survive the oil and gas from the boats, sewage leaks from the resort waste treatment facilities, and other forms of pollution commonly resulting from mankind's presence.
Water purification is one of modern society's major uses for wetlands.
The chemicals that are left in the water after being processed by a sewage treatment plant are often channeled into a wetlands to be cleaned by the lily pads and other water plants. The water's chemicals are extracted by these plants thus helping nature return the water to a clean, clear condition. There is a limit, however, to the amount of chemicals that a plant can remove. Some of the wetlands are unable to keep up with the massive amount of pollution being dumped into the water. An increase in awareness of the value of wetlands has led scientists and the government to begin to protect these areas.