Water pollution and Idabel, Oklahoma: Difference between pages

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'''Idabel''' is a city in [[McCurtain County, Oklahoma|McCurtain County]], [[Oklahoma]], [[United States]]. The population was 6,952 at the 2000 census. It is the [[county seat]] of [[McCurtain County, Oklahoma|McCurtain County]]{{GR|6}}.

'''Water pollution''' has many sources and characteristics. Humans and other organisms produce bodily wastes which enter [[river]]s, [[lake]]s, [[ocean]]s, and other surface waters; in high concentrations these wastes result in [[bacteria]]l contamination and excessive [[nutrient]] loading. Industries discharge a variety of toxic compounds and heavy metals, and industrial process [[wastewater]] may also be too hot or too low in dissolved [[oxygen]] to support life. [[Silt]]-bearing runoff from [[construction]] sites and [[farm]]s can inhibit the penetration of sunlight through the water column, and hampers water organisms in their search for food.

The city was first named Pernell, then renamed for the daughters, Ida and Belle, of a Choctaw citizen on whose land the town was built.

Ground water pollution is more difficult to clean up than surface pollution, because ground water can move hundreds of miles through unseen [[aquifer]]s. Porous, fine grained aquifers, such as [[sand]]s and [[sandstone]]s naturally purify water of bacteria by simple filtration, but have no effect on chemical contaminants such as the components of [[gasoline]]. Ground water that moves through cracks and [[cave]]rns is not filtered and can have organic pollution just as easily as surface water. In fact this can be aggravated by the [[human]] tendency to use [[sinkhole]]s in [[Karst]] topography areas as dumps.

==CausesGeography==

[[Image:OKMap-doton-Idabel.PNG|right|Location of Idabel, Oklahoma]]

Idabel is located at {{coor dms|33|53|47|N|94|49|45|W|city}} (33.896299, -94.829238){{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 41.3 [[km²]] (15.9 [[square mile|mi²]]). 41.3 km² (15.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.06% is water.

The causes of water pollution can be divided into two groups: anthropogenic sources of pollution are those due to [[human]] choices, and natural sources are those resulting from forces intrinsic to the environment.

Anthropogenic sources include:

*discharge of poorly-treated or untreated sewage;

*runoff from construction sites, farms, or [[pavement (roads)|paved]] and other impervious surfaces;

*discharge of contaminated and/or heated water used on industrial processes

*[[acid rain]] caused by industrial discharge of [[sulphur]] dioxide (by burning high-sulfur [[fossil fuel]]s)

Natural sources include:

*seasonal turnover of [[lake]]s and embayments;

*siltation due to [[flood]]s;

*[[eutrophication]] of lakes due to seasonal changes

*[[acid rain]] caused by natural [[volcano|volcanic]] discharges

*acid pollution of rivers and lakes by runoff from naturally acid soils

*carbon dioxide discharges and runoff, volcanic or mineral

==ContaminantsDemographics==

As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 6,952 people, 2,735 households, and 1,785 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 168.5/km² (436.3/mi²). There were 3,129 housing units at an average density of 75.8/km² (196.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 56.99% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 24.45% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 10.44% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.30% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.37% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.43% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.96% of the population.

There were 2,735 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 21.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.08.

Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances.

Organic water pollutants include:

*[[bacteria]], as from [[sewage]] or [[livestock]] operations;

*[[fertilizer]]s, in runoff from [[agriculture|agricultural]] fields or [[forestry]];

*food processing waste;

*[[tree]] and brush debris from [[logging]] operations

Inorganic pollutants include:

*metals;

*[[acid mine drainage]];

*[[silt]] in stormwater runoff from cleared land

*[[acid rain]] caused by industrial or [[volcano|volcanic]] discharges

*[[acid]] pollution of lakes by runoff from acid soils

*[[carbon dioxide]] discharges and runoff, volcanic or mineral

In the city the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.

==Sources==

The median income for a household in the city was $20,496, and the median income for a family was $24,189. Males had a median income of $24,182 versus $16,958 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $12,241. About 28.7% of families and 31.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 42.5% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.

*U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Homepage, http://www.epa.gov/

*Kentucky Division of Water Homepage, http://water.ky.gov/

==External links==

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*[http://www.idabel.lib.ok.us/ Idabel Public Library]

{{Mapit-US-cityscale|33.896299|-94.829238}}

{{Oklahoma}}

[[Category:Cities in Oklahoma]]

[[Category:McCurtain County, Oklahoma]]

[[Category:County seats in Oklahoma]]

[[io:Idabel, Oklahoma]]

[[lmo:Idabel, Oklahoma]]

[[vo:Idabel]]