Environmental Incident Report: Honey Creek Contamination, Lamar

1.0 Incident Overview

An environmental incident was reported in Honey Creek, located within a city park in Lamar, Barton County. Municipal staff observed significant environmental degradation, prompting an immediate investigation and response. The incident highlights critical challenges related to urban infrastructure and environmental stewardship, directly impacting several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2.0 Initial Findings and Environmental Impact

Initial observations by city personnel revealed severe contamination of the waterway. Key findings included:

• The presence of black, stagnant water in the creek.
• A significant fish kill, indicating acute toxicity and oxygen depletion in the aquatic environment.

This event represents a direct threat to SDG 14: Life Below Water, which aims to conserve and sustainably use aquatic ecosystems. The loss of fish life underscores the vulnerability of freshwater habitats to pollution.

3.0 Identified Cause and Public Advisory

A subsequent investigation concluded that the contamination was the result of a temporary sewer overflow. This failure in municipal sanitation infrastructure led to the direct discharge of untreated wastewater into Honey Creek.

In response, a public advisory was issued, instructing citizens to:

1. Avoid the affected area of the creek and park.
2. Refrain from touching or removing any fish from the water.

This situation directly relates to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, emphasizing the need for resilient and effective wastewater management systems to prevent pollution and protect public health, a cornerstone of SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

4.0 Remediation Efforts and Inter-Agency Collaboration

Remediation efforts are being conducted under the guidance of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. This collaboration between local and state authorities exemplifies SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, which is crucial for effective environmental management.

The primary actions being undertaken include:

• Systematic draining of the contaminated sections of the creek.
• Thorough cleaning of the creek bed and banks to remove pollutants and restore the habitat.

These actions are vital for restoring the ecological health of the creek and ensuring the park remains a safe and valuable community asset, aligning with the objectives of SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 15: Life on Land, which seek to protect local ecosystems and enhance urban green spaces.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The article directly addresses this goal by describing a water pollution event caused by a “temporary sewer overflow.” This incident compromises the quality of the water in Honey Creek, highlighting issues with sanitation infrastructure and its impact on local water bodies.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The problem occurs in “Lamar City” and affects a “city park,” linking the issue to urban management. The “sewer overflow” points to a failure in municipal infrastructure and waste management, which is a key aspect of creating sustainable cities.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• This goal is relevant due to the severe impact on aquatic life, evidenced by the “large number of dead fish” found in the creek. The pollution from a land-based source (the sewer overflow) directly harms the aquatic ecosystem.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• This goal is connected as it pertains to the protection and restoration of inland freshwater ecosystems. Honey Creek is an “inland waterway” whose ecosystem has been significantly damaged by the pollution event. The subsequent efforts to “drain and clean the creek” are a direct action toward restoring this ecosystem.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG Target 6.3

   “By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.”

   • The article describes a “temporary sewer overflow,” which is a release of untreated wastewater into Honey Creek. This event directly contradicts the goal of reducing pollution and minimizing the release of such materials, making this target highly relevant. The resulting “black standing water” is a clear sign of diminished water quality.

2. SDG Target 11.6

   “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.”

   • The sewer overflow in Lamar City is a clear failure of “municipal…waste management.” This incident has a direct “adverse…environmental impact” on the city, polluting a creek that runs through a public park.

3. SDG Target 14.1

   “By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.”

   • Although Honey Creek is a freshwater body, this target’s principle of reducing pollution from “land-based activities” is directly applicable. The sewer overflow is a land-based source of pollution that has resulted in the death of aquatic life (“large number of dead fish”), which is the type of impact this target aims to prevent.

4. SDG Target 15.1

   “By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services…”

   • The pollution of Honey Creek represents a failure to conserve an “inland freshwater ecosystem.” The response from the city and the Missouri Dept of Natural Resources to “drain and clean the creek” is an explicit act of “restoration” for this damaged ecosystem.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 6.3

   Implied Indicator: Ambient water quality.

   • The article provides qualitative indicators of poor water quality: the presence of “black standing water” and a “large number of dead fish.” Progress towards Target 6.3 could be measured by the absence of such events and the restoration of the creek’s water to a state that can support aquatic life.

2. Indicator for Target 11.6

   Implied Indicator: Frequency and volume of untreated wastewater discharge.

   • The article identifies the problem as a “temporary sewer overflow.” The occurrence of such an event is itself an indicator of problems in municipal waste management. A reduction in the frequency of these overflows would indicate progress toward this target.

3. Indicator for Target 14.1

   Implied Indicator: Impact on aquatic life.

   • The “large number of dead fish” is a direct, though tragic, indicator of the severe impact of land-based pollution on the aquatic ecosystem. Measuring progress would involve monitoring fish populations and preventing future fish kills caused by pollution.

4. Indicator for Target 15.1

   Implied Indicator: Health of the freshwater ecosystem.

   • The overall health of the Honey Creek ecosystem within the “city park” serves as an indicator. The need to “drain and clean the creek” shows the ecosystem is in a degraded state. Progress would be measured by the successful restoration of the creek and its ability to function as a healthy ecosystem.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: newstalkkzrg.com