ABSTRACT

We have a special chapter on urban waters because there are definite impacts on wildlife in terms of how urban residents obtain, use, and discharge water from their communities. Today, as in the past, it is quite common for humans to settle near some type of water, whether it be coastal zones, rivers, streams, or lakes. People like water, and they are willing to pay premium prices for real estate next to or in close proximity to water. In some cases, where it is not possible to be near natural waterways, constructed wetlands serve as an acceptable alternative. There is a profound public ignorance of what water is, how nature provides a continual supply of filtered water, community sources of water, uses in urban communities, water pollution, water conservation and recycling, and wastewater treatment.