ABSTRACT
In order for Earth to sustain a global human population of more than 7 billion people, which continues to increase daily, it is essential that authors appreciate and comprehend our urban regions at a level that is greater than most, if not all, scientific levels in inquiry and understanding. Watersheds functioned well before humans began to alter their natural flows of water; and many are in a distressed state. As more and more sites of human interference are analyzed, the overall picture of the linkages between the watershed’s geology, biology, geography, and human interference becomes clearer. The authors examine our natural environment in urban areas and explore how nature influences contamination. Control over the geologic environment, however, is beyond our means. Therefore, we must understand the geologic environment where our urban areas are located and develop methods to minimize or eliminate the potential harmful effects of contaminants upon human health and the environment.
