Chapter #18 Guided Reading
Learning Objectives: At the end of this chapter, students will understand:
Why water is one of the major resource issues of the 21st century
What a water budget is, and why it is useful in analyzing water supply problems and potential solutions
What groundwater is, and what environmental problems are associated with its use
How water can be conserved at home and in industrial and agricultural practice Why sustainable water management will become more difficult as the demand for water increases
Why sustainable water management will become more difficult as the demand for water increases
The concepts of virtual water and a water footprint and their link to water management and conservation
What the environmental impacts are of water projects such as dams, reservoirs, canals and channelization
What a wetland is, how wetlands function, and why they are important
Why we are facing a growing global water shortage linked to our food supply
Case Study: Palm Beach County, Florida: Water Use, Conservation and Reuse
What are some of the benefits of using reclaimed water?
Some benefits of using reclaimed water are that people are able to save money, it is less expensive, it has traces of nitrogen and phosphorus, and it leaves more fresh drinking water available to the rest of the community.
1: What are some of the factors that make water so special?
Some factors that make water so special are that it has the ability to absorb and store heat, it’s a the universal solvent, it can dissolve a variety of compounds, and is lighter in liquid form. It has high surface tension which is important in physical and biological processes.
2: What is the largest reservoir of water on Earth?
The ocean is the largest reservoir on Earth.
What is the largest reservoir of freshwater on Earth?
The largest reservoir of freshwater on earth are lakes.
3: What is the residence time of water in the atmosphere?
The average residence time of water in the atmosphere is 9 days.
Groundwater and Streams
4: What is the water table?
The water table is the upper surface of groundwater.
5: What is a discharge zone?
A discharge zone is where groundwater flows or seeps out at the surface.
6: What is an aquifer?
An underground zone or body of earth material from which groundwater can be obtained at a useful rate.
What is a cone of depression? How is it created?
Cone of depression happens when water is pumped from an aquifer, there water table is depressed around the well.
7: What is an effluent stream?
A stream which get their water from the groundwater.
What is a stream that flows all year called?
The stream that flow all year is called an perennial stream.
8: What is an influent stream?
An influent stream is a stream or river that loses water as it flows downstream
What is a stream that doesn’t flow all year called?
A stream that doesn’t flow all year is called an ephemeral stream.
Water Supply: A U.S. Example
9: What is a water budget? How is it calculated?
A water budget is model that balances inputs, outputs and storage of water in a system. It is calculated by precipitation-evaporation= runoff.
Precipitation and Runoff Patterns
10: What is the average water use for people in the U.S.?
The average water use for people in the U.S. is 200 gallons a day per person.
What is the average water use for people in Europe?
The acerage water use for people in Europe is 100 gallons a day per person.
What is the average water use for people in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The average water use for people in Sub-Saharan Africa is 5 gallons a day per person.
Groundwater Use and Problems
11: How many people in the U.S. use groundwater as a source of drinking water?
Half of the people in the United States use groundwater as a source of drinking water.
12: What problems can groundwater overdraft cause?
The problems that groundwater overdraft cause are damage to river ecosystems and land subsidence.
13: What is happening to the Ogallala Aquifer (High Plains Aquifer)?
In the Ogallala Aquifer, the water is being used at a rate 20 times higher than the rate at which it is being naturally replaced. In recent years, the water table has declined causing yields to decreased and energy costs for pumping the water to rise.
Desalination as a Water Source
14: What is the percentage of salt in saltwater? __3.5__%
15: To be used as a freshwater source, the salt content must be reduced to about __.05__%
16: What are some of the environmental impacts of desalination?
Some environmental impacts of desalination are that it is able to increase the salinity in another body of water and kill some plants and animals, also it can a change of variation of the salt content which may damage the ecosystems.
Water Use
17: Describe the difference between off-stream use and in-stream use.
Off-stream use is water that is removed from the source and is then returned later on.
In-stream use is water that is used for navigation, hydroelectric power generation, fish and wildlife habitats and recreation, which is not returned.
18: What is one of the issues with off-stream use in the Pacific Northwest?
One of the issues with off-stream use in the Pacific Northwest is that fish decline it, because diversions for agricultural, urban, and other uses have reduced the stream flow to the point where fish habitats are damaged.
19: Describe what happened to the Aral Sea.
In the Aral Sea, diverting water has changed the inland water from an energetic ecosystem to a dying sea. Reducing by more than 50% and salt content increased more than its limit, causing to kill fish. Dust and snow are also affecting the sea, causing to fish to decline, lost of tourist, and its environment.
Some Trends in Water use
20: What are the two biggest users of freshwater withdrawals?
Two biggest users of freshwater withdrawals were irrigation and thermoelectric industry.
Water Conservation
21: What are some of the suggestions for improved irrigation to conserve water?
Some suggestions for improved irrigation to conserve water are to use lined canals to reduce seepage, use computer monitoring and schedule release of water, integrate the use of surface water and groundwater to more effectively use the total resource.
22: Domestic use of water (homes) accounts for __12__% of total national water withdrawals.
23: What is Southern California (San Diego) doing to help with water shortages in the future?
San Diego is building desalination plants and considering raising the height of dams so more water can be stored for urban uses.
24: List 5 things that you can do at home to help conserve water usage
* Take a bath
* Only flush when necessary
* Don't hose down sidewalks
*Use drip irrigation
*Turn off water when not needed
25: What is virtual water?
Virtual water is the amount of water necessary to produce a product.
26: How much water does it take to make a cup of coffee?
40 gallons of water is needed to make a cup of coffee.
27: How much water does it take to raise beef?
It takes 15,500m^3 to raise beef
28: How do we define wetlands?
Wetlands are areas flood by water for at least a few days per year.
29: Wetlands are very important, what are the natural service functions of wetlands?
The natural functions of wetlands are that they are a sponge for water and they help purify water by working as natural filters. Many nutrients and chemicals are naturally cycled.
30: How much of the original wetlands of the U.S. have disappeared? _50__%
31: What did the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 require?
The National Environmental Policy Act required the developer to obtain or create additional wetlands at another site to compensate the destruction or damage to wetlands by a particular project.
32: Explain the environmental impacts of dams
Dams cause loss of land, cultural, and biological resources. They also cause flood hazard if the dams fall.
33: What are the PROS and CONS of the Three Gorges Dam?
PRO-Worlds largest dam, produces a reservoir nearly 600km long. Produces 18,000 MW of electricity.
CONS-drowned cities, farm fields, sites and displaced homes. Caused the extinction of the Baiji Dolphin. Raw sewage and pollutants that are discharged into the river. Gives people false sense of security.
34: What are some of the issues associated with removing of dams?
Some issues associated with removing dams are that it's expensive and it produces an upstream-of-dam environment and downstream environment.
35: What are the environmental issues associated with global water shortage and food supply?
Environmental issues associated with global water shortage are the mining of groundwater, bodies of water are drying up, and large rivers no longer deliver water to the ocean do to being dried up. It depletes faster than it can regenerate for mining of groundwater.
36: Water is one of our most abundant resources, why are we concerned about its availability in the future?
We are concerned, because populations are growing which increases demand for water which is often polluted beyond use.
1: Which is more important from a national point of view, conservation of water use in agriculture or in urban areas? Why?
From a national point of view the conservation of water use in agriculture, because it can help us by providing organic crops and food for us. Without water being conserved for agricultural use, there would be less crops grown.
Why water is one of the major resource issues of the 21st century
What a water budget is, and why it is useful in analyzing water supply problems and potential solutions
What groundwater is, and what environmental problems are associated with its use
How water can be conserved at home and in industrial and agricultural practice Why sustainable water management will become more difficult as the demand for water increases
Why sustainable water management will become more difficult as the demand for water increases
The concepts of virtual water and a water footprint and their link to water management and conservation
What the environmental impacts are of water projects such as dams, reservoirs, canals and channelization
What a wetland is, how wetlands function, and why they are important
Why we are facing a growing global water shortage linked to our food supply
Case Study: Palm Beach County, Florida: Water Use, Conservation and Reuse
What are some of the benefits of using reclaimed water?
Some benefits of using reclaimed water are that people are able to save money, it is less expensive, it has traces of nitrogen and phosphorus, and it leaves more fresh drinking water available to the rest of the community.
1: What are some of the factors that make water so special?
Some factors that make water so special are that it has the ability to absorb and store heat, it’s a the universal solvent, it can dissolve a variety of compounds, and is lighter in liquid form. It has high surface tension which is important in physical and biological processes.
2: What is the largest reservoir of water on Earth?
The ocean is the largest reservoir on Earth.
What is the largest reservoir of freshwater on Earth?
The largest reservoir of freshwater on earth are lakes.
3: What is the residence time of water in the atmosphere?
The average residence time of water in the atmosphere is 9 days.
Groundwater and Streams
4: What is the water table?
The water table is the upper surface of groundwater.
5: What is a discharge zone?
A discharge zone is where groundwater flows or seeps out at the surface.
6: What is an aquifer?
An underground zone or body of earth material from which groundwater can be obtained at a useful rate.
What is a cone of depression? How is it created?
Cone of depression happens when water is pumped from an aquifer, there water table is depressed around the well.
7: What is an effluent stream?
A stream which get their water from the groundwater.
What is a stream that flows all year called?
The stream that flow all year is called an perennial stream.
8: What is an influent stream?
An influent stream is a stream or river that loses water as it flows downstream
What is a stream that doesn’t flow all year called?
A stream that doesn’t flow all year is called an ephemeral stream.
Water Supply: A U.S. Example
9: What is a water budget? How is it calculated?
A water budget is model that balances inputs, outputs and storage of water in a system. It is calculated by precipitation-evaporation= runoff.
Precipitation and Runoff Patterns
10: What is the average water use for people in the U.S.?
The average water use for people in the U.S. is 200 gallons a day per person.
What is the average water use for people in Europe?
The acerage water use for people in Europe is 100 gallons a day per person.
What is the average water use for people in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The average water use for people in Sub-Saharan Africa is 5 gallons a day per person.
Groundwater Use and Problems
11: How many people in the U.S. use groundwater as a source of drinking water?
Half of the people in the United States use groundwater as a source of drinking water.
12: What problems can groundwater overdraft cause?
The problems that groundwater overdraft cause are damage to river ecosystems and land subsidence.
13: What is happening to the Ogallala Aquifer (High Plains Aquifer)?
In the Ogallala Aquifer, the water is being used at a rate 20 times higher than the rate at which it is being naturally replaced. In recent years, the water table has declined causing yields to decreased and energy costs for pumping the water to rise.
Desalination as a Water Source
14: What is the percentage of salt in saltwater? __3.5__%
15: To be used as a freshwater source, the salt content must be reduced to about __.05__%
16: What are some of the environmental impacts of desalination?
Some environmental impacts of desalination are that it is able to increase the salinity in another body of water and kill some plants and animals, also it can a change of variation of the salt content which may damage the ecosystems.
Water Use
17: Describe the difference between off-stream use and in-stream use.
Off-stream use is water that is removed from the source and is then returned later on.
In-stream use is water that is used for navigation, hydroelectric power generation, fish and wildlife habitats and recreation, which is not returned.
18: What is one of the issues with off-stream use in the Pacific Northwest?
One of the issues with off-stream use in the Pacific Northwest is that fish decline it, because diversions for agricultural, urban, and other uses have reduced the stream flow to the point where fish habitats are damaged.
19: Describe what happened to the Aral Sea.
In the Aral Sea, diverting water has changed the inland water from an energetic ecosystem to a dying sea. Reducing by more than 50% and salt content increased more than its limit, causing to kill fish. Dust and snow are also affecting the sea, causing to fish to decline, lost of tourist, and its environment.
Some Trends in Water use
20: What are the two biggest users of freshwater withdrawals?
Two biggest users of freshwater withdrawals were irrigation and thermoelectric industry.
Water Conservation
21: What are some of the suggestions for improved irrigation to conserve water?
Some suggestions for improved irrigation to conserve water are to use lined canals to reduce seepage, use computer monitoring and schedule release of water, integrate the use of surface water and groundwater to more effectively use the total resource.
22: Domestic use of water (homes) accounts for __12__% of total national water withdrawals.
23: What is Southern California (San Diego) doing to help with water shortages in the future?
San Diego is building desalination plants and considering raising the height of dams so more water can be stored for urban uses.
24: List 5 things that you can do at home to help conserve water usage
* Take a bath
* Only flush when necessary
* Don't hose down sidewalks
*Use drip irrigation
*Turn off water when not needed
25: What is virtual water?
Virtual water is the amount of water necessary to produce a product.
26: How much water does it take to make a cup of coffee?
40 gallons of water is needed to make a cup of coffee.
27: How much water does it take to raise beef?
It takes 15,500m^3 to raise beef
28: How do we define wetlands?
Wetlands are areas flood by water for at least a few days per year.
29: Wetlands are very important, what are the natural service functions of wetlands?
The natural functions of wetlands are that they are a sponge for water and they help purify water by working as natural filters. Many nutrients and chemicals are naturally cycled.
30: How much of the original wetlands of the U.S. have disappeared? _50__%
31: What did the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 require?
The National Environmental Policy Act required the developer to obtain or create additional wetlands at another site to compensate the destruction or damage to wetlands by a particular project.
32: Explain the environmental impacts of dams
Dams cause loss of land, cultural, and biological resources. They also cause flood hazard if the dams fall.
33: What are the PROS and CONS of the Three Gorges Dam?
PRO-Worlds largest dam, produces a reservoir nearly 600km long. Produces 18,000 MW of electricity.
CONS-drowned cities, farm fields, sites and displaced homes. Caused the extinction of the Baiji Dolphin. Raw sewage and pollutants that are discharged into the river. Gives people false sense of security.
34: What are some of the issues associated with removing of dams?
Some issues associated with removing dams are that it's expensive and it produces an upstream-of-dam environment and downstream environment.
35: What are the environmental issues associated with global water shortage and food supply?
Environmental issues associated with global water shortage are the mining of groundwater, bodies of water are drying up, and large rivers no longer deliver water to the ocean do to being dried up. It depletes faster than it can regenerate for mining of groundwater.
36: Water is one of our most abundant resources, why are we concerned about its availability in the future?
We are concerned, because populations are growing which increases demand for water which is often polluted beyond use.
1: Which is more important from a national point of view, conservation of water use in agriculture or in urban areas? Why?
From a national point of view the conservation of water use in agriculture, because it can help us by providing organic crops and food for us. Without water being conserved for agricultural use, there would be less crops grown.