Chapter 9: Water Resources
Flooding- both natural and human induced. Modern floods are highly destructive because humans have: −Removed water-absorbing plant cover from soil. −Constructed buildings on floodplains Floodplain- area bordering a river channel that has the potential to flood Too much water: Flooding
Urban vs. pre-Urban Floodplains
Floodplains Rather than rebuild levees adjacent to rivers, experts suggest allowing some flooding of floodplains during floods Traditional levees adjacent to river Suggested levee style, set back from river
Too Little Water Typically found in arid land Problems Drought Overdrawing water for irrigation purposes Aquifer depletion Subsidence Sinkholes Saltwater intrusion NOTE: shown are center-pivot irrigation circles…each one is the result of long pipes that extend along the radius from the center of the circle to the edge…rotating slowly to spray the crops.
Subsidence Subsidence- occurs when large amounts of ground water have been removed from certain types of rocks.
Sinkhole Sinkholes- Sinkholes are depressions or holes in the land surface, they can be shallow or deep, small or large, but all are a result of the dissolving of the underlying limestone.
Agriculture- the largest user of water around the world ~70% Agriculture, Industry and Household Needs
Irrigation techniques- −Furrow irrigation- a trench that is flooded with water. −Flood irrigation- the entire field is flooded with water. −Spray irrigation- an apparatus that sprays water across a field. −Drip irrigation- using a slow dripping hose that is laid on or buried beneath the soil. −Hydroponic agriculture- crops grown in fertilized water and no soil. Agriculture, Industry and Household Needs
Industry- the second largest user of water worldwide. Agriculture, Industry and Household Needs
Households- the third largest user of water worldwide. Agriculture, Industry and Household Needs
US has a plentiful supply of freshwater However, water is NOT uniformly distributed, so many areas have severe shortages Geographical variations Seasonal variations Water Problems in US and Canada
Water shortages in West and Southwest Water is diverted and transported via aqueducts Water Problems in US and Canada
Mono Lake (Eastern CA) Rivers and streams that once fed this lake are diverted to Los Angeles (275mi away) Becoming highly saline Court ordered water diversion reduction Colorado River Basin Provides water for 27-million people Numerous dams for Hydropower Colorado River no longer reaches ocean Delaware – a state without water Use of conservation-based pricing, in which consumers are rewarded for conserving water is helping water managers meet needs Water Problems in US and Canada
Colorado River bed in Mexico
Groundwater (Aquifer) Depletion Water Problems in US and Canada
Reducing Agricultural Water Waste Agriculture is very inefficient with water Microirrigation- irrigation that conserves waster by piping to crops through sealed systems Also called drip or trickle irrigation Water Conservation
Reducing Industrial Water Waste Stricter laws provide incentive to conserve water Recycling water within the plant Water scarcity (in addition to stricter pollution control requirements) will encourage further industrial recycling Potential to conserve water is huge! Water Conservation
Amount of freshwater on planet CAN meet human needs −BUT, it is unevenly distributed and some places lack stable runoff Problems: −Climate Change −Drinking Water −Population Growth −Sharing Water Resources Among Countries Global Water Problems
Water and Climate Change −Climate change affects the type and distribution of precipitation −Potential issues: −Reduced snowfall will impact water resources downstream −Sea level rise will cause saltwater intrusion into drinking water supplies Global Water Problems
Rhine River Basin −Countries upstream discharged pollutants into river −Countries downstream had to pay to clean the water before they could drink it Aral Sea −Water diversion for irrigation has caused sea to become too saline Sharing Water Resources
Water ownership- people can have rights to water use, but they do not own the water. Water conservation- using techniques such as more efficient water fixtures, faucets and washing machines. The Future of Water Availability
Gray water- wastewater from baths, showers, bathroom sinks and washing machines. −While not suitable for drinking, gray water is perfectly suitable for watering lawns and plants, washing cars, and flushing toilets Working toward Sustainability
Install water-saving shower heads and faucets Install low-flush toilets Fix leaky fixtures Purchase high efficiency appliances Modify personal habits Use the dishwasher instead of washing by hand Conserving water at Home