1. Effects of Human Activity on Water

2. TEKS 8C: The student will model the effects of human activity on groundwater and surface water in a watershed.

3. Take a copy of the handout “Water Cycle Diagram”
Discussion:
What is meant by a cycle?
Is there a beginning to the water cycle?
What is the power source that drives the water cycle?
Repeating process NO
Sun
Video:

4. US Geological Survey http://water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle.html
Go to this webpage and click on the “Water Cycle for Schools” diagram at the top right.

5. Vocabulary part 1 1) Transpiration - evaporation of water from plants.
2) Surface Water – water that doesn’t soak into the ground but stays on the surface of the Earth; like lakes, ponds , streams, rivers and oceans.
3) What happens to precipitation when it reaches the Earth?
When water falls to the Earth as precipitation (rain, snow, hail, etc.), it can either evaporate or become groundwater or surface water.

6. Go to “Water Terms” power point, then return here
Write down the Vocabulary part 2 from the power point:
4) Ground water - Groundwater is water that flows through the pores in the rocks and soil beneath the surface of the ground.
5) Water shed - is an area of land where all of the surface water within a specified area drains downward and flows to the same place.
6) Aquifer - is a natural, underground area where large quantities of ground water fill the spaces between rocks and sediment and accumulates.
7) Pollution - is the introduction of a contaminant into the environment.
We use wells and springs to bring back up ground water and aquifer water to the surface for us to use.

7. So let’s review: What is transpiration? What is surface water?
What happens to precipitation when it reaches Earth?
Evaporation of water from plants.
Water that doesn’t sink into the ground but stays on the surface of the Earth; lakes, ponds, streams, etc.
Rain, snow, hail will either evaporate or become groundwater or surface water.
Ground water and more -

8. Porosity vs. Permeability Exp 1 Groundwater Pollution Exp 2
Review Procedures for safety and instructions for the Following Experiments:
Porosity vs. Permeability Exp 1
Groundwater Pollution Exp 2

9. Let’s go over your Experiment results…
Which sample had the greatest porosity?
Which sample did the water pass through the slowest or rather the lowest permeability?
Using your porosity and permeability terms (review), what do you think is causing the difference in time that it takes water to pass through the different soil samples?
Gravel has more air space, pores.
Dark Soil is slowest to allow the water to pass through it. The sand allows the water to flow through faster and the gravel is the fastest.
The gravel has many large pore spaces so it is more permeable. The rocks themselves are not permeable. The sand has many pore spaces but they are small, making sand both fairly porous and permeable. Any yard soil with clay content has very small pore spaces, and it takes a long time for water to work its way through. Clay has a low porosity and permeability.

10. Why are aquifers and ground water important to life on Earth?
Aquifers and groundwater are important for life on Earth because they supply our drinking water and help with agricultural use with animals and for crop irrigation.
Ground water pollution -
How can human activity contribute to the pollution of ground water?
Improper animal waste running off into streams on farms and feedlots
Dumping of chemicals from factories
Rain washing motor oil from leaky cars into the storm drains
Run off of fertilizers, defoliants, and pesticides from farms
Acid rain
Garbage dumps with improper drainage

11. Review the “Water Cards”
In small groups, begin with the solar energy card, then add the water cycle steps to create a concept map of the water terms that were in this lesson.
Check what your group has decided by comparing it with your water cycle handout.
San Marcos Springs -
The End – Now your ready for your TEST!