1. Water Resources
Preston High School

2. Objectives Introduction Water Resources Case Study: Walkerton Crisis
Conclusions

3. Water Cycle

4. Why Study the Water Cycle?

5. What is Hydrogeology?
Study of the part of hydrology that deals with the occurrence, movement, and the quality of water beneath the Earth’s surface
“All streams run to the sea
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again”
Ecclesiastes 1:7

6. What is groundwater?
Groundwater – a major link in the hydrologic cycle
Found underground in the spaces between particles of rock and soil, or in the crevices and cracks in rock – Aquifers
Always on the move!
Over 6 million Canadians rely on groundwater
Use of groundwater varies by Province

7. Groundwater Consumption
Percentage of population reliant on groundwater
Canada
26%
Yukon
63%
Northwest Territories 1%
British Columbia
22%
Alberta
27%
Saskatchewan
45%
Manitoba
24%
Ontario
Quebec
New Brunswick
64%
Nova Scotia
50%
Prince Edward Island
100%
Newfoundland
29%
Agriculture
Industry
Municipalities

8. Groundwater Quality Naturally contains various constituents
Chemical nature of water continually evolves through the hydrologic cycle
Matter of taste, odour and clarity – popularity of bottled water!
For other uses different properties may be more important:
Industry  water must not be corrosive, types of suspended solids

9. Capture Zone

10. Aquifers

12. Saline Intrusion

14. Quest for Groundwater!
Exploration Stage – Search for a suitable aquifer
Evaluation – Design & analysis of groundwater wells, use of groundwater modeling
Exploitation – Optimal development

15. Point and Non-Point Pollution
A point source is a single, identifiable source of pollution, such as a pipe or a drain. Industrial wastes are commonly discharged to rivers and the sea in this way.
Non-point sources of pollution are often termed ‘diffuse’ pollution and refer to those inputs and impacts which occur over a wide area and are not easily attributed to a single source. They are often associated with particular land uses, as opposed to individual point source discharges.

16. Point and Non-Point Pollution

17. Groundwater Contamination
Point sources
On-site septic systems
Leaky tanks/pipelines
Municipal landfills
Leaky sewer lines
Graveyards
Road salt from roads
Livestock waste
Non-point sources
Fertilizers on agricultural lands
Pesticides
Contaminants in rain, snow, and dry atmospheric

18. Urban Non Point Sources of Pollution

19. Point Source

20. Non-Point Source

22. How does the water get to my faucet?

23. Case Study: Walkerton Water Crisis

24. Walkerton Crisis E. coli outbreak occurred in May 2000
7 people died and 100’s ill
Cause: contamination of a well not adequately chlorinated, from manure runoff from nearby commercial cattle farms
Human error resulted in lost lives, lost health, lost productivity, and loss of public trust
Ontario Ministry of the Environment has embarked on a series of legislative initiatives to safe drinking water

25. Conclusions
Justice O’Connor’s “Report on the Walkerton Inquiry” (
Need to invest in state of the art water delivery system
Push for Source Water Protection in all the Conservation Authorities in Ontario
Improved, more sensitive tools and methods to monitor microbial risks to surface and groundwater
Measures to detect, treat, and respond to multiple contaminants
All levels of government should coordinate action plans to fully protect water sources

26. Water Legislation Environmental Protection Act
Environmental Bill of Rights Act
Ontario Water Resources Act (1990)
Safe Drinking Water Act (2002)
Nutrient Management Act (2002)
Drinking Water Source Protection Act (2004)

27. Overview Water Cycle and its interconnection with the environment
Looked at hydrogeology and how we explore and exploit our water resources
Discuss the various issues dealing with groundwater
Concluded with the case study of the Walkerton tragedy

28. A flood of Pigs- Environmental Science p . 448
Describe the damage of Hurricane Floyd in Provide 3 examples
What is dinoflagellate Pfiesteria? Why is it so dangerous?
What is Water Pollution? P
Provide examples of point sources and non – point sources within the text
What is atmospheric deposition? In terms of finding the sources, why is this difficult?
For further thinking –
Do you think that water pollution is worse now than it was in the past? What considerations go into a judgement like this? How do you personal experiences influence your opinion?