Water ResourcesWater Resources

An Environmental Science Series An Environmental Science Series

The Water MoleculeThe Water Molecule

Hydrogen Bonds

Energy Involved in the Phase Changes of Water

www.hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu

Water: a staple for lifeWater: a staple for life

www.auf.asn.au/meteorology

Where do we get water?Where do we get water?

Water Balance LenthicLenthic – standing water (lakes)– standing water (lakes) LoticLotic – running water (streams)– running water (streams)

Incoming sources:Incoming sources:1)1) PrecipitationPrecipitation2)2) SurfaceSurface influentsinfluents3)3) GroundwaterGroundwater seepageseepage4)4) GroundwaterGroundwater springsspringsLosses:Losses:1)1) Outlets (drainage)Outlets (drainage)2)2) Seepage into groundwater (infiltration)Seepage into groundwater (infiltration)3)3) EvaporationEvaporation4)4) EvapotranspirationEvapotranspiration (macrophytes)(macrophytes)

Water in the atmosphereWater in the atmosphere

Water vapor can be between 0 and 4 %Water vapor can be between 0 and 4 %

It is considered a Greenhouse GasIt is considered a Greenhouse Gas

It is responsible for condensation to It is responsible for condensation to form clouds and precipitationform clouds and precipitation

Sources of WaterSources of Water

Aquifers both Aquifers both confinedconfined and and unconfined are important unconfined are important underground reservoirsunderground reservoirs

SurfaceSurface water sources including water sources including rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirsrivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs

DesalinationDesalination is also another way to is also another way to get drinking waterget drinking water

University of Michigan

U.S. water consumption as per 1995 statistics

Water, Water EverywhereWater, Water Everywhere The oceans constitute over 71% of The oceans constitute over 71% of

the surface of the earth. the surface of the earth. Only 3% of the world’s water supply Only 3% of the world’s water supply

is freshwater (text says 2.6%).is freshwater (text says 2.6%). Two-thirds of this freshwater supply Two-thirds of this freshwater supply

is tied up in glacial ice.is tied up in glacial ice. Most of the water is too polluted to Most of the water is too polluted to

drink and must undergo a form of drink and must undergo a form of filtration. filtration.

Water usage! Water usage! The average toilet uses 5 to 7 gallons of The average toilet uses 5 to 7 gallons of

water per flush. water per flush. A shower can use 25 to 50 gallons of water A shower can use 25 to 50 gallons of water

(5 gallons per minute). (5 gallons per minute). The average bath takes about 36 gallons The average bath takes about 36 gallons

of water. of water. It takes about 1 gallon of water to process It takes about 1 gallon of water to process

a quarter pound of hamburger. a quarter pound of hamburger. Ten gallons of water are needed to refine Ten gallons of water are needed to refine

one gallon of gasoline. one gallon of gasoline. Humans require about 2 1/2 quarts of Humans require about 2 1/2 quarts of

water a day. water a day.

Groundwater Concept Map

by Purdue University, IN

Methods of DesalinationMethods of Desalination

Reverse OsmosisReverse Osmosis DistillationDistillation EvaporationEvaporation

There are some major desalination There are some major desalination processing plants. In fact, the processing plants. In fact, the Outerbanks, NC and Cape May use Outerbanks, NC and Cape May use this technology.this technology.

Water without the saltWater without the saltDesalinationDesalination

Reverse Osmosis Desalination

courtesy of USAID (Kahn, 1986.)

Hoover Dam Information

Location

The Hoover Dam is located in the South Western United States on the border of Nevada and Arizona. The dam is 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas.

Interesting Facts

•Two lane road allows traffic to travel from Nevada to Arizona. For security reasons, certain types of vehicles (like heavy trucks) are not allowed to cross the dam . The Hoover Dam Bypass bridge is currently being built.

IrrigationIrrigation

Agriculture accounts for 80 percent Agriculture accounts for 80 percent of the Nation's water use (USDA)of the Nation's water use (USDA)

Irrigation is critical to agriculture in Irrigation is critical to agriculture in the United States: nearly half of the the United States: nearly half of the value of all crops sold comes from value of all crops sold comes from the 16 percent of harvested cropland the 16 percent of harvested cropland that is irrigated. that is irrigated.

Cranberry Bog’s take much water for flooding and diversion of stream flows

Massachusetts Bogs use 41 – 44 billion of gallons of water per year!

Water PollutionWater Pollution

Types and Treatment Types and Treatment

We can classify major sources that lead to water pollution:

•synthetic agricultural chemicals •heavy metals •hazardous wastes •excess organic matter •sediment •infectious organisms •air pollution •thermal pollution •soil pollution 

Bioavailability of MetalsBioavailability of Metals

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency metals of major interest that have greatest potential metals of major interest that have greatest potential for human exposure and health risk include:for human exposure and health risk include:Al, As, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Al, As, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, and SbNi, Pb, Se, and Sb

Other metals that may cause less of a health threat Other metals that may cause less of a health threat are:are:Ag, Ba, Co, Mn, Mo, Na, Tl, V, and ZnAg, Ba, Co, Mn, Mo, Na, Tl, V, and Zn

These metals can be dispersed in soil, water and air. These metals can be dispersed in soil, water and air. Metals in soil and sediment, those suspended in the Metals in soil and sediment, those suspended in the water column, and those found in groundwater are water column, and those found in groundwater are of greatest concern according to USGS Publication of greatest concern according to USGS Publication 2191. 2191.

Biological Factors – Nutrient CyclingBiological Factors – Nutrient Cycling

There are biotic processes including There are biotic processes including nutrient cycling with phosphorus and nutrient cycling with phosphorus and nitrogen…nitrogen…

Nitrates come from cycling, runoff, and Nitrates come from cycling, runoff, and the atmospherethe atmosphere

Phosphates are put into a system Phosphates are put into a system through runoff, cycling or translocation through runoff, cycling or translocation from another source (bird excretion), from another source (bird excretion), but not from the atmospherebut not from the atmosphere

Florida Everglades: A highly altered ecosystemFlorida Everglades: A highly altered ecosystem

Florida Bay is 2072 Km2

Water FiltrationWater Filtration

Water Purification TechnologiesWater Purification Technologies Distillation Distillation Ion Exchange Ion Exchange Carbon Adsorption Carbon Adsorption Filtration Filtration Ultrafiltration Ultrafiltration Reverse Osmosis Reverse Osmosis Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation

Confined & Unconfined AquifersConfined & Unconfined Aquifers

Bynum Reservoir with the Rocky Mountain Front in the distance