Chapter 11 WATER "Man is a complex being; he makes deserts bloom and lakes die." Gil Stern.
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Transcript of Chapter 11 WATER "Man is a complex being; he makes deserts bloom and lakes die." Gil Stern.
"Throughout the history of literature, the guy who
poisons the well has been the worst of all
villains..."-- Author unknown --
Water Cycle Vocab
Evapotranspiration: combination of evaporation & transpiration.
Percolation: water that infiltrates into the ground & trickles through pores & cracks.
Gravitational water: water that is not “held” in the soil, but moves downward via gravity.
Groundwater: accumulated gravitational water that has encountered an impervious layer of rock or dense clay.
Water table: the upper surface of groundwater.
Water Cycle Vocab
Precipitation: any form of water that falls from the atmosphere (rain, snow, hail, etc.)
Infiltration: water that soaks into the ground.
Runoff: water that runs off the surface (“blue” water flow)
Capillary water: water returning to the atmosphere via soil evaporation or plant transpiration.
Transpiration: the “green” flow of water through plants.
Water Cycle Vocab
Aquifer: layers of porous & permeable material through which groundwater moves.
Recharge area: area at surface where water enters an aquifer.
Seep: a natural groundwater exit where water flows out over a large area.
Spring: a natural groundwater exit where water flows out from a relatively small opening.
ASSIGNMENT!Draw a color graphic of the water
cycle.Use the 14 terms you have just recorded (plus condensation &
evaporation) to label it.And...
Include the following three LOOPS in your graphic - suggestion: color code!)
•Evapotranspiration loop (green water): evaporation, precipitation, evapotranspiration, capillary water.•Surface runoff loop (blue water): surface water system.•Groundwater loop (also blue water): infiltration, percolation, aquifers, seeps, springs, wells,
The Human Effect
How does changing of E’s surface (by deforestation, urbanization, etc)
change the pathway of water?
The Human Effect...• Elimination of evapotranspiration loop would
result...decreasing the amount of water in the ecosystem.
• Runoff into streams & rivers will increase; erosion & nutrification of blue water results.
• Precipitation will decrease (due to lack of transpiration), causing organisms dependent on certain precip levels to become stressed.
• Water available for humans will eventually decrease.
Surface Water• Even though relatively “tiny” in
amount, surface water has played a vital role in development of human societies...(location, location, location...)
• Most large cities today depend on surface water for their water supplies.
Groundwater & Aquifers
• Aquifer: underground formation containing GW.– Aquifers are made of rock/sand/gravel...material
with many (a word that always leaves you guessing) spaces where GW can accumulate.
– Like sponges...• Porous: spaces between particles in a rock.
• Permeable: ability of liquid to flow through rock.
Recharge zone• Environmentally important/sensitive...
–Any pollution in the recharge zone can reach the aquifer...
• Size matters when it comes to recharge zones...–areas covered with impermeable surfaces
(parking lots, roads, etc) can reduce the amount of water entering an aquifer.
Wells (GW) vs. surface water
• Wells (GW) are more reliable.• GW is filtered & purified by E.
–Wells must be dug deep into the water table.
–Water cannot be removed faster than it is recharged.
Water in Agriculture
• Accounts for 67% of global water use• Estimated: 80% of that never reaches
the roots...(evaporation)• IRRIGATION provides water to places
with good soil / low precipitation
Water in Industry• It takes over 132,000 gallons of
water to manufacture a car...• Cooling of power plants...• Waste disposal...
Water management
Dams & canals:–Make dry areas habitable–Create reservoirs for recreation
and/or drinking water–Generate electric power–Flood control
...but they also:• Displace people (50 million
worldwide!)• Destroy ecosystems• “Rob” downriver areas of fertile
sediment• ...accidents happen...
PRIMARY TREATMENT - First FilteringTank: heavy sludge sinks to bottom, light scum floats to top.
- sludge & scum are removed from water.
TERTIARY TREATMENT - Second Filtering Tank: water filters through sand, gravel & coal layers.
- Chlorination: chlorine added to prevent bacteria growth.
- Aeration: forced air bubbles out unwanted gases.
SECONDARY TREATMENT - Aeration Tank: wastewater mixed with O2 and bacteria. Bacteria feed on waste.
- Settling Tank: bacteria clump together, sink to bottom, removed.
WWTF’s and WTF’s remove pathogens (bacteria, viruses,
worms) & toxins (mercury, arsenic,lead)
from water to make it safe to put back into blue water
loop, and to make it potable (safe to drink).
Point-Source Water Pollution
• Leaking septic systems• Leaking storage lagoons• Leaking/unlined landfills• Mining sites (current or abandoned)• Industrial discharge• Wastewater treatment plants
Nonpoint-Source Water Pollution• Road salt (& other de-icers).• Runoff from streets (oil, gas, feces, litter,
etc.• Pesticides/herbicides/fertilizers from
homes, farms, golf courses.• Livestock feedlots (agchems & feces).• Pollution-laden precipitation.• Construction & farm soil runoff.• Personal watercraft oil/gas.
What about Strongsville?
• Over 950,000 feet of storm sewers...• 182 culverts...• Two sanitary sewer treatment plants,
connected with 940,000 feet of sanitary sewers...
• 940 privately-owned septic systems...
...remember eutrophication?
• Artificial eutrophication is a result of the human effect...
• Water bodies “super-nutrified” by fertilizer runoff (farms, lawns, gardens) turn into swamps as O2 levels decline
• Phosphates in soaps are also a major cause.
Thermal Pollution• Temperature rises of just a few
degrees can result in significant drops of dissolved O2.
• Organisms can suffocate/die... ecosystems are disrupted.
• I will spare you the photo of many dead fish since it is so close to lunch.
Groundwater Pollution• Infiltration of surface pollutants at
recharge areas...• Leaky underground storage tanks
(oil/gas/diesel)...• Unlined landfills...• One of the most difficult types of
pollution to clean up.