CHAPTER 17 FRESHWATER RESOURCES

TOILET TO TAPA California county is tapping controversial

sources for drinking water

TOILET TO TAPA California county is tapping controversial sources for drinking water17

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this unit you will know:Sources and cycling for freshwater on Earth

Causes and consequences for water scarcity from above-ground sources and aquifers

Treatment and conservation methods for addressing scarcity issues

TOILET TO TAPA California county is tapping controversial sources for drinking water17

Freshwater is a limited resource and we are using it faster than it can be replenished. Although methods are available to recover and purify some of the water we use, conservation is also seriously needed.

Main Concept

TOILET TO TAPA California county is tapping controversial sources for drinking water17

Case: The Orange County Water District (OCWD) in Anaheim, CA has begun a groundbreaking project to turn wastewater into drinking water.

Water is one of the most ubiquitous, yet scarce resources on Earth17

TERMS TO KNOWWastewaterFreshwaterWater cycleSurface waterTranspirationEvaporation

On a planet covered with water, why is its availability becoming a crisis?Amount of water in the system is finite―about 1,400 million kilometers.Less than 1/100 of 1% of this water is usable by humans (freshwater contains few dissolved ions). Of this, almost 35 million cubic kilometers are held in glaciers with additional water in rivers, lakes, and other organisms.

Amount of water in the system is finite – about 14,000 million kilometers.Less than 1/100 of 1% of this water is usable by humans (freshwater contains few dissolved ions). Of this, almost 35 million cubic kilometers is held in glaciers with additional water in rivers, lakes, and other organisms.

Water is one of the most ubiquitous, yet scarce resources on Earth17

TERMS TO KNOWWastewaterFreshwaterWater cycleSurface waterTranspirationEvaporation

On a planet covered with water, why is its availability becoming a crisis?

17 Water is one of the most ubiquitous, yet scarce resources on Earth

TERMS TO KNOWCondensationPrecipitationGroundwaterWater scarcity

We depend on water going through state changes in the hydrological cycle. Heat causes evaporation and transpiration.

Rising gases are cooled to yield another state change back to liquid. The liquid water is returned to Earth to fill ground storage, underground storage, and to become available for uptake by plants through their root systems.

At each stage within the hydrological cycle, bonds are made and broken. Toxins may be picked up, transported, or eliminated.

17 Water is one of the most ubiquitous, yet scarce resources on Earth

TERMS TO KNOWCondensationPrecipitationGroundwaterWater scarcity

We depend on water going through state changes in the hydrological cycle. Heat causes evaporation and transpiration.

Rising gases are cooled to yield another state change back to liquid. The liquid water is returned to Earth to fill ground storage, underground storage, and to become available for uptake by plants through their root systems.

At each stage within the hydrological cycle, bonds are made and broken. Toxins may be picked up, transported, or eliminated.

17 Water is one of the most ubiquitous, yet scarce resources on Earth

TERMS TO KNOWCondensationPrecipitationGroundwaterWater scarcity

We depend on water going through state changes in the hydrological cycle. Heat causes evaporation and transpiration.

Rising gases are cooled to yield another state change back to liquid. The liquid water is returned to Earth to fill ground storage, underground storage, and to become available for uptake by plants through their root systems.

At each stage within the hydrological cycle, bonds are made and broken. Toxins may be picked up, transported, or eliminated.

17 Water is one of the most ubiquitous, yet scarce resources on Earth

TERMS TO KNOWCondensationPrecipitationGroundwaterWater scarcity

We depend on water going through state changes in the hydrological cycle. Heat causes evaporation and transpiration.

Rising gases are cooled to yield another state change back to liquid. The liquid water is returned to Earth to fill ground storage, underground storage, and to become available for uptake by plants through their root systems.

At each stage within the hydrological cycle, bonds are made and broken. Toxins may be picked up, transported, or eliminated.

17 Water is one of the most ubiquitous, yet scarce resources on Earth

TERMS TO KNOWCondensationPrecipitationGroundwaterWater scarcity

We depend on water going through state changes in the hydrological cycle. Heat causes evaporation and transpiration.

Rising gases are cooled to yield another state change back to liquid. The liquid water is returned to Earth to fill ground storage, underground storage, and to become available for uptake by plants through their root systems.

At each stage within the hydrological cycle, bonds are made and broken. Toxins may be picked up, transported, or eliminated.

17 Water is one of the most ubiquitous, yet scarce resources on Earth

Water falling back to Earth is not readily available to most of the planet’s population.

17 Water is one of the most ubiquitous, yet scarce resources on Earth

Water falling back to Earth is not readily available to most of the planet’s population.

Water scarcity is a global issue reaching crisis for much of the world—especially regions throughout the Middle East, parts of Africa, and Australia.

Other challenges include having access to water but no money to capture, purchase, or process the water. About a billion people currently do not have access to appropriate sanitation or fresh water.

17 Water is one of the most ubiquitous, yet scarce resources on Earth

17 Water is one of the most ubiquitous, yet scarce resources on Earth

17 Water is one of the most ubiquitous, yet scarce resources on Earth

In many developing nations, people use nearby surface waters to meet their basic needs.

Without improved sanitation, this water is contaminated with raw sewage and other forms of contamination.

17 Water is one of the most ubiquitous, yet scarce resources on Earth

In many developing nations, people use nearby surface waters to meet their basic needs.

Without improved sanitation, this water is contaminated with raw sewage and other forms of contamination.

17 Water is one of the most ubiquitous, yet scarce resources on Earth

In many developing nations, people use nearby surface waters to meet their basic needs.

Without improved sanitation, this water is contaminated with raw sewage and other forms of contamination.

17 Water is one of the most ubiquitous, yet scarce resources on Earth

Freshwater in California flows into the northern part of the state when the Sierra Mountain snowpack melts in the spring.

With climate change, this spring melt is being reduced to critical levels each year.

The California aqueduct redirects some water resources. In cooperation with local agencies, a treatment facility could tap into the aqueduct to provide freshwater.

Like communities around the world, California depends on many sources of water17

TERMS TO KNOWAquiferInfiltrationWater table

Like communities around the world, California depends on many sources of water17

An acrefoot of water is one-foot of water covering a one-acre surface.

This would be about 300,000 gallons and support two families for a year.

Aquifers can only provide water equal to the replenishment rates.

Municipal use is actually dwarfed by agricultural drain.

Like communities around the world, California depends on many sources of water17

There is much room for improvement in how we use water in all sectors. Reduced waste equals reduced consumption.

It might be surprising how much water goes into the products we use on a daily basis.

Like communities around the world, California depends on many sources of water17

There is much room for improvement in how we use water in all sectors. Reduced waste equals reduced consumption.

It might be surprising how much water goes into the products we use on a daily basis.

Like communities around the world, California depends on many sources of water17

Water trickling down into the Earth naturally fills cracks and crevices while maintaining the water table and refilling the aquifer.

In California, proximity to seawater and lower water tables have resulted in saltwater intrusion into the freshwater sources.

Like communities around the world, California depends on many sources of water17

Water trickling down into the Earth naturally fills cracks and crevices while maintaining the water table and refilling the aquifer.

In California, proximity to seawater and lower water tables have resulted in saltwater intrusion into the freshwater sources.

Like communities around the world, California depends on many sources of water17

Water trickling down into the Earth naturally fills cracks and crevices while maintaining the water table and refilling the aquifer.

In California, proximity to seawater and lower water tables have resulted in saltwater intrusion into the freshwater sources.

Like communities around the world, California depends on many sources of water17

TERMS TO KNOWDesalinationSaltwater intrusionEffluentColiform bacteria

Higher freshwater levels prevent seawater infiltration.

To accomplish this, the case site in Orange County has brought together wastewater release reduction of potential toxin exposure from the wastewater, and maintaining a higher water level.

The Groundwater Replenishment System addresses water scarcity and deals with the problems of

wastewater. This system converts sewage water in Orange County into drinking water at a rate of about

55 million gallons of drinking water each day.

There are many approaches to water purification17TERMS TO KNOWPotableWetland

When people move into an area, they bring with them additional demand for water and more waste. As Orange County became more populated, it was necessary to adjust to the highs and lows of the water supply. The existing project was expanded and more wastewater was pumped into the Groundwater Replenishment System.

The wetland marsh in Arcata, California is part of a wastewater treatment system that uses nature to help purify sewage. The wetland is now an Audubon birding sanctuary.

17 There are many approaches to water purification

Sewage must be treated before it can be safely released in the environment.

Most communities use chemical- and energy-intensive high-tech methods, but systems that mimic nature can also effectively purify water.

17 There are many approaches to water purification

Sewage must be treated before it can be safely released in the environment.

Most communities use chemical- and energy-intensive high-tech methods, but systems that mimic nature can also effectively purify water.

17 There are many approaches to water purification

Sewage must be treated before it can be safely released in the environment.

Most communities use chemical- and energy-intensive high-tech methods, but systems that mimic nature can also effectively purify water.

17 There are many approaches to water purification

Sewage must be treated before it can be safely released in the environment.

Most communities use chemical- and energy-intensive high-tech methods, but systems that mimic nature can also effectively purify water.

17 There are many approaches to water purification

As of fall 2011, Orange County’s water district had recycled more than 72 billion gallons of water everyday, meeting the needs of nearly 600,000 residents.

15 Solving water shortages is not easy

TERMS TO KNOWDamReservoir

Much of our water usage can be reduced by using new water-efficient technologies and waste water.

Buying less stuff and using less energy also saves water.

Conservation is an important “source” of water17

Conservation is an important “source” of water17

Conservation is an important “source” of water17

Conservation is an important “source” of water17

Conservation is an important “source” of water17

Conservation is an important “source” of water17

PERSONAL CHOICES THAT HELP17

17 UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE

17 UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE

17 ANALYZING THE SCIENCE

17 EVALUATING NEW INFORMATION

17 MAKING CONNECTIONS