AGSM 105 Exam I

Groundwater

(1) water that flows or seeps downward and saturates soil or rock, supplying springs and

wells. The upper surface of the saturate zone is called the water table.

(2) Water stored underground in rock crevices and in the pores of geologic materials that make up the Earth's crust.

Groundwater Confined

groundwater under pressure significantly greater than atmospheric, with its upper limit

the bottom of a bed with hydraulic conductivity distinctly lower than that of the material

in which the confined water occurs.

Groundwater recharge

inflow of water to a groundwater reservoir from the surface.

• Infiltration of precipitation and its movement to the water table is one form of natural recharge. Volume of water increases

water hardness

a water-quality indication of the concentration of alkaline salts in water, mainly calcium and magnesium.

drip irrigation

Method where pipes or tubes filled with water slowly drip onto crops, a low-pressure method of irrigation

infiltration

flow of water from the land surface into the subsurface

leaching

the process by which soluble materials in the soil, such as salts, nutrients, pesticide chemicals or contaminants, are washed into a lower layer of soil or are dissolved and carried away by water.

outfall

the place where a sewer, drain, or stream discharges

levee

a natural or manmade earthen barrier along the edge of a stream, lake, or river.

water diseases

Giardiasis and Cryptosporidium

greywater

household water generated from showers, washing machine, baths

blackwater

household water generated from toilets, dishwasher, and the kitchen

organic matter

Plant and animal residues, or substances made by living organisms.

point source pollution

water pollution coming from a single point, such as a sewage-outflow pipe.

water flow vs. water pressure

the amount of water traveling through/by a place vs. psi (pounds per square inch)

hydrology

literally ‘water science’, encompasses the study of the occurrence and movement

of water on and beneath the surface of the Earth, the properties of water, and its

relationship with the living and material components of the environment.

Pathways of the Water Cycle

Precipitation, Evapotranspiration, Groundwater, Surface Water

Precipitation

measured by inches/hour

Water Distribution

96.5% oceans, 2.5% freshwater (most in glaciers, the rest in groundwater and surfacewater)

What is the major consumer of water worldwide?

Agriculture

How does the size of Houston Public Works compare to other public works organizations?

It is the largest and most diverse public works organization in the country.

Houston Public Works is responsible for:

streets,

drainage,

producing and distributing water,

collecting and treating wastewater,

and permitting and regulation of construction.

Approximately how many people are served by the Houston Public Works?

2.3 million people

The City of Houston drinking water system has a “ _______” rating.

Superior

Houston is the regional water provider for…

Harris County and portions of the three surrounding counties.

Houston has sufficient water supplies through the year…

2050

What is the majority of Houston’s water used for?

industrial and manufacturing purposes

What sources of surface water does the City of Houston have? And how much ownership does it have over these sources?

1. Lake Livingston (70%)

2. Lake Houston (100%)

3. Lake Conroe (70%)

4. Lower Trinity River

What percentage of Houston's water supply comes from surface water? Ground water?

86% surfacewater, 14% groundwater

The positive effects of Houston protecting its water resources from contaminants is it

1. eliminates the need for supplementary

   treatment procedures

   2. delays the cost of new infrastructure

   3. delays increases in water rates

List methods of limiting pollution/contamination of Houston’s surface water sources.

• an educated and informed community.

• Citizens play an important role in reducing the amount of pollution that enters our water resources.

• Proper use and maintenance of motorized equipment can eliminate fluid discharges

into our waterways.

Know how many gallons of water our classroom holds and how to do calculations with this number.

How/by which authority do you think the watershed for the San Jacinto river should be managed?

I think the watershed should be managed by the city of Houston and they should create regulations to prevent runoff.

What are some of the challenges Texas faces with water supply?

a. Reduced water supply

b. Population rise

c. Land conversion and fragmentation

d. Aging Infrastructure and workforce

e. Drought and flooding

f. Private property infringement

g. Water resources distant from population centers

How much water is required to produce 1 kg of bread?

1000 kg of water per 1 kg of bread

acre-foot

326,000 gallons

What is the state of Texas’ water distribution?

Surface water 43%, Groundwater 53%, Reuse 4%

What is the longest river in Texas?

The Brazos River, 840 miles

What is the only natural lake in Texas?

Caddo Lake

What is the purpose of reservoirs?

a. Flood Control

b. Hydroelectric Power

c. Water Supply

What are the limits to the rule of capture?

a. Malicious taking water for the sole purpose of injuring his or her neighbor

b. Willingly or wantonly wasting groundwater

c. Negligently drilling or pumping from a well in a manner than causes subsidence

d. Pumping from a contaminated well

e. Trespassing in order to pump groundwater

What is the transfer rate for the Wilcox Aquifer?

Every 10 gal of brackish water is converted to 9 gal of drinking water

water quality

a term used to describe the chem/phys/bio characteristics of water, usually in respect to its suitability for a particular purpose.

What is the distribution of domestic water use?

85% of water is distributed through public supply, 15% of water is individually supplied

artesian well

groundwater that is under pressure when tapped by a well and is able to rise above the level at which it is first encountered. (NOT a temporary spring like in John Wayne movies)

Common Contaminants of Artesian Wells

a. Arsenic

b. Fertilizer (nitrogen)

c. Septic systems

d. Industrial pollution from site-specific sources

e. Flood waters over the well

What is the purpose of a turbine pump?

a. Provide water flow

b. Provide water pressure

c. Electrically driven by a motor

d. Sit at bottom of the well, in the water

e. Screen get clogged eventually

pressure tank

Maintains pressure when pump is not on, Stores water for use

well casing

Maintains integrity of well shaft

a. Steel

b. Stainless steel

c. Plastic

components of a water well

a. pressure tank

b. Pressure switch

c. Submersible pump (electric motor driven)

d. Casing

e. Electrical wiring

drawdown

extraction of water from water table (significance depends on size of the well), creates a cone of depression

riparian water rights

landowners adjacent to a flowing stream or river can use the water.

Inter-basin Transfer

movement of water from one significant basin to another (i.e. Vista Ridge Project)

Subsidence

sinking of the ground because of underground material

movement, most often caused by the removal of water, oil, natural

gas, or mineral resources out of the ground by pumping, fracking, or

mining activities.

Hard vs. Soft water

High vs. Low levels of calcium and magnesium

conveyance loss

water that is lost in transit from pipe, canal, or ditch by leakage or evaporation.

effluent

water that flows from a sewage treatment plant after it has been treated.

soil erosion

the process in which a material (soil) is worn away by a stream of liquid (water) or air, often due to the presence of abrasive particles in the stream.

estuary

a place where fresh and saltwater mix, such as a bay, salt marsh, or where a river enters an ocean.

leaching

the process by which soluble materials in the soil, such as salts, nutrients, pesticide chemicals or contaminants, are washed into a lower layer of soil or are dissolved and carried away by water.

levee

a natural or manmade earthen barrier along the edge of a stream, lake, or river.