SPDI: GENERAL INFORMATION

SPDI: General Information | (Hydrological Cycle, Physical Properties of Water, Uses of Water, Characteristics of Water Quality)

WATER

Inorganic compound composed of hydrogen and oxygen (H2O), existing in liquid, gas (steam, water vapor), and solid (ice) states. Life depends on it for virtually every process, its ability to dissolve many other substances being perhaps its most essential quality.

FREEZING POINT OF WATER

0°C

BOILING POINT OF WATER

100°C

HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE

commonly known as water cycle, is all about storing water and moving water on, in, and above the Earth. It consists of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

THE 3 PRINCIPAL LOOPS OF HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE

1. Surface Runoff Loop

2. Evapotranspiration Loop

3. Groundwater Loop

EVAPORATION

is the process by which water changes from liquid to a gas or vapor

CONDENSATION

is the process by which water vapor in the air is changed into liquid water

PRECIPITATION

is water released from clouds in the form of rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, or hail. It is the primary connection in the water cycle that provides for the delivery of atmospheric water to the Earth.

SURFACE RUNOFF

Is water from rain or snow that flows over the surface of the ground into streams.

SUBLIMATION

Is the conversion between the solid and gaseous phases of matter, with no intermediate liquid stage.

DEPOSITION

the opposite of sublimation; where water vapor changes directly into ice- such as snowflakes and frost.

INFILTRATION

occurs when a portion of the water that falls as rain and snow pass through subsurface soil and rock

TRANSPIRATION

is essentially evaporation of water from plant leaves.

EVATRANSPIRATION

is defined as the water lost to the atmosphere from the ground surface, evaporation from the capillary fringe of the groundwater table, and the transpiration of groundwater by plants whose roots tap the capillary fringe of the groundwater table

HEAT CAPACITY

water has the ability to absorb hear without becoming much warmer itself.

SURFACE TENSION

It is the ability of water to stick itself and pull itself together.

CAPILLARITY

The ability of water to climb upon a surface against the pull of gravity.

DISSOLVING ABILITY

the ability of water to dissolve almost any substance; it is known as a universal solvent.

SALT WATER

water contains at least 3% salt

BRACKISH WATER

a mixture of fresh and salt water, typically found where rivers enter the ocean.

FRESH WATER

water having a salt concentration below 0.01%.

PURE WATER

water that is colorless and odourless and not found in nature; without any impurities; excellent solvent.

PURIFIED WATER

Water which undergoes treatment, physical, biological, or chemical means to improve water quality.

PURIFICATION

It is an artificial means of obtaining chemically pure water.

CONTAMINATED WATER

Water with any material or substance that affects the quality of water and affects the health of an individual.

POLLUTED WATER

Water with the presence of any foreign substance (organic, inorganic, radiological, and biological) which tends to degrade its quality so as to constitute health hazard and impair the potability of water.

HARD WATER

Water with the presence of elements such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), Iron (Fe), and Aluminum (Al). This is characterized by the difficulty of producing lather from detergents and the presence of scale deposits in pipes and heaters or boilers.

SOFT WATER

Water without the presence of calcium and magnesium. This is characterized by the easiness of producing lather from detergents and absence of scale formation in boilers, heaters, and pipes.

GREY WATER

Water from laundries, wash basins, sinks, showers, and bathtubs.

BLACK WATER

water-plus-human waste that is flushed out of toilers and urinals

STORM WATER

rain, surface run-off.

WATER QUALITY

the degree to which water is pure enough to fulfill the requirements of various demands or uses.

TURBIDITY

caused by the presence of suspended materials, such as clay, silt, other inorganic material, and planktons or finely divided organic materials.

COLOR

often caused by dissolved organic matter, as from decaying vegetation

TASTE AND ORDER

can be caused by organic compounds, inorganic salts, or dissolved gases

TEMPERATURE

in general, water supplied between 50° and 60°F (10° and 15°C) is preferred

FOAMABILITY

usually caused by concentration of detergents

ALKALINITY

caused by bicarbonate, carbonate, or hydrocide components

pH

is a measure on water’s hydrogen ion concentration, as well as its relative acidity or alkalinity

pH > 7

alkaline or base (with 14 as the ultimate alkalinity)

pH = 7

neutral

pH < 7

acid (with 0 as the ultimate acidity)

HARDNESS

is caused by calcium and magnesium salts and can be classified as temporary (carbonate) and permanent (bicarbonate). Temporary ___ is temporarily removed by heating or boiling, it forms scale.

TOXIC SUBSTANCES

are substances such as arsenic (As), Barium (Ba), Cadmium (Cd), Cyanides (CN), Fluoride (F), Lead (Pb), Selenium (Se), and Silver (Ag)

CHLORIDES

can enter water as it passes through geological deposits formed by marine sediment, or because of pollution from sea water, brine, or industrial or domestic wastes

COPPER

can enter water from natural copper deposits or from copper piping that contains corrosive water

IRON

is frequently present in groundwater; corrosive water in __ pipes will also add _ to water

MANGANESE

can both pose a psychological threat (it is a natural laxative) and produce color and taste effects similar to those produced by iron

NITRATES

in shallow wells, __ concentration can indicate seepage from deposits of livestock manure

SODIUM

is primarily harmful to people with heart, kidney, or circulatory ailments

SULFATES

have laxative effects, it can get to groundwater from natural deposits of salts

ZINC

It sometimes enters groundwater in areas where it is found in abundance

BACTERIA

coliform group (E. Coli), which is present in fecal matter of human as well as those birds and other animals; cases disease.

PROTOZOA

are one-celled animals and the smallest of all animals

VIRUSES

are not plants, animals, or bacteria, but they are the quintessential parasites of the living kingdoms; they are not living organisms in the strict sense of the word