Human Impact on Water
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58 Terms
What percentage of Earth's fresh liquid water is found on the surface?
Less than 1%.
Why is freshwater considered a limited resource?
It cannot be replaced as quickly as it is used.
What are the two main types of Earth's liquid water?
Surface water and groundwater.
What is surface water?
Water found above the ground, including rivers, lakes, snow, and ice.
What is groundwater?
Water that has seeped below Earth's surface.
Where can groundwater be found?
In spaces in rocks or soil, where it may be frozen or liquid.
What is an aquifer?
A body of rock or sediment that stores water and allows it to flow easily.
Why are wells dug into aquifers?
To obtain groundwater for people to use.
What are pores?
Spaces in aquifers where water is stored.
What is permafrost?
Frozen water found in soil, rocks, and sand.
Where is permafrost mainly found?
In polar regions.
What happens to permafrost year-round?
It stays frozen all year.
What are common freshwater sources?
Rivers, streams, and most lakes.
Why are rivers and lakes important?
Millions of people rely on them for freshwater.
What is water quality?
A measure of how clean or polluted water is.
What is water supply?
The availability of water.
How does water supply affect where people live?
It influences where cities and farms can be built.
What are water supply systems?
Systems that carry water from groundwater or surface water for human use.
What is a reservoir?
A body of water usually formed behind a dam.
What is a canal?
A manmade waterway used for transportation or irrigation.
What is an aqueduct?
An artificial channel used to carry water over obstacles.
What is urbanization?
The growth of cities as people move into them.
Why is urbanization possible?
Because water supply systems provide freshwater.
How does urbanization affect water demand?
It increases the need for water in cities.
What causes water shortages?
High demand, droughts, and leaking pipes.
Why are water shortages dangerous?
They threaten human health and food crops.
What happens as people use more water?
More wastewater is created.
How can pollution enter water supplies?
Pollutants can seep into surface water and groundwater.
How can pollution spread far from its source?
Through the water cycle.
How do dams and irrigation canals affect the environment?
They change water flow and local ecosystems.
What is subsidence?
Soil collapse caused by removing groundwater faster than it can be replaced.
What is saltwater intrusion?
Seawater entering aquifers because of groundwater overuse.
What is water pollution?
Adding harmful waste or materials to water.
What is point-source pollution?
Pollution from one specific source.
Why is point-source pollution easier to control?
Because the source can usually be identified.
What is nonpoint-source pollution?
Pollution from many small sources.
Why is nonpoint-source pollution harder to control?
Because it comes from many places.
What is thermal pollution?
The warming of natural water due to human activity.
Why is thermal pollution harmful?
Warm water contains less oxygen for aquatic life.
What is chemical pollution?
Adding harmful chemicals to water.
What are two major sources of chemical pollution?
Industry and agriculture.
What is biological pollution?
Adding living or dead organisms to water.
What is wastewater?
Water used by people for activities like showering or flushing toilets.
Why can wastewater be dangerous?
It may contain disease-causing microbes.
What is eutrophication?
An increase in nutrients in water.
What is artificial eutrophication?
Human activity increasing nutrient levels in water.
What happens when too many nutrients enter water?
Algae and plants overgrow, reducing oxygen and killing organisms.
Why do scientists test water?
To find harmful chemicals and organisms.
What are some measurements of water quality?
Dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, dissolved solids, turbidity, and microbes.
What is turbidity?
The cloudiness of water caused by particles.
What happens to drinking water before people use it?
It is treated to remove harmful chemicals and organisms.
Where does wastewater go after use?
Into the sewage system and then wastewater treatment plants.
What is potable water?
Water that is safe to drink.
What is the Safe Drinking Water Act?
A U.S. law that ensures safe drinking water.
Who enforces the Safe Drinking Water Act?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Why did the Aral Sea shrink?
Rivers feeding it were redirected for agriculture.
How did the size of the Aral Sea change after the rivers were changed?
It shrank to 10% of its original size and split into 3 parts.
What were the effects of the rivers diverting for agriculture?
It became heavily polluted and dust from its dried seabed became a health hazard.