SSM 3301 - Quiz 3: Water Use

On a global scale, match the water use category with the appropriate percentage of total water use (both consumptive and non-consumptive)

Agriculture/Irrigation

Energy

Domestic & Industrial

Agriculture/Irrigation - 70%

Domestic & Industrial - 20%

Energy - 10%

According to the Minnesota Water Sustainability Framework, the largest water use in Minnesota between 1985 - 2005 was irrigation.

True or False

False

Agriculture dominates the use of freshwater resources in every country of the world

False

In Dr. Stillwell's lecture she presents ten problems facing humanity. Which of the following is NOT at the top of that list?

A) Food

B) Population

C) Energy

D) Water

B (population)

Dr. Peterson describes 4 major sectors of global water use, agricultural, industrial, municipal and artificial lake evaporation. Match the water use sectors with their relative amount of water withdrawn over time

The largest water user

The 2nd largest water user

The smallest water user

The largest water user - Agricultural withdrawal

The 2nd largest water user - Industrial

The smallest water user - Evaporation from artificial lakes

Dr. Heidi Peterson mentions that about 39% of the rainfall over land is available as water for human use. However there is much less than that in many areas. What are some potential reasons for that based on this lecture and what you've learned before? Check all that apply

High rates of evaporation

Uneven distribution of water geographically

What percent of the total rainfall on land is used by forests and natural landscapes?

A) 56%

B) 83%

C) 12%

D) 34%

A (56%)

How much water per day does a person need to survive in a moderate climate, on average?

A) None, because we can survive 5-7 days without water

B) 0.6 -1.3 gallons

C) 0.0 to 0.5 gallons

D) 6-13 gallons

B (0.6-1.3 gallons)

Minnesota's largest water use category considering both consumptive and non-consumptive uses is ________?

A) Irrigation

B) Mining

C) Livestock

D) Domestic water supply

E) Thermoelectric (power)

E (thermoelectric power)

Consumptive use of water by a sector (i.e. industry or agriculture) implies that the water used by that sector is "consumed" and no longer available for use by downstream water users in that basin

True

Which of the following regions has the least access to safe drinking water supplies according to the Water Risk Atlas presented by Dr. Peterson

A) Central Africa

B) Australia

C) Brazil (eastern South America)

D) southeast Asia

A

In Dr. Peterson's presentation, she discusses water use in the United States by category. Which of the following categories withdraws the largest amount of water in the U.S.?

A) Irrigation

B) Livestock use

C) Thermo-electric cooling

D) Domestic use

C (thermo-electric cooling)

The term or concept "peak water" describes the following phenomenon:

A) The point at which freshwater is being consumed faster than it is being replenished, or available

B) Water is not created or destroyed, but just moves through the water cycle

C) Peak water means the tip of the iceberg

D) The maximum rate at which groundwater is replenished

A (The point at which freshwater is being consumed faster than it is being replenished, or available)

Which two U.S. States are among the highest country-wide, in domestic water use?

A) California and Hawaii

B) Florida & Alaska

C) New York and Illinois

D) Texas and North Dakota

C (New York and Illinois)

Letting your faucet run for 5 minutes uses about the same amount of energy as keeping a 60-watt lightbulb on for 14 hours

True

Biofuels, if not irrigated, are on-par with traditional transportation fuels (gasoline and diesel, in terms of the water use required to produce the fuel

True

What is meant by the "water energy nexus"?

A) Nexus means space, so this refers to water in outer space

B) You didn't go for that outer space choice, did you?

C) Power plants are often located on rivers

D) Refers specifically to energy from hydropower

E) Water is needed to produce energy and energy is needed to withdraw and provide clean water

E (Water is needed to produce energy and energy is needed to withdraw and provide clean water)

As electricity sources, solar-thermal power uses substantially less water than nuclear power

False

Water treatment and distribution uses energy in variety of ways. Check all the ways that our water system use energy

Heating

Collection and conveyance of water

Wastewater treatment

Dr. Ashlynn Stillwell described what trade-off, in the development of biofuels for transportation

A) Freshwater trade-off with solar power

B) Biofuels trade-off with hydrogen power

C) Foreign oil dependency trade-off for dependency on the sun

D) Foreign oil dependency trade-off for domestic water

D (Foreign oil dependency trade-off for domestic water)

What is meant by the "water-energy nexus"?

Power plants are often located on rivers.

Nexus means space, so this refers to water in outer space.

You didn't go for that outer space choice, did you?

Refers specifically to energy from hydropower.

Water is needed to produce energy and energy is needed to withdraw and provide clean water.

In "The Water's Edge" article, the age of some aquifers are listed. What is the age of the freshwater found in the oldest aquifer, found below the African desert?

1 million years old

100 million years old

100,000 years old

1,000 years old

1 million years old

Which parts of the world have the highest percentage of renewable water resources withdrawn as a % of the amount prescribed by the Millennium development goals, which is >28%. 

northern Africa

Electric powered vehicles offer the best of both worlds: reduced carbon emissions and reduced water requirements (for fuel production).

True or False

False

Which of these "top problems of humanity" were identified and placed at the top of the list by Nobel Laureate, Rick Smalley?

Internet Access

Transportation
Food

Energy

Water

Food

Energy

Water