Studied by 2 PeopleTags & Description
aquifers
a permeable layer of rock and sediment that contains groundwater
confined aquifer
an aquifer that is surrounded by impermeable rock that impedes water flow
unconfined aquifer
an aquifer made of porous water covered by soil out of which water can easily flow
water table
the uppermost level at which water in a given area fully saturates rock or soil
groundwater recharge
a process by which water percolates through the soil and works its way into an aquifer
spring
a natural source of water formed when water from an aquifer percolates up to the ground surface
artesian well
a well created by drilling a hole into a confined aquifer
Nearly what percent of Earth’s percent is covered by water?
70%
Cone of depression
An area lacking groundwater due to rapid withdrawal from a well. (In other words, if a deep well is adjacent to two other more shallow wells, the deep well could consume so much water that the shallow wells will no longer be able to reach the level of the groundwater)
Saltwater intrusion
an infiltration of salt water in an area where groundwater pressure has been reduced from extensive drilling of wells
How does saltwater intrusion work?
When large amounts of wells are pumping groundwater out of a coastal area, the pressure of the freshwater against the salt water decreases below sea level allowing the salt water to infiltrate into the area of rapid pumping, leading to saltier groundwater.
impermeable surfaces
pavement or buildings that do not allow water penetration
floodplain
the land adjacent to a river
levee
an enlarged bank built up on each side of a river
dike
a structure built to prevent ocean waters from flooding adjacent land
dam
a barrier that runs across a river or stream to control the flow of water
reservoir
the water body created by damming a river or stream
fish ladder
a stair like structure that allows migrating fish to get around a dam
Uses of dams include
human consumption of reservoir water, recreation, generation of electricity, flood control.
aqueduct
a canal, ditch or pipe used to carry water from one location to another
desalination
the process of removing salt from salt water
distillation
a process of desalination in which water is boiled and the resulting steam is captured and condensed to yield pure water
reverse osmosis
a process of distillation in which water is forced through a thin semipermeable membrane at high pressure
water footprint
the total daily per capita use of fresh water
_____ is the largest use of water in the world.
Agriculture
Furrow irrigation
An ancient type of irrigation where farmers dig trenches adjacent to crops and flood them to supply the crops with water
Flood irrigation
flooding an entire field with water and letting the water soak in evenly
Spray irrigation
Water is sprayed up into the air and drops on plants mimicking precipitation conditions; inefficient, most water evaporates.
drip irrigation
a slowly dripping hose that is laid on the ground or buried beneath the soil.
hydroponic agriculture
the cultivation of plants in greenhouse conditions by immersing roots in a nutrient-dense solution
Nearly three quarters of water in the US is used for
thermoelectric power and agriculture.
Most consumptive use of indoor water is
toilet.
tiered water-pricing systems
a water allocation system that charges rates that increase with the amount of water consumed
xeriscaping
a style of landscaping that removes water-intensive vegetation from lawns and replaces it with more water efficient native landscaping
Furrow irrigation is about _____ efficient
65%
Flood irrigation is about _____ efficient
70-80%
Spray irrigation is about _____ efficient
75-95%
Drip irrigation is about _____ efficient
95%
Refined copper requires _____ litres of water to manufacture per kg.
440
Aluminum requires _____ litres of water to manufacture per kg.
410
Steel requires _____ litres of water to manufacture per kg.
260
Paper requires _____ litres of water to manufacture per kg.
125
After Jan 1994, toilets must use ______ litres or less per flush.
6
wastewater
water produced by livestock operations and human activities, including human sewage from toilets and grey water from bathing and washing of clothes and dishes
point source
a distinct location from which pollution is directly produced
non-point source
a diffuse area that produces pollution
biochemical oxygen demand
the amount of oxygen a quantity of water uses over a period of time at a specific temperature
Eutrophication
a phenomenon in which a body of water becomes rich in nutrients
Cultural eutrophication
an increase in fertility in a body of water, the result of anthropogenic inputs of nutrients
indicator species
a species that indicates whether or not disease causing pathogens are likely to be present
fecal-coliform bacteria
a group of generally harmless microorganisms in human intestines that can serve as an indicator species for potentially harmful microorganisms associated with contaminated sewage
septic system
a relatively small and simple sewage treatment system, made up of a septic tank and a leach field, often used for homes in rural areas
septic tank
a large container that receives wastewater from a house as part of a septic system
sludge
solid waste material from wastewater
septage
a layer of fairly clear water found in the middle of a septic tank
leach field
a component of a septic system made up of underground pipes laid out below the surface of the ground
manure lagoon
human-made pond lined with rubber built to handle large quantities of manure produced by livestock
Steps of a wastewater treatment plant
wastewater arrives at a wastewater treatment plant via pipes from municipal areas
large debris and particulates are filtered out by screens and sent to landfills
primary treatment allows particulates to sink to the bottom of the p treatment tank and remaining water transfers to secondary treatment
the water is aerated in the secondary treatment to allow aerobic bacteria to take over reducing the foul odours of the water. particulates continue to compile in the bottom.
all particulates are sent to tubes where they become thickened sludge and are transported away from the treatment plant
water from secondary treatment enters the last stage, where it is sterilised either through UV radiation, chlorine, or ozone.
water is now “reclaimed” and can be dumped into rivers or lakes, used for irrigation, etc.
Source of lead
Lead-lined pipes, materials that contain lead such as brass fittings. Water with high chloride concentration will erode the lead pipes rapidly leading to lead contamination in drinking water.
Effect of lead
attacks the nervous system and can lead to kidney damage.
Source of arsenic
occurs naturally in Earth’s crust and can seep into groundwater, this can be amplified by mining or artesian drilling
effects of arsenic
cancers of the skin, lungs, kidneys and bladder.
sources of mercury
2/3 come from burning of coal, also incineration of garbage, hazardous waste and medical, dental & laboratory supplies. Petroleum exploration
Acid deposition
acids deposited on Earth as rain and snow or as gases and particles that attach to the surfaces of plants, soil, and water.
Sources of acid deposition
industrial plants burning coal and releasing sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide in the air.
Abandon coal mines will overflow with groundwater and what will happen?
The pyrite in the coal mine will break down releasing Fe and H into the water making it more acidic, this water will seep upwards and can contaminate drinking water and lead to acidification of natural environments as well as acid mine drainage.
____% of all oil in water worldwide originates from natural seeps.
45
Ways oil pollution occurs
Offshore oil drilling, oil spills
Ways oil clean up occurs
containment, clumping, dispersion, burning, bacteria. CCDBB
How can human activity increase sediment load in rivers?
Deforestation around riparian zones, construction of buildings, plowing
thermal polution
nonchemical water pollution that occurs when human activities cause a substantial change in the temperature of the water.
thermal shock
a dramatic change in water temperature that can kill organisms
Clean Water Act
Legislation that supports the “protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water” by maintaining and, when necessary, restoring the chemical, physical, and biological properties of surface waters.
Safe Drinking Water Act
Legislation that sets the national standards for safe drinking water.
Maximum contaminant levels
The standard for safe drinking water established by the EPA under the SDWA
waste
material outputs from a system that are not useful or consumed
planned obsolescence
the process of designing a product so that it will need to be replaced within a few years.
municipal solid waste (MSW)
refuse collected by municipalities from households, small businesses and institutions.
waste stream
the flow of solid waste that is recycled, incinerated, placed in a solid waste landfill, or disposed of in another way
reduce, reuse, recycle
a popular phrase promoting the idea of diverting materials from the waste stream.
source reduction
an approach to waste management that seeks to cut waste by reducing the use of potential waste materials in the early stages of design and manufacturing.
reuse
using a product or material that was intended to be discarded.
what is the most environmentally beneficial “r”
reuse
Not purchasing CDs at all is an example of source reduction on the
individual level.