Water Resource and Pollution Flashcards
(88 cards)
1
Q
Importance of Water
A
- Found in every living organism
- Dissolves and transports many molecules (nitrates, phosphates, minerals)
- Quickly moves between three phases, transferring it (and heat) between the surface, atmosphere, and around the planet
2
Q
Distribution of Water
A
- Ocean (97%)
- Freshwater (3%)
- Ice Caps and Glaciers (70%)
- Ground water (Aquifers) (29%)
- Easily Accessible Freshwater (1%)
- Lakes (52%)
- Soil Moisture (38%)
- Water Vapor (8%)
- Rivers (1%)
- Living Organisms (1%)
3
Q
Movement processes of water
A
Hydrologic Cycle
4
Q
Liquid water is heated and converted to water vapor
A
Evaporation
5
Q
Water vapor cools and liquifies
A
Condensation
6
Q
Water droplets combine and fall from clouds
A
Precipitation
7
Q
Seeps through spaces in soil
A
Infiltration
8
Q
Flows downhill to a stream, then a lake or ocean
A
Runoff
9
Q
Evaporation from leaves
A
Transpiration
10
Q
It is an underground formations of rock and sand that hold water
A
Aquifers
11
Q
What is called to the uppermost boundary of aquifers?
A
Water table
12
Q
An ______ ______ is recharged from the ground surface directly above it
A
Unconfined Aquifer
13
Q
A _____ ______ has an impermeable layer of clay or rock that limits recharging to a smaller area
A
Confined Aquifer
14
Q
It is the entire area of land where water runoff or infiltration feeds a specific river
A
Watershed
15
Q
Withdrawal and consumption of water for agriculture, drinking, etc
A
Water Use
16
Q
Two kinds of Using Water
A
- Withdrawal
- Consumption
17
Q
Amount of water diverted or removed from its source. A portion may be returned afterwards
A
Withdrawal
18
Q
Example of Withdrawal
A
Power plant coolant water
19
Q
Water withdrawn and permanently removed from a source
A
Consumption
20
Q
Example of Consumption
A
Irrigation
21
Q
The three largest demands for water withdrawal
A
- Power generation
- Irrigation
- Domestics
22
Q
Demands for water withdrawal:
It is use as a coolant water and for generating steam
A
Power generation (38%)
23
Q
Demands for water withdrawal:
It is use for watering crops
A
Irrigation (39%)
24
Q
Demands for water withdrawal:
It is use as a household water
A
Domestic
25
It is the largest consumer of water worldwide, as most of it is either taken in by plants or evaporated into the atmosphere
Irrigation
26
It occurs when the demand for water is greater than the supply
Water stress
27
Water stress leads to
depletion of freshwater resources
28
Regions with water stress tend to be:
- Naturally arid
- Heavily populated
- Growing water-intensive crops and animals
29
Environmental impacts of overconsumption of freshwater supplies
- Decrease in river flow
- Lowering of lake and reservoir levels
- Subsidence, or the gradual sinking of land
30
Freshwater depletion causes the movement of saltwater into freshwater aquifers
Saltwater Intrusion
31
Due to saltwater intrusion, _____ is contaminated with saltwater
Well
32
Lowering of water table around a well
Cone of Depression
33
Alternative water sources and reducing water consumption
Water Conservation
34
It is the removal of salt from ocean water
Desalination
35
Two possible methods of Desalination
- Distillation
- Reverse osmosis
36
It is a methods where it boils the water and collects the steam
Distillation
37
It is a methods where pressurized water passes through a filter
Reverse osmosis
38
It is the salt waste produced by desalination
Brine
39
What is the energy costs for desalination?
Very high
40
- it is where the efforts of water conservation focus on
- it is the biggest source of water consumption
Agriculture
41
It is installed for tree crops which needs high water
Drip irrigation system
42
It slows runoff and increase infiltration
Contour plowing and terracing
43
It prevent leaks and block evaporation
Lining irrigation canals
44
____ ____ _____ centers around high-efficiency devices
Home water conservation
45
Low-flow showerheads and faucets use ________ to reduce water consumption
aerators
46
Dual-flush toilets use ____ _____ for urine and _____ for solid waste
- less water
- more water
47
________ ________ and _______ ________ run longer, but use much _____ _____ per cycle
- efficient dishwashers and washing machines
- less water
48
It uses drought-tolerant plants in the homes and yards in arid climates
Xeriscaping
49
It recirculate used water from the sink or shower into the toilet or for yard irrigation
Graywater systems
50
It is an established rules and regulations for what can be discharged into surface waters
Clean Water Act
51
From the industrial revolution until the passage of the Clean Water Act in ______, surface waters were used as ________ _____ _____
- 1970
- industrial dump sites
52
The _____ lists all ______ _____ that do not meet one or more of the standards
- EPA
- impaired waters
53
Causes of impaired waters
- Coliform Bacteria
- Heavy Metals
- Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
- Oxygen-depleting pollution
- Nutrient Pollution
54
Disease-causing bacteria from untreated human sewage and manure
Coliform Bacteria
55
- neurotoxins
- released by mining and the use of synthetic fertilizers
Heavy Metals
56
- synthetic chemicals that do not degrade and are prone to biomagnification and bioaccumulation
- Forever chemicals
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
57
Biodegradable matter consumed by decomposers, who deplete oxygen levels in the water
Oxygen-depleting Pollution
58
Nitrogen and phosphorous-rich
compounds that promote algae overgrowth
Nutrient Pollution
59
______ _____ water pollution comes from single, identifiable source
Point source
60
Point sources
- Factories
- Water treatment plants
61
______ ____ water pollution comes runoff or infiltration from a wide area
Nonpoint source
62
Nonpoint source
- Agricultural fields (manure, fertilizer, pesticides)
- City stormwater drains
- Home septic systems
63
It is an increase in algae growth as
fertilizer enters surface waters
Cultural eutrophication
64
It promotes algae overgrowth
Elevated nitrates and phosphates
65
It block sunlight, killing submerged plants
Algae
66
As the algae die, ________ use up the ______ ______ in the water
- decomposers
- dissolved oxygen
67
Oligotrophic
- low nutrients
- low turbidity
- high sunlight
68
Mesotrophic
- Increasing nutrients, turbidity, and algae
- Decreasing sunlight
69
Eutrophic
- High nutrients
- High turbidity
- Hypoxia, reduced dissolved oxygen
70
Hypereutrophic
- High nutrients
- High turbidity
- Anoxia, absence of dissolved oxygen
71
It is a rule that exists for Lake Michigan Fish
3C's rule
72
3C's rule
- Choose
- Clean
- Cook
73
3C's rule:
Choose
fish that are primary consumers and not bottom feeders
74
3C's rule:
Clean
fish for eating by removing as much fat as possible
75
3C's rule:
Cook
fish on a grill or grate
76
Drinking Water Regulations
- Safe Drinking Water Act (EPA)
- Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDA)
77
It sets limits and testing requirements for contaminants in municipal tap water
Safe Drinking Water Act (EPA)
78
Generally fewer testing and contaminant requirements than tap water
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDA)
79
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDA):
Water must be classified
- Artesian: Confined aquifer
- Mineral/Spring: Unconfined aquifer
- Purified: Tapwater
80
The act that required tankers to have a double hull design by 2015 and increased the legal liability of oil companies for spills
Oil Pollution Act of 1990
81
Impacts of oil spills
- Mammals
- Birds
- Fish and Plankton
- Benthos
- Coastal Ecosystems
82
Impacts of oil spills in Mammals
It penetrates their fur, causing hypothermia in cold waters
83
Impacts of oil spills in Birds
It penetrates their feathers, preventing flight and causing hypothermia
84
Impacts of oil spills in Fish and Plankton
Oil is directly toxic to
them
85
Impacts of oil spills in Coastal Ecosystems
Oil washes up on shore, polluting beaches and wetlands
86
Impacts of oil spills to Benthos
If dispersants are used, oil sinks to the bottom of the sea and suffocates benthic communities
87
Plastics are not biodegradable but will break down into smaller pieces as they are exposed to sunlight, forming tiny ________
microplastics
88
Microplastics _____________ in fish and shellfish, then _________ through the food chain
- bioaccumulate
- biomagnify
