Download Water Supply and Water Users

Water Supply and
Water Users
Modified by Georgia Agricultural
Education Curriculum Office
June, 2002
August 2008
Water
• one of the most
fascinating
compounds on
earth
• necessary
ingredient for all
living organisms
August 2008
Water
• covers about 70% of the
earth of the earth’s surface
• 340 million cubic miles of
water on the planet
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Water
• 97% is in oceans
• 2% is freshwater
• 1% is frozen in glaciers and
icecaps
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The water cycle
• the amount of water on and
around this planet is fairly
constant
• availability of water is not as
constant
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The water cycle
• water is continuously
moving from place to place
• the water cycle is called the
hydrologic cycle
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The water cycle
• powered by solar
energy
• heats the water
causing it to rise
into the
atmosphere
• called evaporation
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The water cycle
• water eventually returns to
the ocean in the form of
rain, sleet or snow
• returned water is called
meteoric water
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The water cycle
• if the oceans were not
recharged, their water level
would decrease over 40
inches per year
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The water cycle
• the oceans are the largest
reservoir of water we know
• this water is unsuitable for
drinking, agricultural use, or
industrial use because of
the high salt content
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The water cycle
• the salt is left behind when
the ocean water evaporates
• once the water has
evaporated, it forms clouds
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The water cycle
• the water then comes back
to the earth as rain, sleet or
snow
• clouds may drop water over
land or over the ocean
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The water cycle
• rainwater accounts for only
1% of the total water supply
• rain is vital in keeping the
water balance on earth
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The water cycle
• role of plants and animals in
the cycle
• plants absorb water through
their roots and release it
through tiny pores in their
leaves called stomates
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The water cycle
• evaporation of water from
plants is called transpiration
• animals also need water for
their growth
• promotes chemical activity,
regulates temperature
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The water cycle
• and transports nutrients
through the blood of
animals
• 65% of an animals weight is
water
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The water cycle
• surface water
• about 30% of the rainfall in
the US falls into out lakes,
ponds and streams
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The water cycle
• this surface water is the
most important element to
the conservationist
• used by people over and
over as it makes its way
toward the ocean
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The water cycle
• used for agriculture
• industrial
• domestic needs
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Pollution
• renders much of the water
unsuitable for our needs
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Ground water
• water that does not either
evaporate or run off - soaks
into the earth
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Three zones
• surface - dry soil accepts
water until saturated
• zone of aeration - empty
spaces filled with air,
extends from the deepest
roots to just above the water
table
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Three zones
• groundwater zone - below
zone of aeration
• water saturated rocks called
aquifers
• can equal about 100 years
of surface runoff volume
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Main components
• oceans
• evaporation - transpiration
• plants and animals
• surface water
• ground water
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Water users
• variation in population
densities
• U.S. Population drinks
about 100 million gallons of
water per day
• only a fraction of water used
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Water users
• agriculture
• industry
• hydroelectric plants
• fish and wildlife
• recreational and domestic
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Agriculture
• main use is
irrigation
• most common
methods include:
• surface and
sprinkler
techniques
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Industry
• uses more water than any
other raw material
• only a small part of the
water is actually consumed
• used as a medium for other
processes
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Industry
• canning - water is used to
clean product and the
containers
• cool ovens
• boil the product
• wash away wastes
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Industry
• may become part of the
product
• most water is recycled or
returned to the natural water
cycle in a drainage ditch or
stream
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Industry
• paper is made in water
• industry draws about 40
billion gallons of water per
day
• water supply - major factor
in location of industry
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Industry
• strong pollution control
methods to recycle water
rather than draw from an
outside source
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Hydroelectric plants
• major use of water
• US leads the world in
hydroelectric power
• supplies only a small portion
of our needs
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Hydroelectric Plants
• concern is with damming of
rivers
• fish runs are interrupted
• habitat is changed
• puts wildlife in danger
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Fish and Wildlife
• the way water is handled
affects the fish in the water
and the wildlife around the
water
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Fish and Wildlife
• land wildlife, inland birds,
waterfowl
• different species require
different types of water
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Fish and Wildlife
• some fish prosper in cold
mountain streams
• some may prefer fast
running rapids
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Recreation
• boating, water skiing, fishing,
sailing and swimming
• Swimming pools - require
a lot of water to keep them
in compliance with
health regulations.
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Recreation
• frozen water activities
• ice skating, hockey,
snowboarding and skiing
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Domestic Uses
• cooking
• baths or showers
• carry away wastes
• Each American uses more
water than any other person
in the world
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Domestic Uses
• In the US each person uses
approximately 150 gallons
of water per day
• bath - 3-40 gallons
• shower - 5 gallons per
minute
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Domestic Uses
• Wash clothes - 30 gallons
• flush the toilet - 3 gallons
• water the lawn and garden,
wash cars
• fire protection
August 2008
Use
• How wasteful can we be
and still have enough clean
water to survive?
August 2008