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82 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Describe and understand variousprocesses in the water cycle. |
- All fresh h20 comes out of the cycle somewhere - both quantitative and qualitative issues |
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Describe and evaluate the options for making water supplies go farther. |
*Inter basin Water transfer: Columbia and Snake to Cali. Snake to Oil shale beds. *Icebergs in AK *Use less *Desalination plants: Israel, Arabian Peninsula *Ogallala Aquifer- replace with h20 from great lakes |
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Describe water use in Idaho. |
-Groundwater -97% for ag -5.76 Mill gall/year/person -47x more H20 used in AG than residential use -6th largest use: 15B gal/day 11,100 gal/pers/day -19% groundH20 (95% drink h20), 81% Surface -86% AG/13B gal/day --4M acts of farmland - |
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Surface water / shortages |
-No more than 30% of a rivers average flow diverted w/out shortfall every 20 years
-some are 100% appropriated -LA overpopulated so Owens River-built aqueduct for LA -Colorado River, Feather River |
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Mounting water deficits |
-Humans are using surface and ground h20 at faster rates
-in many areas is being used faster than can be replenished |
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Failing Water tables |
in billion cubic meters/year india 104, China 30, USA 13.6, North Africa 10, Saudia Arabia 6, GLOBAL: 163.6 |
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Ecological effects of surface h2o shortage |
-impact aquatic life: fish -wildlife depends on riparian areas -Salmon -Salt buildup from return flows in the desert SW |
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Mono Lake |
-Lost inflow of fresh h20 to LA water. Got too saline to support native aquatic ecosystems. LA can't take water anymore... ecosystem
recovering |
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Sources and uses of Fresh H20 |
Consumptive: H2o diverted is lost for future use * irrigation for ag Non-consumptive: h2o remains available for the same or other uses if quality is adequate-or can be treated. (-power production, -industrial use, -residential use) |
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Quantitative (water cycle) |
-Is there enough h20 to meet our needs? -Impacts of diverting H20? |
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Qualitative (water cycle) |
Is h2o pure enough for us to use? |
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Sources of fresh H2o |
Rivers, lakes, groundwater (becoming more important) |
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Idaho primarily uses ___ for h20 |
Ground water |
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h20 Quantity
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-Critically short in many areas in the world
-80% used for ag -Human need: 260K gall per year/person -26 countries short (egypt, jordan, belgium, singapore) more every year |
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Groundwater: falling h20 tables and depletion |
-Areas in USA 75x more groundwater used than surface
-When withdrawal exceeds exchange: h20 table drops, eventually groundwater can be depleted. -increased withdrawals for cities and irrigation - |
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Safe Drinking Water Act of1974. |
-passed to protect drinking h20 -administered by EPA -Major amendments in 1986 and 1996 |
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Groundwater: falling h20 tables and depletion cont'd |
-Ogallala aquifer (great plains) h20 table falling at 40+ in/year
-3.5 mill acres will switch from irrigated to dryland farming -Mexico City- depends on groundwater. dropping @ 76 in/year...22 mill people what will happen? |
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Diminishing surface water |
-Affected by falling h20 tables
-Streams, rivers, and lakes fed by groundwater |
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Land subsidence (ground sinks) |
-groundwater creates cavities in bedrock
- San Joaquin Valley, CA - Texas coast near Houston |
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Sinkholes |
-Major sinkhole in the US every three days -Florida -Alabama |
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Saltwater Intrusion |
Coastal Areas
Water table depleted, salt h20 intrudes and contaminates supply |
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The Aral Sea: Basically Dead: -Too much salt -Too little biological life -no longer a resource for the surrounding population |
-4th largest lake @ 26k mi2, now 11th about 10k
-60% decline since 1960, maybe 4k mi2 by 2025 -diversion of feeding rivers: Amu and Syr Daryas -13 miles3 to 1.5/year -20 fish species extinct, salt all over, no fishing -No climate effect harsh summers and winters -Adverse health effects of salt: throat cancer, respiratory disease, eye disease |
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Dams in the 3rd world |
-potential wars over dams
-Resettlement of millions of people. |
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Pros and cons of dams |
PRO: Power generation, emission reduction, crop irrigation, drinking water, flood control, shipping recreation
CON: Habitat alteration, fishery decline, population displacement, sediment capture, disruption of flooding, risk of failure, lost recreational opportunities |
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Using less H20 |
-h20 conservation
-recycling -Comp btwn urban, ag, and wildlife use |
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Irrigation |
-7x more h20 used in AG than for residential -60% of h2o lost by: evaporation, percolation, runoff Newer systems: Flood -> Sprinkler, Sprinkler-> Drip Irrigation -increased cost will ensure water conservation. |
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Municipal systems |
-Consume over 100 gals/person/day - toilets 3-5 gal, showers 2-7gal per 5 min, laundry 25-50 gal, watering lawns, filling pools, washing dishes 8-15 gal per load. |
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Municipal Alternatives |
XERISCAPING- Landscaping with drought resistant plant. -grey water for irrigation -low flush toilets -Water lawns on certain days (Denver) -Water rates increased in summer in Moscow |
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Water shifts and potential Wars
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Ag -> Urban |
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Describe water use in Idaho. |
-Trout farming: 2nd largest use, 8%, 1.2B gal/day -Comm/Dom Use: 2.5%, 311 gal/pers/day/home -Industrial Mining: .5% -Rec/Tourism: non consumptive $1B to economy -Hydropower: non consume, 6th in hydropower -Competing interests: fish, ESA (snails), pop growth |
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Groundwater Problems in Idaho |
-depleting in some area -GroundH20 governed under Appropriation Doctrine: priority to oldest wells. Newer wells curtailed in times of shortage. -IDWR issues permits for new wells: considers other wells, ground water use, aquifer recharge -Idaho is better off than all western states |
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IDWR |
Idaho Department of Water Resources |
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Groundwater mining problem in Southern Idaho |
-13 problem areas (8- CGWA, 5 GWMA) -CGWA: declining that threatens supply for existing users. No new well permits issued -GWMA: declining h20 |
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Drinking Water |
Can be used safely for: -Drinking -Cooking -Washing |
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History of drinking H20: 3 periods |
Ancient: pre-1880 Progressive: 1880-1960 Contradictive: 1960-present |
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History of drinking H20: Ancient |
Treated by: sedimentation, filtration, coagulation (removal of surface debris), disenfection (winemaking) |
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Mesopotamia: Public Sanitation Laws (200 BC - 400 AD) |
-Cisterns and wells had to be kept clean -25m distance from: cemeteries, tanneries, and slaughterhouses. -Rome: 9 aqueducts: reposoirs and fountains. Water quality poor by today -Dark ages: h20 sources not protected, illness = sin, plaques |
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Progressive period 1880-1960, 2 MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS |
-Gov't has moral responsibility to protect citizens -microbiology and organic chemistry |
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Progressive period 1880-1960 |
human waste=bacteria in h20=diseases -caused cities to take sanitary measures -By 1900 England has decent drinking H20 -1887 Lawrence, MA 1st H20 filter system: reduced typhoid deaths by 79% and others by 20% - |
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Contradictive Period (1960-Present) |
-specific organic and inorganic chemicals -initial standards issued by surgeon general. |
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Goals of the SWDA of 1974 |
-Ensure high quality h20 @ the tap. -gov't oversight of both ground and surface h20 -provide funding for state h20 systems -provide for monitoring programs |
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SWDA important Definitions: Community Water System (CWS) |
A public water system that at least 15 connections to year round residents OR at lest 25 year round residents. *cities *rural subdivisions |
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SWDA important Definitions: Maximum Containment Levels (MCL) |
Mam allowable concentration of a contaminant in drinking H20. -Primary mcl: Are health related and mandatory. -Secondary mcl: aesthetic, recommended, but not mandatory. - If CWS regs protect h20 quality, if private well no regs. -EPA Reg categories: primary and secondary |
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Primary Drinking Water Standards: 5 categories (O, IM, TRa) |
1. Organic Chemicals 2. Inorganic Chemicals 3. Microorganisms 4. Turbidity 5. Radio Nuclides |
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1. Organic Chemicals |
SOCs- synthetic organic chemicals:Aldicarb, chlordane, carbon tetrachloride VOCs- volatile organic chemicals: Benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), vinyl chloride THMs: chloroform, bromoform, bromodichloromethane |
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2. Inorganic Chemicals |
-Huge number of chemicals -Sources: natural, environmental, humans -Nitrate (mcl of 10ppm NO3-N nitrate nitrogen), 20 ppm may be unsafe for infants., lead, asbestos, arsenic, mercury, cadmium. - EPA takes research # for infants and divides 2 |
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3. Microorganisms |
Waterborne disease from microbes: typhoid, cholera, hepatitis -Bacteria are most common contaminants (test for coliform=fecal contamination test) -Protozoa: guardia, cryptosporidium -Viruses |
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4. Turbidity- measure of suspended matter in h20 CAUSES: |
Clay Silt Organic particulates Plankton Some microscopic organisms |
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5. Radio Nuclides: Serious problem. Natural and human sources |
Natural: underground rock, geologic formations -Uranium, Radium, Radon HUMAN: 200+ known: -H2o in nuclear power plants -Nuke weapon facilities -radioactive disposal sites -Docks for nuke ships |
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Secondary Drinking Water Standards: Aesthetic, unenforceable |
Water PH Chloride Color Taste Odor |
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Bottled Water |
Regulated by FDA (drinking by EPA) Artesian, groundwater, spring water, well water - H20 from an underground aquifer may or may not be treated. -Fiji vs Cleveland water: Cleveland tasted better and less arsenic and heavy metals |
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Eutrophication |
Process whereby a body of water becomes nutrient rich, supporting abundant growth of algae and/or other aquatic plants on the surface. Deep water becomes 02 depleted. |
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2 types of aquatic plants |
benthic plants: roots under h2o Phytoplankton: float |
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Benthic Plants |
-rooted to the bottom -Can be emerged or submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) -Thrive in nutrient poor water, nutrients from floor, can compete, SAVs need clarity for photosynthesis -Euphotic Zone- adequate light can penetrate. -clear up to 90ft, murky just inches! |
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Phytoplankton: 72k species |
-near h2o surface -tolerate and cause turbid water -Absorb light for photosynthesis - pea green scum water - reach high density in nutrient rich h20 -low levels of nutrients limit growth |
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Oligotrophic Conditions |
-nutrient poor, but O2 rich from top to bottom -most untouched by man: limits phytop, benthics thrive to great depths and maintain 02 in the deep -great envir for fish, shellfish, diverse ecosystem |
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Eutrophic Conditions |
-nutrient enrichment=phytop bloom +turbidity -Turbidity shades out benthics. -interrupts food chain and loss of habitat/ -Sediments also = turbid. -Dissolved O2 in deep lost bc benthics die -excess of 02 on surface. |
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The Cycle |
-Phytop bloom -die -settle on bottom -decomposers consume 02 to break down dead - little O2 left --> dead fish, etc. |
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organic matter additions to water |
-Will deplete O2 -erosion -raw sewage -organic wastes |
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measure health of the system |
-BOD: Biological Oxygen Demand=how much 02 to support life. -Measures what 02 in needed to break substances down (decomposers) -If BOD>dissolved 02 in H20 = 02 depletion |
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Natural vs. cultural eutrophication |
-oligotrophic lakes get phytop blooms; 1,000s years, natl process -If humans speed this process up it is called cultural eutrophication |
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cultural eutrophication: Lake Erie |
-Huge blooms -Mycrocystis toxic to humans -2014 toledo, OH shut down H20 -Algea removed by bulldozers |
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Combating Eutrophicaiton |
1. Attacking symptoms: reactive 2. Control inputs: proactive |
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1. Attacking the symptoms: |
Chemical treatments -herbicides to suppress unwanted plants *Aeration -mech aeration add 02 and reduce fish kills -works for small water bodies *Harvesting algea: -must filter -small bodies |
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2. Controlling input |
-decrease inputs of nutrients -control sediments |
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Idaho examples: |
*Middle Snake: Algea bllos = sediment and nutrients in our stagnant H20 *Lake CDA: enrichment form crop sediment and nutrients, sediments from forest land and construction sites along shore. *boat discharge *septic on shore *lawns and gardens on shore |
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Controlling Eutrophication |
1. ID nutrient and sediment causes: where from? 2. develop a control for each cource |
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Sources of nutrients: |
AG: Erosion from cropland, leaching of fertilizers, runoff of animal feedlots/dairy barns, etc. URBAN: Erosion from lawn and gardens, leaching of lawns ? |
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Sewage Effluents |
-discharge from sewage plants -detergents with phosphorus -septic seepage |
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controlling nutrients and sediments |
-keep extra nut and sed out of h20 systems -BMPs best management practices - keep ground covered no exposed soil. -prevent erosion Construct and mining sites: -sediment traps -basins |
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controlling nutrients and sediments cont'd |
-Preserve wetlands -banning phosphate detergents (north ID) Advanced Sewage Treatment: -tertiary treatment |
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Types of pollutants |
1. Nutrients 2. Pathogens /disease 3. Toxic Chemicals 4. Sediments 5. Thermal Pollution |
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1. Nutrients |
N,P: nitrogen and phosphorus -causes eutrophicaiton -causes hypoxia- nutrient enrichment of seawater |
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2. Pathogens /disease |
-unsafe for swimming -raw sewage discharges |
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3. Toxic Chemicals |
-pesticides -petroleum products -toxic metals |
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4. Sediments |
-clogs water bodies -mining, forestry, AG -9 Bill spent army COE for dredging |
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5. Thermal Pollution |
affects fish affects 02 levels |
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Nutrient pollution of salt water |
hypoxia: low dissolved 02 in deep h20 of continental shelf -caused by nutrient polution (eutrophication) -Gulf of Mex off Mississippi mouth -exit farmland and flow down Miss reduced fish catch bc low 02 |
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H20 quality measurements |
1. Biological 2. Chemical 3. Physical |
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1. Biological |
-presence of fecal coliforms=indicates pathogens -algae -aquatic invertebrates -fish |
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2. Chemical |
-nutrient concentration -PH -dissolved 02 content |
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3. Physical |
-turbidity -color -temperature |