Bellringer: Day 06

1. Sketch out the water table, including the zone of saturation and aeration.

2. Why is it that inland areas can still flood, even if they are not near water?

Wells

Well: cylindrical hole dug to penetrate aquifer

within saturated zone

Recharge: addition of new water to aquifer

Artesian well (spring): groundwater rises under its own pressure

Pumping can cause the water table to be lower

Balancing Withdrawal and

Recharge

Not balancing can result in:

• a regional water table dropping

• the ground surface settling because the

water no longer supports the rock and

sediment

Subsidence of the land surface caused by the extraction of ground

water, near Mendota, San Joaquin Valley, CA. Signs on the

pole indicate the positions of the land surface in 1925, 1955, and

1977. The land sank 30 feet in 52 years.

Balancing Withdrawal and

Recharge

Towns may use artificial

recharge to increase

recharge

Water is stored in infiltration

ponds = increase the rate of

water percolation into the

ground

Human Use of Water

What ways can you think of that humans use

water?

Why do we drink bottled

water?

Give 3 Reasons:

1.

2.

3.

Bottled Water?

Why do people drink bottled water?

Why do countries with access to clean water (tap water, well water, etc.) spend the most on bottled water?

Is it okay to bottle water for areas that don’t necessarily need it, even in situations like drought?

Water Taste Test

Exit Ticket-Did the

information “stick?”

1. What are your overall feelings about bottled

water, after our discussions and water taste

test today? When do you think bottled water is

appropriate? Who should benefit from the

bottled water?

Bellringer: Day 07

1. How is water cleaned for human use?

2. Can you always tell that water is polluted simply

by looking at it? Explain.

Groundwater Pollution

• Chemicals used for agriculture

can find their way into

groundwater

• Rain can also leach pollutants

from city dumps into ground-

water supplies

• Heavy metals contaminating the water (arsenic, cadmium, lead)

Groundwater Pollution

Saltwater Intrusion

Movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers

Contamination of drinking water

Salt water is denser, as freshwater is leached, salt water can

take its place

“Leached” means

drained away.

Groundwater Pollution

May affect water

years from now

May take a long

time to reach

water

Surface Water Pollution

Non-point pollution – pollution from

many sources

Sedimentation, storm water runoff, etc.

Not easily traced

Point-pollution – pollution from one

source

Easily traced and easily taken care of

Is it easy to clean water?

Let’s say that water gets polluted-is it as easy as

just cleaning it out?

Water Treatment

Most water that goes down

drains in urbanized areas

is treated

Removal of sludge from

water

Very toxic waste that we

must dispose of

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z14l51I

Swg

Water Treatment

Drinking water from salt water

Desalination – removal of salt from saltwater

Takes lots of energy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdxoS80

xsSo

Conservation Measures

1972 – Clean Water Act “restore and maintain

the chemical, physical, and biological integrity

of the nation’s waters.”

1972 – Marine Protection, Research, and

Sanctuaries Act

1975 – Safe Drinking Water Act (groundwater and

surface water)

1987 – Water Quality Act

Conservation Measures

Need to protect water sources for our future

Increase population = increase need for water

Increase population = increase pollution

Must take care of our water for our survival!

Exit Ticket-Did the

information “stick?”

1. In what ways can groundwater be polluted?

2. Describe the difference between point and

nonpoint source pollution.

3. Hypothesize ways in which communities can

keep water clean. In what ways would you

predict that water is tested for purity?

Bellringer: Day 08

1. How would several wells in a given area affect the balance of groundwater recharge and withdrawal?

a) The wells would provide dissolved oxygen

b) The wells would increase the water table level by adding water from runoff

c) The wells would deplete the groundwater which is usually supplied by percolation from rain

d) The wells would provide storage areas for groundwater to maintain the water level

2. Which of the following would most likely happen to an aquifer that is close to the coast if it is being depleted of its freshwater supply?

a) Subsidence of the area

b) Saltwater intrusion

c) Wells going dry

d) Flooding of localized areas

Hydroelectric Dams

Build barrier in valley to

retain freshwater

Water rises to the same

level as top of barrier

Uses water flow to also

generate clean electricity.

Hydroelectric Dams

Positive effects

1. Long term large body of freshwater resource

Prevents water from reaching ocean quickly

Provides large areas with freshwater

2. Clean electricity

3. Recreation

4. Control water flow – less chance of flooding

Hydroelectric Dams

Negative effects (down stream)

1. Reduces water flow

Less water for down stream individuals

Less water for wild life

Less nutrients carried

Migrating/reproducing organisms cannot pass dam

Dam break = massive flooding

Hydroelectric Dams

Negative effects (upstream)

1. Displaces wildlife/destroys lower

level environments

2. Floods towns/homes below level of

dam

3. Stagnant water = decrease in water

quality

Hydroelectric Dams

Much debate over building new power dams

Several dams being destroyed to allow natural

flow

Energy/water crisis

Are dams our answer??

Bellringer: Day 09

1. What is used to remove water from an aquifer so

it can be used by humans?

2. How is water restored back to an aquifer?

Explain what would happen if water is not

restored?

3. What effects do you think population growth

could have on water resources?

What is Water Quality? Water quality refers to the characteristics of water and

the requirements needed for human/living things

In other words, water quality is about how clean the water is, and whether or not it is suitable for use!

Water quality can be assessed through many chemical and physical tests, including testing the biotic index of the water using macroinvertebrates!

What are macroinvertebrates? They are organisms that are

big enough to be seen by the naked eye that lack a backbone

“macro” means large and “invertebrates” means without vertebrae, or backbone

Live at bottom of shallow waterways

Examples of BMIs

How do we use them?

By looking at macroinvertebrates, we can assess the quality of the water in which they live

This is basically because some are more tolerant to pollution than others

Ex. More high quality macroinvertebrates, the higher quality the stream

How do we do it? Because we can see them,

macroinvertebrates are easy to catch and identify

Once caught, each macroinvertebrate has an index value that is assigned to it. These points can be added up to give the overall quality of the stream

Any stream with a rating over 23 is considered to be excellent quality!

Pollution Sensitive

The Stonefly Nymph-Class 1

These organisms have a high point value (4) because they are very sensitive to pollutants and need a high level of dissolved oxygen to survive

Will find more in high quality streams!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3h9VYX9GPc

Somewhat Sensitive

Mayfly Larvae-Class 2

Moderately sensitive

Appear in higher numbers in good quality streams

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dmC-PGklnM

Pollution Tolerant

Crayfish-Class 3

More tolerant to pollution

Thus found in many types of water (good or bad) and has a low index point value

Maggot-Class 4

Pollution Tolerant

Very low index value

Things to remember… Each organisms is divided into 1 of 4 classes, but the

index value is the points you will add up in order to assess the quality of the stream

Please treat the river cards with respect ☺

Bellringer: Day 101. If you were given a cup of water from an unknown

source and were asked to decide if it was of quality…what might you do?

2. A local government is considering whether to build a dam. Which is an advantage of building this structure?

a) It can decrease the accumulation of sediment in the water

b) It can improve the natural habitat of plants and animals

c) It is an inexpensive process

d) It can create a storage place for water

Water Infographic Project

Infographic needs to be colorful and eye-catching

This will count as a quiz grade!

Follow all directions on the sheet for full credit

Be sure to share it with me: ashleyfarris@currituck.k12.nc.us

Example: http://thumbnails.visually.netdna-cdn.com/EarthFactsByMocomicom_52612c7391626_w587.png

Water Conservation Project All group members must participate

Poster needs to be colorful and eye-catching

This will count as a quiz grade!

Examples of what I’m looking for:

Bellringer: Day 11

What does it mean to conserve

water?

What are ways that you conserve

water everyday?

Bellringer: Day 12Define the following terms:

Density

River Basin

Watershed

Groundwater

Porosity

Permeability

Subsidence

Salt Water Intrusion

Desalination