Chapter 9Water Resources

Usable Water is Rare

“Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink…”

~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1798

Agriculture- the largest use of water around the world.

Over the last 50 years, the amount of water used for irrigation throughout the world has doubled because of the increase in human population.

Agriculture, Industry and Household Needs

Irrigation techniques-Hydroponic agriculture - crops grown in fertilized water and no soil.

Agriculture, Industry and Household Needs

Industry- the second largest user of water worldwide. Processes include: hydroelectric plants. cooling and condensing steam. processing of metals.

Agriculture, Industry and Household Needs

Households- the third largest user of water worldwide .

Agriculture, Industry and Household Needs

Which country do you think uses the most

water?

Which of these do you think uses

the most?

Water ownership- people can have rights to water use, but they do not own the water.

Water conservation- using techniques such as more efficient water fixtures, faucets and washing machines.

The Future of Water Availability

Streams, rivers, ponds, lakes and wetlands.

Surface Water

Productivity in a lake:(we’ll cover these more later) Oligotrophic- low

amounts of nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen.

Mesotrophic- a moderate level of productivity

Eutrophic- high levels of productivity

Watershed the area of land that is drained by a river system

Surface Water

http://www.raritanbasin.org/Pictures/watershed.jpg

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Delta: a nearly flat plain of

alluvial deposit between diverging branches of the mouth of a river, often, though not necessarily, triangular.

Levees- an enlarged bank built up on each side of the river.

Dikes- similar to a levee but built to prevent ocean waters from flooding adjacent land.

Altering the Availability of Water

We have over 1,400 miles of levees in the Delta!

Dams- a barrier that runs across a river or stream to control the flow of water.

Altering the Availability of Water

Fish ladders- a set of stairs with water flowing over them that have been added to some dams to help migrating fish such as salmon get upstream.

Los Vaqueros Reservoir

Marsh Creek Reservoir

Contra Loma Reservoir

Altering the Availability of Water Reservoir- the area where water is

stored behind the dam.

Aqueducts- canals or ditches used to carry water from one location to another.

Altering the Availability of Water

The Pont du Gard aqueduct was

constructed by the Romans in the 1st

century AD

Desalination- removing the salt from salt water to obtain fresh water.

Altering the Availability of Water

http://maps.grida.no/library/files/water-desalination_002.jpg