Water Use
What type of water do we use in our daily activities?
freshwater
what is a dam?
a barrier/wall built across a river or stream
where does most freshwater come from?
groundwater
true or false: water pollution can come from nature
true: volcanic eruptions, animal waste/decay, sediment from storms and floods, algae blooms (not caused by runoff),
Where are the 2 case studies we looked at of places where people used too much water?
Aral Sea & San Joaquin Valley
Name 3 reasons we build dams
to control water flow, prevent flooding, recreation, electricity, store water for daily use & agriculture irrigation
How do we access groundwater?
By drilling wells
Approximately how many people are on Earth?
8 billion
what is most water used for?
electricity
How do we can get electricity from dams?
The water flows through the dam and turns large turbines that generate electricity.
What is the difference between groundwater and an aquifer?
Groundwater is any water in the holes/spaces in the ground, whereas an aquifer is a large amount of groundwater
What is the main cause of water pollution?
runoff carries pollutants
What percent of all water on Earth is usable?
3%
List 5 negative environmental impacts of dams
erosion, fish migration, colder river water, fish die, slow flow of river, prevent river from reaching the ocean, destroys the original ecosystem
What is it called when we remove so much groundwater that the ground SLOWLY collapses/sinks due to the empty space? What is it called when the ground QUICKLY collapses/sinks due to the empty space from removing groundwater
subsidence/subsiding AND sinkhole
Name 8 water pollutants
pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers/excess nutrients (runoff from agriculture)
toxic waste (factories)
sediment (erosion/deforestation & construction runoff)
solid waste (litter)
oil/gas, bacteria/viruses, pesticides/fertilizers (urban runoff)
acids/metals (mining runoff)
oil spills