Chapter 14 Water: A Limited Resource

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Chapter 14Water A Limited Resource
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Importance of Water

• Cooking washing
• Agriculture
• Manufacturing
• Mining
• Energy production
• Waste disposal
• Use of freshwater is increasing

3
Properties of Water

4
Distribution of Water on Earth

5
Freshwater Aquifer

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Too Much Water

• Flooding
• Both natural and human-induced
• Modern floods are highly destructive
• Humans have removed water-absorbing plant cover
  from soil-drained wetlands
• building on floodplains

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Urban vs. Pre-Urban Floodplains

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Floods of Summer 2008

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Too Little Water

• Problems
• Drought
• Overdrawing water
• for irrigation
• Aquifer depletion
• Subsidence
• Sinkholes

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Too Little Water

• Problems (continued)
• Saltwater Intrusion

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Water Problems In US and Canada

• US has a plentiful supply of freshwater
• Many areas have a severe shortages

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Water Problems In US and Canada

• Water shortages in West and Southwest

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Water Problems in US and Canada- Surface Water

• Mono Lake (Eastern CA)
• Colorado River Basin

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Water Problems in US and CanadaGroundwater

• Aquifer Depletion

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Global Water Problems

• Amount of freshwater on planet CAN meet human
  needs
• BUT, it is unevenly distributed and some places
  lack stable runoff
• Problems
• Climate Change
• Drinking Water
• Population Growth
• Sharing Water Resources Among Countries

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Global Water Problems

• Water and Climate Change
• Climate change affects the type and distribution
  of precipitation
• Potential issues

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Global Water Problems

• Drinking Water Problems
• Many developing countries have insufficient water
  to meet drinking and household needs
• Population Growth
• Increase in population means __________
• Limits drinking water available
• Limits water available for agriculture (food)

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Global Water Problems

• Sharing Water Resources Among Countries
• Rhine River Basin
• Potentially Volatile International Water
  Situations
• Jordan River
• Nile River

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Water Management

• Main Goal Provide sustainable supply of
  high-quality water
• Dams and Reservoirs
• Water Diversion Projects
• Desalinization

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Dams and Reservoirs

• Benefits
• year-round supply of water
• Electricity
• Recreational activities
• Disadvantages
• Alter the ecosystem
• Reduce sediment load

Amazon Watch
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Dams and Reservoirs

• Glen Canyon Dam
• Regulated flow has changed ecosystem

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Dams and Reservoirs

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Water Diversion Projects

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Water Conservation

1. Reducing Agricultural Water Waste
2. Reducing Industrial Water Waste
3. Reducing Municipal Water Waste