11: Water Resources and Pollution
- Page ID
- 32435
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 11.1: Water Cycle and Fresh Water Supply
- This page highlights the critical importance of water, noting that while abundant, over 97% is saline, with freshwater sources being scarce. Groundwater is emphasized for its availability, especially in arid regions, and serves many rural homeowners. The page addresses the water cycle's role in resource replenishment and increasing global water demand driven by population growth and improved living standards.
- 11.2: Water Supply Problems and Solutions
- This page discusses groundwater depletion and water supply challenges due to excessive pumping, leading to reduced water tables and problems like saltwater intrusion and land subsidence. The global water crisis disproportionately affects arid regions, with a projected rise in water-stressed populations by 2025.
- 11.3: Water Scarcity and Storage
- Water has been identified as one of the major environmental crisis facing the world today. More than one billion people in the world lack access to clean drinking water. The demand for water has grown at a very fast pace in response to the rate of global population growth.
- 11.4: Water Pollution
- This page outlines the global water crisis, emphasizing how pollution compromises access to safe drinking water, particularly in developing countries. In 2008, 880 million people lacked access, leading to 1.7 million deaths annually from waterborne diseases. The text details types of pollution, including pathogens from inadequate sewage, oil spills, and toxic chemicals that threaten ecosystems and human health, highlighting the critical challenges in managing both surface and groundwater quality.
- 11.5: Water Treatment
- This page discusses the importance of sewage treatment in combating global water pollution, highlighting the health risks of untreated sewage and the need for effective treatment systems. It notes that developing countries may require financial support for these facilities and mentions alternative treatment options. Although the Clean Water Act of 1972 improved U.S. water quality, many water bodies are still affected. Ongoing efforts are essential to ensure the protection of water sources.
- 11.6: Water Management
- Pollution control begins with testing and monitoring of water quality. Water quality is usually monitored using easy to measure indicators such as pH, specific conductance (commonly referred to as conductivity), temperature, fecal and total coliform bacteria, dissolved oxygen, macroinvertebrates, and algae. Polluted sites typically have reduced DO levels, lower pH (more acidic), higher nutrient levels, more bacteria, and higher temperatures compared to less impacted or pristine sites.
- 11.7: Case Study - The Aral Sea - Going, Going, Gone
- This page details the drastic shrinkage of the Aral Sea due to the Soviet Union's diversion of its main rivers for irrigation, leading to its size reducing to 10% by 2007. This caused increased salinity, extinction of fish species, and the collapse of the fishing industry, along with health issues and dust storms affecting local communities. Restoration efforts have seen limited success.
- 11.8: Chapter Resources
- This page discusses global precipitation patterns, emphasizing abundant rain near the equator and scarcity at 30° latitudes. It addresses the water crisis, underlining the need for clean water access and sustainable solutions, such as sewage treatment to combat pollution and waterborne diseases. Improving water quality, especially in underdeveloped areas, is crucial. The page also includes review questions related to water management and pollution sources.