12: Water Resources and Pollution
- Page ID
- 211299
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 12.1: 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.
- 12.2: 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.
- 12.3: Water Scarcity and Storage
- This page discusses the global crisis of water scarcity, affecting over one billion people. With growing populations, water demands are predicted to exceed supply, leading to a substantial decrease in per capita availability. The crisis arises from uneven resource distribution, pollution, and mismanagement, with two types identified: physical scarcity, affecting 1.2 million, and economic scarcity, impacting 1.6 billion.
- 12.4: Water Pollution
- This page highlights the global water crisis, focusing on water scarcity and pollution that affect safe drinking water and sanitation, especially in developing nations. It notes 880 million people without safe drinking water and 2.6 billion lacking improved sanitation, leading to significant health risks and deaths. Key pollutants, including nutrients that cause algal blooms and pathogens from untreated sewage, compound these issues.
- 12.5: Water Treatment
- This page addresses global water pollution stemming from pathogenic microorganisms and untreated sewage, emphasizing effective sewage treatment and the role of separate sewer systems. It highlights the need for financial support for sanitation in developing countries and critiques bottled water as an unsustainable option, suggesting alternatives like filtration. Additionally, it discusses the Clean Water Act's impact in the U.S. and continuing water quality challenges.
- 12.6: Water Management
- This page discusses pollution control in water management, emphasizing the monitoring of water quality indicators such as pH and dissolved oxygen. It highlights the importance of non-point source control through land management practices to reduce runoff pollutants. The regulatory role of the Clean Water Act (CWA) is detailed, focusing on standards, discharge permits, and funding for wastewater treatment.
- 12.7: Chapter Resources
- This page examines global precipitation patterns and their effects on freshwater access, highlighting the ongoing water crisis and traditional solutions like dams and aqueducts. It emphasizes the dire impact of water pollution, especially from pathogens, and the need for effective sewage treatment. The page discusses factors affecting freshwater quality and stresses the importance of minimizing contaminants, such as fertilizers, to combat issues like eutrophication.

