1 / 18

Fresh Water

Fresh Water. Fresh Water. Only 3% of the water on earth is fresh water: Hydrologic cycle Shortages do occur Groundwater supplies can be exhausted Pollution of fresh water a growing concern Major transporter of diseases, cholera, intestinal and other water borne diseases. Use of Fresh Water.

darren
Download Presentation

Fresh Water

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Fresh Water

  2. Fresh Water • Only 3% of the water on earth is fresh water: • Hydrologic cycle • Shortages do occur • Groundwater supplies can be exhausted • Pollution of fresh water a growing concern • Major transporter of diseases, cholera, intestinal and other water borne diseases

  3. Use of Fresh Water • We require about 80 liters a day • per capita consumption varies… have and have nots

  4. Problems • As global warming accelerates, evaporation from fresh water and ground water surfaces will increase • Areas will increase with water deficits • Marginal areas ; desertification • Irrigation needs

  5. Lakes ;stored water such as reservoirs Rivers: dams groundwater Advantages of these sources: renewal Disadvantages of these sources: pollution Fresh Water Sources

  6. Water Transfer, Storage and Conservation • Interbasin transfer: canals, dams • Groundwater ; Ogallala aquifer, US • Problems: • Reduce volume in river perhaps leads to increase temperatures, reduce wetland habitat impact on birds and fish • Examples: James Bay, Bennett Dam, Hoover Dam, Aswan Damm

  7. Solving the Problem • Conservation: • Domestic • Agriculture – drip irrigation, mulching, crop planting to reduce run –off and evaporation

  8. Fresh Water Pollution • Septic tanks • Storm drains • Landfills • Mine-tailings (acid wash drainage) local ex. Britannia Mines

  9. http://geopanorama.rncan.gc.ca/vancouver/sea_e.php?p=1

  10. Great Lakes • Dug out thousands of years ago by glacial action • Resemble oceans, contain a large percentage of Canada’s fresh water • Decline in water levels • Increase evaporation rates due to climate change (parts of lakes don’t freeze) • Industrial, urban, agricultural needs are greater than before (are greater than the watershed’s cycle of replenishment)

  11. Waterways in Peril • Pollution • Enclosed water system (not flush readily) • Eutrophication • Accumulation of chemicals in the food chain • Industrial, urban, agriculture pollutants • Clean up difficult: • International: need cooperation • Lake bottom accumulation a problem • Treating sewage • Shipping m; foreign species • Concentration of industrial activity • Nimby syndrome

  12. Solutions • Great Lakes • Line pits • Dispose of waste correctly • Upgrade sewage plants • Industry must comply (reduce acid rain) • Reduce agriculture pesticides (find safe alternatives) • Use incinerators to burn waste

  13. Solutions for Fresh Water • Recycle programs: reduce garbage bound for landfill sites • Recycle engine oil, paint • No use of chemicals • Compost bin • Smart shopper • Share knowledge • Use biodegradable soap

More Related