By Kate O'Brien, Sam Kassover and Jennifer Reyes

1. Water Resources and Water Pollution By Kate O'Brien, Sam Kassover and Jennifer Reyes Kate O’Brien, Sam Kassover and Jennifer Reyes

2. Irreplaceable Resource • 71% of the earth’s surface is covered in water, most of it saltwater • The human body is made of 60% of water • Water is one of the most poorly managed resources • Economic issue because it reduces poverty and producing food and energy

3. Groundwater : When precipitation infiltrates the ground and filtrates through soil, gravel and rock until it reaches an impenetrable layer of rock. • Zone of Saturation: A subsurface zone in which water fills a small or narrow area. • Water Table: The top of the groundwater zone. In dry weather it dries up or when we remove the water faster then nature can replenish • Aquifers: underground caverns and porous layer s of sand and gravel in which groundwater flows through.

4. Surface Water: The most important resource, fresh water from precipitation and snowmelt that flows on the earth’s surface into lakes, rivers, etc. • Surface Runoff: Precipitation that does not go through the ground or go back into the atmosphere. • Watershed/Drainage Basin: The land from which surface water drains into a specific river, lake, etc.

5. Reliable Surface Runoff • Two-thirds of the yearly surface runoff in rivers and streams are lost by seasonal floods and cannot be used for human use. • The other one-third is a source of freshwater on which we can count on • We use up approx. 34% of the worlds runoff and by the year 2050 we will be using up to 70%

6. Water Shortages • The Untied States has enough renewable water but most of it is contaminated by agricultural and industrial practices. • By 2013 more then 36 states in the US will Suffer from drought

7. Increasing Water Supplies • We can reduce unnecessary waste of water. • Increasing water supplies in water shortage areas by withdrawing groundwater. (dams, and reservoirs) • Converting saltwater into freshwater

8. Withdrawing Groundwater

10. Sustainable use of Water • Cut water waste in irrigation by not using flood irrigation which 40% of water is lost due to evaporation and runoff, and use drip irrigation which is a system of underground tubes that deliver waterin small steady drops. This system is pricey, but will reduce waterwaste by 95%. • If we priced water higher, we would waste less of it • Irrigate at night to reduce evaporation

11. Encourage organic farming • Use polyculture • Wash car with bucket of water, not hose • Fix leaks at home • Turn of sinks while brushing teeth, shaving, washing • Flooding kills many plants and homes for wildlife • By reducing deforestation on hillsides, rivers won’t become as flooded in rainstorms • Streams can cleanse themselves if we don’t overload them

12. Water Pollution • Streams – can cleanse themselves of some wastes, if we don’t overload them or reduce their flows • Lakes – too little mixing and low water flow make lakes vulnerable to water pollution • Eutrophication: natural enrichment of shallow lake, estuary or slow-moving stream • Oligotrophic Lake: low in nutrients & clear water • Cultural eutrophication: human activities accelerate input of plant nutrients into a lake • Groundwater – cannot cleanse itself very well • Arsenic contaminates drinking water • Gasoline, diesel fuel, toxic solvents leak into groundwater

13. Pollution Prevention • Cleaning up a contaminated aquifer is difficult and expensive • Preventing contamination is the least expensive and most effective way to prevent groundwater resources

14. Ocean Pollution • 80% of marine pollution originates on land • 80-90% of municipal sewage is dumped into oceans without treatment, overwhelming these coastal areas with waste • The largest source of ocean oil pollution is urban and industrial runoff from land • Current cleanup methods can only recover 15% of an oil spill • Marine life can recover from exposure to crude oil within about 3 years, but refined oil can take 10-20 yrs • Preventing oil pollution is the most effective

15. Reducing Water Pollution from Nonpoint Sources • Farmers can reduce soil erosion by keeping cropland covered with vegetation • Using slow-release fertilizer • Using no fertilizer on steeply sloped land • Planting buffer zones • Organic farming

16. Reducing Water Pollution from Point Sources • The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 (Clean Water Act) & the 1987 Water Quality Act • Sets standards for allowed levels of pollutants • Requires polluters to get permits • Annual wetland losses decreased by 80% • 45% of US streams are still too polluted for swimming and fishing

17. Sewage Treatment Reduces Water Pollution • Sewage from houses  septic tank  sewage treatment plants • ¼ of all homes in the US are served by septic tanks • Primary sewage treatment: a physical process to sift and remove large objects • Secondary sewage treatment: a biological process in which aerobic bacteria remove 90% of organic wastes • Before it leaves treatment plant: bleached and disinfected (chlorinated)

18. We Can Improve Conventional Sewage Treatment • Prevent hazardous and toxic chemicals from reaching sewage treatment plants • Require industries and businesses to remove toxic and hazardous wastes from water sent to municipal treatment plants • Encourage industries to reduce or eliminate use and waste of toxic chemicals • Switch homes to composting toilet systems

19. Reduce and Prevent Water Pollution • Prevent groundwater contamination • Reduce nonpoint runoff • Find substitutes for toxic pollutants • Reduce air pollution • Slow population growth • Use manure or organic fertilizer • Minimize use of pesticides • Do not use water fresheners in toilets • Don’t pour harmful chemicals down the drain