Fresh Water

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Fresh Water
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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

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Use of Fresh Water

• We require about 80 liters a day
• per capita consumption varies have and have nots

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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

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Fresh Water Sources

• Lakes stored water such as reservoirs
• Rivers dams
• groundwater

• Advantages of these sources renewal
• Disadvantages of these sources pollution

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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

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Solving the Problem

• Conservation
• Domestic
• Agriculture drip irrigation, mulching, crop
  planting to reduce run off and evaporation

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Fresh Water Pollution

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

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Great Lakes

• Dug out thousands of years ago by glacial action
• Resemble oceans, contain a large percentage of
  Canadas fresh water
• Decline in water levels
• Increase evaporation rates due to climate change
  (parts of lakes dont freeze)
• Industrial, urban, agricultural needs are greater
  than before (are greater than the watersheds
  cycle of replenishment)

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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

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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

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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