Earth’s Water Resources

Question 1

Why is water important?/How do humans use water?

Answer 1

Humans use water to supply food and other necessities

Water is important to earth’s climates and in removing and filtering pollutants and wastes that humans produce

Question 2

Why is this a issue?

What are the four major issues caused by poor freshwater management?

Answer 2

Global Heath Issue

Death by waterborne illnesses and lack to safe drinking water

Economic Issue

Producing energy and food, reduction of poverty

National and Global Security issue

Shared, limited freshwater resources can cause increasing tensions between and within some nations

Environmental Issue

Excessive freshwater withdrawal from rivers and aquifers leads to falling water tables, weaker river flows, and disappearing wetlands

Water pollution has degraded water quality

Reduced fish populations and aquatic ecosystems

Question 2

What is freshwater?

Answer 2

Water that contains very low levels of dissolved salts

Question 3

Hydrologic Cycle

Answer 3

The world’s freshwater supply is constantly recycled, purified, and distributed in the _____

This system begins to fail when it’s overloaded with water pollutants or when people withdraw freshwater from underground and surface water supplies faster than the natural process can keep up

Atmospheric warming alters the water cycle by evaporating more water into the atmosphere
Places that receive a lot of rain will get more flooding and dry places will have more droughts

Precipitation (rain fall), Runoff, Surface Water, Recharge, Groundwater, Discharge, Surface Water, Evaporation, Condensation, Repeat

Question 4

Groundwater

Answer 4

Freshwater that soaks into the ground and sinks downward until an impenetrable layer of rock stops it

Question 5

Reliable Surface Runoff

Answer 5

The portion of runoff water that is deemed a reliable source of freshwater each year

Question 5

Surface Water

Answer 5

Freshwater from rain and melted snow that flows into bodies of water such as lakes or rivers

Question 6

Natural Capital

Answer 6

A portion of the water that falls in precipitation sinks into the ground, becoming groundwater stored in aquifers

Question 7

Water Footprint

Answer 7

A rough measure of the amount of freshwater you use both directly or indirectly

Question 8

Virtual Water

Answer 8

Freshwater that is not directly consumed but is instead used to make food and other products

Question 9

What is the Colorado River used for?

Answer 9

Supplies hydroelectric power and water

Human consumption, agricultural purposes, and for cultivation of animal and plants

Question 10

Why is water (Colorado River) becoming more scarce?

Answer 10

Climate Change: Climate change has caused changes in the normal rates of precipitation, resulting in droughts.

Resource Mismanagement: As cities that rely on the Colorado River grow, greater demand is placed on the river for water supplies. The result is shortages in water, impacting both human consumption and agricultural success.

Question 11

Who is the most vulnerable to freshwater mismanagement?

Answer 11

Everyone is vulnerable, but specifically people who live in semiarid climates that experience disproportionately high levels of drought and lack robust access to freshwater resources.

Question 11

What can you do in your daily life to reduce your water footprint?

Answer 11

Find ways to reduce the highest daily water uses per day: Limit yourself to shorter showers, don’t run your washing machine for one sock, and keep an eye on your pipes to prevent leaks.

You can also avoid using products that rely on a lot of virtual water: Dairy products, and meat.