Lesson 2: Water, Sustainability and Climate Change Flashcards
A continuous process by which water is transported from the oceans to the atmosphere to the land and back to the sea.
HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
Earth’s Supply
SALINE WATER IN OCEANS (97.2%)
ICE CAPS AND GLACIERS (2.14%)
GROUNDWATER (0.61%)
SURFACE WATER (0.009%)
SOIL MOISTURE (0.005%)
ATMOSPHERE (0.001%)
Surface Water
RIVERS
STREAMS
CREEKS
LAKES
WETLANDS
RESERVOIRS
Main uses of surface water.
DRINKING WATER
IRRIGATION
THERMOELECTRIC POWER (FOR COOLING)
Surface water usage in Canada
75% - CANADA
90% - BC
Impacts of human to surface water.
AGRICULTURE (IRRIGATION, CHEMICALS)
URBAN AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
DRAINAGE OF THE LAND SURFACE
MODIFICATIONS TO RIVER VALLEYS (CONSTRUCTION OF LEVEES, CONSTRUCTION OF RESERVOIRS, REMOVAL OF NATURAL VEGETATION)
MODIFICATION TO THE ATMOSPHERE (ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION, GLOBAL WARMING)
Surface water - Point source
CONTAMINANTS DISCHARGE THROUGH AN AREA THAT IS SMALL RELATIVE TO THE AREA OF THE RECEIVING WATER
SEWAGE-TREATMENT PLANTS
LEAKAGE FROM GASOLINE TANKS
SEEPAGE FROM LAND FILLS
Surface Water - Non-Point Source
CONTAMINANTS ENTER THE ENVIRONMENT ACROSS AREAS THAT ARE LARGE COMPARED TO POINT SOURCES OR CONSIST OF MULTIPLE, CLOSELY SPACE POINT SOURCES
DEPOSITION FROM THE ATMOSPHERE (PRECIPITATION OR DRY FALLOUT)
AGRICULTURAL FIELDS
URBAN AREAS
Concentrations of impurities increase because of mineral pickup from surface runoff; silt and debris are carried by surface water, often resulting in muddy or turbid stream.
SURFACE WATER - FAST FLOWING
In areas of slow moving or stagnant water plants and algae grow, changing the aesthetic characteristic considerable.
SURFACE WATER - SLOW MOVING
Surface water - Dams & Impoundments
EFFECTS OF IMPOUNDMENTS INCLUDE A SERIES OF CHANGES IN THE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS DOWNSTREAM OF THE DAM, ESPECIALLY MODIFICATION OF FLOW AND TEMPERATURE REGIMES AND USUALLY GREATER WATER CLARITY
WATER QUALITY CHANGES MAY BE SLIGHT OR CONSIDERABLE, DEPENDING ON WATER RESIDENCE TIME IN THE RESERVOIR AND WHETHER SURFACE OR DEEP WATER IS RELEASED.
MODIFICATION OF PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CONDITIONS RESULT IN CHANGES IN THE PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE OF THE RIVER
Surface water - Wastewater
SURFACE WATERS ARE USED FOR THE DISPOSAL OF THE WORLD’S LIQUID WASTES THROUGH THE RESIDUES DEPOSITED IN SINKS ( OCEANS, INLAND SINKS (GREAT SALT LAKE, DEAD SEA)
Measures the total amount of oxygen required to break down organic matter via chemical oxidation.
CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (COD)
Represents the amount of oxygen that microorganisms require to decompose organic matter under aerobic conditions.
BIOLOGICAL / BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD)
Surface Water - Transformation of Land
DRAINING OF FLOOD PLAINS
INTENSIFICATION OF AGRICULTURE
ROAD BUILDING
TIMBER HARVEST
SPREAD OF HUMAN SETTLEMENT
Diverse group of chemicals introduced through disposal, washing, excretion, etc.
Steroids, non-prescription drugs, antibiotics, prescription medication, detergents, fire retardants, natural and synthetic hormones.
PHARMACEUTICALS AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS (PPCPs)
Sources of PPCP pollution
HUMAN ACTIVITY
RESIDUES FROM PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING
RESIDUES FROM HOSPITALS
ILLICIT DRUGS
VETERINARY DRUG USE, ESPECIALLY ANTIBIOTICS AND STEROIDS
AGRIBUSINESS
Health impacts of PPCP being released into the environment.
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTERS (ESTROGEN LEVELS)
ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE (AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS)
When is sheen is not a concern?
IF THE SHEEN REMAINS BROKEN UP THEN IT IS A PRODUCT OF IRON-OXIDIZING BACTERIA
Saturated rock or sediment through which water can move easily.
AQUIFER ( SANDSTONE; SAND AND GRAVEL)
Rock or sediment that retards groundwater flow due to low porosity and / or permeability.
AQUITARD (SHALE; CLAY)
Sources of groundwater contamination.
LANDFILLS - MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL
ON-SITE DUMPING
SURFACE IMPOUNDMENTS
AGRICULTURE AND MINING
SEPTIC SYSTEM
LEAKS - ASTs or USTs
SPILLS
HIGHWAY DE-ICING
Natural sources of groundwater contamination.
TDS (TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS)
SULPHATE
CHLORIDE
COLI - FORM BACTERIA
Anthropogenic (man-made) sources of groundwater contamination.
ORGANIC LIQUIDS
DISSOLVED ORGANICS OR INORGANICS
PATHOGENS
Storage Tanks
GASOLINE, OIL, CHEMICALS OR OTHER TYPES OF LIQUIDS
AST OR UST
ISSUES: TANKS CORRODE, CRACK AND LEAK
Septic systems
ON-SITE WASTEWATER DISPOSAL SYSTEMS THAT ARE NOT CONNECTED TO A CITY SEWER SYSTEM
DESIGNED TO SLOWLY DRAIN AWAY HUMAN WASTE UNDERGROUND
BACTERIA, VIRUSES, HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS
ISSUES: DESIGN, LOCATION, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE
Uncontrolled hazardous waste
ABANDONED AND UNCONTROLLED HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES
ISSUES: BARRELS OR CONTAINERS LEAKING
Landfills
PLACE FOR OUR GARBAGE TO BE BURIED
CAR BATTERY ACID, PAINT, HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS
ISSUES: LACK OF A LEACHATE COLLECTION SYSTEM OR A LEAKING SYSTEM
Chemical and road salts
WIDESPREAD USE OF CHEMICALS
ROAD SALT, FERTILIZERS, ETC.
ISSUES: RAIN CAUSES SEEPAGE
Atmospheric contaminants
CONTAMINANTS ENTERING EITHER SURFACE WATER OR GROUNDWATER
ISSUES: RAIN CAUSES DEPOSITION
Pumping groundwater causes sea water to migrate into freshwater aquifers:
Issues: less freshwater, once intrusion occurs it cannot be reversed
SALTWATER INTRUSION
Common contaminants in groundwater
HYDROCARBONS
METALS
ELECTROPLATING OPERATIONS
CHLORINATED SOLVENTS
CHLOROPHENOLS
Hydrocarbons
SERVICE STATIONS
BULK STATIONS
FUEL
HEATING OIL
Electroplating operations
SAWMILLS AND WOOD
PRESERVATIVE PLANTS
OIL FILL/REFUSE
LANDFILLS
Chlorinated solvents
DRY CLEANING OPERATIONS
MACHINE SHOPS
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
Chlorophenols
SAWMILLS
WOOD PRESERVATIVE PLANTS
Contaminants move through the unsaturated zone to the water table, at the water table the contaminants will either continue moving downward through the groundwater or stop.
Once at the water table contaminants can dissolve into the groundwater.
Migration depends on the chemical and physical characteristics of the contaminants
GROUNDWATER CONTAMINANT MIGRATION
Occurs when large amounts of groundwater are withdrawn from certain types of soils (typically fine-grained)
LAND SUBSIDENCE
Main cause of Jakarta sinking up to 10cm per year.
EXTENSIVE LAND EXTRACTION DUE TO GROUNDWATER PUMPING
PRESSURE FROM HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS, WHICH IS PUSHING PARTS OF THE CITY DOWN
Common where the rock below the land surface is limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds, or rocks that can naturally be dissolved by groundwater.
As the rock dissolves, spaces and caverns develop.
SINKHOLES
Human induced sinkholes
GROUNDWATER PUMPING
CONSTRUCTION/DEVELOPMENT
CHANGING WATER - DRAINAGE PATTERNS
CREATING RUN-OFF STORAGE PONDS
WEIGHT OF NEW MATERIAL/BUILDINGS
The term first introduced by the Brundtland Commission (1987) in their report “Our Common Future” and is defined as : “ the development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Sustainability - Three E’s Balance Rule
ENVIRONMENT
EQUITY (SOCIETY)
ECONOMY
Sustainable development basis as to political and ethical principle.
THAT THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMICAL DYNAMICS OF MODERN ECONOMIES ARE COMPATIBLE BOTH WITH THE IMPROVEMENT OF LIFE CONDITIONS AND THE ABILITY OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO REPRODUCE (REGENERATE) IN AN INDEFINITE MANNER
Sustainability - Three P’s Balance Rule
PEOPLE
PLANET
PROFIT
Social performance
PEOPLE
Economic performance
PROFIT
Environmental performance
Planet
Sustainable Construction - Private Sector
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE
SOCIAL AWARENESS
ECONOMIC PROFITABILITY
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
Sustainable construction - Public sector
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PLAN
HOUSING SHORTAGE
ABANDONMENT
DECENT HOMES
LIVABILITY
PROTECTING THE COUNTRYSIDE
Issues that affect sustainable engineering
POPULATION AND URBANIZATION
HEALTH
WATER SCARCITY, CONFLICT AND RESOLUTION
ENERGY AND CLIMATE
MATERIALS FLOWS AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
