Natural Resources: Water as a Resource (Unit 7) Flashcards
In 2017, what did the Texas Water Development Board predict would happen to the water supply by 2070? What is this water gap an average of? Why will this challenge have varying effects?
In 2017, the Texas Water Development Board predicted that by 2070 there will be a 41% gap between water demand and supply. The 41% gap is the average across the state of Texas. This challenge will have varying effects on different parts of Texas because each region has its own distinct population, water demands, and water supplies. Variation in urban growth, resource distribution, and resource demands will result in some areas experiencing more serious challenges than others.
Despite being essential, do many lack food, energy, and water? According to the World Resources Institute, what will happen to water, food, and energy demands?
Water, food, and energy are essential to sustain life on Earth. Around the globe, billions of people lack access to one or more of these resources. According to the World Resources Institute, by 2030, water, food, and energy demands are expected to increase by 40–50%.
Resource Definition
A source or supply that a country has and can use to increase its wealth
How is water and energy used in our food? (Connection between food, energy, and water)
Water is used in agriculture and energy production. Energy is used to power many tools and equipment in food production. Water treatment plants use energy to clean water and transport water. Current food production practices require water and energy and many of those practices impact the availability and quality of drinking water.
True or False: Water, food, and energy are resources that must be considered collectively rather than independently of each other to ensure safe and secure access to them.
True
What are five real world examples that show how food, energy, and water are connected?
- Water is used for irrigating crops.
- Energy is required to pump and transport water.
- Processing food requires energy and water, such as making ketchup from tomatoes.
- Water is used to cool thermal power plants.
- Water is used to produce energy in hydroelectric dams.
How is irrigation an example of how food, water, and energy are connected?
Food requires a lot of water and in many places irrigation comes from water supplies that are either above ground or underground. You need energy to pump that water and you need energy to move water around in society.
How is energy connected to water?
We use a lot of energy to move water around in society and to heat water for all kinds of other purposes. We also use energy in the processing of food that comes from agriculture.
How is water connected to energy?
Water then, on the other hand, is connected with energy because you need water for the energy that we use in society. For example, we use pumped hydro power to actually balance our grids today. We also need water for cooling the thermal power plants that we use in society.
Which two factors do scientists use to determine an individual’s or a community’s total water usage?
To calculate the water usage of an individual or a community, scientists include both direct and virtual ways that people use water.
What is direct water and what does it include? What is virtual water and what does it include? Which of these make up the majority of our water footprint?
Direct water includes drinking water and water used to water lawns or flush toilets. Virtual water (also known as hidden water) appears in the water used in foods you eat or products that you buy, the energy you consume, or the water you saved by recycling. Virtual water use makes up most of people’s water footprint.
What are five examples of virtual water?
- production of food, such as pizza or chocolate
- production of other products, such as clothes, shoes, or cars
- water used in electricity production and the use of electrical appliances
- cooling of thermoelectric power plants
- water used to produce electricity that runs water treatment plants
Direct Water Definition
Water that is used or consumed by an individual or group of individuals
Virtual Water Definition
Water used in production of services and goods that consumers need and enjoy
True or False: The average water footprint of one medium-sized cheese pizza is 1,260 liters or 333 gallons of water.
True
What does the human water cycle describe? Are the earth’s water cycle and the human water cycle connected?
The human water cycle describes how humans get, use, and reuse water. Both Earth’s water cycle and the human water cycle are interconnected and vital for sustaining life.
How can high pressure membranes help water quality?
High-pressure membranes can be used to remove very small contaminants in water. This technology can help remove all kinds of contaminants from the water making it safe for the environment.
True or False: The largest source of clean electric energy in the United States is hydro power or hydroelectricity.
True
How is using satellites to get soil salinity data an advantage?
Using satellites to get soil salinity data can help retrieve high resolution measurements locally and globally.
True or False: Soil salinization is the excess salt leftover after water evaporates or transpires. The excess salt in water stops the crops from taking in water and nutrients.
True
Currently, what percentage of freshwater consumption is used for agriculture?
70%
How is agriculture related to water and energy? What negative effects can it have on water?
The increasing demands by crops and livestock production for fresh water along with many other uses, such as producing energy, are adding stress on water sources. In addition, food production impacts the quality of freshwater sources by introducing contaminants to existing supplies. Agricultural runoff adds fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste into surface water and groundwater. This results in algal blooms (or overgrowth of algae in water) which lowers the oxygen level, creating dead zones in bodies of water. This impacts aquatic life and fishing industries.
Remember: Better sustainable practices are needed to reduce agricultural runoff and to capture and recycle nutrients before they reach water sources. Salt water poses a significant threat to freshwater supplies used for food production. Many of the widely used agricultural practices and technologies are energy intensive and expensive. Scientists and farmers must work together to create and implement new and sustainable practices or solutions to help reduce the impact on freshwater supplies.
Better sustainable practices are needed to reduce agricultural runoff and to capture and recycle nutrients before they reach water sources. Salt water poses a significant threat to freshwater supplies used for food production. Many of the widely used agricultural practices and technologies are energy intensive and expensive. Scientists and farmers must work together to create and implement new and sustainable practices or solutions to help reduce the impact on freshwater supplies.
By what percentage will the global agricultural water consumption increase by in 2050, according to the United Nations?
19%.