Sacramento State Volume 1 Flashcards
Surface Water Qualities
low calcium and magnesium (soft water), high turbidity, high suspended solids, some color, microbial contamination
River and Stream concerns
Upstream conditions such as sewage, agricultural drainage, or industrial waste. Scouring of the bottom, changing channels, silting.
River and Stream intake protection
Withstand ice and heavy silting.
Lake and Reservoir concerns
Fall and Spring overturn
Lake and Reservoir intake protection
Keep recreational activities such as gasoline powered boating and swimming away from intake to avoid contamination.
Lake and Reservoir stratification
Sun increases surface water temperature to above deep water temperature. The warm water is less dense and does not mix with cooler water below.
Lake and Reservoir overturn
Higher temperature surface water is cooled till it reaches the same temperature as the deeper water. Then wind causes mixing of layers bringing poor quality water to surface.
Algal bloom after overturn
Nutrient rich deep water comes to the surface
How does water reach underground aquifers
Recharge when precipitation trickles through soil
Transpiration
Plants return precipitation to atmosphere through leaves
aquifer
layer of porous water-bearing material underground
Characteristics of ground water
High concentration dissolved solids, dissolved gasses, high hardness, low microbial contamination, low suspended solids
water table
aquifer without upper confined barrier
artesian aquifer
Aquifer bounded above and below by impermeable layer. Creates pressure for artesian well to flow above confining layer.
capillary fringe
Area above water table with capillary action into soil. Not considered a true source of supply.
