U7L1 Water as a Resource

Question 1

In 2017, the Texas Water Development Board predicted that by 2070 there will be a 41% gap between water demand and supply. Would this affect the state of Texas?

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

What is the definition of demand?

Answer 2

The amount of a resource that is desired by consumers

Question 3

What is the definition of supply?

Answer 3

The amount of a resource that is available to consumers

Question 4

What are the three essential elements to sustain life on Earth?

Answer 4

Water, food, and energy

Question 5

Water, food, and energy are essential to sustain life on Earth. Around the globe, how many people are not accessible to these elements?

Answer 5

Around the globe, billions of people lack access to one or more of these resources.

Question 6

According to the World Resources Institute, by 2030, water, food, and energy demands are expected to increase by ______.

Answer 6

40–50%

Question 7

What is the definition of resource?

Answer 7

A source or supply that a country has and use to increase its wealth

Question 8

What are the connections between food, water, and energy?

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

How is water connected to energy?

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

How is energy connected to food?

Answer 10

We also use energy in the processing of food that comes from agriculture. So we do a lot of food processing to make things like catsup from tomatoes and things like that that require a lot of energy input.

Question 11

How much water is used in the U.S. per day?

Answer 11

332 billion gallons

Question 12

What is direct water?

Answer 12

Drinking water and water used to water lawns or flush toilets.

Question 13

What is virtual water (also known as hidden water)?

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Given on the other side are some virtual ways people use water:

Answer 14

• 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

Question 15

What is the definition of direct water?

Answer 15

Water that is used or consumed by an individual or group of individuals.

Question 16

What is the definition of virtual water?

Answer 16

Water used in production of services and goods that consumers need and enjoy

Question 17

What is your water footprint?

Answer 17

Your water footprint is the amount of water you consume in your daily life, including the water used to grow the food you eat, to produce the energy you use and for all of the products in your daily life – your books, music, house, car, furniture and the clothes you wear.

Question 18

True of false.

Everything we use has a water footprint.

Answer 18

True

Question 19

What is the human cycle?

Answer 19

The human cycle describes how humans get, use, and reuse water.