U7L7 Agriculture, Industry, and Water Resources

Question 1

In 2015, how did thermoelectric power affect water supplies?

Answer 1

Out of these three, thermoelectric power withdraws the most water, approximately 133 billion gallons per day.

Question 2

How do industries affect water supplies?

Answer 2

Thermoelectric power plants, mining, and other industries withdraw water to manufacture products and generate electricity. Industries also use water to cool, wash, dilute, fabricate, and transport equipment and goods. It is crucial to understand how these industries impact surrounding water resources.

Question 3

What are the two ways thermoelectric power plants use water?

Answer 3

Boiling water creates steam, which powers turbines and generates electricity; and cold water is also used in power plants to cool equipment. The heated water is cooled using cooling towers before being released back into the environment.

Question 4

How can thermoelectric power plants have a negative impact on local water resources?

Answer 4

• These power plants pump massive amounts of
water from rivers and reservoirs. Even though the water is replaced, this pumping still places a threat on the available water supply.
• When the high temperature water is released back to the environment, it decreases the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. This is called thermal pollution. Thermally polluted water can harm the quality of water and makes the water unfit for aquatic life.

Question 5

What is water used for in fracking?

Answer 5

It involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure through a production well to retrieve gas and oil trapped inside rocks.

Question 6

How does fracking impact water supplies and the environment?

Answer 6

• Fracking imposes stress on water supplies as
water use per well can range from 1.5 million
gallons to 16 million gallons.
• The water and chemical mixture can leach into
groundwater if the well is not structurally sound, if there are any spills, or if proper procedures have not been followed to store the mix.
• Methane gas can also leach into the groundwater and make the water flammable.

Question 7

Mining and other industries use and impact water in the following ways:

Answer 7

• The process used to extract metal from its ore is
known as smelting. Liquid waste from smelting and accidental drainage can cause toxic water to enter the water supply. This water contains harmful contaminants, such as chromium, lead, and copper.
• Wastewater is generated during mineral processing from equipment cooling, mine dewatering, and from stormwater runoff at mines and processing plants.
• Mining can affect water supplies due to altering groundwater flow paths, quarry dewatering, and rock removal. The runoff can dissolve heavy metals, such as copper, lead, and mercury, into groundwater or surface water.

Question 8

What is the definition of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking?

Answer 8

A process of fracturing rocks by injecting liquid at high pressure to extract oil or gas

Question 9

How is water used in water-jet fabrication?

Answer 9

It is a method used to cut glass with high-pressure water

Question 10

How is water used in smelting?

Answer 10

It is used to cool equipment, washing of smelter gases, and dust control.

Question 11

How is water used in hydraulic mining?

Answer 11

Hydraulic mining involves the use of water jets to mine for precious metals such as gold. Water dislodges rocks and moves sediments through sluice boxes that separate the gold from other debris.

Question 12

How is water used in fracking?

Answer 12

During fracking, a process to extract gas and oil from rocks, a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals is injected into the rocks at high pressure through large pumps. The pressure of the fracking fluid releases the gas trapped inside.

Question 13

How do petroleum refineries use water?

Answer 13

Petroleum refineries transform and refine crude oil into more useful oils like gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel oils, and more. Water is used in cooling tanks to remove heat from the process. Petroleum refineries also use water to protect equipment from corrosion and to remove salt and impurities from crude oil.

Question 14

How do thermoelectric power plants use water?

Answer 14

Thermoelectric power plants use boiling water to create steam. The steam spins the turbines to generate electricity. These power plants also use water as a cooling agent to cool the steam so it can be reused to generate more electricity.

Question 15

How do pharmaceutical companies use water?

Answer 15

Pharmaceutical companies use water for cleaning equipment and chemical synthesis. Water is also used as an inactive substance in products like injections and ointments.

Question 16

What is chemical synthesis?

Answer 16

Chemical synthesis is the process of carrying out chemical reactions to obtain one or more products.

Question 17

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in 2015, irrigation and livestock combined used ___________ of water per day.

Answer 17

120 billion gallons

Question 18

The following are a few examples of how water is used in agriculture:

Answer 18

• irrigation
• applying things such as fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides
• cooling crops (light irrigation)
• raising livestock
• frost control

Question 19

Where does water used in agriculture come from?

Answer 19

Surface water (such as rivers and streams), groundwater, or rainwater

Question 20

What affect does the quality of agriculture water have on crop yield?

Answer 20

If the quality of agricultural water decreases, it has a negative effect on crop yield.

Question 21

What affect does the quality of agriculture water have on water resources?

Answer 21

Poor agricultural practices, mismanagement of farms, and animal waste can have a negative impact on water resources.

Question 22

What is the definition of agricultural water?

Answer 22

Water used to grow fresh produce and raise livestock

Question 23

What is NPS pollution?

Answer 23

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution refers to diffuse contamination (or pollution) of water or air that does not originate from a single discrete source. This type of pollution is often the cumulative effect of small amounts of contaminants gathered from a large area.

Question 24

What agricultural activities cause NPS pollution?

Answer 24

Agricultural activities that cause NPS pollution include poorly located or managed animal feeding operations; overgrazing; plowing too often or at the wrong time; and improper, excessive, or poorly timed application of pesticides, irrigation water, and fertilizer.

Question 25

What pollutants result from farming and ranching?

Answer 25

• sediment
• nutrients
• pathogens
• pesticides
• metals
• salts

Question 26

What type of practices can help minimized the use of surface and ground water?

Answer 26

Impacts from agricultural activities on surface water and ground water can
be minimized by using management practices that are adapted to local conditions.

Question 27

What is the Clean Water Act?

Answer 27

have been used to control NPS pollution from working farms

and ranches

Question 28

What does the U.S. Department of Agriculture do?

Answer 28

provide cost-share, technical assistance, and economic incentives to implement NPS pollution management practices.

Question 29

The most prevalent source of agricultural water pollution is soil that is washed off fields. Describe this process.

Answer 29

Rain water carries soil particles (sediment)
and dumps them into nearby lakes or streams. Too much sediment
can cloud the water, reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches aquatic plants. It can also clog the gills of fish or smother fish larvae.

Question 30

What is sedimentation?

Answer 30

The most prevalent source of agricultural water pollution is soil that is washed off fields. Rain water carries soil particles (sediment)
and dumps them into nearby lakes or streams. Too much sediment
can cloud the water, reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches aquatic plants. It can also clog the gills of fish or smother fish larvae.
In addition, other pollutants like fertilizers, pesticides, and heavy metals are often attached to the soil particles and wash into the water bodies, causing algal blooms and depleted oxygen, which is deadly to most aquatic life. Farmers and ranchers can reduce erosion and sedimentation by 20 to
90 percent by applying management practices that control the volume and flow rate of runoff water, keep the soil in place, and reduce soil transport.

Question 31

How does the nutrients added to the soil effect the water?

Answer 31

Farmers apply nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium in the form of chemical fertilizers, manure, and sludge. They may also grow legumes and leave crop residues to enhance production. When these sources exceed plant needs, or are applied just before it rains, nutrients can wash into aquatic ecosystems. There they can cause algae blooms, which can ruin swimming and boating opportunities, create foul taste and odor in drinking water, and kill fish by removing oxygen from the water. High concentrations of nitrate in drinking water can cause methemoglobinemia,
a potentially fatal disease in infants, also known as blue baby syndrome.
To combat nutrient losses, farmers can implement nutrient management plans that help maintain high yields and save money on fertilizers.

Question 32

Idk how to write this.

Answer 32

When raising livestock, it is important to properly manage animal waste. Poorly managed waste can seep into the ground and contaminate groundwater. Water can also runoff into local water supplies and cause an increase of nutrients which can lead to algal blooms. Livestock overgrazing can cause soil erosion. Irrigation adds a lot of stress on water supplies and excessive irrigation can lead to erosion and cause excess nutrients to runoff into local water supplies.