Water Sustainability and Water Quality Flashcards
What is the rationale for water sustainability?
Population growth and rapid urbanisation exerts an ever-increasing stress on water resources around the world.
Finite water with an increasing population creates increased water stress
What is the difference between infiltration and percolation?
Infiltration is the process by which water on the surface of the ground enters the soil.
Percolation refers to the downward movement of water through the soil and its layers under the influence of gravity.
How has the impact of climate change invoked a need for water sustainability?
Warmer air, more evaporation, more water vapour in the air, heavier more intense rainfall, flash flooding and high runoff.
What is sustainable water management?
Sustainable water management means the ability to meet the water needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same.
What challenges do we face with water in the UK?
Climate change
Unsustainable abstraction
Leakage
Water bills increase
Ageing infrastructure
Discuss construction of dams as sustainable water solutions
Surface water - construction of dams an be used for power generation, irrigation, flood prevention, water diversion and navigation. However, they can have negative environmental impacts on wildlife habitats, fish migration, water flow and quality and socioeconomic impacts.
Discuss desalination as a sustainable water solution
The sustainability of desalination could be improved if it is coupled with renewable energy. Higher energy demands from both thermal and membrane-based compared to groundwater and surface water treatment are not quite sustainable.
Discuss groundwater use as a sustainable water solution
Conserving the amount of water entering, leaving and being stored in the system. Unsustainable groundwater use results in water-level decline, reduce streamflow and low-quality water, directly impacting local communities.
Discuss reclaimed water/water reuse use as a sustainable water solution
Can also be a sustainable source for water supply and can alleviate stress on primary water resources, such as surface and groundwater. However, it must be treated to provide an appropriate quality depending on the application. For example, for irrigation or industrial use.
Freshwater:
- Limited availability of freshwater, requires desalination
Reuse of waterwater:
- Indirect potable reuse (effluent returned to a source of supply and then conveyed to a H2O treatment process).
- Direct potable reuse (highly treated effluent conveyed to distribution system for direct consumption).
Define water quality
Water quality refers to the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water based on the standards of its usage.
Why is water quality important?
Preserving the quality of freshwater is essential to prevent harm to human health and to the aquatic ecosystems, from which we get many other benefits such as drinking water, food and recreation.
Define potable water
Potable water refers to water that is safe to drink in terms of containing no harmful microorganisms or toxic chemicals.
Define palatable water
Water that is pleasant to drink. Palatable water is at a desirable temperature, completely transparent and free from tastes, odours and colours, but is not necessarily free from disease-causing microorganisms.
Define contaminated (polluted) water
Contaminated water refers to water that has been polluted or compromised by harmful substances, including chemicals, physical pollutants, or biological agents, rendering it unsafe for human use or environmental health.
Define infected water
Infected water specifically refers to water that contains pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, or parasites, which can cause disease in humans or animals.
