Water Use

Question 1

What source uses the highest percentage of Earth’s water?

Answer 1

Thermoelectric power

Question 2

What does thermoelectric mean?

Answer 2

heating, steam turns turbines and turbines generate electricty (coal, gas, natural gas, oil and nuclear plants all use this type of power)

Question 3

What power plants use thermoelectric power?

Answer 3

coal, gas, oil, and nuclear plants

Question 4

Are these sources of power an example of consumptive water use?

Answer 4

no

Question 5

Consumptive Use

Answer 5

water lost to atmosphere through evapotranspiration

Question 6

Non-Consumptive Use

Answer 6

water returned to surface or ground water systems (where it can be retrieved again)

Question 7

Is irrigation a type of non- consumptive use?

Answer 7

No

Question 8

Why has U.S. water use declined since 1980, even as population has grown by >50 million?

Answer 8

More efficient thermoelectric power plants (b/c we shifted away from coal, uses less water)

Question 9

Equation for total water use

Answer 9

Agriculture + Domestic + Industry = Total Water Use

Question 10

Subsidence

Answer 10

when ground elevation lowers due to water withdrawl and subsequent sediment compaction

Question 11

What can subsidence create?

Answer 11

sink holes

Question 12

What are the pros of dams?

Answer 12

• Dependeble water source
• Provides electricity
• Controls floods
• Allows for safe recreational activity

Question 13

What are the cons of dams?

Answer 13

• Destroy habitats
• Leads to struggles between upstream and downstream areas

Question 14

m^3/yr is used to calculate

Answer 14

percent water use

Question 15

Improved Water Supply

Answer 15

source that is likely to provide safe drinking water (i.e. protected springs, protected wells, rainwater collection)

Question 16

Water contamination is worst in what country?

Answer 16

Africa–South Asia is close second

Question 17

Less developed countries use far less water use for industry and more for __________?

Answer 17

Agriculture

Question 18

Industrial water use increases based on _________ globally

Answer 18

income
- 10% for low to middle income countries
- 59% for high income countries

Question 19

Global population growth is ______% per year

Answer 19

1.1%

Question 20

According to Vörösmarty et al., which is more important in driving increasing water stress in this century?

Answer 20

population growth

Question 21

What is the virtual water content of a product?

Answer 21

the volume of freshwater used to produce a commodity, good of service

Question 22

Why is water management such an acute issue in California?

Answer 22

• Large population and lots of agriculture
• Most of the precipitation falls as snow in the mountains in the winter
• Climate change is exacerbating droughts

Question 23

What is the main reason for the decline in total U.S water use since 2005?

Answer 23

more efficient thermoelectric power plants

Question 24

Which food requires the most water to produce?

Answer 24

beef

Question 25

What is the largest consumptive use of water in the United States?

Answer 25

irrigation

Question 26

What is considered the minimum amount of water needed per person per day for adequate health and santiation

Answer 26

13

Question 27

What sector is the largest freshwater use in CA?

Answer 27

irrigation

Question 28

What is the largest freshwater use in Vermont?

Answer 28

public supply