Chapter 5 - Water

5.1 Our Water Resources

5.1 Our Water Resources

• Surface water includes all aboveground sources, such as lakes, ponds rivers, and streams. 
• Ground water is water that has seeped underground over a long period of time. It can take millions of years to replenish a groundwater source, so once a source is used up, it may not be replenished within our lifetimes.
• Aquifers are underground rock and soil formations that contain groundwater.
• The entire region that is drained by a river is its watershed.
• A recharge zone is the region that water seeps through before reaching a groundwater supply.
• Fresh water is considered a limited source  because only 1% of all water is usable fresh water, it is unevenly distributed and not always in liquid form for human use ( when going through the water cycle)
• Conserving water can be done by using low flow faucets, watering lawns late or early in the day, use only native plants in gardens, shower not bath, ect.
• Nations should use compromise when using water that crosses several countries to reflect the interests of all people.
• If there was no water, life on Earth would cease to exist, if fresh water were to disappear, humans would try to desalinate sea water, which could also have major environmental impacts.

5.2 Fresh Water Pollution

5.2 Fresh Water Pollution

• Point pollution can be identified and measures can be taken to react the polluted water.  Non-point pollution comes from many different sources that cannot always be identified.
• There are many types of water pollution;  Pathogens are disease-causing organisms that pollute water sources by way of untreated sewage and animal feces, causes diseases such as cholera, hepatitis and typhoid.
• Organic matter and organic chemicals also cause water pollution; sewage and fertilizer runoff, which contain phosphorus and nitrogen, can run into rivers or lakes, where they can promote the rapid growth of algae.  Oxygen from the water is consumed when the algae did and decompose, suffocating organisms that rely on water's oxygen.
• Other water pollutants include: inorganic chemicals like salts and acids; Toxic chemicals like heavy lead and some household chemicals; Physical agents such as heat and suspended solids like soil; and Radioactive waste from nuclear processing
• Ground water is difficult to clean up because it is difficult to reach underground contaminants that are hidden among sand grains and in tiny rock fissures.
• Sources of Point Pollution include; septic tank systems, waste storage lagoons, landfills, underground storage tanks containing pollutants like gas, and industrial waste water treatment plants.
• Sources on Non-point Pollution include; highway construction and maintenance that erodes soil and uses toxin chemicals, storm runoff, pesticides, fertilizer, and highway salt.

The terms in bold identify kinds of pollutants

5.3 Ocean Pollution

5.3 Ocean Pollution

• Most ocean pollution comes tom the land.  It is mainly garbage (especially plastic), sewage sludge, and oil.
• the tree major sources of oil pollution in the ocean are small spills from tankers, leaks from offshore drilling rigs, and oil spilled whild loading and unloading oil tankers.
• Plastic is considered a major ocean pollutant because it is lethal to many animals.  It comes from land and boats.  It can be stopped by passing new laws and enforcing exsisting laws and public awareness of the problem.
• If ocean pollution continues at the current rate, ecosystems will be disturbed or destroyed, and possible extinction of some marine organisms.