Water Chapter 15 Water Wars n Water shortage

Water Chapter 15

Water Wars n Water shortage n Growing population n Poor irrigation efficiency n Economic competition- importing more grain to reduce need for irrigation water or work out water-sharing agreements with other countries

Unique Properties of Water n Strong hydrogen bonds n Liquid over wide temperature range n High heat capacity – changes temperature slowly (moderates climate, used as coolant for car engine & power plants) n Large amount of energy needed to evaporate – heat is then released during condensation (helps distribute heat & determine climate zones; evaporation/sweating = cooling process)

n Dissolves many substances- dissolves nutrients in living tissue, flush waste out of tissues, all-purpose cleanser, helps remove/dilute water-soluble waste n Filters out UV radiation that would harm aquatic organisms n Bonds – allow capillary action – water can move upward through plants n Expands when frozen= ice floats; prevents lakes & streams from freezing solid

Available Freshwater n Only 0. 014% is available for useh

Water Cycle n Surface runoff- water flowing off the land into bodies of surface water n Reliable runoff- amount of run-off that we can generally count on as a stable source of water n Watershed (drainage basin)- region from which surface water drains into a river, lake, wetland, or other body of water

n Groundwater- water stored in spaces in soil & rock n Zone of aeration- close to surface; pore space contains mixture of air & water n Zone of saturation- lower layers of soil where pore space is filled with water n Water table- top of zone of saturation n Aquifer- (deep) porous, water-saturated layers of sand, gravel, or bedrock through which groundwater flows

n Natural recharge- natural replenishment of an aquifer by precipitation, which percolates downward through soil & rock n Shortages result from: n Removing groundwater faster than it is replenished n Some aquifers receive little, if any recharge

Water Use n Withdrawal- total amount of water removed from lake, river, or aquifer for any purpose n Consumptive water use- withdrawn water is not available for reuse in basin due to losses like evaporation, seepage into ground, transportation to another area, or contamination

Water Use n Population- up 3 x n Global water withdrawal- up 7 x n Per capita withdrawal- up 4 x n Reliable surface runoff used- 34% n Used by 2025 - 70% (90% if per capita rises too)

n Irrigation- 70% n Industry- 20% n Residences & cities- 10%

Eastern U. S. n Major water use- energy production, cooling, & manufacturing n Problems- flooding, occasional urban shortages, pollution

Western U. S. n Major water use- irrigation n Problems- shortage of runoff, low precipitation / high evaporation, recurring prolonged drought

Causes of Water Scarcity n Dry climate n Drought- prolonged period with 70% less precipitation & higher than normal evaporation n Dessication- drying of exposed soil due to deforestation or overgrazing n Water stress- low per capita availability due to high population relying on limited runoff

Increase Freshwater Supply n Build dams & reservoirs to store runoff n Bring in surface water from another area n Desalinization n Reduce water waste n Import food to reduce water use in crops & cattle n Withdraw groundwater

Government Ownership - Poor management & efficiency + Strict government oversight + Equal access & fair rates

Private Ownership + Funds & management expertise + Improved efficiency, good job - No rate control - Profitable - Sold as a luxary, not basic need

Large losses of water through evaporation Downstream cropland estuaries are deprived of nutrient-rich silt Flooded land destroys forests or cropland displaces people Downstream flooding is reduced Provides water for year-round irrigation of cropland Figure 15 -9 Page 313 Reservoir is useful for recreation and fishing Can produce cheap electricity (hydropower) Migration and spawning of some fish are disrupted

Colorado River Dams + Provides electricity from numerous hydroelectric plants + Provides water for 7 states + Multibillion dollar recreational industry (whitewater rafting, boating, fishing, camping, hiking) - Arid area - Legal pacts allocating water supply for US & Mexico - River water rarely makes it to Guld of California

- Threatens aquatic spawning - Destroys estuaries - Increases saltwater contaminated coastal aquifers

Trade-Offs China’s Three Gorges Dam Advantages Disadvantages Will generate about 10% of China’s electricity Floods large areas of cropland forests Reduces dependence on coal Displaces 1. 9 million people Reduces air pollution Increases water pollution because of reduced water flow Reduces CO 2 emissions Reduces chances of downstream flooding for 15 million people Reduces river sitting below dam by eroded soil Increases irrigation water for cropland below dam Reduces deposits of nutrientrich sediments below dam Figure 15 -11 Page 315 Increases saltwater Introduced into drinking water near mouth of river because of decreased water flow Disrupts spawning and migration of some fish below dam High cost

Aral Sea Water Transfer Project n Shrinking of Aral Sea n Regional ecological, economic, health disaster n Salinity 3 x higher n Surface area down 58% n 83% water loss n Feeder rivers reduced to trickles n Eliminates wetlands n Birds & mammal species disappeared

n Extinction of 20 (of 24) native fish species n Salt dust settles on wildlife, crops, & other vegetation

California Water Transfer Project NORTH n Degrade Sacramento River n Threatens fisheries n Reduces flushing of San Francisco Bay pollutants n Water sent South is wasted SOUTH n Need more water to grow crops n Lakes shrink = reduced populations of ducks, gulls, & wading birds

James Bay in Canada - 600 dams & dikes that will reverse or alter flow of 19 giant rivers - Will flood boreal forests & tundra - Displace of indigenous Cree & Inuits + Hydroelectric power

Trade-Offs Withdrawing Groundwater Advantages Disadvantages Good source of water for drinking and irrigation Aquifier depletion from overpumping Available year-round Sinking of land (subsidence) when water removed Exists almost everywhere Polluted aquifiers unusable for decades or centuries Renewable if not overpumped or contaminated Saltwater intrusion into drinking water supplies near coastal areas No evaporation losses Cheaper to extract than most surface waters Reduced water flows into streams, lakes, estuaries, and wetlands Increased cost, energy use, and contamination from Figure 15 -15 deeper wells Page 319

Excessive Withdrawal n Unsustainable water mining n Limits future food production n Increases gap between rich & poor areas n Must drill deeper wells, buy larger pumps, & use more electricity n Causes sinkholes

Saltwater Intrusion n Movement of salt water into freshwater aquifers in coastal & inland areas as groundwater is withdrawn faster than it is recharged by precipitation n Groundwater becomes unusable

Ogallala Aquifer + Transformed vast areas of arid prairie into productive agricultural land - Slows recharge rate - Aquifer is thinner for southern region - Government subsidies increased crop production & increases depletion of aquifer

Solutions Groundwater Depletion Prevention Waste less water Control Raise price of water to discourage waste Subsidize water conservation Ban new wells in aquifiers near surface waters Buy and retire groundwater withdrawal rights in critical areas Do not grow waterintensive crops in dry areas Reduce birth rates Tax water pumped from Wells near surface water Set and enforce minimum stream flow levels Figure 15 -18 Page 320

Deep Aquifer Concerns: n Little known about geological & ecological impacts of using these aquifers n No international water treaties govern the rights to & ownership of water that underlies several countries

Desalinization - High cost - Large energy requirements - Large amounts of briny waste water - Dumping of waste increases salinity of ocean water (food resources & aquatic life threatened) + Make ocean water or brackish water usable

Seeding Clouds n Does not work well in very dry areas n No scientific evidence of success n Introduces large amounts of chemicals into soil & water systems (harms people, wildlife, & agricultural productivity) n Ownership of cloud water

Iceberg Towing n Unsure methods n Cost n Probably neither (iceberg towing or cloud seeding) would provide significant amounts of freshwater

Wasted Water n 65 -70% of world water is wasted n Could be reduced to 15% n Causes: n Underpricing- government subsidies for irrigation water, electricity, & diesel fuel for farmers to pump water at below-market price n Lack of government subsidies for improving efficiency of water use

Irrigation Systems n Center pivot- uses pump to spray water on crops 80% efficient n Uses 25% less water n n Drip irrigation- microirrigation- above or below ground pipes or tubes deliver water to individual plant roots n 90 -95% efficient n Gravity flow- water flow into ditches from aqueduct or nearby river n 60 -80% efficient

Figure 15 -20 Page 324 Center Pivot Drip Irrigation (efficiency 90 -95%) Gravity Flow (efficiency 60% and 80% with surge valves) Water usually comes from an aqueduct system or a nearby river. Above- or below-ground pipes or tubes deliver water to individual plant roots. (efficiency 80% with lowpressure sprinkler and 90– 95% with LEPA sprinkler) Water usually pumped from underground and sprayed from mobile boom with sprinklers.

Solutions Reducing Irrigation Water Waste • Lining canals bring water to irrigation ditches • Leveling fields with lasers • Irrigating at night to reduce evaporation • Using soil and satellite sensorsand computer systems to monitor soil moisture and add water only when necessary • Polyculture • Organic Farming • Growing water-efficient crops using droughtresistant and salt tolerant crops varieties • Irrigating with treated urban waste water • Importing water-intensive crops and meat Figure 15 -21 Page 324

Solutions Reducing Water Waste • Redesign manufacturing processes • Landscape yards with plants that require little water • Use drip irrigation • Fix water leaks • Use water meters and charge for all municipal water use • Use waterless composting toilets • Require water conservation in water-short cities • Use water-saving toilets, showerheads, and frontloading clothes washers • Collect and reuse household water to irrigate lawns and nonedible plants • Purify and reuse water for houses, apartments, and office buildings Figure 15 -22 Page 325

Reducing Water Used to Remove Waste n Use pollution prevention & waste reduction to decrease waste production n Ban toxic wastes in municipal sewer system n Waterless composting toilet n Nutrient-rich sludge returned to soil as fertilizer n New sewage treatment methods that recycle nutrients in organic waste material

Floods + Fertile soils + Ample water for irrigation + Rivers for transportation & recreation + Flat land suitable for crops, buildings, highways, & railroads - Removal of water-absorbing vegetation

Increasing Flood Damage n Removal of water-absorbing vegetation n Draining wetlands n Living on floodplains n Pavement & buildings

Bangladesh n Straighten & deep streams n Build levees or floodwalls n Build dams n Preserve existing wetlands & restore degraded wetlands n Identify & manage flood-prone areas n Think carefully about where we live

Solutions Figure 15 -26 Page 329 Sustainable Water Use • Not depleting aquifers • Preserving ecological health of aquatic systems • Preserving water quality • Integrated watershed management • Agreements among regions and countries sharing surface water resources • Outside party mediation of water disputes between nations • Marketing of water rights • Raising water prices • Wasting less water • Decreasing government subsides for supplying water • Increasing government subsides for reducing water waste • Slowing population growth

What Can You Do? Water Use and Waste Figure 15 -27 Page 330 • Use water-saving toilets, showerheads, and faucet aerators • Shower instead of taking baths, and take short showers. • Repair water leaks. • Turn off sink faucets while brushing teeth, shaving, or washing. • Wash only full loads of clothes or use the lowest possible water-level setting for smaller loads. • Wash a car from a bucket of soapy water, and use the hose for rinsing only. • If you use a commercial car wash, try to find one that recycles its water. • Replace your lawn with native plants that need little if any watering. • Water lawns and garden in the early morning or evening. • Use drip irrigation and mulch for gardens and flowerbeds. • Use recycled (gray) water for watering lawns and houseplants and for washing cars.