Water Management Issues

Water Management Issues

1. According to Roadmap for Sustainable Water Resources in Southwestern North America and the Yale Environment 360 articles, what are four modern water management strategies that could be implemented in the southwestern U.S. to make water resources more sustainable? Answer in your own words in 1-2 paragraphs.

Four modern strategies can be employed in the Southwestern U. S to make water resources more sustainable (Gleick, 2010). First and foremost, the first strategy is by reevaluating new water supply methods like reusing water and tapping water from underground. The other approach is by amending tools to reduce water pressure in regions that have demand for water that is used, for instance, in irrigation. Therefore, reevaluating water demand by making the existing systems more efficient is a crucial strategy.

Additionally, other strategies are improving structures for managing water and incorporating climate change into decisions that are made on water. Making adjustments by using modern ways can significantly affect the efficiency and demand for water. Climate change, on the other hand, will always keep affecting water supply; hence it is vital to make decisions that will overlook the consequences of climate change.

2. According to Brusseau and Tick in Subsurface Pollution, what are five of the most common sources of groundwater pollution?

Most common sources of groundwater pollution are:

1. Underground storage tanks
2. Septic tanks that are underground
3. Landfills
4. Large Industrial wastes
5. Chemicals from fertilizers
6. What are the three environmental, social, and/or economic effects that the fuel leak at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico has had on the city of Albuquerque? Why is this leak so challenging to manage and remediate? Answer in 1-2 paragraphs.

The fuel leak at Kirtland Air Force Base in Mexico brought about dangers in the public health structures affecting the economy as more energy has been drifted to dealing with infection because of contamination of water and soil. The leak has affected the quality of water, as the oil is contamination and has affected living creatures living in water bodies.  There is no drinking water for people living as the chemicals of the fuel have health risks. Damage of soils affects agriculture, and the primary source of food and jobs is through agricultural activities. This activity, in turn, affects the living standards of residents. The leak is so challenging to manage and remediate because the process is costly, and the fuel has been leaking deep into the soils for a long time.

4. Historically, water contamination was a significant problem (and from a global perspective, it still is). According to U.S. Drinking Water Regulation: History and Politics, what were two water treatment technologies/approaches that successfully reduced water contamination in the U.S. in the late 1800s and early 1900s? Briefly describe each technology/approach and comment on its effectiveness. Answer in ~1 paragraph.

Rapid filtration and slow sand filtration were the two technologies that were employed in the U.S in the late 1800s to deal with water supply issues. Rapid filtration is a method used to purify water and is efficient in large areas as it is expensive to maintain, making it unsuitable for small populations. Slow sand filtration is also a water purification system that involves biological and chemical processes in its stride.

5. Go to the Our World in Data Water Use and Stress website. According to this site, which countries withdraw the freshwater overall? Which countries or regions withdraw the most freshwater for agricultural irrigation? For industrial use? For municipal use? Answer in ~1 paragraph.

According to World in Data, India, China, and the United States have the largest trillions of freshwater withdrawals (Ritchie & Roser, 2015). Regions that have the most withdrawal of freshwater for agricultural irrigation are Bangladesh, South Korea, Middle East, and South and East Asia. Areas that have the most withdrawal of fresh water for industrial use are spread across Europe, America, and East Asia. Lastly, countries that have the most withdrawal of fresh water for municipal use are China, the United States, and India.

6. Compare the abundance of saltwater on Earth to the abundance of fresh water on Earth. Where is most of Earth’s freshwater stored, and how accessible is it? Answer in ~1 paragraph.

Although 70% percent of the earth is covered with water, a tiny fraction of it is fresh (2.5%). Saltwater covers about 67.5% of the total amount of water included in Earth. Only one percent of freshwater is easily accessible. Most of it is stored in snowfields and glaciers (National Geographic, 2020).

7. According to Richter in the chapter entitled Who Is Responsible For Water, what is “the tragedy of the commons,” and how does this concept pertain to water management? According to Richter, what is the true cause of the tragedy of the water commons? Do you agree or disagree with his claim? Explain your response. Answer in ~1-2 paragraphs.

The tragedy of the commons in Richter’s book is the idea of how freshwater management is a challenge, and the tragedy is that it is continually being altered by human activities such as agriculture. The phrase explains the tragedies in question and how they can be avoided. That is through amending the limited resources present to contain water management by the use of, for instance, flood control infrastructures. According to Richter, the cause of the tragedy of the water commons is the unavoidable decline that is impossible to object as it is directed by calculating gains against losses. I agree with Richter. This practice is inevitable. That is, it is bound to happen as everyone has their use of water and that one managing may make individual decisions based on what best benefits him/her.

8. What were three major events or trends that occurred during the third era of environmentalism (mainstream environmentalism) in the United States? Answer in your own words in 1-2 paragraphs.

During the third era of environmentalism, there were changes in regulations. That is, from legislative to administrative, that saw the Environmental Protection Agency created and acted upon almost immediately. The EPA comprised of several stakeholders who were addressing environmental issues. The third era also realized new issues of hazardous chemicals and the possibility of transfer of power to the local government. Earth day was also an event that occurred at the beginning of the third era that consisted of peaceful mobilization. As a result, this brought together Americans to celebrate and raise issues concerning the environment.

9. According to Brusseau and Tick in Subsurface Pollution, why is groundwater pollution often worse than surface water pollution? Identify and describe 2-3 reasons. Answer in your own words in ~1 paragraph.

Groundwater pollution is worse than surface water pollution mainly because it can naturally occur where soils have high levels of heavy metal. For instance, in wells where water is over-pumped. This imposed dangers in the health of people drinking the water. Groundwater pollution can be caused by human activities such as improperly disposing of waste materials. For example, mining and chemicals from fertilizers can, with time, leak into groundwater.

10. How did Dr. John Snow discover the connection between contaminated drinking water and illness? Describe his process of investigation. Answer in ~1 paragraph.

Dr. John Snow discovered the connection between drinking water and illness when thousands of people were dying of cholera in England. At the time, he had just finished his medical studies. He then started his experiments when a cholera outbreak hit a region in London near where he was residing. He sought information from hospitals and other records and connected them to the sources of water pumped in these areas.

11. Groundwater decline and depletion is a significant consideration in modern-day water management. What are four effects of groundwater depletion? Describe each effect and its impacts. Answer in ~1-2 paragraphs.

Water from wells is likely to decline with depletion of groundwater resulting in more energy cost as more power will be needed to pump water as the levels decrease. Water quality is expected to be affected by the depletion of groundwater. When the level of saltwater and freshwater is not balanced, salt water is likely to leak into aquifers. Land subsidence is caused as a result of the excessive withdrawal of groundwater. This effect simply means that there is a sudden sinking of the Earth’s surface that results in the movement of materials present on the earth’s surface. Reduced surface water flow is also a result of groundwater depletion. Though the effects of this may not be seen immediately, it is a matter of concern as groundwater can change how water flows from aquifers to lakes.

12. What are three ways in which human activities can influence the severity and effects of flood events? Answer in your own words in 1-2 paragraphs.

Human activities, such as deforestation, agriculture, and human development, can increase the chances of flood events. Cutting down trees and agriculture alter nutrients in the soil, reducing the quality and anchors that hold the soil together. Thus, the surface is dry and cannot absorb rainfall. The development of urban areas has disrupted the natural balance of water systems, causing flood problems.

References

Gleick, P. H. (2010, December 14). Roadmap for Sustainable Water Resources in South Western North America. PNAS, 107(50). Retrieved from https://www.pnas.org/content/107/50/21300

National Geographic. (2020). Freshwater Crisis. National Geographic. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/freshwater-crisis/

Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2015). Freshwater Use. Our World in Data; Water Use and Stress. Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org/water-use-stress