Sustainability of water resources

• Sustainability refers to meeting needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theor own needs
• Economic use refers to efficient use of water with minimal waste
• Exploitation of new water sources may include exploiting rainwater collection, rivers, estuary barrages, seawater or interbasin transfers
• Interbasin transfers are made to transfer water from areas of surplus to areas of water shortage
• Estuary barrages are freshwater reservoirs
• Catchment area is the area of land the rain will flow through
• Rainwater harvesting: involves collection and storage of rainwater that falls on roof or catchment areas
• Atmospheric water generators extract water from humid ambient air, however this can only be done in areas with suitable conditions
• Desalination often by reverse osmosis involves removing salts and minerals from seawater or brackish water to produce freshwater
• Resource conservation helps in sonseving water resources for future generations and during sparce times
• Reduced energy use due to economic use of water is a benefit because pumping water us energy intensive
• Economic use of water allows cost saving, efficient use can help reduce water and energy bills
• A benefit of exploiting new resources is diversification of water supply, their is reduced reliance/dependence on traditional sources of water
• Exploiting new sources of water cn give way to making a household self sufficient
• Use of new water sources prevents salinisation, desalination can provide freshwater to coastal areas, this prevents salinisation of over exploited aquifets
• Sustainable management of water may include artificial recharge of aquifers, reiver regukation reservoirs,afforestation or water conservation
• After times of prolonged rain water table rises saturating the soil, this prevents/reduces infiltration
• Water conservation involves low volume uses, recycling used water, reduced wastage and pollution control
• metering can help increase sustainability, less water usage helps to reduce cost/bills
• water efficient technologies such as low flush toilets, efficient irrigation systems and water saving appliances can help increase sustainability of water
• greywater recycling involves reusing water that is no longer safe for humans to drink in other ways, this water can be from showers/ sinks etc
• public education can help to increase sustainability of water
• pollution control can help increase water sustainability, if water is too polluted to be used it can undergo effluent treatment processes to treat and clean it
• xeriscaping involves the management of gardens or parks by planting species that are adapted to dryer more atid conditions, this reduces the quantity of irrigation they need consequently increasing the sustainability of water
• physical treatment of water aims to remove solid debris, often by screening, sedimentation or filtration
• biological treatment of water involves microorganisms breaking down organic matter in wastewater, some treatments also employ activated sludge processes like aeration to encourage growth of bacteria that consumes pollutants present in the water
• chemical treatment involves neutralizing harmful substances in the water, it uses coagulation and flocculation to remove suspended particles, and the use of UV light of chlorine to disinfect the water
• sludge management is handled with caution due to the high organic and potentially hazardous content.
• methods of sludge management involve aerobic digestion, composting and incineration
• Afforestation helps to reduce soil erosion and reduce the rate of flow of rainwater into rivers
• potable water is defined by no pathogenic microorgnisms, toxins at acceptable rates, water that looks, smells and tastes good
• spray irrigation water is defined by low turbidity, low levels of toxins that may be absorbed by crops
• textile washing with soap water is soft water with low calcium ion concentration
• industrial boiled water has no dissolved minerals, this prevents mineral deposits building up and reducing heat exchange and blocking pipes
• What is the process of sedimentation?

  Water remains static to let solids settle
• What is the purpose of screening in water treatment?

  To remove vegetation and litter from water
• What materials are removed during the screening process?

  Plastic and paper items
• How is aeration achieved in water treatment?

  Bubbles of air or water sprays are used
• Why is aeration important in water treatment?

  It ensures a high dissolved oxygen content
• What is the role of flocculants in water treatment?

  To neutralize charges on clay particles