Sustainability

• How does the hydrosphere contribute to sustainability?


  -Supports life

  -provided ecosystem services

  -role in maintaining global climate balance
• Sustainability


  Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
• economical use of water resources


  The efficient use of water resource ensuring minimal waste
• Exploration of new water sources


  Harnessing previously unused or underutilised water resources, such as rainwater, atmospheric moisture and desalinated seawater
• Potential new sources of water

  > rainwater

  > atmospheric moisture

  > desalination of seawater
• benefits of economic use


  Resource conservation- for future generations

  Reduced energy use- being more energy efficient

  Cost saving- reduce water and electricity bills
• Benefits of exploiting new sources of water


  diversification of water supply- removes dependence on water sources that is running out

  self sufficient- rainwater harvesting

  salinisation prevention of aquifers- ensures freshwater is available
• Water efficient technology


  Implementation of low-flush toilets, efficient irrigation systems, water saving appliances
• Greywater recycling


  Reusing water already used in a non-toxic process (washing pots, etc).
• Treating contaminated water


  Physical treatment- sedimentation, screening

  Biological treatment- microorganisms breakdown organic matter in waste water, bacteria

  Chemical treatment- neutralise harmful substances, UV, chlorine, flocculations, coagulation
• Flocculation (water treatment)


  Adding a flocculating agent to cause clumping of suspended particles to help sedimentation
• coagulation in water treatment


  the chemical water treatment process used to remove solids from water, by manipulating electrostatic charges of particles suspended in water
• Groundwater


  Water in aquifers, critical for hydrological cycle
• Importance of groundwater


  -food security

  -environmental stability

  -50% of all drinking water

  -40% of irrigation water

  -30% of industrial water
• How can groundwater be saved?


  Irrigation efficiency- drip irrigation powered by renewable energy

  Legislation and regulations

  Regeneration of aquifers- reservoirs and dams
• exploitation of new sources of water


  -rainwater catchment

  -rivers

  -reservoir

  -estuary

  -sea water

  -inter-basin transfers
• Sustainable management of water


  -artificial recharge of aquifers

  -River regulation reservoir

  -Into basin transfers

  -Unexploited aquifers

  -afforestation

  -Water conservation