Water conservation & Pollution

• Water conservation


  The action plan of reducing the overall usage of water and recycling wastewater in order to maximize functionality for various purposes, such as manufacturing, agricultural irrigation, and environmental regulation
• Main goal of water conservation

  To restore sustainability to ensure water availability for future generations
• About 71 percent of the Earth's surface is water-covered, and the oceans hold about 97.5% of all Earth's water. Freshwater frozen as ice is about 1.5%, and freshwater is about 1%
• There are several areas in the United States using more water than can be replenished
• Photographs showing decrease in vegetation along the Santa Cruz River due to groundwater pumping


  • 1942 photograph showing stands of mesquite and cottonwood trees
  • 1989 photograph showing the riparian trees have largely disappeared
• Subsidence


  The sinking of land in areas where excessive amounts of water were removed
• Unconfined aquifers


  More vulnerable to pollution from runoff and underground seepage
• Confined aquifers


  Their overlying cap rock prevents water from seeping into the aquifer
• Causes of groundwater pollution

  • Agricultural wastes and chemicals
  • Sewage
  • Industrial waste
  • Runoff from landfills
  • Pesticides, fertilizers, and improper disposal of hazardous wastes by individuals
• The main cause of water pollution is human impact and decision making
• Ways to remove ice and snow from roads

  • Treating the roads with rock salt
• Salt (sodium chloride)


  When it enters the groundwater system, it pollutes it making it unusable
• Chemicals that can make their way into aquifers

  • Man-made and naturally occurring chemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers used by farmers
• Radon


  A natural source of pollution that eventually winds up in all groundwater, released from the radioactive decay of uranium in soil
• There is no easy cure for groundwater pollution, and it can take decades for chemicals to make their way into the water supply. Cleanup is costly and time-consuming
• The Environmental Protection Agency has made laws to hold companies accountable for cleaning up their toxic waste, and it also has suggestions for what individuals can do to prevent water pollution