Sustainability notes – WATER
Oceanic water = 96.5%
Saline water = 1%
Reservoirs = atmosphere, glaciers, groundwater = hydrosphere
- No net loss of water (closed system)
Most human water use comes from agriculture (livestock etc)
Groundwater renewable time = 10,000 + years
If the glaciers of Greenland and antarctica melted the global sea level would increase by 20
and 200 feet, respectively
Recycling water reduces pressure on overexploited aquifers
Water = cohesive, universal solvent, polar etc
Residence time = the time water stays in a given reservoir
Freshwater = rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, groundwater, ice
Increased human population leads to increased water consumption and therefore scarcity
Water pollution = changes the composition, availability and health of water
- Caused by domestic waste, insecticides, herbicides, plastic, heavy metals etc
- Causes cancer, hormonal problems, loss of biodiversity etc
Water scarcity
- ¼ of the world is facing water scarcity
Oceanic water = 96.5%
Saline water = 1%
Reservoirs = atmosphere, glaciers, groundwater = hydrosphere
- No net loss of water (closed system)
Most human water use comes from agriculture (livestock etc)
Groundwater renewable time = 10,000 + years
If the glaciers of Greenland and antarctica melted the global sea level would increase by 20
and 200 feet, respectively
Recycling water reduces pressure on overexploited aquifers
Water = cohesive, universal solvent, polar etc
Residence time = the time water stays in a given reservoir
Freshwater = rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, groundwater, ice
Increased human population leads to increased water consumption and therefore scarcity
Water pollution = changes the composition, availability and health of water
- Caused by domestic waste, insecticides, herbicides, plastic, heavy metals etc
- Causes cancer, hormonal problems, loss of biodiversity etc
Water scarcity
- ¼ of the world is facing water scarcity
