Water Resources Preston High School

Objectives Introduction Water Resources Case Study: Walkerton Crisis Conclusions

Water Cycle

Why Study the Water Cycle?

What is Hydrogeology? Study of the part of hydrology that deals with the occurrence, movement, and the quality of water beneath the Earth’s surface “All streams run to the sea but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again” Ecclesiastes 1:7

What is groundwater? Groundwater – a major link in the hydrologic cycle Found underground in the spaces between particles of rock and soil, or in the crevices and cracks in rock – Aquifers Always on the move! Over 6 million Canadians rely on groundwater Use of groundwater varies by Province

Groundwater Consumption Percentage of population reliant on groundwater Canada 26% Yukon 63% Northwest Territories 1% British Columbia 22% Alberta 27% Saskatchewan 45% Manitoba 24% Ontario Quebec New Brunswick 64% Nova Scotia 50% Prince Edward Island 100% Newfoundland 29% Agriculture Industry Municipalities

Groundwater Quality Naturally contains various constituents Chemical nature of water continually evolves through the hydrologic cycle Matter of taste, odour and clarity – popularity of bottled water! For other uses different properties may be more important: Industry  water must not be corrosive, types of suspended solids

Capture Zone

Aquifers

Saline Intrusion

Quest for Groundwater! Exploration Stage – Search for a suitable aquifer Evaluation – Design & analysis of groundwater wells, use of groundwater modeling Exploitation – Optimal development

Point and Non-Point Pollution A point source is a single, identifiable source of pollution, such as a pipe or a drain. Industrial wastes are commonly discharged to rivers and the sea in this way. Non-point sources of pollution are often termed ‘diffuse’ pollution and refer to those inputs and impacts which occur over a wide area and are not easily attributed to a single source. They are often associated with particular land uses, as opposed to individual point source discharges.

Point and Non-Point Pollution

Groundwater Contamination Point sources On-site septic systems Leaky tanks/pipelines Municipal landfills Leaky sewer lines Graveyards Road salt from roads Livestock waste Non-point sources Fertilizers on agricultural lands Pesticides Contaminants in rain, snow, and dry atmospheric

Urban Non Point Sources of Pollution

Point Source

Non-Point Source

How does the water get to my faucet?

Case Study: Walkerton Water Crisis

Walkerton Crisis E. coli outbreak occurred in May 2000 7 people died and 100’s ill Cause: contamination of a well not adequately chlorinated, from manure runoff from nearby commercial cattle farms Human error resulted in lost lives, lost health, lost productivity, and loss of public trust Ontario Ministry of the Environment has embarked on a series of legislative initiatives to safe drinking water

Conclusions Justice O’Connor’s “Report on the Walkerton Inquiry” (http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/about/pubs/walkerton/) Need to invest in state of the art water delivery system Push for Source Water Protection in all the Conservation Authorities in Ontario Improved, more sensitive tools and methods to monitor microbial risks to surface and groundwater Measures to detect, treat, and respond to multiple contaminants All levels of government should coordinate action plans to fully protect water sources

Water Legislation Environmental Protection Act Environmental Bill of Rights Act Ontario Water Resources Act (1990) Safe Drinking Water Act (2002) Nutrient Management Act (2002) Drinking Water Source Protection Act (2004)

Overview Water Cycle and its interconnection with the environment Looked at hydrogeology and how we explore and exploit our water resources Discuss the various issues dealing with groundwater Concluded with the case study of the Walkerton tragedy