2.4.1a Water Uses and Consequences Explain various water uses by humans and evaluate for benefits and consequences

Agriculture Water is used to produce food and fiber for processing and consumption Sugar cane grower Cattle rancher Fish farmer Wheat farmer Dairy farmer Info goes with Project WET: Water Works activity

Logging Water is used to grow and harvest trees Forest manager Logging company

Mining Water is used in the extraction process of raw materials (coal, iron, gold, copper, sand, and gravel) Miner Sand and gravel company

Transportation/shipping Water (rivers, seas, oceans) is used to transport raw materials and finished products to points of distribution (ports) Slurry pipeline owner Ship’s crew

Business/Industry Water is used in the processing and manufacture of goods (cars, food, medical supplies, etc) Steel producer Textile manufacturer Soft drink company Paper mill Chemical manufacturer

Wildlife Water provides habitat for countless plant and animal species Mammals Fish Insects Vegetation

Recreation People relax in and around water for exercise and enjoyment Cruise ship Fishing Water theme park Scuba diver Winter sports

Power Generation Water is used to generate electricity Hydropower plant Nuclear power plant Coal-fired plant

Community Water is used by community members for domestic, maintenance, and recreational purposes. Domestic uses Fire department Street cleaner Restaurant owner Park The average American home uses 350 gallons/day Estimate your daily water use

Water use within your house Global Water Crisis

Water use in the U.S.

Where does our water come from? Surface water Rivers Lakes

Consequences of Surface Water Extraction + Requires very little construction - Reduction of river flow ~The Rio Grande river ran dry in 2001 due to drought and human extraction

Consequences of Dams + Create manmade lakes/reservoirs + Hydroelectric + Help with flood control - Human displacement - Environmental damage Falls Lake Dam

Dam damaged from Hurricane Matthew http://www.newsobserver.com/news/weather/article107432372.html

Where does our water come from? Groundwater Wells A pipe is sunk into the aquifer below the water table Water is pumped to the surface NC wells vary from 20ft to more than 1,000 ft deep 90% of residences in the Coastal Plain rely on groundwater from wells

Issues with Groundwater Aquifer: a body of permeable rock that can contain groundwater Aquifer depletion Removal by humans of more groundwater than can be recharged by precipitation or melting snow

Consequences of Aquifer Depletion Subsidence Depression of the land surface as a result of groundwater being pumped out; can also be caused by other disturbances

Salt-water intrusion Near the coast, over-pumping of groundwater causes saltwater to move into the aquifer