Human Impact on the Hydrosphere

Water  All humans depend on water  Bathing, drinking, cooking, washing, etc.  Water is not evenly distributed, some areas have less water than needed

Population  Over the last century  Human population has increased 3x  Global water withdrawal has increased 7x  About one-sixth of the world’s people don’t have easy access to safe water

Dams  A dam is a structure that is built across a river or stream that restricts the flow of water  Creates a reservoir behind the dam  Used for: Drinking, Irrigation, Electricity  Dams can destroy ecosystems however

Groundwater Pollution  Groundwater pollution can be caused by:  Leaking chemical storage barrels  Landfills  Fertilizers  Sewage from septic systems  This can contaminate wells and a communities drinking water

Salt Water Intrusion  Salt water intrusion is the movement of saline water into a freshwater aquifer  When water is pumped from coastal wells a path is created for the salt water to flow to the aquifer  Can also occur due to storm surge from a hurricane  Estuary Degradation-Sediments from erosion due to deforestation enter estuaries and impact water quality

Arsenic Contamination  Arsenic is a poisonous element that is sometimes dissolved inside of groundwater  Caused by Tube wells- Water wells that drill down to the water table. Are lined with arsenic

Coastal Water  Near shore regions are easily affected by pollution  50% of the US population lives near a city  Pollutants from cities can end up in the oceans  Oil spills are also a potential hazard due to oil tankers in the Gulf of Mexico.  Death of organisms  Economic impact  Gulf Oil Spill 2009

Water Conservation  Ways to save water:  Use low flow toilets/showers  Water purification plans  Use garden hose nozzels