topic water quality vs. water quantity.
Some links to help you:
Water for Life Decade: Water Quality
Water for Life Decade: Water scarcity
Water Resources: Quantity and Quality
Water Quality for Ecosystem and Human Health
Please list two bits of information, statistics or facts that you found at some of these links which interested and/or surprised you?
Explain, in your own words, what the difference is between water quality and water quantity?
Is water quantity or quality the biggest issue in your local village/town/city? Why? Explain.
Are there disputes, violence or wars over water in your local village/town/city?
Look up what IWRM is: define it.*
Would IWRM work to help water issues in your local village/town/city?
* Some links to help you:
Water for Life Decade: Integrated Water Resources Management
- Integrated Water Resources Management Plans
Any materials cited should be referenced using the style guidelines established by the American Psychological Association (APA).
- Introduction
The overview below will help you review the material covered in this unit.
- Conventional and Sustainable Agriculture
In agriculture and horticulture, soil generally refers to the medium for plant growth, typically material within the upper meter or two. Soil plays a key role in plant growth. Beneficial aspects to plants include providing physical support, heat, water, nutrients, and oxygen. Heat, light, and oxygen are also obtained by the atmosphere, but the roots of many plants also require oxygen.
- The prevailing agricultural system has delivered tremendous gains in productivity and efficiency. Food production worldwide has risen in the past 50 years.
On the other hand, agriculture profoundly affects many ecological systems. Negative effects of current practices include ecological concerns, economic and social concerns and human health concerns.
- Pesticides from every chemical class have been detected in groundwater and are commonly found in groundwater beneath agricultural areas. Despite impressive production gains, excessive use of pesticides has proven to be ecologically unsound, leading to the destruction of natural enemies, the increase of pest resistance pest resurgence and outbreaks of secondary pests.
These consequences have often resulted in higher production costs and lost markets due to undesirable pesticide residue levels, as well as environmental and human health costs.
Alternative and sustainable practices in farming and land use include organic agriculture, integrated pest management and biological control.
Water Availability and Use
Precipitation—a major control of fresh water availability—is unevenly distributed around the globe. More precipitation falls near the equator, and landmasses there are characterized by a tropical rainforest climate. Less precipitation tends to fall near 2030 north and south latitude, where the world's largest deserts are located.
The water crisis refers to a global situation where people in many areas lack access to sufficient water or clean water or both. The current and future water crisis requires multiple approaches to extending our fresh water supply and moving towards sustainability. Some of the longstanding traditional approaches include dams and aqueducts.
Water pollution is the contamination of water by an excess amount of a substance that can cause harm to human beings and the ecosystem. The level of water pollution depends on the abundance of the pollutant, the ecological impact of the pollutant, and the use of the water. The most deadly form of water pollution, pathogenic microorganisms that cause waterborne diseases, kills almost 2 million people in underdeveloped countries every year.
Resolution of the global water pollution crisis requires multiple approaches to improve the quality of fresh water. The best strategy for addressing this problem is proper sewage treatment. Untreated sewage is not only a major cause of pathogenic diseases, but also a major source of other pollutants, including oxygen-demanding waste, plant nutrients, and toxic heavy metals.
Reading Assignment
Doršner, K. (2020). Essentials of environmental science (2nd edition). Download the pdf.
Read chapters 10 and 13 in the textbook and answer the 'End of Chapter Review Questions' in each chapter.
Video Resources
Khan Academy. (2016, August 26). The water cycle | Ecology | Khan Academy [Video]. YouTube.
ACCIONA. (2017, March 14). Causes and effects of water pollution - Sustainability | ACCIONA [Video]. YouTube.