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| − | = Surface water, groundwater<br/> =
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| − | ----
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| | <font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">Although, being two separate entities, surface- and groundwater are part of an interrelated system, namely the global water cycle (hydrological cycle</span></font><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">). When surface water seeps through the soil it becomes groundwater and conversely, surface water sources can also be fed by groundwater.</span></font><br/> | | <font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">Although, being two separate entities, surface- and groundwater are part of an interrelated system, namely the global water cycle (hydrological cycle</span></font><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">). When surface water seeps through the soil it becomes groundwater and conversely, surface water sources can also be fed by groundwater.</span></font><br/> |
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| − | <font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">Serving most of life's needs, surface water makes up only around 1.2% of the earth's total freshwater amount (being only 2.5% of all earth's water). Groundwater makes up around 30.1% of all freshwater. </font>The following figure (left on the page) illustrates the composition of the total global water in percentages.<br/> | + | <font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">Serving most of life's needs, surface water makes up only around 1.2% of the earth's total freshwater amount (being only 2.5% of all earth's water). Groundwater makes up around 30.1% of all freshwater. </font>The following figure (left on the page) illustrates the composition of the total global water in percentages. |
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| − | '''<span style="color:#008000">FIGURE</span> '''<span data-cke-bookmark="1" style="display: none"></span><u>The Earth's Water</u> <span style="color:#008000"></span><span style="color:#008000"><span data-cke-bookmark="1" style="display: none"></span>''([http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthwherewater.html http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthwherewater.html]''<font size="2">,</font></span>'''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">accessed 2013-11-06)</span></font>'''
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| − | == '''Surface water''' == | + | '''<span style="color:#008000">FIGURE</span> '''<span style="display: none" data-cke-bookmark="1"></span>[http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthwherewater.html The Earth's Water] <span style="color:#008000"></span><span style="display: none" data-cke-bookmark="1"></span>''('''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">accessed 2013-11-06)</span></font>''''' |
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| + | == Surface water == |
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| | === General aspects === | | === General aspects === |
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| − | <font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">Surface water is the name given to any type of natural water on ground level that is, compared to groundwater, naturally <span style="font-weight: normal">open to the atmosphere</span> such as: rivers, lakes, seas, wetlands, streams, and oceans.</font> | + | <font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">Surface water is the name given to any [[Sources of water|type of natural water]] on ground level that is, compared to groundwater, naturally <span style="font-weight: normal">open to the atmosphere</span> such as: rivers, lakes, seas, wetlands, streams, and oceans.</font> |
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| | <font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">Throughout the globe surface water is naturally <span style="font-weight: normal">distributed</span> in varying amounts since it is affected by precipitation, evaporation and runoff.</font><br/> | | <font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">Throughout the globe surface water is naturally <span style="font-weight: normal">distributed</span> in varying amounts since it is affected by precipitation, evaporation and runoff.</font><br/> |
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| − | <span style="color:#008000">'''<span style="color:#008000">FIGURE</span>'''</span><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal"></span><u><span style="font-weight: normal">The World's Surface Water</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal"></span><span style="font-weight: normal"></span><span style="font-weight: normal"></span><span style="font-weight: normal"></span><span style="font-weight: normal"></span></font>''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal"></span></font>''<span style="color:#008000">''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">(<span style="color:#0000ff">[http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/worlds-surface-water-precipitation-evaporation-and-runoff_4701 http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/worlds-surface-water-precipitation-evaporation-and-runoff_4701]</span></span></font>''</span>''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">,</span></font>'''''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">''<span style="font-weight: normal">accessed 2013-11-06</span>''</font>'''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">)</span></font><br/> | + | <span style="color:#008000">'''<span style="color:#008000">FIGURE</span>'''</span><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal"></span><span style="font-weight: normal"></span><span style="font-weight: normal"></span><span style="font-weight: normal">[http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/worlds-surface-water-precipitation-evaporation-and-runoff_4701 The World's Surface Water]</span></font>''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">,</span></font>'''''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">''<span style="font-weight: normal">accessed 2013-11-06</span>''</font>'''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">)</span></font><br/> |
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| − | <p style="text-align: right"><span style="color:#008000">''<font color="#008000"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">'''Precipitation'''</font></font> '''<font color="#008000"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapour that falls under gravity. This can be drizzle, rain, sleet, snow, graupel and hail, as main forms.<ref>"Precipitation". Glossary of Meteorology. American Meteorological Society. 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-02</ref></span></font></font>'''''</span><br/></p><p style="text-align: right"><span style="color:#008000">''<font color="#008000"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">'''Evaporation'''</font></font>'''<font color="#008000"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">is the vaporation of water from land or from the water surface.<ref>H. Häckel: Meteorologie. UTB 1338. Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 1999 (4. Aufl.)</ref></span></font></font>'''''</span><br/></p><p style="text-align: right"><span style="color:#008000">''<font color="#008000"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">When the soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess, the water from rain, meltwater or other sources flows over the land, which is then called</span></font><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">'''runoff'''.</font></font>''</span><ref>Keith Beven, Robert E. Horton's perceptual model of infiltration processes, Hydrological Processes, Wiley Intersciences DOI 10:1002 hyp 5740 (2004)</ref><br/></p><div id="sdfootnote2" dir="LTR"> | + | <p style="text-align: right"><span style="color:#008000">''<font color="#008000"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">'''Precipitation'''</font></font> '''<font color="#008000"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapour that falls under gravity. This can be drizzle, rain, sleet, snow, graupel and hail, as main forms.<ref>"Precipitation". Glossary of Meteorology. American Meteorological Society. 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-02</ref></span></font></font>'''''</span><br/></p><p style="text-align: right"><span style="color:#008000">''<font color="#008000"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">'''Evaporation'''</font></font>'''<font color="#008000"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">is the vaporation of water from land or from the water surface.<ref>H. Häckel: Meteorologie. UTB 1338. Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 1999 (4. Aufl.)</ref></span></font></font>'''''</span><br/></p><p style="text-align: right"><span style="color:#008000">''<font color="#008000"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: normal">When the soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess, the water from rain, meltwater or other sources flows over the land, which is then called</span></font><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">'''runoff'''.</font></font>''</span><ref>Keith Beven, Robert E. Horton's perceptual model of infiltration processes, Hydrological Processes, Wiley Intersciences DOI 10:1002 hyp 5740 (2004)</ref><br/></p><div dir="LTR" id="sdfootnote2"> |
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| | <font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">Europe, Australia and Oceania have approximately a quarter of the total surface water of Asia and in both regions around one third of all precipitation evaporates whereas the remaining third becomes runoff.</font><br/> | | <font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">Europe, Australia and Oceania have approximately a quarter of the total surface water of Asia and in both regions around one third of all precipitation evaporates whereas the remaining third becomes runoff.</font><br/> |
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| | === Surface water pollution<br/> === | | === Surface water pollution<br/> === |
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| | A '''non-point source''' is any source of water pollution that does not meet the legal definition of "point source" in section 502(14) of the Clean Water Act. Examples for non-point sources are:<br/> | | A '''non-point source''' is any source of water pollution that does not meet the legal definition of "point source" in section 502(14) of the Clean Water Act. Examples for non-point sources are:<br/> |
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| | *Excess fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas | | *Excess fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas |
| | *Oil, grease and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production<br/> | | *Oil, grease and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production<br/> |
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| | Contaminated water poses a high risk to health. Common water and sanitation-related diseases are diarrhoea, arsenicosis, cholera, flourosis, guinea worm disease, HIV/AIDS, intestinal worms, malaria, schisosomiasis, trachoma or typhoid.<ref>UNICEF (2003) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. URL: http://www.unicef.org/wash/index_wes_related.html, accessed 2013-12-12 </ref><br/> | | Contaminated water poses a high risk to health. Common water and sanitation-related diseases are diarrhoea, arsenicosis, cholera, flourosis, guinea worm disease, HIV/AIDS, intestinal worms, malaria, schisosomiasis, trachoma or typhoid.<ref>UNICEF (2003) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. URL: http://www.unicef.org/wash/index_wes_related.html, accessed 2013-12-12 </ref><br/> |
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| − | <br/> | + | = Groundwater<br/> = |
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| − | <br/> | + | == General aspects<br/> == |
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| − | == '''Groundwater'''<br/> ==
| + | [[Artificial recharge of groundwater|Groundwater]] represents one of the most important resources for drinking water for human consumption. Worldwide 2.5 billion people are solely dependend on groundwater to satisfy their daily needs for water.<ref>UNESCO (2012) News 31.05.2012 URL: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/water/single-view-fresh-water/news/worlds_groundwater_resources_are_suffering_from_poor_governance_experts_say/#.UqjsvyeotF4 [accessed 11.12.2013]</ref> With withdrawl rates of currently 982 km3/year (estimated) groundwater is the most extracted raw material in the whole world.<ref>Margat, J., and J. van der Gun (2013) Groundwater around the World, CRC Press/Balkema</ref> Groundwater can be seen as a natural water storage and can be a buffer against shortages of surface water, such as during times of drought. <ref>Anrew J. Elmore, Sara J. Manning, John F. Mustard, Joseph M. Craine (2006) Decline in alkali meadow vegetation cover in California: the effects of groundwater extraction and drought. Journal of Applied Ecology 43 (4), 770–779.</ref> About 38 % of the worldwide irrigated lands are irrigated with groundwater.<ref>Siebert, S., et al. (2010) Groundwater use for irrigation. Hydrology and Earth Systems Science, 14, 1863–1880. www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/14/1863/2010/doi:10.5194/hess-14-1863-2010</ref><br/> |
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| − | === General aspects<br/> === | + | == Origin<br/> == |
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| − | Groundwater represents one of the most important resources for drinking water for human consumption. Worldwide 2.5 billion people are solely dependend on groundwater to satisfy their daily needs for water.<ref>UNESCO (2012) News 31.05.2012 URL: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/water/single-view-fresh-water/news/worlds_groundwater_resources_are_suffering_from_poor_governance_experts_say/#.UqjsvyeotF4 [accessed 11.12.2013]</ref> With withdrawl rates of currently 982 km3/year (estimated) groundwater is the most extracted raw material in the whole world.<ref>Margat, J., and J. van der Gun (2013) Groundwater around the World, CRC Press/Balkema</ref> Groundwater can be seen as a natural water storage and can be a buffer against shortages of surface water, such as during times of drought. <ref>Anrew J. Elmore, Sara J. Manning, John F. Mustard, Joseph M. Craine (2006) Decline in alkali meadow vegetation cover in California: the effects of groundwater extraction and drought. Journal of Applied Ecology 43 (4), 770–779.</ref> About 38 % of the worldwide irrigated lands are irrigated with groundwater.<ref>Siebert, S., et al. (2010) Groundwater use for irrigation. Hydrology and Earth Systems Science, 14, 1863–1880. www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/14/1863/2010/doi:10.5194/hess-14-1863-2010</ref><br/>
| + | If surface water seeps into the soil it becomes soil moisture or groundwater. In the graphic groundwater flow, two types of aquifers (confined and unconfined) and three types of wells (artesian; flowing artesian and a water table well in an unconfined aquifer) are shown. The figure illustrates how groundwater is recharged and how it circulates through the aquifers.<br/><span style="color:#008000"><span style="color:#008000">'''FIGURE'''</span> [http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/groundwater-aquifers-wells-and-circulation_8b39# Groundwater: aquifers, wells and circulation]</span>''(accessed 2013-12-12)''<span style="color:#008000"></span><br/> |
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| − | === Origin<br/> ===
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| − | If surface water seeps into the soil it becomes soil moisture or groundwater. In the graphic groundwater flow, two types of aquifers (confined and unconfined) and three types of wells (artesian; flowing artesian and a water table well in an unconfined aquifer) are shown. The figure illustrates how groundwater is recharged and how it circulates through the aquifers.<br/><span style="color:#008000"><span style="color:#008000">'''FIGURE'''</span> </span><u>Groundwater: aquifers, wells and circulation</u><span style="color:#008000">(<span style="color:#0000ff">''[http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/groundwater-aquifers-wells-and-circulation_8b39# http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/groundwater-aquifers-wells-and-circulation_8b39#]''</span></span>, accessed 2013-12-12)<span style="color:#008000"></span><br/><br/> | + | |
| | <p style="text-align: right"><span style="color:#008000"><br/><font color="#009933">''An '''aquifer''' is a layer of porous substrate that contains and transmits groundwater.''</font></span><br/></p><p style="text-align: right"><span style="color:#008000"><font color="#009933">''An aquifer is '''confined '''<span style="font-weight: normal">when</span> overlain by a relatively impermeable layer of rock or substrate such as an aquiclude (substrate with porosity that is so low it is virtually impermeable to groundwater) or aquitard (substrate with low porosity).''</font></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><span style="color:#008000"><font color="#009933">''An aquifer is '''unconfined''' when water can flow directly between the surface and the saturated zone of an aquifer.''</font></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><span style="color:#008000"><font color="#009933">''An '''artesian well''' can be created when groundwater becomes pressurized as it flows, this happens when a confined aquifer follows a downward grade from its recharge zone.''</font></span><br/></p> | | <p style="text-align: right"><span style="color:#008000"><br/><font color="#009933">''An '''aquifer''' is a layer of porous substrate that contains and transmits groundwater.''</font></span><br/></p><p style="text-align: right"><span style="color:#008000"><font color="#009933">''An aquifer is '''confined '''<span style="font-weight: normal">when</span> overlain by a relatively impermeable layer of rock or substrate such as an aquiclude (substrate with porosity that is so low it is virtually impermeable to groundwater) or aquitard (substrate with low porosity).''</font></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><span style="color:#008000"><font color="#009933">''An aquifer is '''unconfined''' when water can flow directly between the surface and the saturated zone of an aquifer.''</font></span></p><p style="text-align: right"><span style="color:#008000"><font color="#009933">''An '''artesian well''' can be created when groundwater becomes pressurized as it flows, this happens when a confined aquifer follows a downward grade from its recharge zone.''</font></span><br/></p> |
| − | <br/><br/><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><font size="3"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">Groundwater may flow through the substrate at different rates. This can vary from 50 feet per year or 50 inches per century, depending on the permeability of the substrate. Substrates may be any rock types of any grain size such as</font></font><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">sandstone, conglomerate, fractured limestone and unconsolidated sand and gravel</font></font><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">but they must be permeable and porous</font></font><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">.</font></font><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">Being fractured, even rocks like granit and shist can be aquifers. The amount of water storaged in an aquifer can vary between the seasons and from year to year</font></font></font></font>. <ref>http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/hydr/concepts/gwater/aquifer.htm [accessed 2013-12-11]</ref><br/>
| + | <br/><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><font size="3"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">Groundwater may flow through the substrate at different rates. This can vary from 50 feet per year or 50 inches per century, depending on the permeability of the substrate. Substrates may be any rock types of any grain size such as</font></font><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">sandstone, conglomerate, fractured limestone and unconsolidated sand and gravel</font></font><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">but they must be permeable and porous</font></font><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">.</font></font><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">Being fractured, even rocks like granit and shist can be aquifers. The amount of water storaged in an aquifer can vary between the seasons and from year to year</font></font></font></font>. <ref>http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/hydr/concepts/gwater/aquifer.htm [accessed 2013-12-11]</ref><br/> |
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| − | <br/> | + | == Global distribution of groundwater<br/> == |
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| − | | + | <font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">Due to climatic conditions and geology the global distribution of groundwater varies considerably. The figure illustrates the amounts of groundwater held by different regions of the world. Asia and Africa provide the greatest groundwater resources, followed by North America and South America. Europe and Australia possess the smallest groundwater resources.</font><br/><span style="color:#008000"><span style="color:#008000"><span style="color:#008000">'''FIGURE'''</span></span> </span>[http://thelivinglabiesd.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/02_freshwater_regions1-302x1024-copy.jpg Global groundwater resources] ''(accessed 2013-12-16)''<br/> |
| − | === Global distribution of groundwater<br/> ===
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| − | <font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">Due to climatic conditions and geology the global distribution of groundwater varies considerably. The figure illustrates the amounts of groundwater held by different regions of the world. Asia and Africa provide the greatest groundwater resources, followed by North America and South America. Europe and Australia possess the smallest groundwater resources.</font><br/><span style="color:#008000"><span style="color:#008000"><span style="color:#008000">'''FIGURE'''</span></span> </span><u>Global groundwater resources</u><span style="color:#008000"><span style="color:#008000">(''<font color="#009933"><font size="2" style="font-size: 9pt">[http://thelivinglabiesd.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/02_freshwater_regions1-302x1024-copy.jpg http://thelivinglabiesd.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/02_freshwater_regions1-302x1024-copy.jpg]</font></font>''</span></span>, accessed 2013-12-16)<br/> | + | |
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| | <font size="2" style="font-size: 9pt">'''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Only limited quantities of groundwater are provided by local and shallow aquifers. Areas in green symbolize more complex basins which might comsist of multiple aquifers separated by impermeable rock or include layers of saltwater as well as freshwater. Major groundwater basins (in blue) provide abundant, relatively easily extractable groundwater resources.</span></span></font>'''</font><br/> | | <font size="2" style="font-size: 9pt">'''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Only limited quantities of groundwater are provided by local and shallow aquifers. Areas in green symbolize more complex basins which might comsist of multiple aquifers separated by impermeable rock or include layers of saltwater as well as freshwater. Major groundwater basins (in blue) provide abundant, relatively easily extractable groundwater resources.</span></span></font>'''</font><br/> |
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| − | <span style="color:#008000"><span style="color:#008000">'''<span style="color:#008000">FIGURE</span>'''</span> </span><u>Global groundwater resources, aquifers </u><span style="color:#008000"><span style="color:#008000"><span style="color:#008000">(<span style="color:#0000ff">''[http://ensia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/feature_groundwater_inline_map2_large.jpg http://ensia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/feature_groundwater_inline_map2_large.jpg]''</span></span></span></span>, accessed 2013-12-16)<br/> | + | <span style="color:#008000"><span style="color:#008000">'''<span style="color:#008000">FIGURE</span>'''</span> </span>[http://ensia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/feature_groundwater_inline_map2_large.jpg Global groundwater resources, aquifers]''(accessed 2013-12-16)''<br/> |
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| − | === Groundwater recharge<br/> ===
| + | == Groundwater recharge<br/> == |
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| − | '''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">The replenishment of groundwater can occur through rain, snow and surface waters. The recharge rate varies tremendously from place to place</span></span></font>'''''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">due to a different</span></span></font>'''''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">geology and climate of all the coun</span></span></font>'''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">tries</span></span></font>'''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">.</span></span></font>'''''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Depending of aquifer size and type, the recharge rate determines the extent to which groundwater withdrawl happens in a sustainable scale.</span></span></font>'''''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">The biggest areas with the highest</span></span></font>'''''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">recharge rates occur in Indonesia, in Papua New Guinea, in the Democratic Rebublic of the Congo and in the Amazonas region.</span></span></font>'''''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Regions with the lowest recharge rates are the areas of Nevada, the Sahara, Yemen, Oman, parts of Saudi Arabia, and parts of East China.</span></span></font>'''<br/> | + | '''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">[[Artificial recharge of groundwater|The replenishment]] of groundwater can occur through rain, snow and surface waters. The recharge rate varies tremendously from place to place</span></span></font>'''''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">due to a different</span></span></font>'''''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">geology and climate of all the coun</span></span></font>'''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">tries</span></span></font>'''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">.</span></span></font>'''''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Depending of aquifer size and type, the recharge rate determines the extent to which groundwater withdrawl happens in a sustainable scale.</span></span></font>'''''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">The biggest areas with the highest</span></span></font>'''''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">recharge rates occur in Indonesia, in Papua New Guinea, in the Democratic Rebublic of the Congo and in the Amazonas region.</span></span></font>'''''<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Regions with the lowest recharge rates are the areas of Nevada, the Sahara, Yemen, Oman, parts of Saudi Arabia, and parts of East China.</span></span></font>'''<br/> |
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| − | <span style="color:#008000">'''FIGURE'''</span> <u>Groundwater recharge, world </u><span data-cke-bookmark="1" style="display: none"></span>'''[http://ensia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/feature_groundwater_inline_map1_large.jpg (]'''<span data-cke-bookmark="1" style="display: none"></span>''[http://ensia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/feature_groundwater_inline_map1_large.jpg http://ensia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/feature_groundwater_inline_map1_large.jpg]'', accessed 2013-12-16)<br/> | + | <span style="color:#008000">'''FIGURE'''</span> [http://ensia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/feature_groundwater_inline_map1_large.jpg Groundwater recharge in the world]''<span style="display: none" data-cke-bookmark="1"></span>(accessed 2013-12-16)''<br/> |
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| − | | + | == Groundwater pollution<br/> == |
| − | === Groundwater pollution<br/> ===
| + | |
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| | Goundwater is traditionally considered as the safest drinking water source.<ref>Hrubec J. (1995) Water Pollution - Dinking Water and Drinking Water Treatment. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry 5/5B. ISBN: 978-3-540-48468-4 (Online)</ref> The quality of groundwater is most commonly affected by waste disposal but also from agricultural activities, groundwater development, mining, spills, leakage from underground pipes and tanks, and road salting. Due to the slow residence time (turnover) of groundwater, effects of pollution may remain in the aquifers for years, decades, or centuries.<ref>A. Zaporozec Dr. (1981) Ground-Water pollution and its sources. GeoJournal 5(5); 457-471</ref> | | Goundwater is traditionally considered as the safest drinking water source.<ref>Hrubec J. (1995) Water Pollution - Dinking Water and Drinking Water Treatment. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry 5/5B. ISBN: 978-3-540-48468-4 (Online)</ref> The quality of groundwater is most commonly affected by waste disposal but also from agricultural activities, groundwater development, mining, spills, leakage from underground pipes and tanks, and road salting. Due to the slow residence time (turnover) of groundwater, effects of pollution may remain in the aquifers for years, decades, or centuries.<ref>A. Zaporozec Dr. (1981) Ground-Water pollution and its sources. GeoJournal 5(5); 457-471</ref> |
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| | + | == Groundwater and agriculture<br/> == |
| | | | |
| − | === Groundwater and agriculture<br/> ===
| + | Agriculture is responsible for up to 60% of withdrawn groundwater whereas the remaining 40 % can be almost equally divided between the industrial and domestic sectors.<ref>Vrba, J., and J. van der Gun. 2004. The World’s Groundwater Resources, http://www.un-igrac.org/dynamics/modules/SFIL0100/view.php?fil_Id=126</ref> Poor drainage of soil can lead to rising water tables which come to the surface in low-lying areas. Those can result in major land degradation problems of water logging and soil salinity and increasing levels of salt in surface waters.<ref>Agricultural Drainage Criteria. Oosterbaan, On website www.waterlog.info, Chapter 17 in: H.P.Ritzema (Ed.), Drainage Principles and Applications. International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement ( ILRI), Publication 16, second revised edition, 1994, Wageningen, The Netherlands. ISBN 90 70754 3 39 [accessed 2013-12-12]</ref> Consequently, this causes major damage to economies and environments of the places where this occurs.<ref>Ludwig, D.; Hilborn, R.; Walters, C. (1993). "Uncertainty, Resource Exploitation, and Conservation: Lessons from History". Science 260 (5104): 17–36.</ref> The following figure shows that, due to agricultural use, about 20% of the world's aquifers are being overpumped.<br/> |
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| − | Agriculture is responsible for up to 60% of withdrawn groundwater whereas the remaining 40 % can be almost equally divided between the industrial and domestic sectors.<ref>Vrba, J., and J. van der Gun. 2004. The World’s Groundwater Resources, http://www.un-igrac.org/dynamics/modules/SFIL0100/view.php?fil_Id=126</ref> Poor drainage of soil can lead to rising water tables which come to the surface in low-lying areas. Those can result in major land degradation problems of water logging and soil salinity and increasing levels of salt in surface waters.<ref>Agricultural Drainage Criteria. Oosterbaan, On website www.waterlog.info, Chapter 17 in: H.P.Ritzema (Ed.), Drainage Principles and Applications. International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement ( ILRI), Publication 16, second revised edition, 1994, Wageningen, The Netherlands. ISBN 90 70754 3 39 [accessed 2013-12-12]</ref> Consequently, this causes major damage to economies and environments of the places where this occurs.<ref>Ludwig, D.; Hilborn, R.; Walters, C. (1993). "Uncertainty, Resource Exploitation, and Conservation: Lessons from History". Science 260 (5104): 17–36.</ref>
| + | <span style="color:#008000">'''FIGURE'''</span> [http://www.nature.com/news/demand-for-water-outstrips-supply-1.11143 Groundwater stress in the world] ''(accessed 2013-12-16)'' |
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| − | The following figure shows that, due to agricultural use, about 20% of the world's aquifers are being overpumped.<br/>
| + | = References = |
| | | | |
| − | <span style="color:#008000">'''FIGURE'''</span> <u>Groundwater stress, world</u> (<span style="color:#0000ff">''[http://www.nature.com/news/demand-for-water-outstrips-supply-1.11143 http://www.nature.com/news/demand-for-water-outstrips-supply-1.11143]''</span>, accessed 2013-12-16) | + | <references /> __noeditsection__ |
| − | | + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | = References =
| + | |
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| − | <br/><references />
| + | [[Category:Surface_Water_Management]] |
| | + | [[Category:Water_Security]] |
| | + | [[Category:Resource_Management]] |
| | + | [[Category:Groundwater_Management]] |
Based on their origin, sources of surface water pollution are generally grouped into two categories – point sources and non-point sources. If contaminants enter a waterway from a single, indentifiable source (e.g. pipe, ditch, discharge from a sewage treatment plant) it is called a point source. It is defined in section 502(14) of the U.S. Clean Water Act.
Contaminated water poses a high risk to health. Common water and sanitation-related diseases are diarrhoea, arsenicosis, cholera, flourosis, guinea worm disease, HIV/AIDS, intestinal worms, malaria, schisosomiasis, trachoma or typhoid.[5]
If surface water seeps into the soil it becomes soil moisture or groundwater. In the graphic groundwater flow, two types of aquifers (confined and unconfined) and three types of wells (artesian; flowing artesian and a water table well in an unconfined aquifer) are shown. The figure illustrates how groundwater is recharged and how it circulates through the aquifers.
FIGURE Groundwater: aquifers, wells and circulation(accessed 2013-12-12)
Agriculture is responsible for up to 60% of withdrawn groundwater whereas the remaining 40 % can be almost equally divided between the industrial and domestic sectors.[13] Poor drainage of soil can lead to rising water tables which come to the surface in low-lying areas. Those can result in major land degradation problems of water logging and soil salinity and increasing levels of salt in surface waters.[14] Consequently, this causes major damage to economies and environments of the places where this occurs.[15] The following figure shows that, due to agricultural use, about 20% of the world's aquifers are being overpumped.
