Fresh Water 4/20/2009. Chapter 7. Earth s Water Resources. Chapter 7: Outline

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1 Chapter 7 Chapter 7: Outline Fresh Water Resources and Problems Hydrologic cycle Supply and distribution Uses and pressures Importance Sectoral usage and impacts Protecting Water Resources Challenges Canada-US agreements Canadian initiatives, local action Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited. 7-1 Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited. 7-2 Earth s Water Resources Fresh water constitutes < 3% of Earth s water supply - most of this is in glaciers and ice caps Provided we manage freshwater resources responsibly, there is a continuously renewed supply through the hydrologic cycle Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited. 7-3 Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited

2 Canada s Freshwater Resources Groundwater - all sub-surface water (e.g. aquifers) - represents approximately 37 times the total amount of water contained in rivers and lakes in Canada - we know little about its precise location, extent, quantity, and quality - 26% of Canadians depend on groundwater for water supplies Surface water Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited. 7-5 Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited. 7-6 Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited. 7-7 Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited

3 The Importance of Water Water as a common link Water as a source of conflict Water as a hazard Instead Uses hydroelectricity transportation fisheries wildlife recreation heritage other? Withdrawal Uses municipal use manufacturing irrigation mineral extraction thermal power other? Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited. 7-9 Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Intake quantity of water withdrawn or used Discharge amount returned to the source Recirculation water that is used more than once in a species process, or used one and recycled to another use Gross water use intake + recirculation Point sources discharge substances from a clearly identifiable or discrete pathway (e.g. pipe, industrial site) Nonpoint sources discharge pollutants in an unconfined matter (e.g. runoff from an agricultural area) Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited

4 Withdrawal uses Withdrawal uses Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Withdrawal uses Instream uses - 67% of electricity in Canada in 1992 was hydroelectricity inland commercial fishery was valued at $64 million Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited

5 Impacts on Freshwater Environments Domestic and urban uses and impacts Safe drinking water: Walkerton, Ontario Impacts on Freshwater Environments Domestic and urban uses and impacts Wastewater treatment: - Primary treatment - Secondary treatment - Tertiary treatment Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Canadian domestic water use - Each Canadian uses approximately 343 litres of water per day inside the home Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited

6 A Case Study: The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin Industrial Uses and Impacts Importance Threats to ecosystem function: land use changes fluctuating water levelsl eutrophication pollutants including acid deposition bioaccumulation biomagnification Bi-national approaches to remediation Groundwater contamination: - persistent organic toxins study of 480 municipal and communal groundwater supplies found 12% to have detectable concentrations of organohalides (e.g. trichloroethylene) - affect central nervous and respiratory systems (human carcinogens) Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Industrial Uses and Impacts Acidic deposition acid rain + global warming + ozone depletion Synergistic effects: outcome of the three interacting together is greater than the sum of their individual parts Impacts of Hydroelectricity Hydroelectricity Benefits of hydroelectric generation Ecological consequences of dams, reservoirs, and watershed alteration Case Study: Hydroelectric Dams in Northern Quebec Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited

7 Impacts of Recreation Recreation recreation affecting watersheds ecological consequences Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Challenges to Sustainable Water Quality in Canada shared jurisdictions for Canadian water ecosystem level understanding in decision making supply vs. demand contamination: local and long range transport changing economic conditions knowledge building what else? International Initiatives Agenda 21 World Water Day Ramsar Convention North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) Great Lakes Water Quality Agreements Remedial Action Plans (RAP) Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited

8 Canadian Initiatives Toward Water Quality National Great Lakes Cleanup Fund Canada Water Act Canadian Water Resources Association Ducks Unlimited Northern River Basins Study Flood Damage Reduction Programs First Nations Water Management Strategy Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Canadian Initiatives Toward Water Quality Local Provincial Water Quality Guidelines Fraser River Action Plan Swan Lake importance of individual actions other? Canada and the World: Drinking Water Canada ranked 2nd for having 100% of its population with access to an improved water source Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited

9 Canada and the World: Water Consumption Canada ranked 5th in the 2006 EPI, with 1.7% of its territory exceeding 40% consumption of available water Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited