Summarize the importance of the Colorado River basin in the United States and how human activities are stressing this system.
13-1 Freshwater is an Irreplaceable Resource That We are Managing Poorly
Question 2
2.
Define freshwater.
Question 3
3.
Explain why access to water is a health issue, an economic issue, a national issue and global security issue, and an environmental issue.
Question 4
4.
What percentage of the earth’s freshwater is available to us?
Question 5
5.
Define groundwater, zone of saturation, water table, and aquifer. Explain how aquifers are recharged.
Question 6
6.
What is reliable surface runoff? What percentage of the world’s reliable runoff are we using and what percentage are we likely to be using by 2025?
Question 7
7.
Define water footprint. What accounts for most of humanity’s water footprint?
Question 8
8.
Define virtual water and give 3 examples of it.
Question 9
9.
In the U.S., what are the major uses of groundwater and surface freshwater?
Question 10
10.
What are the main factors that cause water scarcity in any particular area?
Question 11
11.
What areas of the world currently face stress from freshwater scarcity? What area is likely to face stress by 2050?
13.2 Is Groundwater a Sustainable Resource?
Question 12
12.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of withdrawing groundwater?
Question 13
13.
What is the world’s largest aquifer and where is it located in the U.S.? How much groundwater does it supply? What has contributed to its unsustainable use?
Question 14
14.
What are 2 problems that result from overpumping aquifers.
Question 15
15.
Tapping into deep aquifers may be a future source of freshwater. What are the concerns with doing this? What do you think about this possibility?
13-3 Can Surface Water Resources Be Expanded?
Question 16
16.
What are the main goals of a dam-and-reservoir system?
Question 17
17.
What are the pros/cons of using dams/reservoirs?
Question 18
18.
What has happened to water flows in the Colorado River since 1960? Explain how the damming of this river has affected its delta? List 3 possible solutions to the supply problems in the Colorado River basin.
13-4 Can Water Transfers Be Used to Expand Water Supplies?
Question 19
19.
What is a water transfer?
Question 20
20.
Describe two large water-transfer programs, explain how they came about, and summarize the controversy around each of these programs.
13-5 Is Desalination a Useful Way to Expand Water Supplies?
Question 21
21.
What is desalination?
Question 22
22.
Describe the 2 most widely used methods for desalination.
Question 23
23.
How much of the world’s freshwater demand is met with desalination?
Question 24
24.
What are 3 major problems associated with salination?
13-6 How Can We Use Freshwater More Sustainably?
Question 25
25.
_______ % of the freshwater used in the world and about _______ % of the freshwater used in the U.S. is lost through _______ . What are 2 major reasons for this?
Question 26
26.
Describe 2 inefficient irrigation methods. How much water is lost for each of these methods?
Question 27
27.
Describe 2 efficient irrigation methods. How much water reaches the crops with these methods?
Question 28
28.
Read pages 338-341. What are 5 ways we can reduce and/or be more efficient in our water usage?
13-7 How Can We Reduce the Threat of Flooding?
Question 29
29.
Read this section. What are the benefits and harms of flooding?
Question 30
30.
Describe the flooding risks that many people in Bangladesh face and what they are doing about it.
