Independent Solar-Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Watershed-PowerPoint.pptx
1. How does human activity
change our water systems?
Human Activity
and Ground
Water
2. WHAT IS GROUNDWATER?
Water that is found underground
in the cracks and spaces in soil,
sand and rock.
Half of everyone in the United
States gets their water from
groundwater
Groundwater comes from rain,
snow, sleet, and hail that soaks
into the ground
Groundwater is stored in the
ground in materials like gravel
and sand
3. AQUIFERS
A body of porous rocks that allows water to saturate
and easily flow through
An underground “storehouse” of water
4. WHAT IS A WATERSHED?
A watershed is the area of land where all of the
water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the
same location
5. WHAT AFFECTS WATERSHEDS?
Natural Events:
Storms, fires and droughts can suddenly alter watershed
conditions
Human activity:
Point source pollution is pollution that can be traced to a
specific point such as a disposal site or leaking pipe.
Nonpoint source pollution occurs when pollutants are found in
water running off of areas such as parking lots or crop lands
Reduction of the amount of water flowing within a watershed
About 40 percent of the lakes in the United States are not clean
enough to be used by humans
6. HUMAN IMPACT ON GROUNDWATER
Overuse: groundwater is often withdrawn for
agricultural, municipal and industrial purposes.
Pollution: contaminants released to the ground that
work their way down into groundwater
Misuse of fertilizers or manure
Leakage from underground storage containers and
landfills
Run-off from urban areas
Construction sites
Parking lots
7. TEXAS WATER ISSUES
Rangelands are the major source of water for human use
Availability is directly related to the amount & intensity of
rainfall
Typically, below EPA standards for water quality
Traditionally managed for wildlife, livestock, and
environmental impact, but not water use
8. TEXAS WATER ISSUES CONTINUED
Water demand currently exceeds supply in many areas
Population is expected to double by 2050 - water use
will continue to increase
May cause changes in water law and private and public
property rights
9. TEXAS WATER ISSUES
CONTINUED
Sixteen regional citizen water planning groups have been
organized to implement planning and management of
water resources
Many endangered species require specific habitats that
are affected by such management
May impact wetlands and riparian zones which serve as
filter strips for water entering lakes and streams
10. HOW DOES NATURE CLEAN
WATER?
When water soaks into the ground it moves through
soil and rock.
The tightly packed particles that make up the soil
filter out impurities.
Certain ecosystems, such as wetlands, are
especially good natural filters, absorbing excess
nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphorous from the
water.
11. HOW HAVE WE PROTECTED OUR
WATER?
The Clean Water Act (CWA):
Regulates discharges of pollutants into waters
Sets wastewater standards for industry
Sets water quality standards for all contaminants in
surface waters