Water Facts:
- the earth contains 366 quintillion gallons of water
- I learned quintillion is a thing apparently
- only 0.007% of the 366 quintillion is potable
- today 7 billion of us share the water resource
- Kilimanjaro has shrank 85% in 100 years
- the Aral Sea is now one tenth the size it was 50 years ago
- Mexico City has sunk 30 feet and 2 million residents lack piped water because of ground water depletion
- 1.2 billion people have no access to clean water
What is ground water?
- water crammed between rocks and soil and sediments under the ground
- full body of ground water is aquifer
- the biggest is high plaines aquifer, right in the middle of the country
- saturated and unsaturated zones
- humans depend on ground water
- farmers use 53 billion gallons of ground water every day in the United States
- water and how we use it matters
Clean Water Act 1972:
- clean water is a right
- Nixon thought the act was too expensive
- surface waters meet regulation standards for human recreation
- pollution regulations
- point source pollution: pipe from factory or sewage
- non point source pollution: agriculture runoff
- fill material: purpose of creating dry land
- Chicago river has a legacy of pollution
- has effected Michigan water at some point
The public health importance of safe drinking water to me is that clean water is a right and water and how we use it matters!!!
Hey Rudi,
ReplyDeleteIsn't it ridiculous that a President had voted acted the Clean Water Act. Water is one of the most important resources human civilizations need, specifically clean water. It would seem that water would be one of the top priorities by the government for the people, but I've been surprised so far, especially regarding the Flint Water Crisis.
Hi Rudi,
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right. We need to be mindful of how we use our water because it matters! And yes, clean water is a human right, and it is so sad that over a billion people go without this resource. Thank you for sharing!