Water IssuesWater Issues

What’s special about HWhat’s special about H22O?O?

Heat capacityHeat capacity Universal solventUniversal solvent Exists in all 3 phases at normal Earth Exists in all 3 phases at normal Earth

surface temperaturessurface temperatures Solid HSolid H22O is lighter than the liquid HO is lighter than the liquid H22OO

Sunlight penetrates waterSunlight penetrates water

The earth is 71% covered by water...

Earth is the only planet known to have water in all three phases (gas,liquid and solid)

It never disappears, as it is perfectly recycled

A water shortage?A water shortage?

With a planet covered in water?With a planet covered in water? With perfect solar powered recycling taking With perfect solar powered recycling taking

place constantly?place constantly? HOW can one claim that water is a resource HOW can one claim that water is a resource

in crisis?in crisis?

The Water Cycle... Perfect recycling

Ecclesiastes 1:7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again

Precipitation

Runoff

Streamflow

Evapotranspiration

GroundwaterRechargeRecharge

Groundwater Terms

Ocean water 97.2%Ocean water 97.2% Polar Ice 2.15%Polar Ice 2.15% 97.2 + 2.15 = 99.35%97.2 + 2.15 = 99.35%

.65% of global water supply is the amount .65% of global water supply is the amount generally available for human use.generally available for human use.

The problem(s) with water…The problem(s) with water…

Uneven DistributionUneven Distribution… some areas have … some areas have too much water, others much less than too much water, others much less than necessarynecessary

Water QualityWater Quality: When it is present, the water : When it is present, the water is often in a condition that makes it is often in a condition that makes it unacceptable for specific uses… e.g. salty unacceptable for specific uses… e.g. salty or polluted or full of sedimentor polluted or full of sediment

The approximate location of the 100th Meridian… the traditional dividing line between the humid east and the arid west

Comparison:Comparison: FloridaFlorida

– East, wetEast, wet– Abundant water, groundwaterAbundant water, groundwater

Southern CaliforniaSouthern California– West, dryWest, dry– Scarce water, groundwaterScarce water, groundwater

Water Laws… east vs. westWater Laws… east vs. west

East of the 100East of the 100thth Meridian in the US, water is Meridian in the US, water is generally abundantgenerally abundant

The law governing water allocation in the The law governing water allocation in the East is the same as in Europe… the East is the same as in Europe… the RIPARIAN DOCTRINERIPARIAN DOCTRINE

West of the 100West of the 100thth Meridian, water is Meridian, water is governed by an entirely different set of governed by an entirely different set of assumptions assumptions Prior Use doctrine or Prior Use doctrine or APPROPRIATION DOCTRINEAPPROPRIATION DOCTRINE

Riparian Doctrine Riparian Doctrine Water flowing in Water flowing in defined watercoursesdefined watercourses is treated under is treated under

riparian doctrine.riparian doctrine. Rights arise from Rights arise from ownership of real property underlying ownership of real property underlying

or bordering a stream or riveror bordering a stream or river.. A riparian right is the right to use water flowing in a stream A riparian right is the right to use water flowing in a stream

on riparian land. No right to divert a specific quantity of water on riparian land. No right to divert a specific quantity of water is obtained.is obtained.

A A riparian may use all water necessary for domestic useriparian may use all water necessary for domestic use (drinking, bathing, cooking, laundry, livestock watering, and (drinking, bathing, cooking, laundry, livestock watering, and other uses essential to the preservation of life and health).other uses essential to the preservation of life and health).

If there is insufficient flow to maintain all domestic and non-If there is insufficient flow to maintain all domestic and non-domestic uses, domestic uses have priority. domestic uses, domestic uses have priority.

Riparian Doctrine contd.Riparian Doctrine contd.

Riparian users are entitled to "Riparian users are entitled to "reasonable usereasonable use" " which may cause some diminution of streamflow which may cause some diminution of streamflow so long as other riparians are not "unreasonably" so long as other riparians are not "unreasonably" harmed. harmed.

The landowner The landowner does not own the water itselfdoes not own the water itself but but rather the rather the right to use itright to use it on his riparian land. on his riparian land.

Based on English ‘Common Law’ adjudicated in Based on English ‘Common Law’ adjudicated in the courtsthe courts

Appropriation (Prior Use) Appropriation (Prior Use) DoctrineDoctrine

First in time of use is first in rightFirst in time of use is first in right (i.e., the (i.e., the earliest appropriator on a stream has the earliest appropriator on a stream has the first right to use the water), andfirst right to use the water), and

Application of the water to a Application of the water to a beneficial usebeneficial use is the basis and measure of the right.is the basis and measure of the right.

The law in virtually all western statesThe law in virtually all western states..

Water in the west…Water in the west…

Eighty percent of the Nation’s water is used in Eighty percent of the Nation’s water is used in the West—most of it for agriculturethe West—most of it for agriculture

Water left in the stream is considered ‘wasted’Water left in the stream is considered ‘wasted’ Water rights exist as a legal entity independent Water rights exist as a legal entity independent

of the land.of the land.

BLUE states generally use riparian doctrine.GREEN states generally are considered regulated riparian.RED states generally use the prior appropriation doctrine.GRAY states use mixed approaches.

Defining ‘beneficial’Defining ‘beneficial’

Beneficial use has two components: the Beneficial use has two components: the nature or purpose of the use and the nature or purpose of the use and the efficient or non-wasteful use of water. efficient or non-wasteful use of water.

Keeping water in the stream is Keeping water in the stream is considered ‘wasteful’considered ‘wasteful’

The issue of anadromous fish!The issue of anadromous fish!

Water and WildlifeWater and Wildlife

The special case of Salmon in the Pacific The special case of Salmon in the Pacific NorthwestNorthwest

In the Columbia River basin, development In the Columbia River basin, development was modeled on the Tennessee River was modeled on the Tennessee River systemsystem

The entire river system is controlled by a The entire river system is controlled by a series of dams that provide hydroelectric series of dams that provide hydroelectric power, make the river navigable and provide power, make the river navigable and provide ‘recreation’ opportunities ‘recreation’ opportunities

Salmon…. More than resource… a spiritual identity for the region

““IN Stream flow”IN Stream flow”

There is a benefit to fish (esp. temperature There is a benefit to fish (esp. temperature sensitive fish species like salmon and trout) sensitive fish species like salmon and trout) of keeping water in the streamof keeping water in the stream

This benefit can be expressed in economic This benefit can be expressed in economic termsterms

Some of the most successful programs Some of the most successful programs transfer $ from advocacy groups to ranchers transfer $ from advocacy groups to ranchers to purchase forage crops for their cattle… to purchase forage crops for their cattle… forgoing using their water rights to irrigate forgoing using their water rights to irrigate pastures/hay fields.pastures/hay fields.

Water...

Water Use:

Withdrawal vs. consumption

irrigation consumes the highest percent (81 percent)

commercial the lowest (1 percent)

The difference between the volume of water withdrawn and that consumed is the return flow.

IrrigationIrrigation81% of water used for Irrigation is ‘consumed’... Removed from the water system (evapo-transpiration) and it is by far the most consumptive use of water.

Technology has made irrigation much more efficient....

Drip Irrigation has single emitters for each plant

Flood or Furrow Irrigation

Spray Irrigation

Center-Pivot Spray irrigation

Drip Irrigation

Domestic water use

Our society consumes 50-100 gallons per person, per day.

This pie chart shows how an average home in Akron, OH uses water (src: USGS).

Figure 15.28, S&S p. 538

How much water is consumed? How much is returned to the hydrologic cycle?

Point

Nonpoint

Issues: non-point source pollutionIssues: non-point source pollution

The 1977 “Clean Water Act” provided The 1977 “Clean Water Act” provided federal guidelines and control over point federal guidelines and control over point source pollution.source pollution.

Non-Point source pollution... Who is Non-Point source pollution... Who is responsible? How can it be controlled?responsible? How can it be controlled?

Agricultural land use... The sacred institution Agricultural land use... The sacred institution of ‘the family farm’of ‘the family farm’

Ground Water…Ground Water…

According to the USGS, in 2000 21% of According to the USGS, in 2000 21% of water used in the United States water used in the United States

69.8 Billion gallons /day came from ground-69.8 Billion gallons /day came from ground-water sources water sources

68 percent, was used for irrigation68 percent, was used for irrigation 19 percent was used for public water 19 percent was used for public water

suppliessupplies 99% of ‘self supplied’ water sources were 99% of ‘self supplied’ water sources were

ground water (a well) ground water (a well)

Groundwater• Occurs below the water

table, where the soil is saturated

• Aquifer = underground zone where water can be extracted at useful rate

• Depletion by wells causes drawdown a cone of depression in the water table

S&S Figure 15.12, p. 519

Saturated zone, Saturated zone, Water Table

Groundwater & surface water flow system

Water table

© 2003 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/wugw.html

Ground Water Withdrawals by State, 2000

Groundwater ‘mining’...Groundwater ‘mining’...

In some areas, notably the Ogallala Basin in In some areas, notably the Ogallala Basin in the central great plains groundwater the central great plains groundwater withdrawal has exceeded recharge of the withdrawal has exceeded recharge of the aquifer.aquifer.

Wells are constantly drilled deeper, bigger Wells are constantly drilled deeper, bigger pumps installed... The end of a region?pumps installed... The end of a region?

The Ogallala Aquifer• Composed of water bearing sands

and gravel, i.e. groundwater• …filled during melt of ice sheet in last

ice age.• …current 20 x overdraft, -> 1.74 feet

per year (1,082,631 acre ft). – North Plains Groundwater

Conservation District (http://www.npwd.org)

““GroundGroundwater water mining”mining”

--(Guru 2000)

Cost of water?Cost of water?

Abundant water is available virtually everywhere Abundant water is available virtually everywhere on the planet… on the planet…

Cheap water is available in only a limited number Cheap water is available in only a limited number of placesof places

Water will run uphill to $Water will run uphill to $ The Los Angles Basin sits next to/on the largest The Los Angles Basin sits next to/on the largest

body of water on the planet! But ocean water is body of water on the planet! But ocean water is salty…the technology to remove salt is simple and salty…the technology to remove salt is simple and available… however it is expensive. It is cheaper available… however it is expensive. It is cheaper to acquire water from other regions and ship it.to acquire water from other regions and ship it.

Cost of water…Cost of water…

If the cost of water is not reflected in its allocation If the cost of water is not reflected in its allocation then inefficiency is bound to occur.then inefficiency is bound to occur.

Irrigation rights… no additional cost for the last Irrigation rights… no additional cost for the last water used…. There is no incentive to conserve.water used…. There is no incentive to conserve.

Subsidized water… some estimates place the Subsidized water… some estimates place the subsidy as high as 90% for American agriculture subsidy as high as 90% for American agriculture (the farmer pays just 10% of the cost of the water)(the farmer pays just 10% of the cost of the water)… incentives to conserve are limited… incentives to conserve are limited

Inter basin transfersInter basin transfers

The The Owens valley projectOwens valley project North American Water and Power Alliance North American Water and Power Alliance

[[NAWAPANAWAPA] ] Making beneficial use of ‘excess’ or ‘wasted’ Making beneficial use of ‘excess’ or ‘wasted’

water.water.