Promoting a Sustainable Ground Water Supply - Research Paper Example

Water One of the measures of whether a given society is in an increase in its progress is the measure of its accessibility to clean, adequate and sufficient water (Mays & Larry, 16). Making this resource available is very important to almost everything, not only in supporting life, but also giving a chance for industrial development (Mays & Larry, 22). Availability of water is highly interconnected with the health and integrity of real life situation. The relationship between water and environment can be seen at different considerations such as from the impact of local divide administration on the quality and quantity of water resource to manipulation of climate change in participation outline on local and international scale (Mays & Larry, 49) Water is considered as an essential commodity in our day to day life. Water is usually found as ground water or even surface water (Moran, Edward & Devin, 19). In this paper I will examine more on ground water. I will also examine factors leading to shortages of water and ways to curb such incidences (Reston & Va, 206). In any given nation ground water comes out as really an essential component. Today, ground water resources, supply water to the surface and surface water sources. Ground water in its highest percentage of about 25% is usually stored as fresh water while only about 1% of the total fresh water is stored as surface water in rivers, dams, lakes and soil moisture (Moran, Edward & Devin, 29). The remaining percentage of fresh water about 74% is usually stored as polar ice and glaciers (Mays & Larry, 48). The fact that ground water is not stored means that this resource is usually not taken into consideration most of the time or even misunderstood. Its presence was appreciated after a research on ground water movement ‘secret’ and ‘occult’ was carried out by Ohio courts (Mays & Larry, 78) This resource is very important to public health, the ecology and more so to the economy at large. Often about 75% of the society’s water system depends on ground water. In addition, rural areas and metropolitan regions in the United States highly depend on the ground water system in all their operations and day to day activities (Moran, Edward & Devin, 48). It is through the availability of ground water that we have the surface water due to the fact that ground water supplies the rivers, streams, dams and lakes during drought seasons or even low flows (Reston & Va, 218). The agricultural sector cannot be left behind too as it plays a very significant role in its use of ground water for irrigation purposes for both food and commercial production purposes. The use of ground water for irrigation purpose has increased as from 23% in 1950 to 42% as at year 2000 (Moran, Edward & Devin, 56). Country’s aquifers receive large amounts of water of water recharge on a daily basis. However, such recharge varies highly from region to region and also within regions (Reston & Va, 288). Despite the large amounts of water below the earth different parts of our nation are experiencing low or insufficient amount of water supply in their aquifers, additionally there is salt water infringement terrain subsidence, water quality decline because of too much pumping, water contamination from people’s activities and more so reduction in water flows to streams (Collins, Michael & Gelhar, 117). It is projected that in the next 20 years there would be a lot of shortages statewide a statement given by the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) (Moran, Edward & Devin, 77). In addition, it is anticipated by ground water professionals that in 41 out of 43 states, ground water shortages are there and it will continue to be there in the next 20 years (Reston & Va, 98). Therefore, to be safe there is need to understand the factors that lead to ground water shortages in local, regional and also statewide (Tribble & Gordon 115). Factors that Contribute to Ground Water Shortages The first factor is that of high population growth and distribution pattern. Increased population growth rates in bone-dry regions and the industrialization of America have high effects on the equilibrium of demand and supply of the county’s ground water resources (Moran, Edward & Devin, 101). Through census conducted, it is evident that there is a dramatic increase in population. For example, in the years 1990 to 2000b there was an increase of about 32.7 million people. In addition the Western dry states accounted for about 19.7% increase in population during the same period which leads to people finding new sources of water (Mays & Larry, 118) Despite the fact that we have the so called water rich regions the non-stop increased populations in the metropolitan regions leads to increased pressure on localized water sources. To achieve the best on our ground waters, legal and political strategies of allocating water are struggling to catch up new main concerns and raising demands (Reston & Va, 118). The second factor is Contamination or a presumption of Contamination. Despite the fact that ground water highly remains good and fresh, pollution and contamination have highly impacted on this resource (Moran, Edward & Devin, 119). A good example of water contamination is the current methyl tertiary-butyl ether and per-chlorate contamination occurrence which had a lot of effect to the ground water. The contamination was evidenced and supported by a research conducted in public water supply in California, which showed the presence of per-chlorate in more than 300 public supply sources and almost the same private homeowners’ wells (Watts & Kenneth 119). Another issue is the use of agricultural chemicals which has a lot of effects on the ground water in various parts of the nation. Nitrate form the fertilizers and animal waste is a verification of the agricultural practices contamination (Moran, Edward & Devin, 178). A research conducted depicted presence of pesticide or even their traces after its break down accounted for about 38% in the well in the states. Inadequate information on how far is the ground water of quality is an important factor hindering efforts to look into coming up problems. The third factor is increased efforts to protect and enhance in-stream flow and aquatic Ecosystems. In this regard underground water input to stream flow differs. About 40 to 50 percent of the water in the streams in both small and medium size is from the underground water leakage (Watts & Kenneth 119). On the other hand surface water gives an opportunity for underground water to release water. In this consideration therefore, the likelihood of effects to in-stream flows and aquatic bio-network may sometimes limit the quantity of ground water accessible for withdrawal. In addition, removal of surface water for example for irrigation may have a lot of impact on ground water replacement (Mays & Larry, 145) There is need for understanding between the ground water and surface water for complete water system control so as to be able to make informed decisions and sustainable compromises. Next is present water infrastructure system design. Current drinking water infrastructure frequently engages centralized, large scale ground water withdrawals. The water to be withdrawn today can be piped all the way from its original source of withdrawal. In addition, used and contaminated water is collected, treated and drained into streams by the centralized wastewater system (Mays & Larry, 203). This has a huge impact due to the fact that the river in which water is discharged into may be in completely varying hydrological basin from where the ground water would have obviously released developing a change of water from one basin to another (Moran, Edward & Devin, 219). In this regard, as a country we have to develop and come up with artificial water infrastructure taking into consideration its system’s effect on the ordinary water system. Currently with increased shortages in water supply, important water infrastructure substitute costs, and water system safety concerns, all these considered, it is the time to examine and come up with the best and more so verify weather changes in the water supply is of any benefit. Method Available to Promote a Sustainable Ground Water Supply The very first method is usage of another source of water rather than local ground water (Watts & Kenneth 119). Using other sources of water will supplement ground water with existing surface water supplies. Next is to change the rates of ground water pumping as it is evident that the removal of a large amount of underground water will put a lot of pressure on the system (Mays & Larry, 219).Third is raising the revitalization to the ground water system through well addition system from treated water waste on other return flows. Fourth is the use of aquifers as reservoirs which can be withdrawn in case of ground water shortages (Moran, Edward & Devin, 293). To achieve water sustainability, there should be a meaningful community involvement, all individuals and organizations should respect the state water laws (Moran, Edward & Devin, 293), all organizations should go as per federal environmental and public health goals and last but not least the research being conducted should be based on sound scientific data and research (Watts & Kenneth 211). In conclusion, therefore, it is very important for interconnecting efforts among federal, state, local and non-governmental organizations and water professionals to maintain water supplies since it is very essential for human survival and economical development. Works Cited Collins, Michael A, and L W. Gelhar. Ground Water Hydrology of the Long Island Aquifer System. Cambridge: M.I.T. Hydrodynamics Laboratory, 1970. Print. Mays, Larry W. Ancient Water Technologies. Dordrecht: Springer, 2010. Internet resource. Mays, Larry W. Ground and Surface Water Hydrology. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley, 2012. Print. Moran, Edward H, and Devin L. Galloway. Ground Water in the Anchorage Area, Alaska: Meeting the Challenges of Ground-Water Sustainability. Reston, Va.: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, 2006. Internet resource. Bottom of Form Standard Guidelines for Artificial Recharge of Ground Water. Reston, Va: American Society of Civil Engineers, 2001. Print.Top of Form Tribble, Gordon W. Ground Water on Tropical Pacific Islands: Understanding a Vital Resource. Reston, Va: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, 2008. Internet resource. Watts, Kenneth R. Availability, Sustainability, and Suitability of Ground Water, Rogers Mesa, Delta County, Colorado: Types of Analyses and Data for Use in Subdivision Water-Supply Reports. Reston, Va: U.S. Geological Survey, 2008. Internet resource. Read More