Water Sustainability Technician Program Lifetime Access

Water sustainability means to meet water demands not just now, but also into the future while taking into account changes in supply, demand, and environmental conditions.

The five common water supply indicators are reliability, quality, ecosystem health, adaptive and sustainable management, and social benefits and equity.

Physical scarcity is when there isn’t enough water available to meet demand. This could be due to droughts, contamination, or other factors.

Economic scarcity is when the water infrastructure can’t meet demand. The water is there, but it can’t be fully used.

Water management is described as a “wicked problem” because there aren’t any easy solutions.

Climate change affects water availability by altering precipitation patterns and melting snowpack, leading to changes in the timing, quantity, and quality of water resources.

Virtual water is the water hidden or embedded in manufactured goods and produce. A great example of this is produce like cucumbers and watermelons, which are 96% water. When these products are shipped around the world, their water goes with them.

Agencies such as the United States Geological Survey (USGS), United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) compile and provide water resource data online.

We can prepare by monitoring and interpreting water resource data, implementing water conservation strategies, and developing flood management plans and infrastructure.

Individuals can make a difference by reducing water usage at home, using water-efficient appliances and fixtures, and participating in community-based conservation efforts.

A stage-discharge curve is a graph that predicts water discharge based on water elevation or stage in a river. This curve is used to estimate water flows at hydrometric stations that only measure water elevation.

The maximum safe yield of a well is determined by measuring the well drawdown, which is the amount of water pumped out of the well and the amount going into the well from the surrounding groundwater. If these amounts are not balanced, the well will run out of water.

The maximum safe yield of a well is the maximum amount of water that can be pumped from the well over a set amount of time without depleting the surrounding groundwater. It is determined by pumping the well for an extended time, while also measuring the groundwater level.

Anthropogenic impacts on aquifer yield include changes in rates of infiltration and evapotranspiration due to human activities, such as increased pavement and soil compaction, as well as changes in vegetation. These impacts can alter the recharge rates of aquifers and affect their yield.

Aquifer collapse happens when the pumping rates of wells exceed the recharge rates of aquifers, causing the soil above the aquifer to become compacted, less permeable, and unable to hold water. This can result in the earth’s surface sinking and even the formation of sinkholes.

Measure out a stretch (or reach) of a stream and starting upstream, drop a plastic ball into the water. Then, using a stopwatch, time how long it takes for the ball to travel the distance you previously measured. Do this at least 3 times, then add up the times and divide them by 3 (or the total number of times you timed the ball) to get the average velocity. From there, take the average time and divide it by the distance you measured to find out how many meters the water travels per second.

The maximum operating level of a reservoir is the highest elevation that the water level should reach during normal operations, while the spillway elevation is the elevation at which water will begin to flow out of the reservoir and into the spillway and river below. The spillway elevation is always below the maximum operating level to ensure water elevations don’t get too high.

Water residence time, or WRT, is the average time required to refill a lake basin with new water if it were to be emptied. This amount is generally measured in years. Knowing the rate at which water can be replaced is critical to determining how quickly we can consume it.

The different zones in a lake include the littoral zone, pelagic zone, epilimnion zone, metalimnion zone, hypolimnion, and profundal. Each of these zones contains habitats that aquatic organisms use and relate to how the lake functions.

The three common lake types based on stratification patterns are polymictic lakes, dimictic lakes, and monomictic lakes. 

• Polymictic lakes are lakes where the water column mixes completely from top to bottom
• Dimictic lakes thermally stratify but the water column mixes top to bottom twice a year, generally in spring and fall. 
• Monomictic lakes thermally stratify but mix from top to bottom only once a year.

The most common physical measurements of water quality are temperature, conductivity, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, and turbidity. There are also chemical and biological measurements that can be taken to help us better understand the quality of water.

While it sounds complicated, an organoleptic measurement is just a different name for measuring using different senses. You can take organoleptic measurements by testing the odor, color, and taste of water.

Primary quality standards are concerned with human health while Secondary quality standards are more about the aesthetics of the water.

Primary quality standards will measure things like cadmium and E.coli while Secondary quality standards will measure copper or iron levels.

Agriculture is the biggest pollutant through the release of nitrate, but mining, deforestation, and urban runoff are all contributors to water pollution. For pollutants outside of human control, floods, drought, and forest fires all release large amounts of toxins into bodies of water.

• Oligotrophic – Bodies of water with a low nutrient and algae concentration. These waters are often clear and are likely suitable for all uses.
• Mesotrophic – Bodies of water with intermediate nutrient and algae concentration. Water may appear green or turbid and is likely suitable for all uses.
• Eutrophic – Bodies of water with high nutrient concentrations and frequent algal blooms. These waters are considered nutrient polluted and should not be used.
• Hypereutrophic – Bodies of water with very high nutrient levels and chronic algal blooms. These waters are considered nutrient polluted and should not be used.

Let’s look at an example:

Lake A is getting water from River B and we want to know the loading of rubber ducks into Lake A.

The first thing you’ll need to find is the river discharge – how much water is flowing from River B into Lake A.

Let’s say this is 1,000 L/m, or 1,000 litres per minute.

Once we have that, then we’ll need to know how many rubber ducks are in a certain volume or water. This is the concentration of rubber ducks.

Let’s say this is 10 rubber ducks per litre, or 10 rd/L.

Now we can calculate the loading of rubber ducks into Lake A by multiplying the river discharge by the concentration of rubber ducks.

That will look like this:

Rubber duck load into Lake A = 1,000 L/m x 10 rd/L = 10,000 rd/m

What this does is tell us how many rubber ducks are entering Lake A per minute. That’s a lot of ducks!

A longer residence time means water spends more time in one place before moving along. That allows more time for contaminants to build up before being flushed out.

Transition zones are areas where the water body acts like both a river and a lake. This means that the water quality isn’t consistent so any readings gathered from that area may not accurately reflect the broader area around it.

For polymictic and dimictic lakes, yes. Pipes near the bottom of polymictic lakes work very well due to the water quality being generally the same throughout the water column. This also allows the pipes to stay under water if the water levels drop. For dimictic lakes it’s also better to have the pipe near the bottom, though you’ll need to watch out for the water quality in the hypolimnion. It could deteriorate over time.

For meromictic lakes it’s better to have the pipe in the upper portion of the lake, or the mixolimnion, due to the poor water quality of meromictic lakes. Most of the contaminants will be near the bottom, though the upper levels aren’t much better.

Wastewater reuse can help ease the strain on limited freshwater supplies and improve the quality of streams and lakes by reducing the effluent discharges they receive. It can also provide a valuable resource for irrigation and other non-potable uses.

Contaminants in wastewater include pathogens, nutrients (e.g. nitrogen and phosphorus), organic matter, metals, and emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, estrogens, and microplastics. These contaminants can cause water pollution and pose risks to human and environmental health if not properly treated and managed.

In-situ treatment involves the cleanup of contaminated soil or groundwater on-site without removing the affected material, while ex-situ treatment involves the removal of the contaminated material for treatment at a separate location. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages depending on the specific contamination, site conditions, and regulatory requirements.

Aeration, liming, spillway releases, and dilution are commonly used methods for managing and controlling the pH levels in bodies of water. Aeration can increase dissolved oxygen and raise pH levels, while liming can increase alkalinity. Spillway releases and dilution can help to decrease acidity levels in water bodies.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System is a federal regulatory program that controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into surface waters. The program requires industrial, municipal, and other facilities to obtain permits if their discharges go directly into surface waters.

Yes, under the Clean Water Act, states can establish their own water quality standards as long as they are at least as stringent as federal standards. States may also establish secondary standards for taste, odor, and color, although these are not enforced by the EPA.

The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement is a commitment between the United States and Canada to restore and protect the waters of the Great Lakes. It provides a framework for identifying binational priorities and implementing actions that improve water quality.

The EPA coordinates U.S. activities under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. This includes working with Canada and other stakeholders to identify binational priorities and implementing actions that improve water quality in the Great Lakes.

Source water protection is crucial because it helps prevent contaminants from entering the water supply, reduces treatment costs, and ensures that people have access to clean and safe drinking water.

There are many ways to get involved in source water protection, including joining a local watershed group, participating in stream cleanups, volunteering for a conservation organization, or simply practicing water conservation at home.

Common threats to source water include agricultural and urban runoff, improperly treated wastewater, industrial pollution, and climate change.

Best practices for source water protection include reducing water usage, properly disposing of hazardous materials, maintaining septic systems, planting vegetation along stream banks, and using conservation easements to protect natural features.

Individuals can protect their local source water areas by practicing water conservation, properly disposing of hazardous waste and pet waste, using fertilizers and pesticides sparingly, and avoiding the use of salt or other chemicals that can impact water quality. Additionally, individuals can participate in local volunteer groups or outreach programs to educate others and raise awareness about the importance of source water protection.

The ethics of large-scale water distribution can be debated. While it may be necessary in some cases to provide water to areas that are experiencing water scarcity, it can also have negative impacts on the environment and local communities.

Large-scale water distribution can have a range of environmental impacts, such as habitat destruction, altered water flows, and increased energy consumption. It can also contribute to the depletion of groundwater and surface water resources, which can have long-term consequences for ecosystems and communities.

The political and legal considerations surrounding large-scale water distribution can vary depending on the context. In some cases, water rights may be contested or restricted by laws and regulations. Additionally, the construction of large-scale infrastructure projects can be subject to public debate and opposition. Politically, the distribution of water resources can be a contentious issue, especially in areas where water scarcity is a concern.

Some alternatives to large-scale water distribution include rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, and decentralized water treatment systems. These options can reduce the demand for centralized water distribution systems and promote water conservation.