Water Resource Challenges

Water Resource Challenges

Freshwater Resource Challenge Description

Aquifer Depletion Aquifer depletion substantially lowers the water table or the upper surface of the saturated zone of groundwater. Depletion continues until the aquifer is effectively eliminated as a water resource. Another effect of aquifer depletion is the forming of porous sediments that cause the ground above it to sink or collapse upon itself.

Overdrawing Surface Waters

The overuse of freshwaters from river and lakes has negative effects on local ecosystems. Regions like California, Arizona, Nevada, and Texas tend to have higher fresh water consumption rates because of their arid and semiarid terrains. The higher consumption of surface waters in the United States for agriculture, industry, and personal use leads to water shortages and water quality issues.

Salinization of Irrigated Soil Salinization occurs through irrigation water, which holds small traces of salt that accumulates in the soil. In most cases, participation runoff is dissolved in rivers or other water sources; however, irrigation water saturates the ground or soil. Overtime the continued use of irrigation water in certain regions renders the unfit to produce crops because of a high salt concentration plants and roots die off.

Ocean Water Resource Challenge Description

Aquaculture Aquaculture is the cultivation of marine life and organisms termed mariculture. Mariculture is much more prominent in developing countries because it is labor-intensive developed countries on the other hand fish in open oceans because of their resources. Aquaculture is limited to the oceans' declining population; in contrast, aqua cultural production is limited to the area where the cultivation primarily occurs. Fish farms produce large concentrations of higher than normal marine waste harmful to marine life.

Plastic Debris Unfortunately, large amounts of plastics are carried away by ocean currents near coastal cities and on occasion by accident from cargo ships. Plastics photodegrade meaning they break down into smaller and smaller pieces indefinitely. Midway between Hawaii and the mainland researchers discovered a collection of floating plastics in the north Pacific gyre (estimated at one million pieces per square mile) the size of Texas. "This trash collects in certain areas of the open ocean defined by atmospheric pressure systems."(Wiley and Sons 2006)

Coastal Development Presently 3.8 billion people reside within 100 miles of a coastline surprisingly that 2/3 of the world's population. The increase in resorts, coastal cities, coastal industries, and agriculture destroys coastal ecosystems. The affected coastal ecosystems include mangrove forest, sea grass beds, coral reefs, and salt marshes. Many coastal