WATER RESOURCES

-Water is everywhere.
-71% OF Earth is covered in water. Oceans takes up 96.5% of water percentage.
-Earth is the only planet where liquid form of water exists.

THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE (WATER CYCLE)

The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, involves the continuous movement of
water on, above, and below the Earth’s surface.

It explains the movement of water around the Earth’s surface and its subsystems.

It consists of interconnected pathways and reservoirs.

Mass balance maintains the total amount of water.

Fluctuations may occur on a local scale.

EARTH’S WATER

-Earth’s Water Budget is the total amount of water on the planet. It remains constant through
time.
-Water moves and changes its form but can neither be created nor destroyed.
-The largest reservoir is the ocean that contains about 97.5% of earth’s water budget which is
mostly saline.

What is saline?
Saline water is water that contains a significant concentration of dissolved salts, primarily
sodium chloride (table salt). It’s most commonly found in oceans and seas, where it typically has
a salinity of about 3.5%. Saline water can also refer to brackish water, which has lower salinity
than seawater but higher than freshwater, often found in estuaries and coastal areas. This type
of water is not suitable for drinking or irrigation without treatment due to its high salt content.

Freshwater only takes up 2.5% of earth’s water budget. It is found on glaciers (68.7%),
groundwater (30.1%), permafrost (0.8%), surface water and atmospheric water.

-Residence Time is the average length of time spent by the water molecule in a reservoir.
-The volume of water varies in each reservoir and their volumes affect each other.

NOTE: WHEN WATER IS IN IT’S SOLID STATE (ICE) IT WILL FLOAT ON WATER IN ITS
LIQUID STATE. ICE OCCUPIES MORE VOLUME PER UNIT WEIGHT MAKING IT’S DENSITY
LESS THAN THAT OF WATER.
RESERVOIRS
-Reservoirs are places where water resides for an amount of time.
Types of Reservoirs
-Saltwater
-Freshwater
-Surface water reservoir

Saltwater Reservoir

These reservoirs are vast bodies of saline water such as oceans. Ocean is one of the most
valuable resources on Earth. It is divided into five distinct regions and into numerous seas,
gulfs, bays and straits. There are four recognized oceans:AtlanticOcean IndianOcean
PacificOcean ArcticOcean.

What is salinity?
Salinity is the saltiness of saltwater. Major chemicals present in seawater are sodium and
chlorine ions.

TAKE NOTE: Seawater salinity varies from 33 to 37 parts per thousand. Volcanic eruptions are
the main source of elements mixed in seawater.

Effects of Hydrologic Cycle in Oceans

Water salinity is maintained through hydrologic cycle. HOW?

-Evaporation removes water that makes the seawater saltier.
-Precipitation adds water that dilutes the seawater.
-Inflow from rivers and groundwater also dilutes the sea.
-As sea water freezes the salt is excluded.

3 MAJOR ZONES IN OCEAN

➤ Surface Layer (1st layer)

2% of the ocean that is affected by currents caused by prevailing winds. Consist of warm, low
density water that extends to a depth of 100m. Home of the majority of marine plants and
animals.

➤ Thermocline (2nd layer)

water temperature decreases with depth. This layer extends up to 1500m.

➤ Deep Zone (3rd layer)

- in this layer the temperature is uniformly low. It covers 80% of ocean water. Affected by
Thermohaline circulation propelled by the sinking of cold, salty and dense water in polar region
and rising of warm, less salty waters of tropics.

FRESHWATER IN GLACIERS

There are approximately 24 million km³ freshwater that is stored in glaciers and ice sheets.

➤90% is concentrated in Antarctica while the rest is found in Greenland and in

mountains of glaciers.

PERMAFROST

Permafrost is a soil, rock or sediments that is frozen for more than two consecutive years.
These are commonly found in polar regions.

The thickness can reach from a few meters to 150m. During summer, 30-100cm melts and
refreezes during winter.

FRESHWATER IN PERMAFROST

Permafrost comprises 0.8% of total freshwater. It is estimated to store 300,000km³ of water.

SURFACE WATER RESERVOIR

Surface waters include the streams, lakes and wetlands where water from rainfall, melting snow
and ice, and groundwater flows. It contains 0.3% of Earth's water.

STREAM

A moving body of surface water that flows down towards the sea level because of gravity.

Streams are interconnected into a tree-shaped network that joined to a large main stream or
river. It holds 1.6% of total surface and atmospheric water. -Tributaries-smaller streams.
-Drainage basin or Watershed - land area where water flows in a particular stream. -Drainage
divide - line that separates individual basin,
-Interfluve - the narrow elongated landform that separates individual streams
-Overland flow - water moves downhill during a heavy rain.
-Streamflow - when water enters the channels.

LAKES
Lakes are large inland bodies that contains either freshwater or saline water. It forms in places
where water is collected due to land depression and behind natural and man made dams. Lakes
store 67% of total atmospheric water.

➤Ponds-small shallow lakes

➤ Dams-barriers constructed along streams to contain the flow of water.

WETLANDS

Wetlands are lands where water covers the surface for a period of time. It constitutes 8.5% of
total atmospheric water.

Wetlands are great breeding grounds for fishes and invertebrates. The water seeped by the
ground can also replenish groundwater

TYPES OF WETLANDS

➤Marsh
a shallow wetland around lakes, streams, and ocean where grasses and reeds are the dominant
vegetation.

➤Swamp
- a wetland with lush trees and vegetation found in low-lying areas beside slow-moving rivers.
Oxygen content of swamps is low…

➤Estuary
- a partly enclosed coastal body of water where fresh water from the stream meets saltwater
from the sea.

FLOODS
A natural event in which an area that is usually dry is submerged in water. It occurs when
precipitation is higher or when reservoirs collapse. Vegetation reduces flood intensity.

➤ Fluvial or Riverine Flood – occurs when a stream's discharge is greater than the
capacity of the channel.

Flashflood - characterized by intense, high-velocity torrent of water.

Coastal Flooding - occurs when water overwhelms low-lying areas along the coast.

➤ Pluvial or Surface Water Flood - occurs when rainfall creates a flood independent
of an overflowing stream.
GROUNDWATER

Groundwater is freshwater found in rocks and soil layers beneath the surface. This is the largest
reservoir that holds 30.1% of total freshwater on the planet.

Aquifers - are water bearing rock layers. It is akin to a "sponge".

Porosity - is the total amount of empty spaces in the rock that determines the capacity of an
aquifer.

Permeability - the ability of rocks or sediments to allow water to pass through it

GROUNDWATER PROFILE

Groundwater profile is a portrayal or a diagram of where the groundwater is present beneath the
Earth's surface.

The first layer encountered is the moist soil layer on the surface. Beneath this is a zone where
the spaces between the particles are filled mainly with air. This is called the zone of aeration or
unsaturated zone. The layer beneath the zone of aeration is the zone of saturation.

The boundary between the zone of aeration and zone of saturation is the water table. Directly
above the water table is a layer called a capillary fringe. The shape of the water table resembles
a topography: it is high beneath hills and low beneath valleys. Its location also fluctuates
depending on the season. During the wet season, the water table is found at the shallow
depths. It migrates deeper below the ground during the dry season, resulting in the drying of
shallow wells.

•Saturated Zone:

•This is the area where all the pore space in the soil or rock are filled with water.

•The water here is under pressure and is often referred to as groundwater.

•The top of the saturated zone is called the water table

Unsaturated Zone:

•This zone lies above the saturated zone and contains both air and water in the pore spaces.
•The water present in this zone is not unde
significant pressure and is often called soil
moisture
•The unsaturated zone is critical for processes like evaporation and plant uptake
What are aquifers, artesian wells and springs?

-A reliable groundwater supply can be obtained from aquifers with guai porosity and
permeability such as coarse-grained casticsetlimentary rocks. An aquifer in which the
groundwater is free to rise to its natural level is called unconfined aquifer,

-In a confined aquifer the water is trapped and held down by pressure between impermeable
rocks called aquiclude.

-The pressure in a confined aquifer causes water to rise in wells drilled through it. Water
confilmise in this well without pumping if the well is located at elevation, winch is below the
recharge zone of a confined aquifer. This is called artesian well

An aquifer occurs when there is localized aquiclude above the main water table. It stores a
relatively small amount of groundwater.

The land area where water enters the ground and replenishes the groundwater is called the
recharge zone. For unconfined aquifers, this is basically the whole drainage basin or watershed.
In confined aquifers, the recharge zone is limited only in areas where the aquifer is exposed to
the surface.

* The discharge zone is the area where the groundwater flows out of the aquifer and onto land
surface or even in a submarine environment. A well where groundwater is pumped out is also a
discharge zone.

When groundwater emerges to the ground surface, a spring is created. It usually appear în
places where there is a decrease in permeability of the underlying material.

Groundwater-Stream Relationship

There is an interaction between groundwater flow and stream now. There are streams that lose
water downstream and dry up. In this type of stream, the water flows underground and
contributes to the groundwater. This is called losing or influent stream.

There are also streams that are fed by groundwater. This is referred to as gaining of effluent
stream

WATER AS A RESOURCE

ACTIVITIES AFFECTING THE THE QUALITY OF WATER

-POPULATION GROWTH, PARTICULARLY WATER-SHOR T REGIONS.

-MOVEMENT OF LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM COUNTRYSIDE TO TOWNS AND
CITIES
-DEMANDS FOR GREATER FOOD SECURITY AND HIGHER LIVING STANDARDS.
-INCREASED COMPETITION BETWEEN DIFFERENT USES OF WATER RESOURCES.
-POLLUTION FROM FACTORIES, CITIES AND FARMLANDS.

The degration of ecosystems is one of ecosystems is one of the serious threats, which occur
due to changes in landscapes.

• Deforestation

• Urban growth

Mining (Surface Mining)

Conversion of natural landscapes into farm or residential areas

• Road-building

• Improper waste disposal

These activities result in damages in the aquatic ecosystems, impairs water quality, hinders
water transport in large bodies of inland waters.

Wastes produced by human activities pollute the air, land and water.

Emissions from factories and vehicles also pollute the atmospheric water and results to acid rain

Overexploitation of the surface and groundwater resources often cause irreversible effects.
Lakes and streams have dried In some regions due to excessive water withdrawal and improper
management.

The consequences of excessive groundwater withdrawal include:

✓ Reduced spring yields
✓Diminished river flow
✓Poorer water quality
✓Damage to natural habitats
✓Gradual sinking of land known as subsidence

WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT and CONSERVATION

The increasing pressure in water resources calls for an effective water resources management.
It involves:
✔ Planning
✓ Developing
✔Distributing
✓ Managing
Successful management requires accurate knowledge of the available resources, demands,
and mechanisms necessary to translate policies into actions.

In response to growing water demands, various countries and regions have become determined
in the natural viability of their water resources that includes:
✓Rainwater harvesting
✓Surface water is diverted into basins
✓Dams and reservoirs are built

Current technologies make the wastewater reusable after extensive Treatment to remove
biodegradable materials, nutrients, and pathogens.

In the Middle East, countries in coastal areas practices desalination that involves the reduction
of the mineral content by taking salt out of the seawater and Brackish water to produce
freshwater

In the Philippines, several laws and regulations have been enacted for the protection,
conservation, and management of freshwater resources.

1. Presidential Decree (PD) No. 424 of 1974 created the National Water Resources Council
(NWRC) to coordinate and integrate water resources development.

2. PD No. 1067 (1976) instituted the Water Code which consolidate the laws governing the
ownership, appropriation, utilization, exploitation, development, conservation, and protection of
the water resources.

3. Executive Order (EO) No. 222 of 1995 established the Presidential Committee on Water
Conservation and demand Management which was tasked to prepare a nationwide Water
Conservation Plan.

4.Republic Act (RA) No. 8041 or the National Water Crisis Act of 1995 addressed the
country's water problems through water management programs.

5. The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004provided a comprehensive water quality

management.