Show Description: | Many people may believe that water’s origin is associated with a faucet. The reality is water travels an interesting path before it makes its way into our homes and workplaces.
Water comes from a variety of sources. Water is a product of rain, comes from the ground and is collected on the surface.
Rainwater comes from the vapor that rises up from the surface water. Rainwater fills our lakes and rivers; and recharges the underground aquifers. It also affects water bearing rock that transmits water into wells or springs, and provides drinks to plants and animals. About 5-50% of annual precipitation results in ground water recharge.
Ground water is water that fills the cracks and pores of rocks and sediments which lie beneath the surface of the earth. It comes from the rainwater that seeps down into the soil until it reaches saturation. It then moves to sites of ground water discharge, such as lakes, rivers and springs. Ground water is pumped and used from irrigation and for drinking.
Surface water is the water that makes up oceans, lakes and rivers. Surface water can also feed into the ground water.
These three types of water all work together to make up the water cycle. The water cycle can begin anywhere, but we’re going to start with the oceans.
The first stage is evaporation. Evaporation is when the sun heats up the surface water causing the water to turn into water vapor. The water vapor leaves the surface water and goes into the air.
As the water vapor moves higher and higher into the air, it becomes colder changing into condensation which forms clouds.
The third step is precipitation. Precipitation occurs when the water becomes so condensed that the air can no longer hold it. Precipitation comes in many forms such as, rain, snow, sleet or hail.
The last step is collection. When precipitation falls, it falls back into the oceans, rivers, and lakes. It also falls onto the ground. As it slowly seeps into the soil and becomes ground water.
The water cycle is a continuous sequence that never stops.
You may be wondering how water from the water cycle makes its way your house and ultimately flows from your faucet. The water that runs through your home can come from a number of different places.
Waste water goes through a treatment process that ensures the water is clean for drinking. The first step in the process is screening. Screening involves the removal of wood, rocks, and small pieces of sediment when the water flows into the plant.
The next step is pumping. If the waste water treatment plant isn’t located on low grounds, the water must be pumped up to the aeration tanks.
The third step is aeration. The facility shakes up the sewage and exposes it to the air. This causes certain gases that look, smell and taste bad to be released from the water. The water then moves into a series of concrete tanks. The tanks are divided into two sections. Air is pumped through the first section causing the water to bubble and release small gritty particles.
The next step is removing the sludge. In this stage the wastewater flows through the second section of the concrete tanks called sedimentation tanks. This is where the sludge is pumped out of the tanks.
The fifth step is removing the scum. As the sludge settles to the bottom of the tanks, lighter materials are floating to the surface of the water. These lighter materials include grease, oil, plastics, and soap. Slow moving rakes skim the top of the water and remove the scum. The scum is then pumped out with the sludge into digester tanks.
The final step in the process is killing the bacteria. The wastewater flows into a chlorine contact tank where chlorine is added to kill bacteria. The chlorine is mostly eliminated as it kills the bacteria.
Once the water goes through this process, it can be pumped out into a local river or ocean.
Individual homes can get their water from a well. A well withdraws water from underground aquifers. Wells can be dug, driven, or drilled.
Water can also be taken from dams and reservoirs. A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs, or slows down the flow often creating a reservoir or lake. Dams provide water for irrigation, town or city water supply, generate hydrologic power, and flood control. A reservoir is most often referred to as an artificial lake. It is used to store water for various uses.
Water towers provide another way of storing and distributing water to residents. A water tower is a very large tank of water that holds a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water supply system. It helps to pump water to homes in a town or city.
Residents may be under the false impression that water is an infinite resource, but it’s not. Water is our most precious resource and we need to start preserving and protecting it.
The average Maryland citizen uses almost 100 gallons of water per person per day on the following activities:
- Toilet
- Bathing & Hygiene
- Laundry
- Kitchen
- Housekeeping
- Outdoor activities
Here are some tips on how to conserve water around the house.
How to save water in the bathroom
Install low consumption toilets
Place a weighted plastic one-half gallon jug or a toilet dam in the tanks of conventional toilets to displace and save water with each flush.
Install low-flow aerators and showerheads.
Do not let the faucet flow while brushing your teeth or shaving. Use a glass of water for rinsing teeth.
Take showers instead of tub baths. Consider bathing small children together.
If your shower has a single-handle control of shut off valve, turn off the flow while soaping or shampooing.
Leaking diverter valves (valves which divert water from the tub spout to the showerhead) should be replaced.
How to save water in the kitchen and laundry room
Refrigerate a pitcher of drinking water instead of letting a faucet flow until the water is cold enough to drink.
Use a dishpan or plug the sink for washing and rinsing dishes. Install a low-flow aerator on all faucets.
Do not pre-rinse dishes prior to loading in a dishwasher. Pre-rinsing is an unnecessary and wasteful use of water.
Operate the washing machine and dishwasher only when they are fully loaded.
Use the proper water level or load size selection on the washing machine.
When purchasing a washing machine or dishwasher, consider water consumption as well as energy efficiency. Most manufacturers now provide this information to consumers.
How to save water outside the home
Watering should be limited to gardens, and newly planted lawns and landscaped areas.
Equip your hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
Use a broom, not a hose to clean driveways, steps and sidewalks.
Water your garden during the coolest part of the day. Do not water on windy days.
Use mulch around shrubs and garden plants to reduce evaporation from the soil surface and cut down on weed growth.
How to save water while washing vehicles
Wash vehicles on grass, not on pavement.
Wash vehicles using a bucket with soapy water.
Rinse vehicle with a hose equipped with an automatic shutoff nozzle.
Consider going to a commercial car wash.
A unique way to save water is to build a rain barrel. A rain barrel is a small scale conservation practice that collects and stores runoff from the roof for future use to water lawns and gardens.
Using a rain barrel may save the average homeowner up to 1,300 gallons of water during peak summer months. The barrels not only help to reduce storm water runoff, but it also conserves drinking water resources.
If we all take part in water conservation,
Credit: U.S. Geological Survey
Department of the Interior/USGS
U.S. Geological Survey/photo by Jane
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