Do you think water can become more expensive than gasoline ✓ Solved

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1. Do you think water can become more expensive than gasoline in the future? Why or why not?

2. Should water resources be viewed as a public good or a private good?

3. What are the examples of water use for energy production?

4. See the data on freshwater use in the United States in 2015 below. a) What is the total amount of water use in the United States in 2015? b) What were the top 3 purposes to use groundwater? c) What types of activities used groundwater more than surface water?

5. List 3 U.S. states with carbonate aquifers and 3 U.S. states with basalt aquifers.

6. What are the factors that affect groundwater recharge?

7. What is the range of annual groundwater level change from year 2011 to 2020? What are the highest and lowest groundwater levels between year 2011 and 2020?

8. Watch the following video: Bottling Giant, Maine Residents Battle Over Water: Who do you support? The local residents or the Poland Spring company? Why?

9. Describe and explain the geographic distribution of thermal springs in the US.

10. What are the effects of turbidity on the aquatic ecosystem?

11. What are the sources of lead, a toxic heavy metal in a city?

12. List the water bodies of the Newark Bay (Newark Bay, Hackensack River, and Passaic River) from the highest electrical conductivity to the lowest.

13. What is the relationship between EC and chloride concentration? Why do you think there is a significant difference in EC and chloride between the Passaic River and the Hackensack River?

14. List the water bodies of the Newark Bay from the highest ammonia concentration to the lowest.

15. List the water bodies of the Newark Bay from the highest phosphate concentration to the lowest.

16. Why do you think the water bodies of the Newark Bay Estuary show different concentrations of nutrients?

17. What are examples of point sources pollution in urban areas?

18. What are examples of nonpoint source pollution?

19. What is the solubility of DO at 15 °C? What is the percent of saturation if DO measurements are at 8 mg/L?

20. Is water pH in the Newark Bay Estuary acidic, neutral, or alkaline?

21. What is the range of dissolved oxygen in Newark Bay, Hackensack River, and Passaic River? Is the DO high enough to support most aquatic organisms?

22. What kinds of treatments are needed for our drinking water?

23. List three cities in NJ that can have a high risk of lead exposure based on the map.

24. What can be the main disadvantages of sewage lagoon treatment systems?

25. What kinds of treatment are needed for wastewater?

26. Calculate the porosity of a column of sediment below.

27. If the elevation of h1 is 35 m and that of h2 is 5 m, what is the hydraulic gradient if the distance from h1 to h2 is 5.6 km?

28. Draw contour lines of the water table and indicate the direction of groundwater flow.

29. Draw arrows to indicate the direction of groundwater flow when it is pumped at a high rate from a well installed near a river.

30. List federal agencies that protect and manage water resources.

31. Why do you think the Endangered Species Act is the most controversial environmental act?

32. What methods are used to treat drinking water?

33. What are the sources of irrigation water? How can water be delivered from the sources to crops?

34. What is the temporal trend in water withdrawal for irrigation and how has the ratio of surface water to groundwater withdrawal changed over time?

35. What problems can occur with the extensive use of center pivot technology?

36. What type of earth material will be good for earthen embankment dams?

37. What are the examples of waterborne diseases? What are the causes of waterborne diseases?

38. What was the cause of the Milwaukee outbreak?

39. How could the new project to divert water from a tributary of the Delaware River to NYC affect New Jersey residents?

40. List the advantages and disadvantages of a large hydropower dam. What are solutions to environmental impacts?

41. What are the benefits and negative impacts from the Three Gorges dam?

42. What are major limitations or problems with desalination?

Paper For Above Instructions

The future of water pricing is a compelling topic, especially as global water resources face unprecedented stress due to climate change, population growth, and unsustainable usage patterns. A critical question arises: can water become more expensive than gasoline in the future? A variety of factors must be considered, from supply and demand dynamics to regional disparities in resource availability.

Firstly, water scarcity is becoming a significant concern in many parts of the world. According to the World Bank (2020), about 1.2 billion people live in areas where water is scarce, which suggests a growing scarcity that could lead to higher prices. In contrast, gasoline, though subject to market fluctuations, has a relatively stable supply network in developed countries. This disparity raises the potential for water to surpass gasoline in price per gallon in certain regions that experience severe drought or inadequate infrastructure (Gleick, 2014).

Moreover, the inherent value of water as a life-sustaining resource complicates its consideration as a market commodity. The argument is often made that water should be treated as a public good, accessible to all, rather than a private commodity subject to market forces. This can be seen in regions where water resources are privatized, leading to increased costs for consumers, often disproportionately affecting low-income communities (Bakker, 2010). However, the privatization of water, if managed correctly, can incentivize conservation and more efficient usage, which may help alleviate scarcity issues in the long run.

When considering the examples of water use for energy production, water is a crucial resource for various energy-generation methods, including hydropower, thermal power plants, and bioenergy. For instance, coal and nuclear power plants require significant water for cooling processes. In the U.S., energy production accounted for about 38% of total freshwater withdrawals in 2015 (USGS, 2016). This interconnectedness of water and energy underscores the vital role that water plays across sectors and the potential for competition in its usage.

In examining the data on freshwater use in the United States in 2015, the total freshwater use amounted to an estimated 322 billion gallons per day (USGS, 2016). The top three purposes for groundwater use included irrigation, public supply, and industrial use. Traditionally, agricultural activities utilize more groundwater than surface water due to its consistent availability, particularly in regions prone to drought.

To further illustrate the geographic considerations surrounding water use, the presence of carbonate and basalt aquifers in the U.S. plays a vital role in water availability and quality. Carbonate aquifers, which are prevalent in states like Florida, Texas, and Kentucky, contribute to effective water storage and movement through dissolution channels that enhance permeability (Fetter, 2001). Conversely, basalt aquifers found in places such as Washington, Oregon, and Idaho have unique physical properties that affect groundwater recharge and availability. The interplay between these aquifers significantly impacts local water management practices and availability.

Groundwater recharge itself is affected by various factors, including precipitation, land use practices, and topography (Parker et al., 2015). Understanding these factors is crucial in establishing sustainable practices to maintain water levels, particularly for states facing declining groundwater reserves. The range of annual groundwater level changes from 2011 to 2020 typically illustrates the challenges of managing water resources in an era of climate unpredictability.

The controversy surrounding the bottling of freshwater, as seen in the video on Maine residents and Poland Spring, highlights public sentiment around water as a commodity versus a community resource. Support for local residents often stems from a desire to protect their community's water supply from corporate extraction, emphasizing the social dimensions of water resource management.

The geographical distribution of thermal springs in the US primarily aligns with tectonic activities, conducive environments such as fault zones in areas like Yellowstone and the Sierra Nevada. Understanding these distributions helps in assessing geothermal energy potentials and their respective environmental impacts.

Furthermore, turbidity affects aquatic ecosystems significantly by inhibiting photosynthesis and reducing oxygen levels, which ultimately impacts biodiversity. Sources of pollutants like lead in urban settings, often originating from aging infrastructure and industrial discharges, mark critical areas of environmental justice concerns (Gould, 2019).

In conclusion, addressing the multi-faceted aspects of water use and management is paramount. The expectation that water may outpace gasoline in pricing is plausible, driven by scarcity and management practices. Recognizing water's intrinsic value and establishing equitable systems ensures its availability—not only as a commodity but as a vital resource for future generations.

References

• Bakker, K. (2010). Privatizing Water: Governance Failure and the World's Urban Water Crisis. Cornell University Press.
• Fetter, C. W. (2001). Applied Hydrogeology. Prentice Hall.
• Gleick, P. H. (2014). Water: The Essence of Life. In The World's Water Volume 8: The Biennial Report on Freshwater Resources. Island Press.
• Gould, K. A. (2019). Environmental Sociology: A Global Perspective. Oxford University Press.
• Parker, A., et al. (2015). Groundwater Recharge: Principles and Practices. Wiley.
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). (2016). Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2015. U.S. Department of the Interior.
• World Bank. (2020). Water Scarcity. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/waterscarcity.

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