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What Goes Around, Comes Around
The amount of water on the earth has been the same since the earth was created- it never changes. Think about that for a minute. Most people wonder how this can be true. Don't we receive extra water when it rains?
The last time you drank a glass of water you were participating in one of earth's amazing, natural processes-the water cycle. All water on earth (including the water in your body) moves through a system called the hydrologic, or water cycle. The energy from the sun powers this cycle. Here's how it works.
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The earth's surface water (lakes, rivers, oceans, wetlands) evaporates and moves into the atmosphere as water vapor. Water vapor condenses and forms clouds. Out of those clouds falls precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, hail). Once precipitation hits the earth, it can follow several paths. Snow melts to form streams, which flow into rivers and lakes. Rainwater can also form streams and rivers, which eventually flow into lakes or oceans. Water on the earth's surface can also simply filter downward to form groundwater. Of course, surface water may evaporate and the whole cycle starts again. The water we use today has been around for millions of years! That's the beauty of the water cycle.
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All creatures on the earth need water, including plants. Plants contribute to the water cycle through a process called transpiration. You can think of transpiration as plants breathing through the pores in their leaves. Plants absorb water through their roots and then release it through their leaves. During photosynthesis, green plants produce water, which is also released through their leaves. On a hot summer day, one sugar maple tree can release 200 gallons of water!
Now that you understand the water cycle, you may be able to guess why it's important to take care of the earth's water supply. Remember, the amount of water on the earth never changes. We'll never receive any more water. However, if we pollute our water resources, the amount of clean water that we can use will decrease. Nature cleans and recycles water through the water cycle. We need to do our part to protect our valuable water resources!
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Where Does The Water Go?
About 20% of the U.S. and 40% of the state of Kentucky is considered a karst landscape. This type of landscape creates interesting water flow patterns and challenging water pollution problems. Picture in your mind a piece of Swiss cheese. All of the holes represent the sinkholes of a karst landscape. Water quickly enters those sinkholes after it rains. The water then travels down through cracks and crevices in the bedrock to the cave passages below. Underground streams flow through the caves until they exit through springs and once again the water becomes surface water.
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As you can probably guess, pollution can easily enter the underground streams through the sinkholes. Very little filtration of the surface water occurs either before or after it is carried below the surface of the ground. Contamination and pollution of the groundwater supply is a major concern in karst country.
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Let's Keep Our Water Clean
Everyone living on the earth should be concerned about clean water. Unfortunately, there are many sources of pollution, which enter our water supply. One type of pollution is called nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source pollution is caused by runoff that carries chemicals, acids, and sediments from agricultural, industrial, mining, logging, or construction sites. Nonpoint source pollution also includes runoff of oil, gasoline, and salt from roads and parking lots. In addition, lawn fertilizers and pet waste from residential areas may contribute to nonpoint source pollution.
Preventing nonpoint source pollution can be challenging for two reasons. First of all, by the definition of this type of pollution, it's hard to tell exactly where the pollution originates. Secondly, the control of nonpoint source pollution often depends upon how people use their land. Most people don't want to be told what they should or should not be doing with their land. However, we cannot afford to let our water supplies become so polluted that they can no longer be used. We all need clean water!
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Wet & Wondrous Water Facts
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Only 5% of the earth's water is fresh water. Less than 1% of this fresh water is available for us to use. Most of the fresh water is frozen in the polar ice sheets.
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Did you know that about 70 % of the human body is water? A human being can live much longer without food than without water. Not only do humans need water, but so do most plants and animals. Water is the lifeblood of the earth! We must take care of this irreplaceable resource.
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How much water does it take to....?
Flush a toilet...5 gals.
Shower/Bath...5 gals. per minute
Load of laundry...40 gals.
Brushing teeth...2 gals.
(if you leave the water running)
Washing a car...30-40 gals.
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The average American uses between 70-150 gallons of water every day. What is left for wildlife, plants, and other people who share the earth with us? How can you conserve water?
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Hydrologists and hydrogeologists use a procedure called "dye tracing" to determine where surface water goes after it enters sinkholes. A harmless dye is placed at the bottom of a sinkhole. This dye travels with water wherever it goes-through the underground streams, caves, and springs. Before the dye is dumped, bugs, or dye detectors, are placed in springs that are thought to be connected to the sinkhole. If the bugs absorb the dye, the connection between the sinkhole and the springs is confirmed. Pollution can travel through the sinkhole and to the springs as easily as the dye traveled. Dye tracing provides valuable information, which can be used to decrease nonpoint source pollution and limit the effects of hazardous spills.
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