Water Kit - Hunter Water
Water Kit - Hunter Water Water Kit - Hunter Water
consider the facts Did you know that Australia is the driest inhabited continent on Earth? Australia’s rainfall and river flows are the most variable in the world and the amount of water that we collect from runoff is one of the lowest. Yet Australians use more water per head of population than most other nations. The water we use in the Lower Hunter, like anywhere else in the world, has been ‘recycled’ for millions of years Since the amount of water on Earth does not change (ie no ‘new’ water is created), conserving water and keeping it clean is very important. We therefore need to be aware of when and where we use water and how we can reduce our water consumption. This will help to ensure a plentiful supply for ourselves, future generations and our local environment. WHAT IS THE WATER CYCLE? The water cycle is driven by the processes of condensation, transpiration, precipitation and surface runoff. The natural water cycle involves precipitation in the form of rain, snow or hail, which results from the condensation of water vapour in the atmosphere into clouds. Precipitation falls over catchments and then flows (as runoff) into waterways such as rivers, lakes and wetlands, and then into the ocean - the Earth’s main water reservoir. Water can also be absorbed into the soil and be stored naturally in underground basins called aquifers. Eventually, the underground water is also transported back into the ocean. Energy from the sun causes the water at the surface of the oceans, lakes and rivers to heat up and change from a liquid to a vapour. This is the process of evaporation. Water is also able to enter the atmosphere through the process of transpiration by plants. Transpiration involves plants taking water up through their roots and passing moisture back into the atmosphere through their leaves. In the atmosphere, the temperature falls with increased altitude and hence the water vapour condenses to form liquid water droplets, appearing as mist, fog and clouds. This process is known as condensation. When the clouds are saturated the water droplets join, become heavier and eventually fall out of the atmosphere as rain, hail or snow, and the water cycle continues. This water cycle diagram shows how water moves around the world This diagram of the water cycle includes the interruptions and processes that humans undertake to ensure a clean and relia Water kit . ssS . 001 . april 2010 2
BREAKING THE WATER CYCLE To supply the water we need for our homes, farms, industry and other needs, the natural water cycle must be intercepted. Some of the ways in which humans intercept the natural water cycle include: • Extracting water directly from river systems and underground aquifers for agricultural uses • Collecting surface water and storing it in dams and weirs to ensure large volumes of reliable and clean water for the community • Collecting water in rainwater tanks for later use in and around our homes and gardens Human activities impact on the water cycle and therefore influence the quality and quantity of freshwater available to all other living organisms. The diagram below shows some of our interactions with the natural water cycle. Wastewater treatment could be considered an extra stage in the urban water cycle process. Hunter Water is responsible for collecting, storing, treating and delivering drinking water to the Lower Hunter. Hunter Water is also responsible for collecting and treating wastewater before returning it to the natural water cycle. This diagram of the water cycle includes the interruptions and processes that humans undertake to ensure a clean and reliable water supply Water kit . ssS . 001 . april 2010 3
- Page 1 and 2: Water kit . ssS . 001 . april 2010
- Page 3 and 4: introduction to water supply WATER
- Page 5 and 6: introduction WHY STUDY WATER? Water
- Page 7: 1.1 the water cycle INTRODUCTION Mo
- Page 11 and 12: Hunter Water’s area of operations
- Page 13 and 14: Protecting and managing the catchme
- Page 15 and 16: Water From The Mountains Chichester
- Page 17 and 18: Rewarding Water Conservation A new
- Page 19 and 20: Main infrastructure of Hunter Water
- Page 21 and 22: 1.6 the managing groundwater supply
- Page 23 and 24: Water Sharing Plan for the Tomago,
- Page 25 and 26: Monitoring the Hunter catchment The
- Page 27 and 28: Environmental Hunter Water: • Dev
- Page 29 and 30: The Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) was
- Page 31 and 32: labour is invested on the site annu
- Page 33 and 34: influences on water supply in the h
- Page 35 and 36: ainfall patterns and water supply w
- Page 37 and 38: managing water supply sustainably w
- Page 39 and 40: 1.8 Sustainability & Water Supply S
- Page 41 and 42: Links with THE Syllabus Used collec
- Page 43 and 44: Integrated Water Resource Plan The
- Page 45 and 46: 2.2 being waterwise at home Our wat
- Page 47 and 48: 2.3 being waterwise at school Water
- Page 49 and 50: 2.4 school water audit Why DO A wat
- Page 51 and 52: 2.6 think twice water saving campai
- Page 53 and 54: design a water saving campaign work
- Page 55 and 56: assessing water conservation scheme
- Page 57 and 58: 8 Use wetlands to store stormwater
consider the facts<br />
Did you know that Australia is the<br />
driest inhabited continent on Earth?<br />
Australia’s rainfall and river flows are<br />
the most variable in the world and the<br />
amount of water that we collect from<br />
runoff is one of the lowest. Yet<br />
Australians use more water per<br />
head of population than most other<br />
nations.<br />
The water we use in the Lower <strong>Hunter</strong>,<br />
like anywhere else in the world, has<br />
been ‘recycled’ for millions of years<br />
Since the amount of water on Earth<br />
does not change (ie no ‘new’ water is<br />
created), conserving water and<br />
keeping it clean is very important.<br />
We therefore need to be aware of when<br />
and where we use water and how we<br />
can reduce our water consumption.<br />
This will help to ensure a plentiful<br />
supply for ourselves, future generations<br />
and our local environment.<br />
WHAT IS THE WATER CYCLE?<br />
The water cycle is driven by the<br />
processes of condensation,<br />
transpiration, precipitation and<br />
surface runoff.<br />
The natural water cycle involves<br />
precipitation in the form of rain, snow<br />
or hail, which results from the<br />
condensation of water vapour in the<br />
atmosphere into clouds. Precipitation<br />
falls over catchments and then flows<br />
(as runoff) into waterways such as<br />
rivers, lakes and wetlands, and then<br />
into the ocean - the Earth’s main water<br />
reservoir.<br />
<strong>Water</strong> can also be absorbed into the<br />
soil and be stored naturally in<br />
underground basins called aquifers.<br />
Eventually, the underground water is<br />
also transported back into the ocean.<br />
Energy from the sun causes the water<br />
at the surface of the oceans, lakes and<br />
rivers to heat up and change from a<br />
liquid to a vapour. This is the<br />
process of evaporation. <strong>Water</strong> is also<br />
able to enter the atmosphere through<br />
the process of transpiration by plants.<br />
Transpiration involves plants taking<br />
water up through their roots and<br />
passing moisture back into the<br />
atmosphere through their leaves.<br />
In the atmosphere, the temperature<br />
falls with increased altitude and hence<br />
the water vapour condenses to form<br />
liquid water droplets, appearing<br />
as mist, fog and clouds. This process<br />
is known as condensation. When the<br />
clouds are saturated the water<br />
droplets join, become heavier and<br />
eventually fall out of the atmosphere<br />
as rain, hail or snow, and the water<br />
cycle continues.<br />
This water cycle diagram shows how water moves around the world<br />
This diagram of the water cycle includes the interruptions and processes that humans undertake to ensure a clean and relia<br />
<strong>Water</strong> kit . ssS . 001 . april 2010 2
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