SITE PLANNING & LANDSCAPING
WATER RESOURCES K. VINEETHA | 19171NB003
Discussion Points Contents Water Resources Impact on Water Resources Water in Landscape Waste Water Phyto-Remediation Water Scarcity Inferences
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Water Resources Water is at the center of economic and social development; it is vital to maintain health, grow food, generate energy, manage the environment, and create jobs. Water resource, any of the entire range of natural waters that occur on the Earth, regardless of their state (i.e., vapour, liquid, or solid) and that are of potential use to humans. Of these, the resources most available for use are the waters of the oceans, rivers, and lakes; other available water resources include groundwater and deep subsurface waters and glaciers and permanent snowfields. HTTPS://WWW.WORLDBANK.ORG/EN/TOPIC/WATER, HTTPS://WWW.BRITANNICA.COM/SCIENCE/WATER-RESOURCE
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A graphical distribution of the locations of water on Earth. Only 3% of the Earth's water is fresh water. Most of it is in icecaps and glaciers (69%) and groundwater (30%), while all lakes, rivers and swamps combined only account for a small fraction (0.3%) of the Earth's total freshwater reserves.
Earth's Water Resources K. VINEETHA | 19171NB003 HTTPS://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/WATER_RESOURCES
Climate Change: As temperatures rise, people and animals need more water to maintain their health and thrive. Many important economic activities, like producing energy at power plants, raising livestock, and growing food crops, also require water. The amount of water available for these activities may be reduced as Earth warms and if competition for water resources increases.
EPA.GOV/CLIMATE-IMPACTS/CLIMATE-IMPACTS-WATER-RESOURCES
Projected changes in the water cycle.
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Impact on Water Resources
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Human Life: One of the most serious threats to water resources is the degradation of ecosystems, which often takes place through changes to landscapes such as the clearance of forests, the conversion of natural landscapes to farmland, the growth of cities, the building of roads, and surface mining. Each type of change to a landscape will have its own specific impact, usually directly on natural ecosystems and directly or indirectly on water resources.
Water Scarcity
Water Pollution
HTTPS://WWW.GREENFACTS.ORG/EN/WATER-RESOURCES ; HTTPS://WWW.BRITANNICA.COM/TOPIC/WATER-SCARCITY ; HTTPS://WWW.HISTORY.COM/
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Impact on Water Resources
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Water in Landscape
This water feature conserves rainwater. As water runs off the roof, it moves through a gravel bioswale into a small pond. Stepping stones and porous pavers reduce the area of impervious surface and slow runoff.
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WATER MANAGEMENT: The shortage of clean water is rapidly becoming one of the most urgent challenges facing humanity. Only .003 percent of the earth’s water is available for human consumption. For example Americans apply more than 7 billion gallons of water a day to landscapes, often in the form of potable water, or drinking water, without realizing the costs of treating and transporting this water source. Instead of capturing and using stormwater in our gardens and landscapes, this resource flows through a costly infrastructure of gutters, downspouts and sewers, often carrying with it residue from fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants that can contaminate local waterways like creeks, lakes or rivers, and must be treated before returning back to the landscape in the form of irrigation water. Learning specific water reuse and conservation strategies, gardeners can utilize stormwater and other non-potable water sources (e.g., air conditioner condensate) to irrigate their garden or landscape. Sustainable gardens capture these resources, store them on-site and reuse them in the landscape. Doing so saves money and protects nearby ecosystems from harmful pollutants.
Water in Landscape
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Rainwater captured in a plastic barrel. HTTPS://LANDSCAPEFORLIFE.ORG/WATER/
THE ROLE OF WATER IN A SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE: Water supports our environment and sustains our lives. It is required for producing food, clothing and electronics; transporting our waste; and supporting the natural environment. The effects of climate change vary regionally, but sustainable water management and low impact development strategies can provide adaptive benefits for a wide array of circumstances. Conserving water reduces cost for irrigation. Storing stormwater reduces runoff and lessens the amount of water that contributes to flooding. Reusing captured stormwater reduces the need for irrigation via potable water. Harvesting water from non-potable sources like air conditioner condensate or greywater minimizes dependency on potable water use.
Water in Landscape
The infiltration and runoff of rainwater is directly influenced by the amount of impervious surface in an area.
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LANDSCAPE PRACTICES CONTRIBUTE TO WATER POLLUTION: In a natural landscape, soil and vegetation hold onto and work to clean rain and stormwater. In developed areas, however, much of the land has been paved over, and the soil itself is often compacted and impervious. Rainfall flows from our roofs into gutters and downspouts, over compacted lawns and driveways, onto roads, and down storm drains — picking up pollutants all along the way. Researchers have found runoff from developed land to be the leading cause of water pollution in urban areas. In many older cities, stormwater can overwhelm sanitary sewers, sending raw sewage as well as runoff into nearby waterways.
Water in Landscape
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BENEFITS OF WATER FEATURES IN LANDSCAPE: 1. They bring the sounds of nature: a. You work long hours, and it's not often possible to get away from it all and enjoy nature's soothing sounds. With today's technology and a clever plan designed with the soothing sounds of nature can be just outside your doorstep. 2. They will attract natural wildlife and enhance the local ecosystem: a. As soon as your water feature is installed, you'll begin to notice an increase in wildlife in the area. Birds will visit, and dragonflies will dart around. 3. They can be adapted to fit smaller spaces: a. Well-designed pondless water elements don't require much space, so you can still enjoy the sound of water and the increased wildlife without taking up much of your precious land. 4. They require very little maintenance: a. Unlike swimming pools, which require vigilant monitoring, pondless water features can supply you with texture, natural sounds, and visual interest without much effort at all.
Wastewater
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Wastewater comes from ordinary living processes: bathing, toilet flushing, laundry, dishwashing, etc. It comes from residential and domestic sources.
HTTPS://WATER.UNL.EDU/
Commercial wastewater comes from nondomestic sources, such as beauty salon, taxidermy, furniture refinishing, musical instrument cleaning, or auto body repair shops. This wastewater may contain hazardous materials and requires special treatment or disposal.
Wastewater is broken into two categories, depending upon the source. Gray water:
Black water:
Gray water is from showers, baths, whirlpool tubs, washing machines, dishwashers and sinks other than the kitchen sink.
Black water is from toilets and kitchen sinks. Some states define blackwater as wastewater only from toilets.
There are two main types of residential wastewater treatment: A Lagoon system
A Septic system
A lagoon system places wastewater in a shallow open pool. Treated effluent from the lagoon is introduced into the environment through slow evaporation
A septic system places wastewater in an underground tank. Treated effluent from the tank is introduced into the environment through a drainfield.
HTTPS://WATER.UNL.EDU/
What is in Wastewater? Wastewater is 99.9% water. The other 0.1% is what is cause for concern. That 0.1% includes: Nutrients: Phosphorous and Nitrogen Fats, oils, grease: cooking oils, body lotions Pathogens: disease-causing bacteria and viruses BOD-biochemical oxygen demand. BOD is a measure of oxygen needed by aerobic bacteria to break down organic matter. A higher BOD means there is more organic matter that needs to be broken down. Other solids
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PhytoRemediation The power of plants to clean up the environment K. VINEETHA | 19171NB003 HTTPS://WWW.VISIONLEARNING.COM/
Definition Combining the Latin words for “plant” and “remedy,” phytoremediation uses special types of plants that are able to absorb or metabolize harmful chemicals such as radionuclides, inorganics, and heavy metals in the soil and ground water.
There are several types of phytoremediation processes, including: 1. Phytoextraction – (the most common method) uses hyperaccumulating plants, like sunflowers, to take up and store pollutants in roots, stems, and leaves. 2. Phytometabolism – plants break down toxic material into non-toxic forms. 3. Phytovolatization – plants convert pollutants to a gas released into the atmosphere.
Benifits: As a naturally occurring process, phytoremediation offers several benefits. Plants are both easily available and relatively cost-effective to grow and maintain. Some researchers have estimated that the cost of phytoremediation is approximately 25% less than comparable clean-up efforts. In addition to being cheaper, it is, compared to bulldozers and technicians in hazmat suits, a much more visually pleasant method as well. The process is also much less disruptive to the local environment and helps to maintain the landscape. HTTPS://WWW.VISIONLEARNING.COM/
Negative Aspects: It is a significantly longer clean-up process than using machines and manpower, often stretching into decades. Phytoremediation has the potential to transfer contaminants from the water or ground to foraging animals, extending the toxic effect of the problem to an environment’s food chain. The remediation zone of this process is limited by the reach of the plants’ roots, ranging from 12 inches to 15 feet, and cannot address contaminants at deeper levels.
Water Scarcity Water scarcity, insufficient freshwater resources to meet the human and environmental demands of a given area. Water scarcity is inextricably linked to human rights, and sufficient access to safe drinking water is a priority for global development. However, given the challenges of population growth, profligate use, growing pollution, and changes in weather patterns due to global warming, many countries and major cities worldwide, both wealthy and poor, faced increasing water scarcity in the 21st century.
LOS ANGELES RIVER: DROUGHTA SECTION OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER AFFECTED BY DROUGHT.
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There are two general types of water scarcity: Physical and Economic. Physical scarcity:
Economic scarcity:
Physical, or absolute, water scarcity is the result of a region’s demand outpacing the limited water resources found there. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, around 1.2 billion people live in areas of physical scarcity; many of these people live in arid or semi-arid regions.
Economic water scarcity is due to a lack of water infrastructure in general or to the poor management of water resources where infrastructure is in place. The FAO estimates that more than 1.6 billion people face economic water shortage. In areas with economic water scarcity, there usually is sufficient water to meet human and environmental needs, but access is limited.
Solutions Environmental policy The preservation and restoration of ecosystems that naturally collect, filter, store, and release water, such as wetlands and forests, is a key strategy in the fight against water scarcity. HTTPS://WWW.BRITANNICA.COM/TOPIC/WATER-SCARCITY
Economic and social solutions A number of studies have shown that higher water prices reduce water waste and pollution and can serve to fund water infrastructure improvements.
Engineering technologies A number of water scarcity challenges can be addressed with traditional engineering, often with immediate benefits. One of the most obvious solutions is infrastructure repair.
Inference Water is the main resource that helps in maintaining and designing the site and landscape. With carefully planned landscapes stunning gardens and beautiful lawns can be maintained without extensive watering, fertilization, and pesticide application. Phytoremediation help remove contaminants in tandem with a number of different processes. They help to remove, transfer, stabilize, and/or destroy contaminants in the soil and groundwater. Using Water sources properly in the site can help in enhancing and restoring ecosystem. Preservation of the ground water and ground water aquifer replenishment is very important. When water is treated properly and reused or recycled it helps to save water resources and makes a big difference.
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