WATER RESOURCES
Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful to humans. It is important
because it is needed for life to exist.
Human Uses: agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities
71% of earth’s Surface is Water
2.5% of Earth’s water is Freshwater
69% of all freshwater is stored in glaciers and ice caps
30% is groundwater
0.27% consists of surface water
Precipitation
- In the Hydrologic cycle, precipitation happens to be the main source of water for the
earth. Rain/snow either end up in surface run-offs or infiltration.
Surface Run-offs
- This is water which falls to the ground as rain or hail. This water is collected from a
special area called a catchment. The catchment feeds water into a holding area via
rivers, streams and creeks.
o Saltwater resources - desalination plants, while they exist, are scarce because
the energy required for desalination makes the process extremely expensive.
While saltwater is not helpful in dealing with scarce water supplies, it does
provide resources that humans rely on: saltwater fish and hydroelectric energy
o Fresh Water Resources – Low-salinity water that is primarily used for potable
water supply, recreation, irrigation, industry, livestock, transportation and
hydroelectric energy. Constitutes:
Greater than 63% of public water supply
58% of irrigation supply
98% industry source
a. Rivers or Lakes
Town or community water supplies are sometimes drawn
directly from nearby rivers or lakes.
b. Excavated dam
Excavated dams are made by scooping out soil to make a large
shallow hole. These dams are sometimes placed at the bottom of a
slope to aid water collection. However, this can only be done in areas
where the soil will not allow the water to drain away very easily through
the ground.
c. Rainwater tanks
The rainwater which falls on the roofs of houses is often
collected using roof guttering leading through a pipe to a storage tank.
d. Rock catchment areas and rock holes
Sometimes large rocky outcrops contain low areas in which
water is trapped. These low areas make good natural dams. Often a wall
can be built to increase the amount of trapped water.
Groundwater Resources – An aquifer is "recharged" through precipitation from above
percolating through the layers of soil and rock. Groundwater feeds surface water through
springs, and surface water can also recharge groundwater supply. Therefore, there is
significant interaction between surface water and ground water. Groundwater is the most
plentiful of all freshwater resources.
a. Springs
These are found where underground water flows out of the
ground naturally without the use of bores, wells or pumps. Springs often
occur towards the bottom of a hill or on sloping ground.
b. Bores and wells
These are holes drilled into the ground deep enough to find a
permanent (long-lasting) body of water. A pipe runs down the hole into
the water and a pump is used to get the water up to ground level. The
water is then pumped to the community.
c. Artesian Bores
Sometimes when a bore is sunk into a low lying area the water
gushes out of the hole under its own pressure. This water is under
pressure because it is part of an underground body of water much of
which is at a higher level than the bore opening.
Philippines source its water mainly from Rivers, lakes, River Basins, and Groundwater
Reservoirs and has 438 major dams and 423 smaller dams that are mainly used for water
storage, water supply, irrigation, regulation of flood, and hydropower. The four major
groundwater reservoirs are in Cagayan, Central Luzon, Agusan, and Cotabato.
“ Fresh water is a renewable resource, yet the world's supply of groundwater is steadily decreasing, with
depletion occurring most prominently in Asia and North America.” – Our Thirsty World | National
Geographic Channel
“Dealing with this problem takes innovative technology. It will take thinking about water way before we
turn on the tap and long after it goes down the drain.” – The Future of Water | QUARTZ and
RETROSPECT
