Do you know the difference between artesian wells and aquifers, and did you know how many poisonous chemicals you drink every day? Join us as we trace the path of water from the clouds to the taps.
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We learn at school about the rain cycle. This consists of rain, drainage, evaporation, condensation, rain …..and the cycle repeats continually.
But do you know what happens to the water once it hits the ground? Unless it evaporates and joins the cycle again, it becomes either surface water or ground water.
Surface water stays mainly on the surface of the earth, running eventually into rivers, lake or reservoirs. Almost 70% of water supplied in the UK comes from surface water sources.
Ground water seeps into porous rocks such as chalk or sandstone and runs into aquifers; underground geological formations that store water. These aren't like underground rivers, unless it's a limestone area, but more like massive sponges, which become saturated over thousands of years.
On a global scale, ground water accounts for more than 99% of available resources, but is used so little as it is very difficult for water companies to get to these resources. In some cases deep boreholes (over 1,500 in the UK) are drilled to reach the water. Another method for taking out water is the Artesian well, named after the town of Artois in France, where the first one was drilled in 1126. Although these wells are 'dug,' water flows from them without the need for pumping.
After being taken from reservoirs, rivers or boreholes, all water has to pass through one of the UK's 2,500 water treatment plants which make it safe for people to drink. At these plants it goes through a clarification, filtration and disinfection process. In clarification, a chemical is added to the 'raw' water and the pollutants float to the top or sink to the bottom. Filtration removes the smaller particles and finally the addition of chlorine disinfects the water and kills all bacteria. After this, the water is safe to drink and travels, sometimes for many miles, to people's houses.
Groundwater is usually very clean and doesn't need much treatment before being used. It is naturally filtered by the rock it passes through. Surface water on the other hand can contain pollutants from agriculture, industry and other sources. The treatment process filters out most chemicals, but trace amounts do still remain in drinking water. Until recently lead, which is poisonous and can effect the development of young children, was also a problem. Over time, lead made water-pipes can corrode and parts of the metal can dissolve into the water.
After the water is treated, many companies actually add chemicals to it! Chlorine, which is used to kill bacteria, can be deadly if you inhale it. However, it has been in use for over 100 years. Fluoride is also sometimes added to protect against tooth decay.
The terms hard water and soft water refer to the amount of minerals in the water. Hard water contains high levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals are good for the development of teeth and bones. Hard water containing chalk leaves fur on the elements in irons or kettles. When the water boils and evaporates it leaves the mineral behind.
Rainwater is naturally soft, and if it falls on peat bogs or hard rock and doesn't pick up any minerals, it remains so. Soft water is also easier to use with soap or washing products, it allows you to produce a good lather, unlike hard water.
The taste and content of water can change depending on which area you live in, the mineral content of the water and where the water comes from.
Many consumers these days choose to drink mineral water instead of tap water. In some countries this is for reasons of safety - bottled water is safer than tap water. However, in countries where tap water is safe to drink, tests often show that people can't tell the difference between tap water and mineral water!
There is also little scientific evidence that mineral water is better for your health than tap water, in fact in the USA it is illegal to advertise it as being so. Nevertheless, bottled water, is still the fastest growing drink in the USA.
Doctors say we should all drink about 2 litres a day, but whether you drink bottled water or tap water, fizzy water or still water, it's your choice.
Can you taste the difference?
a deep hole made in the ground when looking for oil, gas or water.
to destroy or be destroyed, esp. by acid or rust, usually over a long period of time.
a group of events which happen in a particular order, one following the other, and which are often repeated.
to clean using chemicals that kill bacteria and other very small living things that cause disease.
to (cause a liquid to) change to a gaseous form, esp. by heating, or fig. to disappear.
a hard pale grey substance which can form on the inside of water pipes, kettles etc.
to breathe (something) in.
a dark brown earth-like substance which was formed by plants dying and becoming buried. an area of land from which peat is taken.
something poisonous is very harmful and can cause illness or death.
to make (air, water, earth, etc.) dirty or harmful to people, animals and plants.
something porous has many small holes, so liquid or air can pass through, esp. slowly. a place for storing liquid, esp. a natural or artificial lake providing water for a city or other area.
to saturate a thing or place is to fill it completely so that no more can be added.
to move or spread slowly and gradually from one place to another.
a very slight amount.
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What do you think of this article? Do you agree with what it says? Send us your opinions.
Bao Tan writes “Geology is one of my favorite subjects so this article is really interesting. As we know, water in nature circulates in a cycle, from hitting the ground to evaporation, condensation and raining again is a process that happens continually. During prehistoric times, humans only took the water from rivers, streams and ponds for living but what happened if there was a drought?
Afterwards, we learnt how to keep water longer than before. By digging a well, we can get the water easily without having to go a long way. Moreover, we also learnt how to save our water resources by containing them in lakes and reservoirs and no longer being afraid of lacking in winter when all of them are frozen.
Without food we can survive up to a week or more, depending on each person. But not many people can survive more than 5 days without drinking. Nowadays, water is considered a precious resource that affects most of our lives. It is said to be the most wonderful liquid that has ever existed on earth. From water we produce electricity and fuel for steam engines, water our plants, and according to experts, water accounts for 70% of our body, which needs 2 litres a day.
It is sad to say water resources are being interfered with pollutants. Smoke, dust and exhaust fames are discharged into the sky and the consequence is acid rain, which destroys the crops. More awful, the water then passes through the ground, getting into artesian-water. Therefore there are more and more stomach diseases, especially in poor countries where medical care is unqualified. To disinfect, chlorine has been added to kill bacteria, which is deeply harmful for our health. In Vietnam water is boiled before being used because tap water is unsafe. But nowadays, people tend to drink mineral instead. It contains a high level of mineral substance, which is helpful for health but still expensive.
It's high time to protect water resources from pollution. Let’s think about Africa, where drought happens frequently, about Asia where there is not enough water for the population that is increasing rapidly year-by-year. Being reasonable, keeping the environment clean, and stopping discharging smoke into the atmosphere are some ways to save water from being exhausted.
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Wikipedia: water
World Day for Water
Water links worldwide
Howstuffworks: water
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