Does a little leak in my house really waste water? It's not the little leak that wastes water... it is the little leak that keeps on leaking that wastes water. And the fact that the leak is so little means that maybe you ignore it. So, how can a little leak turn into a big waste? Many of our toilets have a constant leak - somewhere around 22 gallons per day. This translates into about 8,000 gallons per year of wasted water, water that could be saved. Or think of a leaky water line coming into your house. If it leaks 1 gallon of water every 10 minutes that means that you are losing (and paying for) 144 gallons per day, or 52,560 gallons per year. What is the difference between surface and ground water? Surface water is water found over the land surface in streams, ponds, marshes, lakes or other fresh (not salty) sources. Ground water is water occurring in the zone of saturation in an aquifer or soil. Other than the location, one of the primary differences between surface and ground water is that ground water moves much slower than surface water. This is because ground water experiences far more friction as it moves through the pores in soil then surface water experiences as it flows over the earth's surface. Surface water is much more easily contaminanted than ground water. Filtration through the soil helps clean ground water. How does water get underground? A portion of the precipitation (rain, hail, snow) that lands on the ground will enter the soil. This process is called infiltration. Because of gravity, the filling or saturation of spaces between soil particles, and the pressure of the overlying water, water may continue to move down through the soil layer. As water moves past the root zone, the movement is referred to as percolation. Layers of soil and rock that are saturated with water are called aquifers. Aquifers are able to transport water and supply water to wells, rivers, springs and marshes. A ground surface area that provides a water entry port for a confined aquifer is called a recharge area or zone. Where does artesian water come from? Artesian water is a phrase found on many bottled water containers and other refreshment products. Artesian water comes from an artesian water source - a confined aquifer in which the water is under enough pressure that, when tapped by a well, the underground water rises above the level of the aquifer surface. In some cases, the water in the aquifer is under sufficient pressure to push the water right up and over the ground surface. Such wells are called flowing artesian wells. How is the water I drink made safe? Different treatment is used depending on the source of your water. Ground water taken from wells has been filtered through rocks, so it is usually quite free of particles. It can still contain chemicals and organic matter that must be taken out, though. If your water comes from a surface-water source, such as a river, some work must be done to get rid of particulate matter. In this case filters are used to screen out large particles, and at a minimum, chlorine is added to kill dangerous bacteria and microorganisms. Some systems have additional water treatment, such as adding chemicals to make matter bunch up and fall out of solution and adding chemicals to make the water less corrosive to metal.     What is an abandoned well? A well that has been permanently disconnected and filled. What do you mean by alkalinity? It’s the total measurable bases (OH, HCO3, CO3) in a volume of water; a measure of a material's capacity to neutralize acids; pH > 7 What is referred as alluvium? Alluvium is a general term for clay, silt, sand, gravel or similar unconsolidated material deposited by a stream or other body of running water What is an aquifer? An aquifer is a water-bearing layer of rock or sediment capable of yielding water. Its typically a unconsolidated deposits or sandstone, limestone or granite. Aquifers can be classified as Confined, Semi-confined, Unconfined or Leaky aquifer. What is an artesian aquifer? an aquifer that contains water under pressure as a result of hydrostatic head. For artesian conditions to exist, an aquifer must be overlain by a confining material and receive a supply of water. The free water surface stands at a higher elevation than the top of the confining layer thus if the aquifer is tapped by a well, the water in the well will raise above the level of the aquifer. What is chlorination? Chlorination is the process of application of chlorine to water, sewage, or industrial wastes, generally to disinfect, to oxidize, or to improve settling. What is referred as drawdown? It is defined as the lowering of the watertable, surface water, or piezometric surface resulting from the withdrawal of water from a well or drain What is referred as grey water? Grey water is the domestic wastewater other than that containing human excrete such as sink drainage, washing machine discharge, or bath water What is ground water? Water that occurs in the zone of saturation in an aquifer or soil Hardness in water Its is a characteristic of water caused by various salts, calcium, magnesium and iron (e.g. bicarbonates, sulfates, chlorides and nitrates) hazardous waste which because of it quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics, may cause mortality (death), injury, or serious illness What is a hydrograph? A graph which illustrates hydrologic measurements over a period of time, such as water level is referred as hydrograph. Hydrologic cycle the circulation of water in and on the earth and through earth's atmosphere through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, ground water storage and seepage, and re-evaporation into the atmosphere What is called as an infiltration? Its the downward entry of water through the soil surface into the the soil What is referred as over withdraw Withdrawal of ground water over a period of time that exceeds the recharge rate of the supply aquifer Explain permeability Permeability is the degree to which soils and rock are interconnected, depends upon size and shape of pores; size and shape of interconnections and their extent Explain porosity Porosity is the degree to which the total volume of soil, gravel, sediment or rock is permeated with pores or cavities through which fluids (including air) can move What is referred as potable water? The water that is fit to drink What is salinity? Salinity is the concentration of dissolved salts in water What is saline-water intrusion? It’s a process by which an aquifer is over drafted creating a flow imbalance within an area that results in salt water encroaching into fresh-water zone. What is called as water table? The maximum level of zone of saturation is called as water table