ECOLOGICAL CYCLE OF WATER CYCLE

The water cycle is driven by the Sun’s energy. The sun warms the ocean surface and other surface water,
causing liquid water to evaporate and ice to sublime—turn directly from a solid to a gas. These sun-
driven processes move water into the atmosphere in the form of water vapor.

Over time, water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into clouds and eventually falls as precipitation,
rain or snow. When precipitation reaches Earth's surface, it has a few options: it may evaporate again,
flow over the surface, or percolate—sink down—into the ground.

In land-based, or terrestrial, ecosystems in their natural state, rain usually hits the leaves and other
surfaces of plants before it reaches the soil. Some water evaporates quickly from the surfaces of the
plants. The water that's left reaches the soil and, in most cases, will begin to move down into it.

In general, water moves along the surface as runoff only when the soil is saturated with water, when
rain is falling very hard, or when the surface can't absorb much water. A non-absorbent surface could be
rock in a natural ecosystem or asphalt or cement in an urban or suburban ecosystem.

Water in the upper levels of the soil can be taken up by plant roots. Plants use some of the water for
their own metabolism, and water that's in plant tissues can find its way into animals’ bodies when the
plants get eaten. However, most of the water that enters a plant's body will be lost back to the
atmosphere in a process called transpiration. In transpiration, water enters through the roots, travels
upwards through vascular tubes made out of dead cells, and evaporates through pores called stomata
found in the leaves.
If water is not taken up by plant roots, it may percolate down into the subsoil and bedrock, forming
groundwater. Groundwater is water found in the pores between particles in sand and gravel or in the
cracks in rocks, and it’s an important reservoir of freshwater. Shallow groundwater flows slowly through
pores and fissures and may eventually find its way to a stream or lake, where it can become part of the
surface water again.

Some groundwater lies deep in the bedrock and can stay there for millennia. Groundwater reservoirs, or
aquifers, are usually the source of drinking or irrigation water drawn up through wells. Today, many
aquifers are being used up faster than they're renewed by water that moves down from above.

GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION

When we speak of groundwater contamination, we mean solutes dissolved in the water that can render
it unfit for our use or unfit for an ecosystem that the water enters. Most natural waters contain at least
some amount of dissolved substances that we think of as contaminants. Each glass of water we drink
contains some lead and arsenic, for example. But in most cases, these substances are present at very
low concentrations that pose no risk for us. For a contaminant to be a true problem, it must be present
at a concentration that poses some significant risk to human health or an ecosystem.

Groundwater contamination is a serious problem in many urban areas. Due to multiple pollutants and
sources, the management of the resource is usually complex and challenging. With industrialization and
urbanization a variety of new pollutants (emerging contaminants) have been discovered, and it is
necessary for the municipal wastewater treatments systems to be consistently updated to remove the
pollutants, before disposing of the treated wastewater into surface water bodies. Industries should
adopt alternate technologies, where possible, by substituting highly toxic with less toxic chemicals and
reducing the use of hazardous substances. Protection of the groundwater resource should not be
considered as a stand-alone task and an integrated management of groundwater, surface water, and
soil resources must be aimed for. All planning operations and polices developed should be coordinated
with other policies on management of solid waste, land use, industrial wastewater disposal, etc. Regular
monitoring is necessary to keep the pollution under control. Closing the urban water cycle by recycling
and reusing wastewater can significantly reduce the excessive extraction of groundwater. Additionally,
after appropriate treatment, recycled wastewater can be artificially recharged. Management of these
resources must not be restricted to the administrative boundaries of the cities but should include the
suburban areas, which are constantly being urbanized. Stringent policies and pollution penalties are
required to motivate the rational use of water.
WASTEWATER CONTAMINATION

Wastewater treatment is a process used to remove contaminants from wastewater and convert it into
an effluent that can be returned to the water cycle. Once returned to the water cycle, the effluent
creates an acceptable impact on the environment or is reused for various purposes (called water
reclamation).[1] The treatment process takes place in a wastewater treatment plant. There are several
kinds of wastewater which are treated at the appropriate type of wastewater treatment plant. For
domestic wastewater (also called municipal wastewater or sewage), the treatment plant is called a
sewage treatment plant. For industrial wastewater, treatment either takes place in a separate industrial
wastewater treatment plant, or in a sewage treatment plant (usually after some form of pre-treatment).
Further types of wastewater treatment plants include agricultural wastewater treatment plants and
leachate treatment plants.

Processes commonly used include phase separation (such as sedimentation), biological and chemical
processes (such as oxidation) or polishing. The main by-product from wastewater treatment plants is a
type of sludge which is usually treated in the same or another wastewater treatment plant.[2]: Ch.14 
Biogas can be another by-product if anaerobic treatment processes are used. Some wastewater may be
highly treated and reused as reclaimed water. The main purpose of wastewater treatment is for the
treated wastewater to be able to be disposed or reused safely. However, before it is treated, the options
for disposal or reuse must be considered so the correct treatment process is used on the wastewater.
REASONS FOR SEVERE WATER STORAGE

what is Water Shortage?

Water shortage involves water crisis, water shortage, water deficit or water stress. Water scarcity can be
due to physical water shortage and economic water shortage. Physical water scarcity refers to a
situation where natural water resources are unable to meet a region’s demand while economic water
shortage is a result of poor water management resources.

There are millions of people all over the world who don’t have access to water, or, if they do, that water
is unable to be used. About 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, and 3% of it is actually
freshwater that is fit for human consumption. Around two-thirds of that is tucked in frozen glaciers and
unavailable for our use.
CAUSE S OF WATER SHORTAGE

1. Overuse of Water

Water overuse is a huge issue that a lot of people are dealing with. It may be overused on people,
animals, land, or any other number of things. It may also be used for recreational activities without any
care about the effects that it may have on the world around them.

2. Pollution of Water

Water pollution is a huge problem, especially when you’re looking at areas that don’t necessarily have a
good sewage system. Pollution can be anything from oil, to carcasses, to chemicals, and fecal matter. No
matter what it is, it makes a lot of issues for the people who may need to use it.

3. Conflict

If there is conflict over an area of land, it may be difficult to access the water that is located there. It may
lead to the destruction of important local infrastructure that may cause disruptions of the water supply
for many people.

4. Distance

There are a number of remote areas throughout the entire world that deal with water scarcity because
they just aren’t close to anywhere that has water. Areas that are considered to be desert, or areas that
are secluded, may not have some sources where that the people can get water effectively.

5. Drought

A drought is, in short, an area especially hot and dry, which is not getting enough rainfall to be able to
sustain the life that is residing there. Some areas are in a perpetual drought, whereas other areas may
be dealing with a drought on occasion.

6. Governmental Access

In some countries, specifically those with dictatorships, the use of water may be strictly controlled by
those in power, causing a scarcity for those who may be located in those areas of the world. These
governments use it as a source of control over those that they are governing, which can be a huge
problem.
7. Global Warming

Global warming is another important cause of water scarcity. When our average air temperature
becomes warmer, water from rivers and lakes evaporates faster, which may contribute to the drying up
of water bodies.

9. Groundwater Pollution

Soil pollution or illegal dumping can also cause groundwater pollution as harmful substances get washed
through the soil into groundwater during rainfall. Locals who rely on clean groundwater suffer from
severe levels of water scarcity if there is no alternative water supply in place.

10. Natural Disasters

Natural disasters like tsunamis, floods may also cause severe water shortages for the local population
since important public infrastructure may be destroyed. The severe natural disaster may entirely
collapse the local water supply.

What we should know about the clean water act

As early as 1996, monitoring of the country’s rivers showed that only 51% of the classified rivers
still met the standards for their most beneficial use. The rest were already polluted from
domestic, industrial and agricultural sources.

Most studies point to the fact that domestic wastewater is the principal cause of organic
pollution (at 48%) of our water bodies. Yet, only 3% of investments in water supply and
sanitation were going to sanitation and sewage treatment.

A recent World Bank report pointed out that Metro Manila was second to the lowest in sewer
connections among major cities in Asia and less than 7% compared to 20% for Katmandu, Nepal
and 30% for Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Thirty-one percent (31%) of all illnesses in the country are attributed to polluted waters.
Clearly, to ensure access to clean water for all Filipinos, it was imperative that government put
together a comprehensive strategy to protect water quality.
How will water quality be managed?
Management of water quality will either be based on watershed, river basin or water resources
region. Water quality management areas with similar hydrological, hydrogeological,
meteorological or geographic conditions which affect the reaction and diffusion of pollutants in
water bodies are to be designated by the DENR in coordination with the National Water
Resources Board (NWRB).

Who will manage these areas?

Management will be localized. Multi-sectoral governing boards will be established to manage
water quality issues within their jurisdiction.

Who are the members of the Governing Boards?

Governing Boards shall be composed of representatives of mayors and governors as well as
local government units, representatives of relevant national government agencies, duly
registered non-government organizations, the concerned water utility sector and the business
sector.