California Groundwater

Define:
Aqueduct: channels, pipelines, and tunnels that carry water across land and
mountains

Aquifer: water that collects into the ground and collects in basins

Groundwater: groundwater can go for miles long and hundreds feet deep but
they can also be little spots in size

Overdraft: the ground may compact and may never be able to hold water again
which can also cause land to sink

Reservoir: are used to store water until it is needed

Surface water: water on top of the ground like, lakes, rivers, and streams

1. What happens to all the rain that falls?

43% is used for agricultural use, 46% is for environmental use, and 11% is
used for urbanization.

2. What is surface water?

Surface water is water on top of the ground like, lakes, rivers, and streams.

3. What is ground water?

Groundwater is precisely that, it can go for miles long and hundreds feet
deep but they can also be little spots in size.

4. How does water get into the ground?

Water gets into the ground with the help of aquifers, which are underground
land that collect water when there is rain or rivers and stream beds.

5. How do we get the water out of the ground?

Wells are drilled into the ground and electric pumps push the water up to
the surface.

6. What are the effects of overdraft?

The ground may compact and may never be able to hold water again which
can also cause land to sink and crack pipelines or roads.
 7. In California, how much of the water we use comes from surface water
and how much from groundwater?
Two thirds come from surface water and one third comes from groundwater.

8. In what category are most of your personal uses of water?

Urban usage.

9. How does the use of water in each sector affect you?

More than half affects me because all of what is used for agriculture is for
human foods.

10. So what’s the problem?

It is very expensive to build and maintain aqueducts and reservoirs. The
plants and animals are negatively impacted because we are taking water
from rivers and streams that they need.

C. Watch “Drought Survival in California”

http://www.water.ca.gov/newsroom/video/drought.cfm
How did the State Water Project successfully operate during the 1987 – 1992
California drought?
Farmers began reducing their surface waters and pumping more ground waters. Most
institutions and manufacturers became more water conscience and used less water in
their operations. At home, People pitched in by helping reduce water consumption.
Despite these shortages, people maintained a good standing in the economy. The
department of water resources were in charge of a water bank that was successful too.
 Shasta Dam

Tehama
Colusa Oroville
Canal Dam

Feather
River

Folsom Dam

Hoover
California
Dam
Aqueduct

Kern River

Parker
Dam
Colorado River Aqueduct

Salton
Sea

All-American Canal
Imperial
Dam