Earth Science: Geology, the Environment, and the UniverseChapter 10: GroundwaterProblem of the WeekIt Rains Down From Above, Flows Over the Surface, Sinks to Great Depth, and Wells Up From Beneath—What Is It? Groundwater in the United States, and the world, supplies a large portion of human water needs in all consumptive areas—drinking, agriculture, industry, recreation, etc… Many states rely heavily on groundwater, while others rely mainly on surface water resources. The USGS: Water Resources for Schools is an excellent resource for examining a wide variety of water issues and related data. (Note: though some of the data are several years old, important points can be made, as in this problem, using the data and extrapolating and estimating values for current times.) For this problem, the students need to determine percentages.
*From here discussions can lead into threats to the water quality of these resources, how those threats can be monitored, who monitors them, what is being done to safeguard water quality in these resources and so on. *Here is another map that can be shown to your students to reiterate the reliance of various states on groundwater resources.
Resources: USGS: Water Science For Schools The Quality of Our Nation's Water: Water Quality Report to Congress |  |
