WATER, SOIL, AND ME

Lesson 1: Ripples and Reflections: Human Impacts on Water

(REPORTER: MARY)
WHAT IS FRESHWATER?
Freshwater is a term used to describe water that contains a low concentration of dissolved salts,
typically less than 0.5 parts per thousand (ppt) or 0.05%. It is in contrast to saltwater or
seawater, which contains a higher concentration of dissolved salts and is typically found in
oceans and seas.

FRESHWATER IN OUR WORLD IS FOUND IN THREE DIFFERENT PLACES:

● Atmospheric Water
● Surface Water
● Ground Water

ATMOSPHERIC WATER
Refers to water vapor present in the Earth's atmosphere. It's a natural component resulting from
evaporation of surface water and transpiration from plants. This moisture plays a crucial role in
weather patterns and precipitation.

In the air either as a solid (hail,snow), liquid, (fog, mist, rain), or gas, (invisible water vapour).

SURFACE WATER
Surface water refers to any water found on the Earth's surface, including rivers, lakes,
reservoirs, and oceans. It's a vital resource for various human activities such as drinking water
supply, agriculture, industry, and recreation.

GROUNDWATER
Groundwater is water stored beneath the Earth's surface in saturated rock layers called
aquifers. It's a significant source of freshwater for drinking, irrigation, and industrial use.

WHAT IS A WATER FOOTPRINT?

Introduced by Hoekstra in 2022. A water footprint is a measure
of the total volume of freshwater
that is used directly or indirectly to produce the goods and services consumed by an individual,
community, business, or nation.

THE 3 COMPONENTS OF WATER FOOTPRINT

● Blue Water Footprint
● Green Water Footprint
● Gray Water Footprint
Blue Water Footprint This refers to the amount of surface and groundwater consumed or
polluted in the production of goods and services. It includes water withdrawn from rivers, lakes,
and aquifers.

Green Water Footprint This represents the volume of rainwater consumed in the growth of crops
and vegetation. It pertains to water stored in the soil and utilized by plants.

Gray Water Footprint This indicates the volume of water required to dilute pollutants and
maintain water quality within acceptable standards. It assesses the environmental impact of
pollution generated during production.

The 2006 UNITED NATIONS WORLD WATER DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2 categorized the
freshwater pollution sources in the following nine categories :

● Organic matter
● Pathogens and Microbial contaminants
● Nutrients
● Salinization
● Acidification
● Heavy metals
● Toxic organic compounds and micro-organic pollutants
● Thermal pollution
● Silt and suspended particles
● Chemical contamination
● Microbiological contamination
● Fluctuating natural water temperature cycles

ECOSYSTEM CHANGE
An ecosystem change happens when people interact with their surroundings to satisfy their
basic needs and improve their well- being. We describe theses "drivers" of ecosystem change.

DRIVERS:
Refers to a factor or influence that directly or indirectly impacts the structure, composition, and
functioning of an ecosystem. These drivers can be natural, such as climate or geological
processes, or they can be anthropogenic, caused by human activities.

DIRECT DRIVER:
Refer to specific, immediate, and proximate causes that directly affect ecosystems and
influence changes in their structure, composition, and functioning. These drivers are typically
more immediate and visible compared to underlying or indirect drivers. Understanding direct
drivers is essential for effective ecosystem management and conservation.
Examples of Direct Driver:
 1. Soil Erosion - affects freshwater ecosystems due to the transportation and deposition of
sediments, nutrients and contaminants to surface water ecosystems. The results in
sedimentation, flooding, turbidity, and eutrophication.
2. Pollution - of air, water, and soil from industrial, agricultural, or urban sources directly
affects the health and functioning of ecosystems and their inhabitants.
3. Habitat Modification - crewtion of structures like dams, harbors, power generation
plants, wastewater treatment facilities, etc. to manipulate or divert water flow.
4. Introduction of Species - Introduction of non-native species into an ecosystem can
directly disrupt the balance and functioning of the native ecosystem, often
outcompeting or preying on native species.
5. Eutrophication - is a global prevalent freshwater quality problem due to high nitrogen
and phosphorus loads in water and causes harmful algai blooms, dead zones and fish
kills. The quality of water is affected by chemical microbiological and thermal pollution.

INDIRECT DRIVER:
Refer to underlying or fundamental causes that operate over a longer time scale and are often
less visible than direct drivers. These drivers can influence ecosystems through complex
pathways and interactions, shaping the context in which direct drivers operate and
exacerbating their impacts.
Examples of Indirect Driver:
1. Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors - Population growth, urbanization, and
economic development can drive increased demands for resources, influencing land use
patterns and consumption levels, which in turn affect ecosystems.
2. Economic Systems And Trades - Global trade and economic systems can indirectly
influence ecosystems through the demand for products, affecting land use, resource
extraction, and pollution levels.
3. Cultural and Institutional Factors - Societal values, traditions, governance structures,
and policies influence human behavior and decision-making regarding resource use and
environmental conservation.
4. Technological Changes - Advancements in technology can enable more efficient
extraction of resources, intensifying pressure on ecosystems as demand increases.

Lesson 2: Of Dirt and Digs: Human Impacts On Soil

(REPORTER: GOLDA)
WHAT IS SOIL?
Soil is a complex and dynamic natural resource composed of mineral particles, organic matter,
water, and air, providing a habitat for plant growth and supporting various ecological processes.
It plays a critical role in supporting agriculture, maintaining biodiversity, and regulating water
and nutrient cycles essential for life on Earth.

AN IDEALIZED SOIL IS ABOUT

45% mineral matter
25% water
25% air
5% organic water

SOIL SERVICES
Soil services determine the functions and benefits provided by soil in supporting plant growth,
nutrient cycling, water filtration, and habitat for organisms.

SOIL DEGRATION
Soil degradation is the deterioration of soil quality and health, impacting its ability to support
plant growth and other ecosystem functions. It results from a variety of human activities,
including deforestation, unsustainable agriculture, industrial pollution, and urbanization, as well
as natural processes like erosion and climatic changes. This degradation leads to loss of topsoil,
reduced fertility, and disrupted nutrient and water cycles, posing significant challenges for
sustainable land use and food production.

Soils perform and deliver life-sustaining ecosystem services and goods as it:
● Provides food, fiber, fuel, freshwater, construction earth material, surface foundation,
habitat for soil organisms and biological materials.
● Regulates water quality, water supply, climate and erosion.
● Supports nutrient cycling and soil formation.

Soil functions are globally challenged by 10 soil threats which are :

● nutrient imbalance
● soil acidification
● soil biodiversity loss
● soil compaction
● soil contamination
● soil erosion
● soil organic carbon (SOC) loss
● soil salinization
● soil sealing
● soil waterlogging.

SOIL ORGANIC MATTER (SOM)

Is the most important component because it influences the physical, chemical and biological
properties of a healthy soil’s functions.

SOIL AGGREGATE
Is a stable well-structured soil that can hold itself even when immersed in water for a long time
and is an indicator of healthy soils.

UNPLOWED SOIL
Contain stable soil aggregates with high available water capacity (holding capacity) that allows
storage of water in soil for filtration and supply supporting organic matter processes in the soil.
PLOWED SOIL
Lack structure or have weakened soil aggregates that easily crumble under water and wind
agents of erosion.

(REPORTER: SUSON)
URBAN SOILS can be:
natural soil that are naturally water or wind eroded; naturally weathered soils from underlying
parent bedrock, or
anthropogenic soil formed in human-deposited material or fill to modify landscape or improve
undesirable soil properties for specific human activities.

SOIL SEALING
Soils are covered with impervious materials like asphalt or concrete and can no longer be used
for growing food and animals.
SOIL EROSION
by water is a prevalent soil threat together with soil pollution, soil compaction, and soil sealing.

Moving and using anthropogenic soils through topsoil removal and mixing of subsoil and
topsoil results to degraded soil.
Altered soil properties presents difficulty in predicting soil behavior against natural hazards
and disasters in urban areas.
A soil site survey includes a map and an inventory of existing properties and plant materials,
landscapes, soil descriptions, and soil problems.

SOIL MANAGEMENT can be done at home for many reasons and can be good for urban
gardening through production of home garden products and the development of green space
technologies like rainwater harvesting for excess rainfall and the creation of rain gardens for
water runoffs.