Exercise 9: Water Resources

Which of the following would likely serve as an aquitard?

clay

A cone of depression forms when water is pumped from an unconfined aquifer, but not when water is pumped from a confined aquifer.

false

Concerns over water resources focus on the lack of abundance of water on Earth

false

The water table separates confined and unconfined aquifers.

flase

Vegetation decreases runoff by

intercepting rainfall and slowing its fall to the ground

Surface water and groundwater are

interconnected systems

What factor has contributed to the drying up of streams and the intrusion of salty groundwater in the Long Island area?

overpumping of groundwater

Groundwater mining is accomplished by

pumping that exceeds recharge

The vadose zone differs from the groundwater zone in what way?

the vadose zone is unsaturated, while the groundwater zone is saturated

Desalination is used only where alternative water sources are unavailable.

true

Hydroelectric water use is considered nonconsumptive.

true

Water pressure is generally greater in a confined aquifer than in an unconfined aquifer.

true

Why is karst topography a concern for groundwater quality?

waste disposed in karst areas can easily infiltrate into the ground

What is the dominant trend in water use in the U.S.?

water use peaked in 1980