Water’s Journey: The Hidden Rivers of Florida
A. Watch the video as titled above; note, the three links provided encompass the whole video divided into three parts. Answer each question as thoroughly as possible. In addition to the video, your textbook (Chaps. 13 and 21) will be helpful in properly answering these questions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAYNGdestI0 (part 1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3SwCnFCumU (part 2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8ZvyBcMuX8 (part 3)
Select “Create Thread” first, then paste/type your answers. Your answers should be in your own words after having watched the video and reading other sources of information for reference, such as your textbook. Post your answers to these questions before responding to classmates’ posts. Note: your initial post, to these questions, must be posted first, in chronological order, before your response posts.
1. What is meant by “Swiss cheese” relating to the Floridan Aquifer?
2. Name at least two specific ways in which water is input into the aquifer system and describe
how and why (or not) each input is filtered upon entering the aquifer system.?
3. Of the eight (8) categories of water pollutants discussed in Chap. 21 of your text, name three
(3) this video mentions/discusses.
4. What are the sources and potential effects of the three (3) water pollutants stated above?
5. Name three (3) best management practices the agricultural industries of Florida undergo to
help protect Florida ’s water resources?
6. Briefly describe how the underground cave and cavern systems formed?
7. Why is water within the aquifer system (when conditions are suitable) extremely clear?
8. What effect does development, through erecting buildings and concrete pavement, have on
the recharge of aquifers and the quality of the water?
9. Name three (3) things individuals can do to help conserve water and maintain a high quality
of the resource?
10. Briefly describe how is wastewater sewage treated and what is the end result in regards to the
quality of the water?
11. How can species, such as cave crayfish, be an indicator of water quality?
12. What is a spring?
B. Upon submitting your answers, you will then read and respond to at least two other classmates’ post. For one of your responses to a classmate, respond with some commentary, follow-up, or additions to two of their answers. For the other response to a classmate, do the same for their responses, but to two different questions you haven’t addressed yet. For example, you decide to respond to George and address his answers to questions #1 and #5. The other classmate you decide to respond to is Suzie and you decide to respond to her answers for #4 and #8 (discuss different question/answers with each fellow student). Your response posts should be substantial in length and contain substance that adds something significant to the conversation. Do not just say things along the lines of “I really liked your response to this question”, but rather explain and go into detail as to why you liked their response, for instance.
This discussion forum is worth 10 points and goes toward your participation grade. The initial answering of the 12 questions concerning the video is worth 6 points and the response portion of the forum is worth 4 points (2 points for each response).
Do your own work, do not copy or even paraphrase somebody else’s work. I’ll be on the lookout for such things as I grade and have various tools available to check for plagiarism. All college rules of Academic Dishonesty are fully in effect.
Water Pollution
Florida springs are filled with ponds of acidic wastewater, which sits on top of mounds of mildly radioactive material called phosphogypsum. Swiss cheese refers to the contaminants that move fast through the Florida springs aquifer. The pollutants in Florida springs are fertilizer byproducts from a manufacturing company.
The earth’s surface is permeable, which means that it absorbs water like a sponge. Water gets into the aquifer from the earth’s surface as the earth absorbs the water falling into the ground, which flows down to the water table. Most of the pollutants are usually filtered out through the soil on their way to the aquifer.
One of the pollutants that are described in the video is nitrates which originate from agriculture. The second pollutant is garbage from the Florida people, which ends up in the water. Finally, there are also the agricultural pesticides that run off to the aquifers polluting the water.
The sources of the pollutants are human activity and agricultural activities. The three pollutants are harmful to the health of human and animal life and therefore polluting drinking water in Florida.
Some of the practices applied to reduce water pollution from agricultural chemicals are; the use of manure, irrigation management to reduce water and nutrient loss and water protection buffers to prevent the transportation of sediments to water bodies.
Underground caves and caverns are formed when a rock is dissolved by natural acid in groundwater. The acid seeps through faults and bedding planes, the rock cracks after a while and the cracks enlarge and become caves.
Aquifers naturally filter groundwater by forcing it through small pores and sediments, which remove all the substances from the water. Thus, it is known as natural filtration. As a result, the water is clear, but it is not free of contaminants.
Aquifers are the source of fresh water, and erecting a building and concrete pavements could be harmful to the recharge zone as pollutants are introduced, contaminating it.
Individuals can conserve and maintain the high quality of the resource by taking shorter showers, using water-saving taps and ensuring that leaks are fixed. Water taps are not running unnecessarily and not dumping pollutants in water bodies.
The wastewater treatment process involves screening where rocks, wood and other pollutants are removed. The next process is pumping and then aerating to add oxygen to the water. The water then goes through the process where sludge is removed, then the removal of scum, killing bacteria and wastewater residuals are removed. The quality of the water is good enough for drinking.
Crayfish are bioindicators as they accumulate pollutants in their tissues and respond to different substances.
A spring results from the aquifer getting filled to appoint where water overflows.
References
FusionSpark Media. (2013). Water’s Journey: Hidden Rivers of Florida.
