Assignment: SCI203 Phase 1 Lab Report
Title: Human Impacts on the Sustainability of Groundwater
Instructions: You will need to write a 1-page lab report using the scientific method to answer the following question:
- If current human development does not change, will groundwater sustainability be affected?
When your lab report is complete – submit it in the classroom.
Part I: Using the time progression of industrialization and human development, fill in the data table below to help you write up your lab report.
| Time Period | Impact on Forest | Groundwater Levels | Saltwater Intrusion | Farming | Industrial development | Population |
| The 1800s | Larges Forest | Lots of Groundwater | No Saltwater Intrusion | Small Farms | No Cities | Limited Housing |
| The 1900s | Decreased by 50% | Decreased by 50% | Ocean moved into Groundwater | Farms are large, but there are fewer | The exceptional growth of cities and industrial development | Substantial increase in housing |
| The 2000s | Decreased by 90% | Decreased by 90% | Greater movement of the ocean into grown water | The same number of farms, but size reduced by 20% | Industrial development increased by 10-15% | Housing development decreased by 10-15% |
Part II: Write a 1-page lab report using the following scientific method sections:
- Purpose
The purpose of the lab research was to see the human impacts on the sustainability of Groundwater. The problem is that 97% of water is ocean water, which is not suitable for consumption. Out of the 3% remaining, 99% of it is placed in aquifers, which are natural underground water chambers and underground sources. Unfortunately, humans are depleting the aquifers faster than they can recharge it by the hydrological cycle.
- Introduction
Water sustainability is a state when water supply remains constant despite the change of climate (Thanjavur Chandrasekaran, 2019). Groundwater Is water that is found underground. An aquifer is a water-bearing rock that transmits water to springs and wells. Freshwater is water that contains little quantities of dissolved salt. It’s suitable for consumption. Saltwater is water that contains salt particles. Seawater intrusion is the migration of seawater into aquifers. This happens when humans take water out of the aquifer faster than they can recharge it, the lower part of the aquifer starts decreasing because the pressure is low, water continues to push. The water left is mixed with saltwater.
- Hypothesis/Predicted Outcome
Population increase lowers farming, lowers water groundwater water level increasing saltwater intrusion as time increases.
- Methods
We used timelines to see how the level of water decreased as time increased.
- Results/Outcome
As the population increases, farming goes down; this is because as the human becomes more, the space for agriculture becomes less. The other observation is as time increases, and the groundwater level continues to decrease. As time increases, saltwater intrusion increases.
- Discussion/Analysis
We can see the hypothesis is correct from the research carried out. Water sustainability is crucial to us since it’s the core of sustainable development and is also essential because it enables healthy ecosystems and economic development for humans to survive. Because it’s so crucial, humans should reduce the rate at which they spend water to avoid lowering the pressure in the water aquifer, causing saltwater intrusion
References.
Goethals, P., & Volk, M. (2016). Implementing sustainability in water management: Are we still dancing in the dark? Sustainability of Water Quality and Ecology, 7, 1-4. doi:10.1016/j.swaqe.2016.01.001
Thanjavur Chandrasekaran, P. (2019). Introductory chapter: Water sustainability in a dynamic world. Water and Sustainability. doi:10.5772/intechopen.85150