Uses of WaterUses of Water

IrrigationIrrigation

• Water for agriculture or growing crops

• Water for agriculture or growing crops

MiningMining

• Needed to extract minerals such as coal, iron, sand and gravel, petroleum

• Quarrying

• Needed to extract minerals such as coal, iron, sand and gravel, petroleum

• Quarrying

Electricity ProductionElectricity Production

• Largest use of water worldwide• Thermoelectric Power Plants

– Water is heated to produce steam or

– Water is used to cool heated water

• Largest use of water worldwide• Thermoelectric Power Plants

– Water is heated to produce steam or

– Water is used to cool heated water

Public Water SupplyPublic Water Supply

• Water companies withdraw water from rivers, lakes and reservoirs and deliver it to homes, businesses, and schools

• Provides the majority of drinking water in the US

• Water companies withdraw water from rivers, lakes and reservoirs and deliver it to homes, businesses, and schools

• Provides the majority of drinking water in the US

CommercialCommercial

• Hotels, restaurants, offices, military institutions, prisons, fish hatcheries

• Hotels, restaurants, offices, military institutions, prisons, fish hatcheries

LivestockLivestock

• Water is needed to raise livestock– Chickens – Cows– Horses– Rabbits– Fish

• Water is needed to raise livestock– Chickens – Cows– Horses– Rabbits– Fish

Wastewater TreatmentWastewater Treatment

• Cleaning water of wastes from:– Sinks– Showers– Bathtubs– Toilets– Washing machines– Dishwashers– Storm runoff

• Allows water to be reused or discharged back into the environment

• Cleaning water of wastes from:– Sinks– Showers– Bathtubs– Toilets– Washing machines– Dishwashers– Storm runoff

• Allows water to be reused or discharged back into the environment

DomesticDomestic

• Water for indoor and outdoor household purposes:– Drinking– Cooking– Bathing– Washing clothes and dishes– Brushing teeth– Watering the yard and garden

• Supplied by a public supply co. or a well

• Water for indoor and outdoor household purposes:– Drinking– Cooking– Bathing– Washing clothes and dishes– Brushing teeth– Watering the yard and garden

• Supplied by a public supply co. or a well

IndustrialIndustrial

• Used for production of – Metal, wood and paper products– Chemicals– Gasoline and oils– food– Basically any manufactured product

• Used for production of – Metal, wood and paper products– Chemicals– Gasoline and oils– food– Basically any manufactured product

HydroelectricHydroelectric

• Water flowing through dams is used to spin turbines, which are connected to generators and produce electricity.

• Water flowing through dams is used to spin turbines, which are connected to generators and produce electricity.