Environmental Studies ยท Geography

Water Conservation and Management

2,823 Questions

Water conservation and management questions evaluate techniques for preserving water resources, traditional harvesting methods, and modern irrigation systems. Topics include wastewater treatment, groundwater extraction, and the economic role of wetlands. These concepts are essential for environmental studies and geography exams.

Irrigation MethodsWater HarvestingWastewater ManagementHydropower PlantsWetlands ConservationUrban Water Quality

Water Conservation and Management Questions

Multiple choice

Land Management Specialist: Building the Glenn Canyon dam on the Colorado river caused unforeseen environmental effects. One of these is that, by preventing annual floods, the dam prevents the river from stirring up sediments collected on the river bottom and depositing them high on the banks of the river. The deposited sediments are needed to create and maintain sandbars, which form natural habitats for native fish. By releasing water from the dam annually, we will flood the river and thus recreate the sandbars normally found below the dam. Which of the following must be true if the prediction of the land management specialist above is also to prove true?

  1. There are no other effects of the dam which will prevent the native fish of the river from using the new sandbars below the dam.

  2. The flood caused by massively releasing water from the dam will be like a natural flood in every major respect.

  3. The size of a sandbar on a river always stays the same or increases after a flood.

  4. Any other dams upriver from the Glen Canyon dam must also release enough water to cause a flood in order for the flood from the Glen Canyon dam to be successful.

  5. The dam does not prevent the flow of sediments from upriver needed to replenish the sediments that inevitably wash downstream over time.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

(5) THE CONCLUSION: Release of water from Glenn Canyon dam annually will flood the rivers and recreate the sandbars normally found below the dam.

THE EVIDENCE: The dam prevents the stirring up of deposits at the river bottom and prevents their depositing on high bank sides. (5) just rephrases the conclusion and states that though sediments are not blocked or stopped by the dam, the hampered flow does not allow the phenomenon of sandbars to occur. So, (5) is the answer.
Multiple choice

The water table in an arid region had dropped for years due mainly to the many farms that relied on water pumped from the underlying aquifer. Water conservation measures were taken five years ago when residents realized that soon no water would be available for human use. The water table has since stabilized, but has not significantly risen. Accordingly, in order to replenish the aquifer and return the water table to its normal level, new water conservation measures need to be taken. The argument above would be most weakened if it were true that?

  1. A reduced but stable aquifer is not a serious threat to human life or agricultural productivity.

  2. Aquifers in arid regions replenish very slowly over centuries, if at all.

  3. The growth of a major city in the region has meant that agricultural demands for water are now a smaller portion of the total demand.

  4. It takes rainwater approximately one year to filter down to the aquifer and affect the level of the water table.

  5. More drastic water conservation measures would cause great personal and economic hardships on the people of the region, leading some to leave it entirely.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(2) THE CONCLUSION: New water conservation measures need to be taken.THE EVIDENCE: The water table in arid regions has dropped The author has assumed that the water table has reduced due to aquifers used in farms and the measures taken five years ago were not sufficient since, the table level has been steady but not improved.

Multiple choice

Which one out of the following maintains the water table?

  1. Rain water

  2. Sea water

  3. Wells

  4. Spring water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Rainwater is the primary source that maintains and replenishes the water table through infiltration into the ground. Wells, springs, and sea water are not sources that replenish groundwater - wells and springs extract from it, while seawater is separate and doesn't recharge freshwater aquifers.

Multiple choice

Water harvesting is done to

  1. save rainwater

  2. increase the level of groundwater

  3. recycle the polluted water

  4. Both (1) and (2)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Rainwater harvesting means saving rainwater for future use and also increasing the level of groundwater.

Multiple choice

Which of the following methods has/have been suggested by environmental biologists for avoiding misuse and wastage of potable water?

  1. Development of integrated watershed plan for drinking, irrigation and industrial use

  2. Adoption of various flood control methods

  3. Transfer of surplus water to water deficit basins by interlinking of rivers

  4. All of the above

  5. Both 1 and 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as all of the above methods have been suggested by environmental biologists for avoiding misuse and wastage of potable water. All are correct options.

Multiple choice

Water from an artesian well flows up automatically due to

  1. heavy rainfall in the region

  2. volcanic activity

  3. hydrostatic pressure

  4. geothermal energy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Artesian wells occur when water is confined between impermeable rock layers under pressure. When a well is drilled into this confined aquifer, the hydrostatic pressure forces water upward without pumping. The pressure comes from the water table at a higher elevation in the recharge area of the aquifer.

Multiple choice

What is an aquifer?

  1. A hole dug underground

  2. The space between the rocks below the water table

  3. The pores in the leaves for transpiration

  4. A pump to pump out the underground water

  5. A place built to store water in the village
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Yes, the space in between layers of hard rocks is called an aquifer. An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or silt) from which groundwater can be extracted using a water well.

Multiple choice

Which of the following has no role in managing water?

  1. Rain water harvesting

  2. Constructing dam

  3. Drip irrigation

  4. Industrial boom

  5. Repairing the leaking taps
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Yes, it is correct as increase in the number of industries means increase in the use of water and less underground water recharging. Repairing of leaking taps saves water loss. Hence, manages water.