REFLECTION PAPER
Human civilization started along water bodies such as the Nile River in Egypt. Water
is part of the building a civilization. As the world progresses water became more and more
in demand but the supply doesn’t change. Water Resources Engineering was developed
because of this increase in demand. This field of study focuses on the water usage, after use
and excess in water. Other than this, water engineers plan and manage water to serve the
increasing demand for it. Water could be two sides of the same coin. It could sustain life but
it can also destroy if not properly managed or planned. In materials engineering, water is
needed to increase strength of concrete that is needed to strengthen a whole structure. In
structural engineering and geotechnical engineering, the identification of the ground water
level is crucial in design the structure and foundation because water can weaken the soil that
might cause great damage to the structure.
Based on the book of Larry Mays (2007), water resources sustainability is the ability
to use water in sufficient quantities and quality from the local to the global scale to meet the
needs of humans and ecosystems for the present and the future to sustain life, and to protect
humans from the damages brought about by natural and human-caused disasters that affect
sustaining life. For me, this means that sustainability in water resources is the quality and
quantity of water they could keep whole ecosystem including human life sustain in coming
future taking to account the climate change that we are currently facing. According to IWA
(International Water Association), surface water is limited as is unequally distributed
around the world and pollution from various activities. The construction of dams can be
sustainable source of water supply and power generation, flood prevention, irrigation and
navigation. However, if not properly planned, the impact in wildlife, water flow, quality and
socioeconomical could be critical. Groundwater also be a sustainable supply of water.
However, the recharge, ground water level declination, water quality will directly impact the
community. Desalination is in demand in places that lacks freshwater. However, the
technology needed for process is expensive and adaptation is a challenge. Reuse of water or
Reclaimed water is a more sustainable source of water supply.
Based on my knowledge, the main processes of the hydrological cycle are
evaporation, condensation and precipitation. Evaporation is the change in state of water
from liquid to gaseous state. In this process, the evaporated moisture is lifted to the
atmosphere as water vapor. Water vapor contributes to more warming of the atmosphere.
Condensation is the process where water vapor changes a liquid state such as dew, fog or
clouds. Precipitation is where any and all forms of water particles fall from the atmosphere
and reach the surface. Precipitation falls into water bodies that adds up to its recharge.
Sometime, it falls on ground that infiltrates and recharge the ground water. Furthermore,
precipitation falls into trees where transpiration occurs.