The Urban Water Cycle

You have just learned about the REAL water cycle where water moves not just from the surface to the air through evaporation and transpiration but also over the ground through runoff, and under the ground through infiltration and percolation. Water that comes back down as precipitation is intercepted by buildings and roads. Or it can be extracted from the ground and diverted to water crops. All of this makes for a very complicated water system.

But what about the water we use everyday? Where does the water we use to wash the dishes or flush the toilet come from and how does that play into the water cycle? Watch this animation to find out. Remember that you can view it as many times as you like, stop it at any point, and read the transcript.

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Urban Water Cycle Transcript

Water water everywhere, but how does it get to be a drink? That is where the urban water cycle comes in. Anytime you turn on that tap, flush that toilet, take that shower, or water that yard, you are participating in the urban water cycle– another name for how modern humans extract, process, distribute and consume the water in our lives.

The first step is to source nearby water- from lakes, rivers, reservoirs, or wells– and bring it into our water supply where it is treated. It can then either be stored (water towers) or distributed , and then used (tap, flush, shower, sprinkler).

Used water is then collected via the wonders of gravity and modern wastewater systems. The used water is treated and cleaned, and then put back (discharged) into the environment to be gathered at the source again.

Although this modern marvel of engineering has increased the quality of life for people worldwide, the urban water cycle is quite fragile. Source water fluctuations, increased demand, dated infrastructure (lead pipes) and even changing climate can all have an impact on whether those drops of water even become a drink.

Take Notes

Describe the path water takes from the source, to your house and back to the source again.

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