vania-janet/multiturn-rag-retrieval-data huggingface dataset:
Environmental impact of irrigation
rising water tables increased storage of groundwater that may be used for irrigation , municipal , household and drinking water by pumping from wells waterlogging and drainage problems in villages , agricultural lands , and along roads - with mostly negative consequences . The increased level of the water table can lead to reduced agricultural production . shallow water tables - a sign that the aquifer is unable to cope with the groundwater recharge stemming from the deep percolation losses where water tables are shallow , the irrigation applications are reduced . As a result , the soil is no longer leached and soil salinity problems develop stagnant water tables at the soil surface are known to increase the incidence of water - borne diseases like malaria , filariasis , yellow fever , dengue , and schistosomiasis ( Bilharzia ) in many areas . Health costs , appraisals of health impacts and mitigation measures are rarely part of irrigation projects , if at all . to mitigate the adverse effects of shallow water tables and soil salinization , some form of watertable control , soil salinity control , drainage and drainage system is needed as drainage water moves through the soil profile it may dissolve nutrients ( either fertilizer - based or naturally occurring ) such as nitrates , leading to a buildup of those nutrients in the ground - water aquifer . High nitrate levels in drinking water can be harmful to humans , particularly infants under 6 months , where it is linked to `` blue - baby syndrome '' ( see Methemoglobinemia ) .
Recycling
An alternative way to increase supply of recyclates is to ban the disposal of certain materials as waste , often including used oil , old batteries , tires , and garden waste . One aim of this method is to create a viable economy for proper disposal of banned products . Care must be taken that enough of these recycling services exist , or such bans simply lead to increased illegal dumping .
Recycling
Once commingled recyclates are collected and delivered to a central collection facility , the different types of materials must be sorted . This is done in a series of stages , many of which involve automated processes such that a truckload of material can be fully sorted in less than an hour . Some plants can now sort the materials automatically , known as single - stream recycling . In plants , a variety of materials is sorted such as paper , different types of plastics , glass , metals , food scraps , and most types of batteries . A 30 percent increase in recycling rates has been seen in the areas where these plants exist .
Waste minimisation
Home composting , the practice of turning kitchen and garden waste into compost can be considered waste minimisation .
Clay
Clay , being relatively impermeable to water , is also used where natural seals are needed , such as in the cores of dams , or as a barrier in landfills against toxic seepage ( lining the landfill , preferably in combination with geotextiles ) . ( See puddling . )
Drinking water supply and sanitation in the United States
Domestic water use ( also called home or residential water use ) in the United States was estimated by the United States Geological Survey at 29.4 billion US gallons ( 111,000,000 m ) per day in 2005 , and 27.4 billion US gallons ( 104,000,000 m ) per day in 2010 ( 7 percent lower ) . The bulk of domestic water is provided through public networks . 13 % or 3.6 billion US gallons ( 14,000,000 m ) of water is self - supplied . The average domestic water use per person in the U.S. was 98 - US - gallon ( 370 L ) per day in 2005 , and 88 - US - gallon ( 330 L ) per day in 2010 . This is about 2.2 times as high as in England ( 150 Liter ) and 2.6 times as high as in Germany ( 126 Liter ) .
Drinking water supply and sanitation in the United States
Big Spring , Texas indirect potable reuse program Orange County , California Pasadena , California Payson , Arizona The Torreele project in the Veurne coastal region of Belgium , which began operating in 2002 '' Virginia Occoquan Reservoir -- The Upper Occoquan Sewage Authority plant discharges its highly treated output to supply roughly 20 % of the inflow into the Occoquan Reservoir , which provides drinking water used by the Fairfax County Water Authority -- one of the three major water providers in the Washington , D.C. metropolitan area . Windhoek , Namibia Wichita Falls , Texas ( toilet - to - tap reuse as a temporary measure during drought conditions , 2014 -- 2015 ; Indirect potable use 2015 ) Direct
Recycling
While recycling diverts waste from entering directly into landfill sites , current recycling misses the dissipative components . Complete recycling is impracticable as highly dispersed wastes become so diluted that the energy needed for their recovery becomes increasingly excessive . `` For example , how will it ever be possible to recycle the numerous chlorinated organic hydrocarbons that have bioaccumulated in animal and human tissues across the globe , the copper dispersed in fungicides , the lead in widely applied paints , or the zinc oxides present in the finely dispersed rubber powder that is abraded from automobile tires ? ''
Flint water crisis
On April 1 , 2013 , the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department demanded that the state deny Flint 's request , as it would start a water war , which would essentially hurt DWSD . This press release also provided an option for Flint : the sale of raw , untreated water . Drain Commissioner Wright of Genesee County , accused the DWSD of media negotiation and then replied , `` It would be unprecedented for the state to force one community to enter into an agreement with another , simply to artificially help one community at the other 's expense ... this is exactly what the ( Detroit Water and Sewerage Department ) is arguing ... ''
Flint water crisis
On January 4 , 2016 , citing the Flint water crisis , Michigan Representative Phil Phelps , Democrat of Flushing , announced plans to introduce a bill to the Michigan House of Representatives that would make it a felony for state officials to intentionally manipulate or falsify information in official reports , punishable by up to five years ' imprisonment and a $5,000 fine .
Water supply and sanitation in Abu Dhabi
About half of the annual water production from all sources is used for irrigation of green spaces , as well as in agriculture . The other half is used for domestic uses . Freshwater use per capita is about 650 liters per day , including water supplied for the irrigation of green spaces .
Recycling
Recyclate is a raw material that is sent to , and processed in a waste recycling plant or materials recovery facility which will be used to form new products . The material is collected in various methods and delivered to a facility where it undergoes re-manufacturing so that it can be used in the production of new materials or products . For example , plastic bottles that are collected can be re-used and made into plastic pellets , a new product .
Environmental impact of irrigation
The indirect effects of waterlogging and soil salination occur directly on the land being irrigated . The ecological and socioeconomic consequences take longer to happen but can be more far - reaching .
Water in California
In an average year , about 39 % of California 's water consumption , or 34.1 million acre - feet , is used for agricultural purposes . Of that total , 11 % , or 8.9 million acre - feet is not consumed by the farms for crop production but is instead recycled and reused by other water users , including environmental use , urban use , and agricultural use , yielding net water consumption for food and fiber production equal to 28 % of California 's water consumption , or 25.2 million acre - feet . This water irrigates almost 29 million acres ( 120,000 km ) , which grows 350 different crops . Agricultural water usage varies depending on the amount of rainfall each year .
Water in California
The CVP has generated some controversy about environmental damage , prices charged to farmers , and lax enforcement of farm size limitations . Bureau of Reclamation water was supposed to be used for farms limited to 160 acres ( see Homestead Act ) . Under Spanish and Mexican land grants , however , there were only a few land owners , all of whom owned large tracts of land . A 1982 reform increased CVP area limits to 960 acres ( 3.9 km ) . In 1992 , the Central Valley Project Improvement Act made fish and wildlife protection and restoration an authorized purpose of the CVP on an equal footing with other authorized purposes . 800,000 acre feet ( 0.99 km ) of annual runoff were dedicated to environmental usage , which generated intense controversy .
Water potential
At a potential of 0 kPa , soil is in a state of saturation . At saturation , all soil pores are filled with water , and water typically drains from large pores by gravity . At a potential of − 33 kPa , or − 1 / 3 bar , ( − 10 kPa for sand ) , soil is at field capacity . Typically , at field capacity , air is in the macropores and water in micropores . Field capacity is viewed as the optimal condition for plant growth and microbial activity . At a potential of − 1500 kPa , soil is at its permanent wilting point , meaning that soil water is held by solid particles as a `` water film '' that is retained too tightly to be taken up by plants .
Recycling
Recyclable materials include many kinds of glass , paper , and cardboard , metal , plastic , tires , textiles , and electronics . The composting or other reuse of biodegradable waste -- such as food or garden waste -- is also considered recycling . Materials to be recycled are either brought to a collection center or picked up from the curbside , then sorted , cleaned , and reprocessed into new materials destined for manufacturing .
Drinking water supply and sanitation in the United States
It was estimated that in 2002 a total of 1.7 billion US gallons ( 6,400,000 m ) per day , or almost 3 % of public water supply , were being directly reused . California reused 0.6 and Florida 0.5 billion US gallons ( 1,900,000 m ) per day respectively . Twenty - five states had regulations regarding the use of reclaimed water in 2002 . Planned direct reuse of reclaimed water was initiated in 1932 with the construction of a reclaimed water facility at San Francisco 's Golden Gate Park . Reclaimed water is typically distributed with a color - coded dual piping network that keeps reclaimed water pipes completely separate from potable water pipes .
Flint water crisis
Singer Cher donated 181,000 bottles of water to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan , while the Legacy Group Water Project coordinated with the Red Cross and the City of Flint as well as Bottles for the Babies to initiate the largest volunteer action to distribute water and filters into the city in a single day since the citywide emergency was declared a month earlier . Operation Flint , another volunteer group , also began accepting water donations the same day .
Clay
Studies in the early 21st century have investigated clay 's absorption capacities in various applications , such as the removal of heavy metals from waste water and air purification .
Recycling
Other studies have shown that recycling in itself is inefficient to perform the `` decoupling '' of economic development from the depletion of non-renewable raw materials that is necessary for sustainable development . The international transportation or recycle material flows through `` ... different trade networks of the three countries result in different flows , decay rates , and potential recycling returns . '' As global consumption of a natural resources grows , its depletion is inevitable . The best recycling can do is to delay , complete closure of material loops to achieve 100 percent recycling of nonrenewables is impossible as micro-trace materials dissipate into the environment causing severe damage to the planet 's ecosystems . Historically , this was identified as the metabolic rift by Karl Marx , who identified the unequal exchange rate between energy and nutrients flowing from rural areas to feed urban cities that create effluent wastes degrading the planet 's ecological capital , such as loss in soil nutrient production . Energy conservation also leads to what is known as Jevon 's paradox , where improvements in energy efficiency lowers the cost of production and leads to a rebound effect where rates of consumption and economic growth increases . A
Irrigation tank
It has been suggested that this article be merged into Reservoir . ( Discuss ) Proposed since January 2016 . Shravanabelagola
Environmental impact of irrigation
The effects of irrigation on watertable , soil salinity and salinity of drainage and groundwater , and the effects of mitigative measures can be simulated and predicted using agro-hydro - salinity models like SaltMod and SahysMod
Drinking water supply and sanitation in the United States
The paper notes that innovations occur when utilities see opportunities for `` short - term benefits and immediate savings , '' when there are water shortages , and in quality of life situations , like Philadelphia 's `` green infrastructure initiative designed to reduce combined sewer overflow . ''
Drinking water supply and sanitation in the United States
In Colorado , USA , the Colorado River Municipal Water District implemented a project to capture treated municipal effluent from the City of Big Spring , and provide additional advanced treatment prior to blending into their raw surface water delivery system ( 2012 ) . Advanced treatment of the municipal effluent consisted of MF , RO , and ultraviolet oxidation , producing very high quality water , which is blended with surface water from Lake E.V. Spence for distribution to their member and customer cities ( production of 6,700 m per day ) .
Artificial turf
Some artificial turf uses infill such as silicon sand and / or granulated rubber , referred to as `` crumb rubber '' . Some granulated rubber is made from recycled car tires and may carry heavy metals which can leach into the water table . As early as 2007 , a moratorium on the use of ground - up rubber tires in fields and playgrounds was recommended based on health concerns . As of 2013 , the EPA called for further studies to monitor the impact of particulate matter from fields and playgrounds that use artificial turf .
Rainwater harvesting
Around the third century BCE , the farming communities in Balochistan ( now located in Pakistan , Afghanistan , and Iran ) , and Kutch , India , used rainwater harvesting for agriculture and many other uses . In ancient Tamil Nadu , rainwater harvesting was done by Chola kings . Rainwater from the Brihadeeswarar temple ( located in Balaganpathy Nagar , Thanjavur , India ) was collected in Shivaganga tank . During the later Chola period , the Vīrānam tank was built ( 1011 to 1037 CE ) in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu state to store water for drinking and irrigation purposes . Vīrānam is a 16 - km - long tank with a storage capacity of 1,465,000,000 cu ft ( 41,500,000 m ) .
Lead poisoning
Lead from the atmosphere or soil can end up in groundwater and surface water . It is also potentially in drinking water , e.g. from plumbing and fixtures that are either made of lead or have lead solder . Since acidic water breaks down lead in plumbing more readily , chemicals can be added to municipal water to increase the pH and thus reduce the corrosivity of the public water supply . Chloramines , which were adopted as a substitute for chlorine disinfectants due to fewer health concerns , increase corrositivity . In the US , 14 -- 20 % of total lead exposure is attributed to drinking water . In 2004 , a team of seven reporters from The Washington Post discovered high levels of lead in the drinking water in Washington , D.C. and won an award for investigative reporting for a series of articles about this contamination . In the Flint water crisis , a switch to a more corrosive municipal water source elevated lead levels in drinking water in domestic tap water .
Waikato River
The large catchment area of the Waikato River is highly fertile farmland , so intensive agriculture is present . Due to the agricultural activity within the catchment significant agricultural pollution is leached into groundwater and contained in the runoff . The mismanagement of nitrogen fertilizer and effluent spreading practices in dairy farming is seen as the major causes of this pollution . Since 2000 Environment Waikato has joined with conservation minded farmers to bring about more efficient and scientific use of fertilizers .
Recycling
Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects . It is an alternative to `` conventional '' waste disposal that can save material and help lower greenhouse gas emissions ( compared to plastic production , for example ) . Recycling can prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials , thereby reducing : energy usage , air pollution ( from incineration ) , and water pollution ( from landfilling ) .
Recycling
The recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment in India and China generates a significant amount of pollution . Informal recycling in an underground economy of these countries has generated an environmental and health disaster . High levels of lead ( Pb ) , polybrominated diphenylethers ( PBDEs ) , polychlorinated dioxins and furans , as well as polybrominated dioxins and furans ( PCDD / Fs and PBDD / Fs ) concentrated in the air , bottom ash , dust , soil , water , and sediments in areas surrounding recycling sites .
Vinegar
Vinegar has been marketed as an environmentally - friendly solution for many household cleaning problems . For example , vinegar has been cited recently as an eco-friendly urine cleaner for pets .
Flint water crisis
After Snyder 's request for a `` Major Disaster Declaration '' status was turned down , FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate wrote a letter to Snyder saying that the water contamination `` does not meet the legal definition of a ' major disaster ' '' under federal law because `` ( t ) he incident was not the result of a natural catastrophe , nor was it created by a fire , flood or explosion . '' In response , Snyder asked Obama for emergency funding under FEMA 's Individuals and Households Program , which provides housing assistance and replacement of personal property . He will also ask for money and emergency protective measures , according to the release .
Water tank
Ground water tank , made of lined carbon steel , may receive water from a water well or from surface water , allowing a large volume of water to be placed in inventory and used during peak demand cycles .
Water in California
Urban and industrial use of water consumes about 11 % , or 8.9 million acre - feet , of total water consumption in an average year . A 2011 study of a sampling of 735 California homes across ten water districts found that the weighted average annual total water use of these homes was 132,000 US gallons ( 0.41 acre ⋅ ft ) per year or 362 US gallons ( 0.00111 acre ⋅ ft ) per household per day . The study found that about 53 % of total average household water use , or more than 192 US gallons ( 0.00059 acre ⋅ ft ) per household per day , was used for landscaping and other outdoor uses . Meanwhile , indoor use accounted for more than 170 US gallons ( 0.00052 acre ⋅ ft ) per household per day . The most in - home water consumption is toilet flushes , using 20 % of the water . After toilets , 20 % is used for showers and 18 % goes to leaks inside homes .
Coffee
Used coffee grounds may be used for composting or as a mulch . They are especially appreciated by worms and acid - loving plants such as blueberries . Some commercial coffee shops run initiatives to make better use of these grounds , including Starbucks ' `` Grounds for your Garden '' project , and community sponsored initiatives such as `` Ground to Ground '' .
Environmental impact of irrigation
When more groundwater is pumped from wells than replenished , storage of water in the aquifer is being mined and the use of that water is no longer sustainable . As levels fail , it becomes more difficult to extract water and pumps will struggle to maintain the design flowrate and consume more may fenergy per unit of water . Eventually it may become so difficult to extract groundwater that farmers may be forced to abandon irrigated agriculture . Some notable examples include :
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
$4.6 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers for environmental restoration , flood protection , hydropower , and navigation infrastructure projects $4 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund wastewater treatment infrastructure improvements ( EPA ) $2 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund drinking water infrastructure improvements ( EPA ) $1.38 billion for rural drinking water and waste disposal projects $1 billion to the Bureau of Reclamation for drinking water projects for rural or drought - likely areas $750 million to the National Park Service $650 million to the Forest Service $600 million for hazardous waste cleanup at Superfund sites ( EPA ) $515 million for wildfire prevention projects $500 million for Bureau of Indian Affairs infrastructure projects $340 million to the Natural Resources Conservation Service for watershed infrastructure projects $320 million to the Bureau of Land Management $300 million for reductions in emissions from diesel engines ( EPA ) $300 million to improve Land Ports of Entry ( GSA ) $280 million for National Wildlife Refuges and the National Fish Hatchery System $220 million to the International Boundary and Water Commission to repair flood control systems along the Rio Grande $200 million for cleanup of leaking Underground Storage Tanks ( EPA ) $100 million for cleaning former industrial and commercial sites ( Brownfields ) ( EPA ) Government
Drink can
In many parts of the world a deposit can be recovered by turning in empty plastic , glass , and aluminium containers . Scrap metal dealers often purchase aluminium cans in bulk , even when deposits are not offered . Aluminium is one of the most cost - effective materials to recycle . When recycled without other metals being mixed in , the can -- lid combination is perfect for producing new stock for the main part of the can -- the loss of magnesium during melting is made up for by the high magnesium content of the lid . Also , reducing ores such as bauxite into aluminium requires large amounts of electricity , making recycling cheaper than producing new metal .
Flint water crisis
The Dow Chemical Company of nearby Midland donated $100,000 to the Community Foundation of Greater Flint , and its Water and Process Solutions division donated and will install 150 reverse osmosis water filtration systems in Flint homes .
Corrosion
Until 20 -- 30 years ago , galvanized steel pipe was used extensively in the potable water systems for single and multi-family residents as well as commercial and public construction . Today , these systems have long ago consumed the protective zinc and are corroding internally resulting in poor water quality and pipe failures . The economic impact on homeowners , condo dwellers , and the public infrastructure is estimated at 22 billion dollars as the insurance industry braces for a wave of claims due to pipe failures .
Recycling
Some plastics are remelted to form new plastic objects ; for example , PET water bottles can be converted into polyester destined for clothing . A disadvantage of this type of recycling is that the molecular weight of the polymer can change further and the levels of unwanted substances in the plastic can increase with each remelt . Chemical