23-113 EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WATER QUALITY (UPDATED REPEAT)

23-113 EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WATER QUALITY (UPDATED REPEAT)

Bruce Hale, Wednesdays, 10 am to 12 noon

Cactus Room: February 22, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Underlying questions of whether there is enough water quantity to sustain the American Southwest are questions about the quality of our present and potential water resources. This course tackles these questions, and more.

·         What are common water constituents and when are these deemed contaminants?

·         What are primary uses for water and what quality specifications are pertinent to each?

·         We need to learn the facts about water quality and whether it meets use specifications, so how is water quality tested?

·         What regulations protect U.S. water quality, whether in the environment or our domestic/potable water supplies? How are water quality standards set? How do regulatory risk assessments differ from personal assessments of risk?

·         When new water supply sources are acquired, what quality constraints affect how they can be used?

·         How can water be treated, to improve its quality and make it suitable for any particular use?

The final class session(s) dive deeper into specific cases, illustrating the above topics re: environmental water and domestic water supply. This course is good background for the follow-up course highlighting water supply resources, policy, infrastructure, and management--topics of importance to all Arizona residents.