Q4 3.1 Water Resources

Bear Lake Image source: https://www.drought.gov/

Water Resources

Image source: https://climatekids.nasa.gov/groundwater/

Lakes and Reservoirs

Groundwater

Image soucre: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/pollution-and-sustainability-of-groundwater

• A lot of the water we use in Utah comes from underground sources.
• Water can soak into the ground, like water into a sponge! This is called infiltration.

• It collects in underground layers called aquifers.
• Aquifers are made of porous rocks like sandstone and limestone. These rocks are porous because they have lots of tiny spaces (pores) and cracks where water can fill up.
• People access groundwater by digging wells and pumping water to the surface.

Groundwater

Glen Canyon Dam Image Source:https://watereducationcolorado.org

• Utah has many natural lakes and man-made reservoirs that hold freshwater including: Bear Lake, Lake Powell, Strawberry Reservoir, Deer Creek Reservoir, and many more.
• Rivers and streams both feed into and flow out of lakes and reservoirs.
• A reservoir forms when a dam is built across a river, creating a pool of accumulated water that can be stored for later use.
• Utah utilizes approximately 45 man-made reservoirs to collect and store drinking water.

Lakes and Reservoirs