Kids Fun
How Water System Works
How Water
is Delivered
Edible
Aquifer
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| Kauai’s
Department of Water operates 13 separate, unconnected water
systems spread out along our
island from Kekaha to Haena. Pumping
water from 48 underground wells and tunnels and storing it in 43
tanks, DOW delivers water to nearly 18,000 accounts through 400
miles of pipeline. All the
water that is provided to the Deparment's customers are from
groundwater sources.
Below is an explanation of how the water cycle works.
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click image to view full size map |
| Water
Cycle |
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Picture below is courtesy of USGS (http://www.usgs.org) |
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Water
Cycle Explanation
Below is a brief
explanation of the water cycle steps |
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The
sun heats up streams, lakes, rivers and oceans. The water
changes to vapor and rises into the air. |
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As
the vapors cool down, it changes into small water drops.
These join together in the sky to make clouds. |
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As
the clouds fill up with more and more vapors, it becomes too heavy
and begins to fall to the earth in the form of rain or snow. |
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Once
the rain or snow, falls to the ground, it eventually makes it way
back into the earth's lakes, rivers, and oceans. This is
called surface water. |
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Most of the Earth's fresh water lies underground, in between cracks in the rocks and particles of soil.
Big deposits of this water are called "aquifers." The word comes from the Latin words "aqua" (water)
and "ferre" (to carry). Groundwater, like the water in oceans and streams, is always on the move.
Sometimes, groundwater comes to the surface all by itself, in "springs." Mostly, wells are dug, or
bored into the ground, and water is pumped to the surface.
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click image to view full size picture |
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