Grade

11
Self-Learning Module in EARTH SCIENCE
Lesson: Water, Soil and Me
Quarter: I Week: 5 Day and Time:

Learning competencies:
a. Explain how different activities affect the quality and availability of water for human use.
b. Identify human activities, such as farming, construction of structures, and waste disposal, that affect
the quality and quantity of soil.
c. Give ways of conserving and protecting the soil for future generations.
Learning Tasks:
Study Notebook
✓ Pre-Test (1-2) Performance Task
✓ Post-Test (8) Activity 1: CREATE AND ACT ME

I. INTRODUCTION
In the previous lessons, you have learned about the various water resources on Earth. Recall that we live on
a blue planet where water circulates through the water cycle in its different states, as water vapor, liquid water
and ice. An understanding of water and land management is needed as we consider human interactions with
water and soil functions. If ignored, then human activities will continue to degrade freshwater and terrestrial
ecosystems. This in turn affects the life-supporting ecosystem goods and services that water and land provide
us.
In this module, you are expected to attain the following:
a. Explain how different activities affect the quality and availability of water for human use.
b. Identify human activities, such as farming, construction of structures, and waste disposal, that affect the
quality and quantity of soil.
c. Give ways of conserving and protecting the soil for future generations.

PRE-TEST
Choose the letter that corresponds to the best answer.
1. Which is considered a direct water use?
A. Buying notepads made from recycled paper.
B. Eating greens and grains more than processed meat.
C. Turning off fans and lights when no one is using the room.
D. Turning off the tap when washing the face or brushing the teeth.
2. Which makes use of virtual water?
A. Buying food from farms. B. Fixing your leaky faucets.
C. Installing a low-flow showerhead. D. Watering your lawn in the early morning.

3. Based on global average, which among the following has the largest water footprint in L/kg?
A. Rice B. Pork C. Fruits d. Vegetables
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4. Which food product pollutes the greatest volume of water per kilogram of production?
A. Egg B. Potato C. Banana D. Chocolate
5. Which term is referred to as a green water resource?
A. Rainwater B. Groundwater C. Surface water D. Polluted Water
6.Why will the use of pesticides cause water pollution? It leads to the pollution of___________.
A. air when chemicals break down and produce gases that go into surface waters.
B. household drinking water when chemicals enter underground pipes that corrodes.
C. nearby irrigated water when farm animals lay on mud to cool off during heavy rains.
D. surface waters when heavy rain carry chemicals from the soil to rivers downstream.
7.An artificial body of water reservoir will store drinking water for a water-stressed place. Which of the
following could contaminate the stored water and lead to health-related problems and loss of native
species?
A. Enclosing the reservoir with a fence.
B. Applying fertilizer for higher farm yield.
C. Developing a water management plan.
D. Monitoring the water treatment facility.
8. Soils act like _________, soaking up water and limiting run-off.
A. Filters B. Faucets C. Sponges D. Supermarket

9. Soils act like __________, providing air, water, and nutrients to soil organisms.
A. Buffers B. Faucets C. Strainers D. Supermarket
10. Which soil management practices build up healthy soils?
A. Application of fertilizers and pesticides against crop pests.
B. Constant clearing of vegetation from weeds for cleaner rows
C. Regular cultivation and tilling of fields for greater agricultural yield.
D. Use of diverse cover crops, planned crop rotation, and mulch tillage.
__________________
III. A. DISCUSSION OF CONCEPTS
Lesson 1: Of Ripples and Reflections: Human Impacts on Freshwater
The freshwater in our world is found in three main places:
a. Atmospheric water in the air either as a solid (hail, snow), liquid (fog, mist, rain) or gas (invisible
water vapor)
b. Surface water as runoff and base-flow into and from the catchment areas like lakes
c. Groundwater in the cracks and spaces of soil, sand, and rocks underground, generally adequate
and of high quality that does not require treatment for human.
But despite the seeming abundance of water on Earth, freshwater availability is less than 2.5 percent
of the world’s water supply. Of this percentage, less than one third is easily accessible from surface water
bodies like lakes and rivers and from the underground stored in aquifers. This leaves us with less than 1%
available for water, sanitation and hygiene needs.

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 Figure 1. World’s small fraction of freshwater for human needs.

Source: UN Environmental Program, Vital Water Graphics: An overview of the state of the world’s
fresh and marine waters, 2nd ed., UNEP, Nairobi, 2008; United Nations Environment Program, Global
Environment Outlook 3: Past, present, and future perspectives, UNEP, Nairobi, 2002.; UN Population Division,
2015 Revision of World Population Prospects, UN DESA, New York, Jul 2015. Reprinted with permission of
UNICEF.

Direct and Indirect Water Uses

There are two categories of water use: direct and indirect. You directly use water in different
activities like hand washing, drinking, cooking, bathing, cleaning and many more. You also used water
indirectly through the food you eat, the things you buy, and even the energy you use. The water used to
produce or process a commodity, commercial goods or service is referred to us virtual water. The
measurement of virtual water along the full production - consumption chain is referred to as a water
footprint.
You drank one liter of tap water last night. Due to this action, you directly consumed one liter of
actual tap water. If today, you will buy a 1-L bottled water and drink all of it, you would have directly
consumed one liter of bottled water. But you also indirectly used the many liters of virtual water needed
(and some amount possibly got wasted) to produce and supply the water bottle itself. Depending on where
and how the bottle was produced, you just added five liters or more of freshwater to your water footprint
because of that action.
Your personal water footprint is the total volume of water required in the production of the services
and goods you patronize and use. Generally, water is required in the different paper production stages –
from growing wood to processing pulp into paper products. But most of the water is required in growing the
tree, where water consumption refers to the forest evapotranspiration.
Then, there’s the additional water used during the manufacturing processes in the industrial stage,
mostly due to the evaporation and contamination of groundwater and surface water.

Water Footprints
When you compare how much water is used to make a variety of products, you can be guided on
how to reduce your virtual water consumption or your „water footprint‟. Virtual water applies to products
only, while water footprint as introduced by Hoekstra in 2002 applies not only to products but also to a
process, a producer, a consumer or a nation. It has three components:
A. The green water footprint refers to consumption of green water resources like rainwater that is
stored as soil moisture in the root zone. Green water also evaporates from plants by evapotranspiration and
is important for agriculture, forestry and horticulture.
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 b. The blue water footprint refers to consumption of blue water resources like surface water and
groundwater. This can evaporate, naturally flow or become part of the product. Domestic, industry and
irrigated agriculture uses blue water.
c. The grey water footprint refers to polluted water or water used to dilute pollutants to satisfy water
quality standards. This is what goes into bathroom floor drains, sinks and sewage facilities.
The Philippines has abundant water resources with an annual average rainfall of about 2,400
millimeters. The surface water potential is 125,790 million cubic meter (MCM) while the groundwater
potential is 20,200 MCM.
By 2025, the estimated water demand in the country is 85,401 MCM per year but the estimated
available water by then is only 60,586 MCM/yr. Supply cannot meet demand. More often, water tends to
be available in the wrong place, at the wrong time with the wrong quality (National Action Plan to Combat
Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought, 2010-2020).
On the average, 70%, 20% and 10% of global water consumption was used in the agricultural,
industrial and municipal sectors respectively (Shiklomanov, 1999). During 1996 to 2005, 89.7%, 5.8% and
4.5% of the Philippine water footprint was used in the agricultural, industrial and municipal sectors. Of the
blue water resources, 63% was used for rice production, while grey water (contaminated water) volume
came mostly from industrial use at 44% and from domestic use at 33%. So, water pollution was mostly
generated by industrial and domestic activities. Indeed, water footprint assessments reveal patterns of
indirect water use of individuals, businesses and nations just as water audits do for direct water use.
Water Runs along Freshwaters
A lot can happen from the water source to the mouth that affects the quality and quantity of
freshwater resources.
Anthropogenic (man-made) impacts on a lake and its surroundings are listed as drivers of change
with ecological impacts. An ecosystem change happens when people interact with their surroundings to
satisfy their basic needs and improve their well-being. We describe these interactions as “drivers” of
ecosystem change.
Water Marks from Muddled Ripples
The first „detectable‟ human impact within a lake catchment may not immediately cause a response
or change in the aquatic system because of its negligible degree of impact caused by say a small population
size or the use of less invading technologies. Bodies of water adapt to slow changes, but over time with the
rise of technological advance, population surge, intensified activities and resource use, then ecological shifts
start to occur significantly.
Human activities (settlements, industry, and agricultural developments) can disturb the components
of the natural water cycle through land use diversions, water use/reuse and discharge of wastes into the
natural groundwater and surface water pathways.
Figure 2. Water Marks from Muddled Ripples

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 Human activities in natural drainage areas can cause soil erosion and pollution. These are direct
drivers of ecosystem change. Erosion affects freshwater ecosystems due to the transportation and
deposition of sediments, nutrients and contaminants to surface water systems. This results to
sedimentation, flooding, turbidity, and eutrophication which can fill downstream water reservoirs faster
than planned.
On the other hand, high levels of lead, copper or mercury in sediment loads are indications of heavy
metal contamination. Effluents, discharges and even nutrients come from domestic, industrial and
agricultural (fertilizer and fungicide) runoffs. These lead to water acidification and the worst cases of
eutrophication. Due to high nitrogen and phosphorus loads in water, eutrophication, is globally considered
as the most prevalent water quality problem. In addition, contaminated surface waters and groundwater
are costly and difficult to clean.
Moreover, habitat modification changed the physical flow of water into the ecosystem through the
manipulation of surface water level and groundwater reservoirs. The creation of dams, bridges, harbors, or
electric power plants can cause flow diversion or intensive water withdrawal and/or water recharge. These
results in fluctuations of water level, salinization, nutrient loads, turbidity and the light environment.
Biological invasions, like the introduction of non-native species of fish on a lake that has no fish
before, can induce important shifts in breeding, feeding and nursing patterns, and even promote algal
blooms and the dominance of invasive species.
On the other hand, people have been disposing untreated wastes into the air, land and water
resources. Pollution degrades ecosystems and affects rainfall, surface and ground waters. Pollution sources
that impact our water resources can develop at different space and time scales.
The 2006 United Nations World Water Development Report 2 categorized the freshwater pollution
sources in the following nine categories:
a. Organic matter from industrial wastewater and domestic sewage can deplete oxygen from water
as it decomposes and suffocates aquatic life.
b. Pathogens and microbial contaminants from domestic sewage, livestock and natural sources can
spread infectious diseases through contaminated drinking water supplies.
c. Nutrients from agricultural run-offs, and industrial discharges can over stimulate the growth of
algae that leads to eutrophication. Furthermore, high levels in nitrate in drinking water leads to illness in
people.
d. Salinization from saltwater intrusions cause salt residue build-up in soils due to over irrigation or
over-pumping of coastal aquifers. As irrigated waters evaporate from soils, salt residues are left on the soil
to accumulate.
e. Acidification from electric power generation, industrial stacks, and vehicle emissions including acid
mine tailings can lower the pH of soils and water.
f. Heavy Metals from industries and mining sites can accumulate in the tissues of shellfish and fish.
These are toxic to aquatic life and humans.
g. Toxic organic compounds and micro-organic pollutants from industrial sites, automobiles,
agricultural fields, and municipal wastewaters can be toxic to aquatic fauna and humans.
h. Thermal Pollution from stored water in dams and reservoirs that warms up due to discharges from
cooling towers can change the aquatic oxygen levels and rates of decomposition in the receiving waters.
i. Silt and suspended particles from natural soil erosion due to road building, agricultural activities,
construction, deforestation, and other land use changes can reduce water quality for drinking and
recreation. These can also degrade aquatic habitats by choking aquatic organisms with silt and disturbing
breeding and feeding.
The quality of water is affected by chemical, microbiological and thermal pollution (Carr and Neary,
2008; Mayers et al., 2009; UNEP, 2010a):
a. Chemical contamination can be caused by excess in nutrients, heavy metals, and persistent
organic pollutants, resulting to acidification, changes in salinity and increase in sediment loads.

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 b. Microbiological contamination due to bacteria, viruses and protozoa in water is a leading global
human health hazard.
c. Fluctuating natural water temperature cycles can affect metabolic rates and biological functions
resulting to long-term population declines.

Human Impacts on Freshwater: Water Clear Reflections

Just as there are direct and indirect water usages, there are also direct and indirect drivers that
change water resource ecosystems. A direct driver clearly impacts ecosystem processes while an indirect
driver works by influencing one or more direct drivers:
a. direct drivers are physical and biological factors that include climate change, land conversion,
plant nutrient use, and the onset of diseases and invasive species
b. indirect drivers are demographic; economic; socio-political; cultural and religious; and scientific
and technological factors
Table 3 is an adapted summary of land use changes and the major threats on water resource ecosystems
around the world (UNEP, 2004b). Only five out of eighteen freshwater ecosystems were selected and shown
for you to analyze and synthesize.

Table 3. Some major threats to selected coastal and freshwater ecosystems and services
Ecosystem Goods and Services Threats
Rivers many environmental, economic reclamation, drainage, flow
(e.g. fish, water supplies, regulation, dam construction,
transport, disposal, biological hydroelectric power, pollution,
cleaning, climate regulation, deforestation, soil erosion and
etc.), religious and spiritual values degradation, climate change and
alien invasive species
Inland deltas water supplies, sediment and drainage, irrigation, regulation of
nutrient retention, recreation water flow, pollution,
deforestation, soil erosion,
agricultural intensification,
overexploitation of fish and other
food species, climate change
Lakes water supplies, fiber, fish, pollution, agricultural
waterfowl, recreation, intensification, eutrophication,
groundwater recharge, religious deforestation, soil degradation,
and spiritual values overexploitation of fish and food
species, climate change,
waterborne disease control
Groundwater Water reservoirs, water storage, Irrigation, pollution, agricultural
aquifers nutrients storage intensification, eutrophication,
deforestation, soil erosion,
overexploitation of food species,
waterborne disease control
Freshwater water and food supplies, stop- irrigation, pollution, agricultural
springs over sites for migratory species, intensification, overexploitation
recreation, religious and spiritual of fish and other food species,
values alien invasive species
Source: UNEP and UNEP-WCMC, 2004

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LESSON 2: Of Dirt and Digs: Human Impacts on Soil
Soil - finite, precious, dynamic, thin overlapping boundaries of the earth systems where air, water,
minerals and life intersect and interact. Soil is the unconsolidated mineral or organic material on the
immediate surface of the earth, formed from a parent rock material through processes that show the effects
of climate, macro and micro-organisms, the topography of its location on land, and of formation time.
An idealized soil is about 45% mineral matter, 25% water, 25% air and 5% organic matter.
Soils perform and deliver life-sustaining ecosystem services and goods as it:
a. provides food, fiber, fuel, freshwater, construction earth material, surface foundation, habitat for
soil organisms and biological materials
b. regulates water quality, water supply, climate and erosion
c. supports nutrient cycling and soil formation
d. preserves natural and cultural landscape and heritage
Soil functions are globally challenged by 10 soil threats which are nutrient imbalance, soil
acidification, soil biodiversity loss, soil compaction, soil contamination, soil erosion, soil organic carbon (SOC)
loss, soil salinization, soil sealing, and soil waterlogging.
Soil degradation - reduced soil functions to support ecosystem services needed for human survival
and well-being due to human-induced soil threats.
Some soil management and conservation practices for soil health include maximum cover and food
for soil and its inhabitants using diverse, living cover crops; and no or minimal soil disturbance through
practices of no/reduced till, crop rotation, mulch tillage, etc.
Soil organic matter (SOM) is the most important component because it influences the physical,
chemical and biological properties of a healthy soil’s functions.
A soil aggregate is a stable well-structured soil that can hold itself even when immersed in water for
a long time and is an indicator of healthy soils. Unplowed soils contain stable soil aggregates with high
available water capacity (holding capacity) that allows storage of water in soil for filtration and supply
supporting organic matter processes in the soil. Plowed soils lack structure or have weakened soil
aggregates that easily crumble under water and wind agents of erosion.

Urban soils can be:

a. natural soil that are naturally water or wind eroded; naturally weathered soils from underlying parent
bedrock, or
b. anthropogenic soil formed in human-deposited material or fill to modify landscape or improve
undesirable soil properties for specific human activities.
Soil erosion by water is a prevalent soil threat together with soil pollution, soil compaction, and soil sealing.
Soil sealing – soils are covered with impervious materials like asphalt or concrete and can no longer be used
for growing of food and animals.
Moving and using anthropogenic soils through topsoil removal and mixing of subsoil and topsoil
results to degraded soil. Altered soil properties presents difficulty in predicting soil behavior against natural
hazards and disasters in urban areas.
A soil site survey includes a map and an inventory of existing properties and plant materials,
landscapes, soil descriptions, and soil problems.
Soil management can be done at home for many reasons and can be good for urban gardening
through production of home garden products and the development of green space technologies like
rainwater harvesting for excess rainfall and the creation of rain gardens for water runoffs.

Activity 1: CREATE AND ACT ME

Compose a 2–3-minute song in the tune of KAPALIGIRAN by ASIN, the lyrics should be about on how
to take care of water resources and landforms. You may use local dialect that you are comfortable with.
Perform the song through recorded video and submit it through your teacher’s messenger. (Note: Do not

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upload your video in your fb account). Submit it on or before March 5, 2021, background music is optional,
acapella is encourage).

POS-TEST
Choose the letter that corresponds to the best answer.
1. Which term is referred to as a green water resource?
A. Rainwater B. Groundwater C. Surface water D. Polluted water
2. Why will activities that lead to sedimentation affect the quality of freshwater in lakes?
A. Additional sediment loads on the lake decrease water depth.
B. Deposited soil sediments carry food to aquatic plants and animals.
C. Fertilizer run-offs will add organic matter and heavy metals to the lake.
D. Rain over denuded lands will deposit silt to the lake as sediment pollutants.
3. Which is considered a direct water use?
A. Buying notepads made from recycled paper.
B. Eating greens and grains more than processed meat.
C. Turning off fans and lights when no one is using the room.
D. Turning off the tap when washing the face or brushing the teeth.
4. What is the threat to soil when farmlands are converted into built-up areas with concrete foundations
for houses, roads, offices and malls?
A. Soil sealing B. Soil pollution C. Soil compaction D. Soil acidification
5. Why will the use of pesticides cause water pollution? It leads to the pollution of
A. air when chemicals break down and produce gases that go into surface waters.
B. household drinking water when chemicals enter underground pipes that corrodes.
C. nearby irrigated water when farm animals lay on mud to cool off during heavy rains.
D. surface waters when heavy rain carry chemicals from the soil to rivers downstream.
6. Which activity will help freshwater stay clean the most and why?
A. Mixing food and garden waste for composting will save fresh water.
B. Introducing new fish species for an aquaculture project add water purifiers.
C. Leaving crop residues to cover newly harvested cornfields prevents soil erosion.
D. Disinfecting wastewater at the discharge points treats water before infiltration to soil.
7. Why is soil erosion by rushing waters considered a great soil threat?
A. The soil volume is reduced in eroded areas and increased in deposited areas.
B. Water changes the physical composition of the soil affecting soil management.
C. The soil‟s chemical composition is enhanced changing soil texture and structure.
D. Water carries topsoil and nutrients, then deposits it to receiving areas as pollutants.
8. An artificial body of water reservoir will store drinking water for a water-stressed place. Which of the
following could contaminate the stored water and lead to health-related problems and loss of native
species?
A. Enclosing the reservoir with a fence.
B. Applying fertilizer for higher farm yield.
C. Developing a water management plan.
D. Monitoring the water treatment facility.
9. Which component of the soil is crucial for soil health?
A. Air B. Water C. Organic matter D. Mineral particles
10. How do organic matter help maintain soil health?
A. It regulates the humus part of the soil making it dark and fertile.
B. It greatly helps micro-organisms to provide air and food for the plants.
C. It gives more space for pore spaces to exchange air, water and nutrients.
D. It biologically binds minerals and creates interconnected pores in structured soils.

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 ANSWER KEY

D 10. D

C 9. D

B 8. C

D 7. B

C 6. D

D 5. A

A 4. D

D 3. B

D 2. A

A 1.D

POST-TEST PRE-TEST

REFERENCES
Chapagain, A.K., A.Y. Hoekstra, H.H.G. Savenije, and R. Gautam. 2005. “The water footprint of cotton
consumption.” Value of Water Research Report, Series No. 18. Delft, the Netherlands: UNESCO-IHE. p. 21.

Cosgrove, Catherine E. and William J. Cosgrove under UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme. “The
Dynamics of Global Water Futures – Driving Forces 2011-2050. UNESCO 2012 Report on the findings of
Phase One of the UNESCO-WWAP Water Scenarios Project to 2050.

Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Soils and Water Management. 2018. National Soil and Water
Resources Research and Development/Extension Agenda 2017-2022. Diliman, Quezon City

Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI). 2016.
Philippine Nutrition Facts and Figures 2015: Updating of Nutritional Status of Filipino Children and Other
Population Groups Overview. Taguig City. p. 70 and Table 42.

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 ROSALES NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
SENIOR DEPARTMENT
Don Antonio Village, Rosales, Pangasinan

INSTRUCTION: Detach and submit this Worksheet together with the activity sheets.

WORKSHEET
Name:
Subject: EARTH SCIENCE
Grade/Section:
Subj. Teacher: Week:

I. FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Test/Activity Score
A. Pre-Test (1-2)
B. Post-Test (8)
II. SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
A. Identify what is being asked or described in each statement. Write your answer on the space
provided.
____________________1. It is the use of actual water in activities.
____________________2. It is the measurement of virtual water along the full production consumption
chain supply.
____________________3. It is the consumption of green water resources like rainwater.
____________________4. It is the consumption of blue water resources.
____________________5. It happens when people interact with their surroundings satisfy their basic
needs and improve their well-being.
____________________6. It is the unconsolidated mineral or organic material on the immediate surface
of the earth.
____________________7. It reduced soil function to support ecosystem services needed for human
survival and well-being due to human-induced soil threats.
____________________8. It is the most important component because it influences the physical,
chemical and biological properties of a healthy soil’s functions.
____________________9. It is a stable well-structured soil that can hold itself even when immersed in
water for a long time and an indicator of healthy soils.
____________________10. It is an inventory of existing properties and plant materials, landscape, soil
descriptions, and soil problems.
____________________11. It is formed in human deposited material or fill to modify landscape or
improve undesirable soil properties for specific human activities.
B. Enumeration
A. Enumerate the 9 categories of freshwater pollution
1.________________ 8.____________________
2.________________ 9.____________________
3.________________
4.________________
5.________________
6.________________
7.________________
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III. REFLECTIVE ASSESSMENT
1. What concepts or skills did you learn well?

2. What concepts or skills was difficult to understand?

3. What activities did you enjoy the most?

4. What activity was hard to execute?

5. Did you ask help from your teacher? (Yes or No).

If Yes, did you immediately receive the needed assistance?
Was the given assistance helpful for you to understand better the lesson?

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