Skip to content | Skip to institutional links

Common menu bar links

Institutional links

Left-hand Menu

Browse by Type

Stay in Touch

Learn More About Water Using Multimedia

You will need the latest Flash plug-in to view the animations below. Download Flash Player from Macromedia.

The Hydrologic Cycle

The Hydrologic Cycle explains the fate of water as it travels in and around the earth's surface. Every stage of the water cycle is revealed - from precipitation, runoff and infiltration to recharge, discharge and evaporation. The animation focuses on the movement of groundwater, further explaining the different types of aquifers, wells and sources of contamination.

The Hydrologic Cycle Wells Evaporation

3 images are shown.

The leftmost and largest image displays the title "The Hydrologic Cycle" at the top. The background of the picture displays a large water body, one large mountain, a stream running out of the mountain into the large water body, and a cloudy sky. In front of the background image is a large oval made up of two arrows that shows how water is cycling around the earth. Inside the oval are the words: Precipitation, Surface Runoff, Infiltration, Groundwater Recharge, Discharge, Evaporation, Transpiration and Condensation.

The upper right image has the title "Evaporation" at the top. The background of this image is of the ocean with mountains and a cloudy sky far away. In front of the background is the word "Evaporation" again, with an arrow pointing up to the sky. At the bottom of the arrow is a wavy line that is meant to show water waves on the ocean and at the top of the arrow is another wavy line that is smoother than the bottom line. This top wavy line is meant to display water that is in gaseous form in the atmosphere. Beside the arrow on both sides are small raindrops that are meant to show water evaporating from the lake up into the atmosphere. A sun is shown on the upper right side of the image with sun rays zigzagging down onto the ocean.

The lower right image has the title "Wells" at the top. The image shows a cross-section of the ground. The top of the image shows trees, grass and the sky. The middle section of the image shows the roots of the plants near the surface of the ground and underneath several layers of brown and grey soil. Near the bottom is blue coloured water which is meant to display an aquifer. A well is also displayed near the middle of the image. The well extends from the ground surface to the bottom of the aquifer. The top one-half of the well has a grey coloured bentonite seal that extends about half the diameter of the well away from the outside of the well. A man is shown bent down at the top of the well, dumping a fluid into the well which is an orange colour. The orange fluid is flowing all the way down the well into the aquifer. The words "Abandoned Open Well" are in a white bubble that points to the well.

The Hydrologic Cycle - Download The Hydrologic Cycle (ZIP file, 228 MB) - Help on ZIP

Robocow: Operation H2O

Robocow: Operation H2O is an animated video in which on-farm environmental perils are discovered and remedied by Robocow, the charismatic and enigmatic hero of the series. In Operation H2O Robocow identifies and corrects agricultural practices affecting surface water.

Robocow: Operation H2O - HTML Version

Top of Page

Robocow: The Aquifer Connection

Robocow, the animated environmental advocate is back for a second stint on the silver screen, ready to put more of her bovine bravado on display. But this time her celebrated and sensitive ground-scan radar is tuned into an even deeper dilemma - groundwater problems.

Robocow: The Aquifer Connections - HTML Version

Top of Page

Farm Surface Water Management - Flash Animation

Obtaining good quality water from farm surface water sources is challenging. The key is protecting and enhancing the water source, and using a series of treatment processes. These treatment processes are called barriers: each barrier reduces specific water quality problems from being passed on in the water. This cover screen shows how a multiple barrier approach can be used on farm dugouts, to obtain high quality water for rural uses. The approach starts with managing the land effectively, aerating dugouts, and using a number of water treatment steps in sequence. The approach could be used on other similar (or better quality) surface water sources. By clicking on each barrier, a new animation will start, explaining each barrier process in more detail. A word of caution: Each barrier must be properly designed, well-operated and regularly maintained. Multiple barriers, like a chain, are only as strong as their weakest link. If one barrier fails, the final water quality will deteriorate and may not be safe for its intended use.

Top of Page

Dugout Aeration - Flash Animation

Aeration is a management technique which enhances water quality in reservoirs. In Canada, farm ponds or dugouts are constructed in clay soils, and used to collect and store water from snow melt and rain. Roughly 3.5 to 6.0 m deep, dugouts typically store from 2 to 30 million Litres of water. In winter they are completely covered with ice (usually from November to March). In summer water in dugouts will stagnate. However, when dugouts are continuously aerated year round, water quality is improved. This animation shows an aerated reservoir beside an unaerated reservoir. The benefits of aeration are shown and described for each season of the year. As a water treatment barrier, aeration will keep the water fresher with less nutrient recycling from the bottom sediment.

Dugout Aeration - HTML Version

Top of Page

Coagulation - Flash Animation

Coagulation is a chemical process used to remove unwanted particles or matter in water. It is a very common barrier used in municipal water treatment. Coagulation can be used for farm water treatment. The coagulation animation describes the process and benefits of coagulation. Simple procedures are shown to determine the correct chemical dose. A simple method is depicted for treating dugouts and small storage cells. Coagulation treatment will improve water quality for many farm needs.

Coagulation - HTML Version

Top of Page

Filtration - Flash Animation

Improving water quality almost always involves some sort of filtration process. Filtration barriers remove larger particles from water, including those formed by coagulation. The animation shows small-scale filters used to treat surface water: rapid sand, rapid carbon, slow sand, and biological carbon filters. The process is shown for each type of filter, with simple explanations of the benefits, limitations, and basic operational requirements.

Filtration - HTML Version

Top of Page

Disinfection - Flash Animation

When high quality water is required, such as drinking water, household water or livestock watering, disinfection is an essential barrier. Disinfection kills disease-causing organisms. The disinfection animation shows why bacteria, parasites and viruses pass through the initial treatment barriers, and describes how chlorine or ultraviolet light may be used to kill these organisms. Disinfection is usually the last barrier in municipal water treatment. Continual water testing is always necessary to ensure the disinfection process is working effectively.

Disinfection - HTML Version

Top of Page

Polishing Methods - Flash Animation

Small-scale water treatment systems for private rural water treatment are generally not managed by chemists, biologists, engineers and technologists, and the treated water quality is not frequently tested, as is the case for municipal supplies. Therefore for rural households, another water treatment polishing barrier is recommended after the initial pre-treatment processes. A polishing barrier will increase the safety of water used for human consumption. Two ideal polishing barriers are shown in the animation: reverse osmosis filtration and distillation. These processes are very effective in removing impurities that the pre-treatment barriers did not remove. A final note: Remember to operate and maintain every barrier, and be sure to test the final drinking water on a regular basis to ensure its safety for consumption.

Polishing Methods - HTML Version