Water

The Base’s existing water distribution system is fed by the Town of Weymouth’s system with an agreement not to exceed 150,000 gallons per day of potable water.

The Plan is likely to require 1.3 million gallons per day. Water demand for commercial/biomedical use is estimated at 750 gpd per 1,000 s/f of building space. The residential demand is based on 65 gallons per capita day. Golf course irrigation is estimated at 500,000 gpd during grow-in period and 300,000 gpd during peak irrigation season. General landscaping irrigation is estimated at 150,000 gpd.

A self-sufficient system using stormwater, graywater, recycling and on-site sources will be utilized to handle the needs of the development.

The Water Cycle

To view a diagram showing the Earth's Water Cycle click here.

The water cycle is an endless process of water circulation going on throughout the world.

To trace the movement of water through the cycle, begin at the far right of the diagram. There the sun's energy is transferring water from the sea and earth to the atmosphere in the form of water vapor. The soil and inland water bodies through evaporation and plants through transpiration add large amounts of water vapor to the atmosphere, but most of it comes from the oceans. Man, animals, and machines add small amounts by means of respiration and combustion.

Air masses (top of diagram) carry the water vapor across the earth, and the water vapor condenses into precipitation.

At the left, precipitation falls as rain, snow, sleet, hail. Some evaporates while falling and returns to the atmosphere. A small amount is intercepted and held by plants or by buildings, automobiles, and other structures and machines until it evaporates back into the atmosphere.

Most of the precipitation soaks into the soil; the part that doesn't run to the sea by way of streams and rivers. Ground water gets there more slowly.

Misuse and poor management of the soil will decrease the amount of water that soaks into the soil and increase the amount that runs off over the surface. Runoff on bare land leads to erosion. Grass, trees, and other plants hold the soil in place and slow the runoff, allowing more water to soak into the soil.

Some of the water that soaks into the soil is used by plants. Part of it percolates beyond the reach of plant roots to the water table, to underground reservoirs, and to springs and artesian wells.

Runoff on its way to the sea can be intercepted and stored for industrial or household use, and it can be diverted for irrigation.

Little water has been added or lost through the ages. The water cycle prevails in all places and at all times with neither beginning nor end.

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