3.2.5.3 Water security

Question 1

what factors will help improve water management?

Answer 1

technology

Question 2

examples of technological factors improve water supply?

Answer 2

GM crops

Desalination

Question 3

define desalination

Answer 3

process of removing mineral salt from seawater

Question 4

adv/ disadv of GM crops

Answer 4

+drought-resistant seeds (maize/rice)
+reduce agricultural demand
+yield higher ^food insecurity
+reduce potential conflict over water

• vulnerable to diseases

Question 5

what are the Sources of water

Answer 5

• most water is found in the oceans
• not drinkable , saline
• 69% of freshwater is in glaciers and ice caps

Question 6

Sources of water humans use

Answer 6

• surface water supplies eg rivers and reservoirs
• underground stores eg groundwater and aquifers
• seawater (after desalination
• reverse osmosis)

Question 7

What is green water?

Answer 7

Water intercepted, stores and released by vegetation through evaporation and transpiration

Question 8

What is blue water

Answer 8

Visible part of the water cycle surface flows and recharging aquifers

Question 9

What is grey water

Answer 9

Fresh water that is polluted

Question 10

What is water stress

Answer 10

Imbalance between water use and water resources available where a lack of water cause a major constant on human activity

Question 11

What causes water stress

Answer 11

Differences between supply and demand

Question 12

Which places have high water stress

Answer 12

• North Africa sue to low rainfall and high agricultural use
• Middle East has deserts with low rainfall and high population

Question 13

What issues does having extremely high water stress have

Answer 13

• health issues
• cause political issues as countries may argue on who owns reservoirs and who has access to water

Question 14

How much water is considered a human right

Answer 14

• WHO states that between 50 to 100litres of water per person per day is needed to ensure that most basic needs are met
• most people are categorised as lacking access to clean water
• only 71% of people have access to safe drinking water this used to be 60% in 2000

Question 15

High income countries and water access

Answer 15

• high income countries have way more safely manège drinking facilities than low income
• high income countries have 98% safely managed access to drinking water whereas low income has 29% this being over 3x

Question 16

Water scarcity

Answer 16

• areas of water stress eg, Middle East and Northern Africa
• water scarcity eg, Middle East due to Arabian desert

Question 17

What is physical water scarcity

Answer 17

Natures provision of water is insufficient to meet population needs eg, western USA , Australia

Question 18

What is economic water scarcity

Answer 18

Population doesn’t have the monetary means to utilise adequate water supply

Question 19

Relationship of water supply with climate

Answer 19

• soil water budget shows that water storage and precipitation is greatest in winter and autumn
• high temp = high evaporation rates
• in some countries monsoon season is significant in replenishing water supply
• drier climates cause reduce their overall water supply

Question 20

Relationship of water supply with geology

Answer 20

• permeable rock can be infiltrated and water stored underground in aquifers providing long term water store during summer months
• Alternating bands of impermeable and permeable rock create underground water basins water is filtered through rock means good quality water
• mountainous regions encourage relief rainfall increasing water supply

Question 21

Relationship of water supply with drainage

Answer 21

number of inputs to a river helps ensure a ​consistent water supply. If one supply of water decreases, the other water sources (e.g. ​groundwater flow) ensure the overall impact on the ​drainage basin is not significant.

• mountainous areas of Ethiopia and other African countries, ​droughts upstream can decrease supplies downstream​. Egypt has little rainfall that supplies the Nile

Question 22

Local water conflicts: Kaladera, Northern India

Answer 22

• heavily reliant on erratic monsoons rains for recharging rivers and underground aquifers - Coca

-Cola has been heavily criticised for causing extreme water shortages in developing countries

• for every 2.7litres of water used it creates 1 litre of product
• In 2016 Coca-Cola was battling 3 states where farmers were protesting the company’s use of dwindling groundwater reserves and how they depleted the water level leaving no water to irrigate
• 2014 they were able to reach water at 20ft now there’s no water at 500ft

Question 23

Sustainability issues: Virtual water change

Answer 23

• countries in water scarcity can save water resources by relying more on the import of food
• water used to produce food and commodities
• Mexico imports more water than they give
• Africa has low amounts of water imports in comparison to the rest of the continents
• being aware of total water value can help countries manage their water more sustainable
• some commodities are water intensive such as India being the worlds largest importing of basmati rice

Question 24

National water conflicts: The Colorado River

Answer 24

• the Colorado river is a vital source of water for 40 million people in South western America
• there’s a 16 year drought
• the river has been tamed by a plumbing system of multiple dams and reservoirs supplying to farmer and cities
• conflict between USA and Mexico and farmers who want to use it for irrigation, native Indian population who claim rights to water, neighbouring settlements eg Las Vegas which are dry areas

Question 25

International water conflicts: The River Nile, Africa

Answer 25

• the white and blue Nile rise at the Ethiopian highlands
• Egypt relies on the Nile for 95% of its water
• A colonial treaty between Egypt and Sudan leaves almost all the Nile’s water to them
• in 2011, Ethiopia started to build be grand thiopian Renaissance Dam near the border with Sudan to generate hydroelectric power (HEP) and take better control of the river’s flow to prevent drought and hooding. Egypt is concerned that the dam will lead to the loss of billions of cubic metres of water by evaporation from the lake formed behind the dam, meaning that less water will flow into Egypt. This led to disputes between the two countries, but a partial agreement was reached in 2015.

Question 26

Impacts of grand renaissance

Answer 26

finished being built in 2017 in Ethiopia Benishangul founded by the government

positives:
economic development and created 12,000 jobs

negatives :
20,000 people displaced
- descrease in marine species
- very dependent on dam as holding back even 10% of water puts 5 million farmers out of work in Egypt

Question 27

Egypts Dam Problem

Answer 27

• Egypt imports 50% of its food
• 99% of Egypt freshwater comes from the Nile
• Ethiopia receives 200cm of rain per year in some areas
• less than 10mm of rain in Egypt per year

Question 28

strategies to manage water consumption reducing domestic use

Answer 28

• having showers instead of baths
• collecting rain water to use on gardens
• installing low flush or dual flush toilets
• filling kettles with just enough water for needs
• using newer tech such as water efficient washing machines/ dishwashers
• In 2001 the UK government banned the use of toilets that use 6l plus in one flush

Challenges:
- expensive - people may not stick to behaviour changes - wild scale effort to see impact

Question 29

Water catchment to increase water supply
(egypt dam) +/-

Answer 29

• dams block rivers so that reservoirs of water build up behind this supplies large amounts of drinking water all year round reducing water insecurity especially where precipitation may be seasonal

positive:
can help fishing and tourism industries from HEP

negative:
can cause conflict and restrict water flow downstream
- expensive

• Aswan Dam in the river Nile finished in 1970 in Egypt yields economic benefits through maximising the utility on irrigated land and producing Hydroelectric power ( the dams 12 turbines can generate 10 Billion kilowatt hours annually)

Question 30

strategies managing water consumption

Reducing Agricultural use strategies

Answer 30

• drip feed irrigation deliver drip directly at plant base
• contour ploughing ( ploughing across a slope to reduce runoff)

Challenges - time consuming - expensive

Question 31

management of water consumption example

Answer 31

Water restrictions Cape Town

• now limited to using 13 gallons of water per person per day
• Cape towns water app was used to shame households of their water use
• £500 fines used on people who use water to fill up swimming pool or water the lawn
• reduced water pressure to reduce leaks
  + cheaper due to no infrastructure
• inequalities within Cape Town as richer people are less likely to follow
• relies on people not to change back

Question 32

Sustainable industry example - Walkers crisp

Answer 32

• reducing energy consumption by using wind turbines
• ensuring all packet bags are 100% renewable by 2030
• using fertilisers made from food waste produced by potato plants

Question 33

Sustainability issues: Lack of use of recycling and grey water

Answer 33

• recycling of water done through expensive sewage treatments
• grey water can be used for watering plants or flushing toilets
• not all companies may be willing to use grey water for irrigation

Question 34

Sustainability issues: Groundwater depletion

Answer 34

• can be managed but still a possibility of exploitation
• LICs may not be able to get aquifers
• fines introduced for industry’s that dump toxic water wont fully deter them

Question 35

Sustainability issues: Virtual water change

Answer 35

• countries in water scarcity can save water resources by relying more on the import of food
• water used to produce food and commodities
• Mexico imports more water than they give
• Africa has low amounts of water imports in comparison to the rest of the continents
• being aware of total water value can help countries manage their water more sustainable
• some commodities are water intensive such as India being the worlds largest importing of basmati rice