3.6 Water Flashcards
What are dams and reservoirs?
Dam: a barrier to hold back water so it can be saved, managed, and controlled to prevent the flow of excess water into specific regions. They can also be used to produce hydroelectric energy.
Reservoir: artificial lakes mainly used for storing water.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of dams and reservoirs?
Advantages:
- water can be released when required.
- capacity can be increased relatively easily.
- can provide hydroelectricity.
- can provide bridges across valleys.
Disadvantages:
- they can’t be built everywhere.
- disruption of habitats as large areas of land is flooded.
- negative effect on ecosystems and aquatic life.
What are wells and bore holes?
Wells are wide holes made into the ground usually by hand to gain liquids such as water.
Boreholes are narrow holes drilled into the ground by machines to get water.
Water then reaches the surface by pumping, buckets, or adequate pressure.
This is especially important in arid areas.
(An aquifer is a water bearing rock)
What is desalination?
The process of removing salts, minerals, and contaminants from seawater and waste water.
It does not affect the water level of rivers, can be large scale, but the plants are expensive to make and use.
What are other potential methods of acquiring water?
How does water use vary in LICs and HICs?
Agriculture purposes:
HICs have more urbanisation and industrial areas. The workforce in the primary sector is smaller. They have better technology and money to buy more efficient seeds so less water is used compared to LICs.
Domestic purposes:
HICs are more developed and have the infrastructure to supply water directly to homes which can afford to pay for water, meaning they use more compared to LICs.
Industrial purposes:
HICs have more industrialism and factories and have existing infrastructure so can cheaply supply water to them, increasing it’s use.
What is physical water scarcity?
When physical access to water is limited.
What is economic water scarcity?
When a population does not have the monetary means to utilise an adequate source of water.
What are some causes of water shortages?
What are the impacts of water shortages on local people and the potential for economic development?
