4.2 Access to Freshwater

Question 1

Water Security

Answer 1

Ensuring sustainable access to adequate quantities and quality of water for health, livelihoods, and production.

Question 2

Water Stress

Answer 2

A situation where the demand for water exceeds the available amount during a certain period or when its use is restricted due to poor quality.

Question 3

Water Scarcity

Answer 3

A lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands of water usage within a region.

Question 4

Economic Water Scarcity vs Physical Water Scarcity

Answer 4

Economic Water Scarcity: Lack of investment in water infrastructure or technology, leading to an unequal distribution of water.
Physical Water Scarcity: Insufficient natural water resources to meet a region’s demand.

Question 5

Day Zero (0)

Answer 5

A term used to describe the day when a city’s water supply is expected to run out, prompting severe restrictions.

Question 6

Domestic Water Consumption

Answer 6

Water used for household purposes such as drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing.

Typically also includes pools, and gardens.

Question 7

Municipal Water Supply

Answer 7

The provision of water by a municipality (strategic/governmental unit) for residential, commercial, and industrial use within a community.

Question 8

Water Allocation

Answer 8

The distribution of water resources among users, including agricultural, industrial, and domestic sectors.

Question 9

Water Restrictions

Answer 9

Regulations limiting water use during periods of drought or scarcity, to ensure sustainable management of the resource.
Limiting car washing, garden watering, shower-length etc

Question 10

Water Buyback Scheme

Answer 10

A policy where the government purchases water rights from users to restore environmental flows in rivers and lakes.

Question 11

Water Rights

Answer 11

Held by farmers to grant them legal access to a specific amount of water for agricultural purposes, such as irrigation. These rights can be essential for crop production and are typically tied to the land or allocated by government agencies based on local water laws and regulations.

Question 12

Greywater

Answer 12

Wastewater generated from domestic activities like laundry, dishwashing, and bathing, which can be recycled for non-potable uses.

Not toilets…this is called sewage!

Question 13

Potable water

Answer 13

Water that is safe for human consumption. It is free from harmful contaminants, pathogens, and pollutants, meeting health standards for drinking, cooking, and other domestic uses.

Question 14

Rainwater Harvesting

Answer 14

The collection and storage of rainwater for reuse on-site, rather than allowing it to run off.

Question 15

Water table

Answer 15

The upper surface of the zone of saturation.

Question 15

Aquifer

Answer 15

A geological formation that can store, transmit, and supply groundwater.

Question 16

Artesian water

Answer 16

Groundwater that is confined under pressure in an aquifer, which flows to the surface through wells without pumping.

Question 17

Aquifer Recharge

Answer 17

The process by which water is added to an aquifer, either naturally through precipitation or artificially.

Question 18

Drawdown

Answer 18

The lowering of the water table around a well as water is pumped out.

Question 19

Potentiometric Surface

Answer 19

The level to which water will rise in a well due to the hydraulic head in a confined aquifer.

Question 20

Confining bed

Answer 20

A layer of impermeable rock or sediment that restricts the flow of groundwater from one aquifer to another.

Question 21

Capping and Piping

Answer 21

Techniques used to control the flow of water from an aquifer, often involving sealing or installing pipes to manage water extraction.

Question 22

Subsidence

Answer 22

The gradual sinking of the ground due to excessive withdrawal of groundwater, leading to compaction of the aquifer.

Don’t confuse with “subsistence”

Question 23

Great Artesian Basin

Answer 23

One of the largest artesian groundwater basins in the world, located in Australia.
Supplies water for stock in otherwise arid and un-productive pastoral country.

Question 24

Flood irrigation

Answer 24

A traditional method of irrigation where water is poured over a field, leading to high water use and potential waste.

Question 25

Drip irrigation

Answer 25

A water-efficient irrigation method that delivers water directly to plant roots through a network of tubes, reducing evaporation and runoff.

Question 26

Aral Sea

Answer 26

A formerly large lake in Central Asia, now largely dried up due to diversion of inflowing rivers for irrigation.

Question 27

Lake Chad

Answer 27

A large, shallow lake in Africa, experiencing significant shrinkage due to climate change and water extraction.

Question 28

Three Gorges Dam

Answer 28

A hydroelectric dam on the Yangtze River in China, one of the largest in the world.

Question 29

Colorado River

Answer 29

A major river in the southwestern United States, crucial for water supply in the region but heavily over-allocated.

Question 30

Hoover Dam

Answer 30

A large dam on the Colorado River, providing water storage, hydroelectric power, and recreation.

Question 31

Hydroelectric Power

Answer 31

Electricity generated by the energy of flowing water, typically using dams to harness and convert energy.

Question 32

Run of River Dam

Answer 32

A type of hydroelectric power generation that uses the natural flow of the river without large reservoirs, minimizing environmental impact.

Question 33

Advantages of damming a river

Answer 33

Includes water storage for irrigation and drinking, flood control, hydroelectric power generation, and recreation.

Question 34

Disadvantages of damming a river

Answer 34

Can disrupt local ecosystems, displace communities, cause sediment buildup, and alter water temperature and flow patterns.

Question 35

Wastewater

Answer 35

Water that has been used in homes, businesses, and industries and is no longer clean.

Question 36

Wastewater Recycling

Answer 36

The process of treating wastewater to make it suitable for reuse, either for irrigation, industrial processes, or even as potable water.

Question 37

Cloud Seeding

Answer 37

A weather modification technique that involves dispersing substances into the air to encourage precipitation.

Question 38

Desalinisation

Answer 38

The process of removing salt and other impurities from seawater to produce fresh water.

Question 39

Advantages of desalinisation

Answer 39

Provides a reliable source of fresh water, especially in arid regions or during droughts.

Question 40

Disadvantages of desalinisation

Answer 40

High energy consumption, expensive, and can have environmental impacts due to brine disposal.

Question 41

Drought

Answer 41

an extended period of time when an area experiences a shortage of water supply, typically due to lower-than-average rainfall. This lack of precipitation can lead to water scarcity, affecting agriculture, drinking water supplies, and the environment. Droughts can vary in severity and duration, and they often result in significant economic, social, and ecological impacts.

Question 42

How Does Climate Change Affect the Availability of Freshwater?

Answer 42

Climate change can alter precipitation patterns, increase the frequency and severity of droughts, and reduce snowmelt, impacting freshwater availability.

Question 43

What might cause water scarcity to increase (or Be High)?

Answer 43

Factors include population growth, over-extraction of water resources, pollution, inefficient water use, and climate change.

Question 44

Management strategies that might reduce water scarcity

Answer 44

Includes water conservation measures, improved irrigation techniques, wastewater recycling, desalination, and sustainable water management policies.

Question 45

Pivot Irrigation

Answer 45

A mechanized irrigation system that rotates around a central pivot point, distributing water evenly across a circular field.
Can lead to water losses through wind drift

Question 46

Abstraction

Answer 46

the process of extracting water from natural sources such as rivers, lakes, aquifers, or reservoirs for use in agriculture, industry, or domestic consumption.