4.2 Access to Freshwater Flashcards
Explain the term “water scarcity”
Water scarcity can be defined as a lack of sufficient water, or not having access to safe water supplies.
increasing demand for freshwater LEDCs
- expanding populations
- rising standards of living
- changing agricultural practices
- expanding industry
population growth and water scarcity
- As global population grows, the demand for fresh water is rapidly increasing. This trend puts significant pressure on existing water resources and infrastructure.
- Agriculture accounts for about 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. As food demand rises, so does the need for irrigation water.
- Industries require substantial amounts of water for manufacturing processes, cooling, and waste disposal. As countries industrialize, their water consumption typically increases. (it takes about 10,000 liters of water to produce a single pair of jeans.)
increasing freshwater supplies RES
Reservoirs:
Large dams and reservoirs can store water during wet periods for use during dry seasons or droughts. However, they often come with significant environmental and social costs.
increasing freshwater supply RED
Redistribution
Water can be transferred from water-rich regions to water-scarce areas through canals, pipelines, or even tanker ships.
increasing freshwater supply RED Case Study
The South-North Water Transfer Project in China aims to divert 44.8 billion cubic meters of water annually from the Yangtze River in southern China to the more arid northern regions.
increasing freshwater supply D
Converting seawater into freshwater through processes like reverse osmosis can provide a reliable water source for coastal areas, albeit at high energy and financial costs.
increasing freshwater supply D Case Study
In Dubai, the Jebel Ali Power and Desalination Complex — the largest facility of its kind in the world — pipes water from the sea, sending it through a series of treatment phases, then to the city as drinkable water
increasing freshwater supply A
Aquifers
an underground level of permable rock, gravel or sand that stores groundwater. Water collects in the spaces between the particles and can be extracted through wells or pumps. The aritficial recharge by humans can recharge ground water and increase its availability.
increasing freshwater supply RH
Collecting and storing rainwater for later use
- Simple rainwater harvesting systems can be implemented at the household level, providing a supplementary water source for non-potable uses like gardening and toilet flushing.
water scarcity and conflict - explanation
- growing populations -> growing demand for freshwater
- water resources -> becoming a limiting factor in many societies
-> more dependent on groundwater (non-renewable)
-> more development = higher need - water scarcity can lead to:
-> mass migration
-> civil unrest
-> wars
water scarcity and conflict case study
🌍 Nile Basin Water Conflict – Key Notes
- Nile River flows through 11 countries, including Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
- It is a critical freshwater source for the region.
🔹 Historical Context
- Egypt and Sudan have historically relied heavily on the Nile.
- Colonial-era treaties gave Egypt and Sudan the majority of water rights.
- Upstream countries, especially Ethiopia, were excluded from these agreements.
🔹 Current Tensions
- Ethiopia is building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile (originates in Ethiopia).
- GERD is intended to boost Ethiopia’s development and electricity generation.
- Egypt fears that GERD will reduce downstream water flow, affecting its agriculture and water security.
🔹 Efforts to Resolve
- Negotiations have been ongoing but remain inconclusive.
- International organizations (e.g. UN, World Bank) have attempted to mediate.
Key issue: balancing equitable water use, economic development, and environmental sustainability.
factors contributing to water conflicts
- Unequal distribution of water resources
- Increasing water demand due to population growth and economic development
- Climate change impacts on water availability
- Lack of cooperative management frameworks
- Historical and political tensions between nations
Access to an adequate fresh water supply varies widely
- 3/4 annual rainfall > areas with less than 1/3 world pop
- 1/4 annual rainfall > areas with 2/3 world pop
- availability will become more stressed in the future
increasing demand for freshwater MEDCs
- wash more frequently
- water gardens
- wash cars
increasing demand for freshwater globally
- rapid urbanisation -> more people live in urban/shanty towns where it is difficult to provide an adequate supply of freshwater or sanitation
- irrigation
- industrialisatoin
Reservoirs PROs
- help regulate seasonal availability of water
- provide reliable water supplies for areas with inconsistent rainfall
- support growing populations/urban development
- provides consistent irrigation for crops
Reservoirs CONS
- high construction costs
- sedimentation
- ecosystem disruption
Redistribution PROs
- prevents over-extraction
- helps during droughts
- economic growth
Redistribution CONs
- high cost
- enviornmental impact (diverting rivers/draining lakes)
- water loss (long-distance transfers may lead to leakage, wastng water)
Desalinisation PROs
- supports growing populations
- stable, long-term solution
- reduces pressure on freshwater ecosystems
Desalinsation CONs
- expensive (to build and maintain)
- not possible for landlocked countries
- salty waste (brine) is dumped back into sea -> might harm marine ecosystems
Aquifers PROs
- reliable (groundwater = even in dry seasons)
- protected from contamination
- widely available
- useful for rural areas, far from rivers or lakes
Aquifers CONs
- slow recharge rate
- overextraction possible
RH PROs
- cost-effective
- reduces demand on main water supply
- useful in rural and remote areas
- improves self-sufficiency
RH CONs
- storage limits
- rainfall dependent
- maintenance required
- limited use (not for drinking without treatment unless purified)
