5.7b physical and human causes of water insecurity

Question 1

climate variability

Answer 1

• severe droughts e.g. 2005 and 2010 droughts in Brazil, can affect water supply
• precipitation varies globally as a result of atmospheric pressure systems –> the low-pressure zone of mid-latitudes and equatorial zones have the highest rainfall –> generally water secure
• widespread melting due to climate warming e.g. melting of the Bolivian Andes is threatening water supplies for La Paz and El Alto
  Between 1986 and 2014, the glaciers of Bolivia shrank by 43%

Question 2

saltwater intrusion

Answer 2

it is the intrusion of saltwater over freshwater aquifers in the ground

saltwater intrusion can take place as a result of a global sea-level rise and localised abstraction of groundwater

means that freshwater is contaminated with seawater

threatens farming and natural ecosystems e.g. Sundarbans in Bangladesh

Question 3

over-abstraction of water

Answer 3

water can be over-abstracted can be for irrigation or drinking water
Bangladesh and Pakistan!!!

Question 4

water contamination from agriculture

Answer 4

chemical fertilisers contaminate groundwater and rivers, causing eutrophication in lakes and rivers (problem in China in 2007 - 2 million didn’t have access to drinking water)

Question 5

industrial water pollution

Answer 5

industrial water is dumped into rivers and oceans

heavy metals and chemical waste is toxic

for example, many industries such as tanneries discharge their waste directly into the river Ganges
(citrum, indonesia)

Question 6

china

Answer 6

• 300 million people use contaminated water daily
• 190 million people suffer from water-related illnesses annually
• 1/3rd of rivers, 3/4 of major lakes and 1/4 of coastal zones are highly polluted

Question 7

bangladesh

Answer 7

-a study found that about 39% of tube-wells in Bangladesh are contaminated with arsenic
unsafe because arsenic can cause major health problems
including cancer of the skin, lungs, bladder and kidney

Question 8

water insecurity

Answer 8

when a country cannot guarantee that it has sufficient water sources to meet current demands

insecurity is intensified when a country has to import water