5.8b importance of water supply for economic development and wellbeing Flashcards
1
Q
agriculture
A
absorbs 2/3rds of water extractions globally
2
Q
industry
A
growth rates such as China’s 6.8% in 2017 create demand for water
esp. for industrial use
3
Q
food preparation
A
by 2050, food production will require 140% more water
4
Q
energy supply
A
nearly all forms of energy generation need water as part of the production process
75% of water consumption in the UK is linked to energy generation
5
Q
health
A
improving safe water supplies improves health
poor quality water can lead to high levels of morbidity in a country
water is a breeding ground for many vectors of diseases
- malarial mosquitoes, snails and parasitic worms
- debilitating diseases –> malaria, dengue fever, zika virus
6
Q
sanitation
A
strong positive correlation between access to safe water and sanitation and wealth
every dollar spent on improving sanitation generates an average economic benefit of $7
