5.8c water conflicts

Question 1

countries that share water basins with neighbour countries

Answer 1

90% of all countries share water basins with at least one of their neighbours –> there is a high potential for conflict

Question 2

Nile River

Answer 2

vied over by 11 countries, many of which have arid climates - existing water stress, which makes conflict more likely

1929, first Nile waters agreement was created –> provided Egypt with 48 million cubic metres of water and the power to veto any construction projects along the Nile
Sudan got 4 million cubic metres

SO other countries were only left with 14% of the Nile’s waters

WINNERS
EGYPT - it is dependent on the Nile for 95% of its water needs and it is the furthest downstream country
Egypt is the only country that still insists on using this policy

LOSERS
ETHIOPIA - requires large volumes of water for crop irrigation, HEP and industry

Ethiopia feels it is an outdated and unfair system –> allocated water resources are below their water needs

in 2010, a new water agreement was signed that states all countries have equal rights to Nile water but not all countries have signed

Question 3

Aral Sea

Answer 3

upstream rivers were diverted in a river basin at the expense of lower basin users

The Aral Sea used to be the world’s fourth-largest inland area

in the late 1950s, the Soviet government diverted the majority of the water from the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya rivers for their fruit and cotton farming industry

caused major conflict between the water used

today, less than 10% of the sea remains

Question 4

Colorado River

Answer 4

flows through Mexico and seven American states

this river is the supply of 1.4 million hectares of farmland and drinking water for 50 million Americans

in 2012, the Minute 319 agreement was signed by America and Mexico to give Mexico the right to store some of the river’s water in Lake Mead

focussing on using their water efficiently by getting rid of leakages and investing in desalination plants

Question 5

Ganges River

Answer 5

flows through Bangladesh, North Idea and Bengal
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

over 95% of the land in the upper Gangetic Plain has been degraded by agriculture or conversion to urban areas

provides water to about 40% of India’s population
fifth most polluted in the world due to sewage waste and industrial waste seeping into its waters

led to declining health and sanitation

outbreaks of waterborne diseases incl. cholera and hepatitis

Question 6

no. of water conflicts

Answer 6

only 25% of international water ‘events’ between 1948 and 2008 resulted in any form of conflict, with 1.5% causing serious wars