Access to fresh water Flashcards
Why can we not just desalinate water?
It is very difficult and expensive.
What do humans use water for?
Domestic purposes Agriculture Industry Hydroelectric power generation transportation
What is wrong with water worlwide?
It is unevenly distributed
Example of unever water distribution?
Egypt has to import over half of it’s food because it does not have enough water to grow it
What is an aquifer?
a layer of porous rock sandwiched between two layers of impermeable rock.
What is water flow in aquifers like? What does this mean?
extremely slow. This means it is often used unsustainably.
What are freshwater problems?
- Climate change
- Low water levels in rivers and streams
- Slow water flow in rivers
- underground aquifers being exhausted
- Contamination of freshwater
- Irrigation causes salinization
- Fertilisers and pesticides pollute water sources
- Industries release warm water into rivers
Why is climate change a problem for water sources?
It may disrupt rainfall patterns, causing inequality of water supply.
Why does irrigation often lead to salinization?
Because a lot of the water in spray irrigation evaporates before it is absorbed by the crops. Minerals ramain in the top layer of the soil, making it too saline for further agriculture.
Why is warm water released into storages bad?
Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen so fish are affected.
Solutions:
Increase water supply Reduce domestic use of freshwater wash cars in car washes with a closed water system grey water recycling irrigation reduce pesticide and fertilizer
