Case studies Flashcards
Reduction of water usage in london (deindustrialisation) has lead to less groundwater being extracted
WHICH HAS LEAD TO LONDON EXPERIENCING??
Surface water flooding
Flooding of cellars and basements in houses
Leakages of water into the underground tunnels
Water supplies likely to become polluted
What is an example of deforestation
The Amazon
how can deforestation impact the water cycle
Deforestation can disrupt the water cycle as we see a reduction in transpiration and an increase in surface runoff therefore flooding occurs more frequently leading to changes in river flow and water volume
what percentage of the amazons trees does it need to continue its critical hydrological cycle
Amazon needs 80% of the trees standing to continue this critical hydrological cycle, it’s now at its tipping point with 81% left intact
what will happen to the amazon without the hydrological cycle
Without the hydrological cycle its predicted the amazon will turn into grasslands/deserts
finish the sentence:
Water cannot be released back into the atmosphere from groundwater as trees and plants do this one tree can lift…
100 gallons of water out for ground into air per day
why is the cycle of tree uplift essential to the amazon rainforest
is cycle provides essential moisture for agriculture and urban water reserves in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina
how does deforestation of the amazon cause drought?
less plants means less evapotranspiration which then needs to less rainfall therefore causing drought
how does deforestation rates affect interception rates of the amazon rainforest
Interception rates are affected as deforestation prevents multi-layered forests from catching rainfall which now Falls to the floor
does deforestation cause percolation and infiltration to increase or decrease
increase
what does increased percolation and infiltration cause in the amazon rainforest
Infiltration and percolation increase leading to the water table becoming closer to the soil surface, the rainforest would soak up rainfall brought up by tropical storms BUT without the forest cover infiltration rates are affected therefore increasing overland flow
what does increased overland flow in the Amazon cause
Overland flows increase rainfall which means the runoff rapidly flows into streams creating higher risks of flooding
where is an example of water abstraction taking place
The aral sea
what is water abstraction
Water abstraction is the act of taking water from sources such as Rivers canals and the sea
WHO and WHEN was water abstracted form the aral sea
hint: after WW2
Water from the Aral sea was abstracted in 1960s by soviets to irrigate surrounding desert region for agricultural purposes
what did water abstraction of the aral sea lead to a drop in
this reduced river inflows causing the sea to shrink by 50%
Finish the sentence:
After 1990 the rate of water loss has been slowly…..
decreasing
why has the water loss in the aral sea slowly been decreasing
there are negative feedback systems that could have slowed water loss such as increased salinity due to this rise in salinity evaporation rates have fallen which partially offsets the positive feedback of water loss
due to abstraction of the aral sea what is lower that causes wells to dry up
As a result of abstraction Wells can dry up due to a lower water table
the aral seas water table is lower, what can this cause
reduction of water in streams and Lakes as Rivers often get a lot of their water from through flowing groundwater sources.
Removal of groundwater sources via abstraction decreases the amount of water available for rivers and streams on the surface some Rivers may dry up.
where is the Ogallala aquifer
This aquifer underlies parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming in America
why is the Ogallala aquifer significant to the area
The regional economy depends on Ogallala’s groundwater to irrigate agriculture
how has agriculture caused the Ogallala aquifer to fall
irrigate agriculture this leads to water being extracted more than it’s been replenished
what does abstraction of the Ogallala aquifer do to the water table
Wells dry up as over abstraction lowers the water table so water wouldn’t float into the well
how does abstraction of the Ogallala aquifer affect surface level water i.e rivers and streams
Rivers get their water from throughflow and groundwater flow
removal of water from groundwater reduces the amount available for rivers and streams on the surface
what has abstraction of the Ogallala aquifer caused to the land
Land subsidence
Land subsidence occurs when water is part of the sub-surface support for the land above when water is taken out of a soil (abstraction) and rock it collapses, compacts and drops
What dam has built on lake nasser, Egypt
Aswan Dam
why was the aswan dam constructed
The dam was constructed to regulate the flow of the river which serves the whole of Egypt
what does the Aswan dam prevent from happening
the damn prevents the release of all flood water as it only releases water when needed to maximise its utility on irrigated land to irrigate thousands of new hectares
what is a benefit of the Aswan Dam construction for Egypt
this brought devastating floods to an end as Egypt claimed more than 100,000 acres of desert land for cultivation (growing plants) which made additional crops possible on 800,000 other acres
what are the negatives of the Aswan Dams construction for Egypt
- Soil waterlogging - water was unable to drain away
- Build up of soil salinity - when solvable sought to retained in the Earth this reduces growth preventing plant reproduction ions are toxic to plants so as concentration Rises the plants die cause in a rising the water table
- the waters in Lake NASA have threatened the health of people using or residing near the Nile. downstream the damn promotes the presence of parasitic diseases
- nearby aquifers are flooded by increased amounts of water due to year-on rather than seasonal irrigation
what does Australia look like during a normal year compared to an el nino year or la nina year
Warm water evaporation
Rain ( due to LP (low pressure))
what does australia look like during an el nino year
Less rain (due to HP (high pressure))
Dry
Impact = droughts fires
what does australia look like during a la nina year
LP = lots of flooding due to increased rain
what does South America look like during a normal year compared to an el nino or la nina year
Cold water
No rain (HP)
Upwelling
Nutrients from deep ocean attracting fish and boosting fishing industry
what does S. America look like during an el nino year
Too much warm water
Lots of rain (LP)
Impacts = flooding
Decline in fishing industry as no upwelling for fish to migrate for nutrients
what does S. America look like during a la nina year
HP = little rain → drought
Lots of upwelling fishing industry will do well
impact of drought on forests such as the Amazon have led to
thinning forests
lower PPT
what is the affect of thinning forests in the amazon
Reduced soil water storage
Reduced evapotranspiration
Changing weather patterns
lower ppt
TRUE or FALSE: is it thought the amazon forest is near the tipping point
FALSE
it is thought it is beyond the tipping point
TRUE or FALSE: climate change, el nino and deforestation will lead to drought
TRUE
The combined risk of climate change, el nino and deforestation will lead to drought occurring more frequently
TRUE or FALSE: the uk is prepared for flooding in the future
false
they not prepared at ALL
how come the uk is poorly prepared for the future of climate change impacts
UK is poorly prepared for future of climate change impacts
Disrupt trade and military intervention overseas
Predicted heat waves of 48 degrees in london, high 30s across the nation
Critical facilities at risk e.g hospitals, care homes
→ not designed to prevent overheating, built in flood prone areas
New disease and pests invade UK as climate rises
Benefits of CC: increased exports of goods and services such as flood defences, increased tourism, longer growing season ( only if impact on the water supply and soil fertility is overcome)
benefits of climate change creating flooding
Benefits of CC: increased exports of goods and services such as flood defences, increased tourism, longer growing season ( only if impact on the water supply and soil fertility is overcome)
what are the 2 main types of drought that occur within Australia
The 2 main types of drought based on rainfall criteria
Serious deficiency: Rainfall totals within 10% of values record for at least 3 months
Severe deficiency: Rainfall totals within lowest 5% of values on record for at least 3 months
TRUE or FALSE: drought is not common in Australia
FALSE
Drought is a recurrent feature within Australia
what was the big dry in australia
a severe period of dry weather that affected the country’s water supply, agriculture, and ecosystems
how did the big dry impact australia
Covered a huge area in australia, for several years
It is thought to have been associated with longer-term climate change leading to a trend of a warmer, drier climate in southeastern Australia
It was assessed as a 1 in 1000 year event as it spread nationwide
It affected more than half the farmland, especially in the Murray-Darling Basin (agricultural heartland) → provides 50% of Australia’s food supply
→ impacts: food supply was severely affected as farmers rely on water to irrigate crops
Australia has sophisticated water supply systems and schemes however Adelaide became especially vulnerable as it drew 40% of igs water supply form the river Murray which has been extremely over extracted
Growing population which has one of the highest water consumption in the world due to extraction for agricultural, industrial and urban usage
statistics of the big dry
1 in 1000 year drought
Murray-Darling river system had its lowest ever October flow (month prior to drought)
Sydney’s largest reservoirs is now 40% full
Lowest wheat crop for 12 years, 62% decrease from last year
rainfall in east Australia is predicted to fall by 40% by 2070 as well as a 7 degree rise in temperature which increases risk of bushfire
examples of industrial water pollution
Industrial waste is dumped into rivers - Ganges
Heavy metals and chemical waste are particularly toxic can come from mines - NE China
Groundwater can be irreversibly damaged by high levels of toxicity, many wells with high concentrations of arsenic – Bangladesh
what regional water insecurity issues does Asia and the pacific experience
critical health problems –> 500,000 diarrhoea related infant deaths each year in Asia due to lack of access to safe drinking water
water pollution –> level of bacterial waste from human sources is 10x greater than recommended levels
overuse
- agriculture uses 90% of freshwater withdrawals in South Asia
-industrial pollution affects 60% of groundwater supplies across the Indo-Gangetic Basin (undrinkable for 750 million/ cant use groundwater for irrigation)
- aquifer depletion in Asia led to a fall in water availibility from 10,000 m^3 per capita (1950s) to less 3700 m^3 in 2010
-Withdrawals in W Asia exceed natural replacement
- Billion gallons of raw sewage is dumped into the Ganges each day
- 42% of chinas sewage and 45% of its industrial waste is dumped into the Yangtze river each year
what regional water insecurity issues does Europe/Central Asia experience
- a lack of access to clean drinking water in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
- Increasing water consumption with half of european cities over-exploiting their groundwater reserves
- declining water quality in countries w/ groundwater pollution
e.g Aral sea, Mediterranean, Scandinavian lakes
what regional water insecurity issues does North America experience
- aquifer depletion is increasing due to both population and urban growth + expansion of irrigation and industry (e.g cotton farming in Texas)
- changes in rainfall in Cali due to EL nino + climate change, led to drought, declining groundwater supplies and falling reservoirs
-water pollution from agricultural runoff has contaminated many ground and surface waters
what regional water insecurity issues does Africa experience
- Its predicted 25 African countries will face either water stress or scarcity by 2025
- 19 of the 25 countries with the lowest access to clean water are in Africa - highest child mortality rates
-lack of groundwater protection from agricultural uses - lack of risk preparedness and irrigation - flooding, droughts and storms displace people and cause chronic health issues
what regional water insecurity issues does Latin America and the Caribbean experience
- Groundwater contamination and depletion from the increasing release of hazardous wastes from mining, agriculture and industry
- poor sanitation - only 2% of the sewage in latin america is treated
- Economic scarcity, with conflict over access to and the use of water
does Canada’s water cost MORE or LESS than Germanys
Canada’s public sector supply’s more water yet their charges are 80% less than Germany
does the UK have HIGHER or LOWER water bills than Ireland
Ireland only began Charging for water in 2012, with there water bills being 75% less than the UK in 2016
who has the most expensive water in the world?
Denmark has the world’s most expensive water as its government aims to cut its water consumption through high pricing – based on passing on all costs to consumers.
why is Denmarks water so expensive?
its government is aiming to reduce water consumption through high pricing therefore, costs are passed onto the consumers
where is the most demand for water coming from?
the BRIC nations
what is the case study that give examples of the downsides of large scale irrigation
The aral sea
How would you describe the aral sea
The Aral Sea was once one of the four largest lakes in the world covering an area of 68,000 sq km but now it has shrunk to a fraction of its former size
Its western and central parts are covered by plains, whilst the eastern part is occupied by large mountain ranges which merge into the Himalayas and collect snow and ice in winter and release this as river flow in the summer.
How did the aral sea become depleted overtime?
hint: what was built/used
From the 1930s started to build canals to take water from the rivers supplying water for the aral sea to develop irrigated cotton and rice farming. This led to a successful cotton exporting industry in Uzbekistan (top 5 cotton producers).
During the 1960s they added more irrigation canals which meant less water was flowing into the Aral sea leading it to shrink.
From 1960 to 1998 the surface area of the sea fell by 60% and its volume by 80%. In 1987 the continued shrinkage of the sea split it into two: the North Aral Sea and the South Aral Sea.
In 2003 the South Aral Sea further divided into two, an eastern basin and a western basin. By 2004 the Aral’s surface area was only 17,160 sq km
By 2007 the Aral had shrunk even further to 10% of its original size. Part of the South Aral Sea by 2009 had extremely high rates of salinity – The high salinity meant that far fewer fish could live in the sea
what are the social impacts of the aral sea depleting over the years
The Aral Sea used to support a prosperous fishing industry, employing up to 40,000 people. As the sea shrank the water became even more polluted and saline, and so fewer species of fish could survive. Unemployment quickly became a problem amongst fishermen.
People moved away so local shops and services such as hospitals and schools found it harder to survive, some were even forced to close.
With the sea bed being it exposed the local climate is now colder in the winter and hotter in the summer.
The dried out seabed also contained many chemicals from the pesticides used on cotton as well as sewage residue – this created huge toxic dust storms from local winds. They created high rates of respiratory diseases for the people in the area such as tuberculosis as well as other health issues (anaemia, kidney, eye and liver problems).
what countries have contested water
China and India
China and Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam
Egypt and Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda
how does china and India have contested water
The Brahmaputra river could be diverted to ease scarcity problems in southern China, but this would then reduce supplies to India.
how does China and Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam have contested water
Chinese dams along the headwaters of the Mekong river threaten downstream nations but some of these have also been damming/taking more water from the river.
how does Egypt and Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda have contested water
The Blue and white Nile Basins supply Egypt with vital water, but 85% of it comes from the countries further upstream, where population growth and increasing demand could threaten Egypts supplies
How does the Colorado Basin cause water conflict
The Colorado River Basin is facing a water crisis due to climate change, drought, and overallocation of water
TRUE or FALSE: the colorado basin is the least controlled river in the world
FALSE:
It’s now considered the most controlled river in the world with every drop of its water being fully allocated.
why has the colorado basin faced water shortages
High rates of water removal for irrigation and industry combined with declining natural runoff due to climate change → shortages by mid 21st century
this is endangering power generation and water supply.
where is the colorado basins water allocated to?
the states that the river runs through and Mexico
How was it agreed which states would receive the colorado basins water
The Colorado River Compact (an agreement among themselves to apportion the waters of a stream or river)
What is a criticism of the colorado river compact
The agreement was based on decades of abnormally high flow, which led to more water being allocated to river users than what actually flows through Colorado.
what shows evidence of the colorado basin being depleted over recent years
Major reservoirs have dropped to historic lows in recent years with lake Powell just ⅓ full in 2005.
what has caused further issues with the colorado basins water insecurity
Rapid development and economic growth further complicate the issue of a secure water supply
what is the main issue with the colorado basin
over-allocation and drought have placed significant stress on reservoirs and water storage.
what are the social advantages of the colorado basin
Advantage of water control projects is a fresh water supply for growing desert cities such as Phoenix (Central Arizona project) and Las Vegas (Robert Griffith Project).
People can enjoy a better standard of living as they use air conditioning because of cheap hydroelectric power available. As well as swimming pools due to water availability.
Lake Mead can provide tourism, water sports and fishing
Flood control is now possible and the lives of those downstream have improved
Modern industry has led to increase in jobs due to hydroelectric power
Food is plentiful due to irrigation of farmland
what are the social disadvantages of the colorado basin
People have been moved off land due to flooding
Loss of natural burial sites + native american areas due to dam building and floods
Disagreement between the USA and Mexico as well as states about water allocation
Increasing population has also placed resources under great strain
what are the economic advantages of the colorado basin
Many high tech industries have been attracted to these areas in turn bringing well paid jobs
Farmers can grow high value citrus crops due to cheap availability of water for irrigation = greater profit
Increasing population in cities such as Tucson Arizona = boom in construction industry
Tourism is a huge earner e.g Las Vegas
Millions attracted to water sports on reservoirs and 700,000 people visit hoover dam each year
what are the economic disadvantages of the colorado basin
Huge cost of construction and maintenance is a financial burden to the states that funded dams
Silting of the reservoirs greatly reduces their capacity. This is a huge cost to dredge the reservoirs so capacity can be maintained
Loss of silt downstream means farmers have to invest in fertilisers to land that was previously supplied by river deposits to keep it fertile
High evaporation rates lead to inc salinity. → HEP turbines have shortened lifespan. As well as yield of crops decreasing as the salinity of the land increases with evapouration bringing salts to the surface.
The total cost of salination is estimated at $113 million a year.
what are the environmental positives of the colorado basin
New habitats for wildlife have been created - 250 species of birds spotted in lake mead national park
HEP is clean electricity from a renewable source and doesn’t contribute to the greenhouse effect
what are the environmental disadvantages of the colorado basin
Salinity increases due to high evaporation with the lakes large surface area combined with the large surface area if the lakes exposed to the hot desert sun
Rainbow bridge, an important geological site is being slowly destroyed
Increased evaporation rates = lots of water lost every year, Lake Powell loses 0.74 km^3 annually
Groundwater has to be used in many areas to top up the river, honouring the Colorado Compact. The use of groundwater is unsustainable
Many plants and animals lost as the lakes flooded e.g beavers disappeared from Tucson as rivers dried up
what are the political considerations that have to be considered in reference to the colorado basin
The amount of water in the river is very closely controlled by an agreement called the Colorado Compact. This is an agreement between seven US states and Mexico.
US supreme court (1963) decided to allocate a percentage of the available water
However, the Compact only stated the quantity of the water, not the quality of the water. Mexico complained that the increased salinity meant the water was almost unusable.
After many years, the USA finally spent $300 million building the desalination plant at Yuma. costing over $20 million a year to maintain it will improve the quality of the water reaching Mexico.
Some states have increased their water allocation by drawing from groundwater supplies. However this is unsustainable as groundwater levels are dropping and not being replenished.
Examples of hard engineering to manage water supplies
hint: theres 3
Mega dams – The Three Gorges Dam in China
Transfer projects – The South-North water transfer project in China
Desalination plant – Israel
What is the three gorges dam?
(basic info)
The dam is situated on the Yangtze river, the largest river in Asia and the 3rd largest in the world
The Three Gorges Dam is the largest dam in the world and the most expensive hydroelectric power project in the world costing an estimated US$26.5 billion
Each turbine has the capacity to produce 50,000 watts making its total combined capacity of the dam, 22.5 gigawatts of power
Who are the stakeholders for this dam
There are many stakeholders involved in the dam, such as the international export and credit agencies and banks from Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, France and Brazil – which have heavily invested in the project.
Chinese government trade credit agencies have loaned the gorges project taking more than 1.4 billion dollars. The China Development Bank has loaned 3.6 billion dollars to the project making itself the primary lender.
The stakeholders benefiting from the dam are residents as it creates employment opportunities, it also benefits electrical companies and the Chinese Government.
what are the negative impacts on the three gorges dam for local people
Those negatively affected by the dam are local residents who have lost their homes and farmland and also those whose businesses and factories were demolished to make way for the reservoir
what are the environmental benefits of the three gorges dam
The dam has replaced the coal power station which would consume 50 million tons of coal a year, this reduces emissions by 150 million tonnes per year.
The dam is China’s largest renewable energy source, with the dams electricity production accounting for 10% of China’s total power supply
what are the social benefits of the three gorges dam
200 million people downstream are protected due to the dams flood control e.g Jing Jiang which is a city prone to flooding every 3 years killing 300,000 people in the century prior to the dam being built.
what is the economic benefits of the three gorges dam
The dam also cuts financial loss created by flood damage. Shipping is now easier and safer due to the dam.
It also provided jobs to people to build it as well as to up keep it.
what are the environmental costs
There are serious safety risks of the dam bursting posed by earthquakes, heavy rain and even terrorism. Over 360 million people live within the watershed of the Yangtze River, meaning if the dam bursts millions may get injured or die.
There has been a massive increase in the amount of landslides due to the water in the reservoir fluctuating between 146-175m each year – destabilising the slopes and valleys triggering landslides.
Over 265 billion gallons of raw sewage is dumped into the Yangtze annually, due to the dam it builds up in the reservoir. E.g Chongqing would flush sewage away into the river impacting wildlife that depend on the river’s supply of nutrients.
Another Issue is Sedimentation as the fast flowing water nears the dam wall, the flow slows causing the water to deposit silt which can block turbines and cause water level to rise.
Several species such as the Chinese river dolphin are threatened and may become extinct.
what are social issues that have been caused by the three gorges dam
Also due to widespread corruption and fraud within the local govt the money set aside for people who needed to be resettled failed to reach those, leaving many homeless.
The Yangtze river basin was home to nearly 2 million people who were displaced and needed resettlement.
The reservoir submerged 13 cities, 140 towns, over 1300 villages, 1500 factories and nearly 100 acres of farmland. 1000 known archaeological sites and many undiscovered ones were also submerged + over 1000 heritage and historical sites were lost forever → leading to a loss in tourism.
how successful has the three gorges dam been?
It has efficiently and effectively fulfilled its purpose as it provides cleaner energy as well as controlling floods and increasing shipping.
However, there are many issues such as landslides, seismic activity → due to the pressure on the ground from the weight of the water in the reservoir pushing down on the plate boundaries causing stress. Social issues include corruption impacting the relocation of residents.
TRUE or FALSE: most of Beijings water comes from the North
FALSE!
Over 70% of Beijing’s tap water is channeled from the country’s southern regions.
The capital is one of 35 cities that benefit from south-north water transfer project
what is the main aim of the North-south water transfer project in China
The aim is to divert 45 billion meters cubed of water a year from the water surplus river basins in the south and east to the north where there is frequent deficit in places such as Beijing and Tianjin
positives of the north-south water transfer project
It has reduced the overdrafting of groundwater
3,500 polluting companies have been shut down – good for the environment, by having this transfer they are no longer overconsuming water which is better for the environment
what issues has the North-south water transfer project caused for the South?
Experiences drop in flow of up to 60% as a result of diversion/transfer
River experiences low flow and becomes polluted increasing impact on ecosystem’s salinity
Climate change can combine with lower flows to lead to water scarcity
435,000 people have been relocated
what issues has the North-south water transfer project caused in the North?
Availability of water simply leads to greater use
Increased use for development, e.g. golf courses, tourism
Promotes unsustainable irrigated farming by agri-business
Nitrate eutrophication, salination and ecosystem destruction. Pollution transfer.
Ultimately the project will be unable to quench the North’s thirst, only until better practises are implemented and wiser usage is in place then their goals will be achieved
what problem had Israel dealt with
water shortages
are israel still dealing with water shortages?
NO
How did israel turn their water shortages to a water surplus
a combination of conservation, reuse and desalination, the country now has more water than it needs.
How can Israels surplus water lead to political progress
political progress for the country in the Middle East, one of the most water-stressed regions in the world.
Israel’s excess water could be a way of easing tensions within the Middle East as water is often the source of conflict
what is desalination
Desalination is a process where salt is removed from salt water
TRUE or FALSE: israel is the worlds leader in desalination
TRUE
Israel is the world leader in water reuse, far outpacing the rest of world including the USA
TRUE OR FALSE: Can all types of water be used for desalination
TRUE
any water from water used in bathroom and kitchen (greywater) to black water from sewage is filtered cleaned and reused for irrigation. Even treating wastewater
How many desalination plants have Israel built over the past 10 years
In 10 years Israel has built 5 desalination plants along its mediterranean coast
On average how much does one desalination plant cost
400 million dollars
TRUE or FALSE: the desalination plants are owned by the government in Israel
FALSEEEE
All being privately owned selling their water to the government.
what is the percentage of drinking water that the desalination plants provide israel:
a. 100%
b. 75%
c. 50%
c.
The desalination plants provide Israel with 50% of its drinking water
TRUE or FALSE israel has the largest desalination plant
TRUE
The Sorek Desalination Plant situated in Tel Aviv covers 10 hectares
How much sea water does the Sorek Desalination Plant treat per day:
a. 450,700 m^3
b. 624,000m^3
c. 368,000 m^3
B.
uses reverse osmosis to treat 624,000m3 of sea water a day
where is the sorek desalination plant
Tel Aviv
what is the argument that desalination is NOT sustainable
-The use of energy to produce water is high. It takes around 2 KWh of energy to produce 1m3 of freshwater. This is unsustainable because fossil fuels are running out and we have not yet become totally dependent on renewable energy.
- The minerals in the water are chemically different to that of normal freshwater. This could therefore have adverse effects on ecosystems in the future which we do not know about currently.
- The by-product of desalination is highly concentrated water known as brine. This is often discharged into the sea. Due to the high salt content this quickly sinks to the bottom of the sea underneath the outlet pipe. The high salt content as a result kills marine plants and life.
what is the argument that desalination is sustainable
- Desalination increases the amount of water in water stressed areas
- The freshwater that is produced is suitable for drinking and therefore may help to increase sanitation in poorer areas. This therefore is a contributing factor helping people escape from poverty.
- The technology used at present poses no threat to future generations as it is proved to work safely and reliably.
What are case studies for water management
Israel water management
Singapores holistic approach
what is the key to Israels water management
The key to its water security are efforts such as drilling deep wells, massive desalination, reusing treated sewage for farming, finding and fixing leaks early, engineering crops to thrive in onerous conditions, discouraging gardening, making efficient toilets mandatory, and pricing water to discourage waste
The state preached water conservation (note the TV ads not to be a pig in the shower) – and then there’s the holy grail of Israeli water innovation: drip irrigation.
what si the percentage of water saved by drip irrigation
a. 25%-50%
b.50%-65%
c. 25%-75%
Drip irrigation technology, saves 25%-75% pumped water
How does drip irrigation improve the farmers life
The farmer uses less water, fertilizer and sometimes pesticides. Therefore reducing costs. There is also greater crop yields
How does drip irrigation improve the environment
The aquifers suffer less chemical pollution as farmers reduce the amount of pesticides used.
How does drip irrigation help consumers
The crops yield more (about 15%) and food prices drop, so the consumer is happy.
why has singapore had to make water management a big priority
Singapore has very little natural water resources and have made water management one of its priorities for its 6 million residents
what are the 3 strategies that singapore used to holistically manage water
collect all water
reuse water
desalinate
How did governments educate singaporeans how to ‘collect all water’
government educates its citizens on using water carefully and since 2003, domestic water consumption has fallen by 24 litres per person per day
how did the singapore government ‘reuse water’
Singapore has cutting edge technology to re-use its grey-water called NEWater
How did the singapore government ‘desalinate’
Singapore now has 5 desalination plants meeting up to 25% of demand
Has Singapores holistic approach been successful
Yes to a degree however, despite these impressive actions, Singapore has to import water from Malaysia.
How do all the different players (political, economic, social and environmental) see water management
Attitudes to water usage and supply vary. Some social players see the provision of safe water as a human right, whereas politicians see it as a human need which they have to supply. Businesses (economic) will secure their water needs almost regardless of the costs, whereas environmentalists insist that provision should be sustainable.
