Causes of water insecurity Flashcards
When does water insecurity begin?
Water insecurity begins to exist when available water is less than 1,700m3 per person per day. This marks the start of what is known as water stress. Below 1,000m3 per person per day, water stress gives way to water scarcity.
What is absolute water scarcity?
Available water is between 0 and 500m3 per person per day.
What is water scarcity?
Available water is between 500 and 1000m3 per person per day.
What is water stress?
Available water is between 1000 and 1700m3 per person per day.
What is water vulnerability?
Available water is between 1700 and 2500m3 per person per day.
What are the human and physical factors that reduce the amount of water that is eventually available for human use?
Evaporation and evapotranspiration
Discharge into the sea
Saltwater encroachment at the coast
Contamination of water by agricultural, industrial and domestic pollution.
Over abstraction from rivers, lakes and aquifers and the acute need to replenish these dwindling stores.
The rising water demand for water is driven by which three main factors?
Population growth
Economic development
Rising living standards
How does population growth raise water demand?
More people. more thirsts to quench.
How does economic development raise water demand?
Increases the demand for water in almost all economic activities- agriculture, industry, energy and services. One of the biggest and fastest-growing consumers is irrigation.
How does rising living standards raise water demand?
Increase in the per capita consumption of water for drinking, cooking, bathing and cleaning. Added to this domestic consumption are water-extravagant things such as swimming pools, washing machines and dishwashers.
