Egypt

Question 1

What is the average precipitation on Egypt

Answer 1

Less than 80mm

Question 2

What is the amount of freshwater bailable per person per year

Answer 2

770m3

Question 3

How much of Egypt’s water supply comes from the Nile

Answer 3

80%

Rain = 1%

Question 4

What are the two biggest water consumers in Egypt

Answer 4

Agriculture = 80%

Industry = 15%

Question 5

How does Egypt’s physical environment affect the availability and cost of water (4)

Answer 5

Due to its aridity, Egypt is classified as a water scarce region and is therefore highly dependent on the Nile. 3.8 million hectares agricultural land rely on its irrigation

Under the intense sunshine, 3km3 of Nile water is lost each year to evaporation

Average temperature in summer = 40C

Dependent on groundwater from the Nubian Sandstone aquifer (although a ‘fossil’ rather than ‘live’ aquifer)

Question 6

Why is demand for water increasing (4)

Answer 6

Rapidly growing population and recent economic development

Curren population of 84m expected to reach 109m by 2025, reducing the per capita share of water to less than 600m3 per year + increasing strain on agriculture

Quality of water in decline - pollution form agricultural run-off, untreated industrial waste + human effluent

Demand increasing along coast of the Red Sea due to flourishing tourism

Question 7

How is Egypt attempting to manage its water supply (4)

Answer 7

Water treaties (Nile Water Agreement in 1959 garuteed 55.3km3 to Egypt). However outdated and recently contested by other countries

1970 Aswan High Dam. constructed, storing 132k 3 water in Lake Nasser

Desalination roadmap - 5 new desalination plants planned

• Issue - threat of Ethiopia’s construction of the grand Renaissance Dam reducing water supply

Question 8

Give 7 environmental impacts of the Aswan Dam

Answer 8

Marine ecosystems affected

Costal erosion

Bilharzia

Lower turbidity downstream

Reservoir sediment deposition

Fertilisers

Soil Salinity

Question 9

Explain Marie ecosystems being affected as an environmental consequence

Answer 9

Marien productivity has decreased as nutrients which used to reach the Med are now trapped behind the dam

The salinity of the Med has increased as less freshwater reaches it form the Nile

Question 10

Explain Costal Erosion as an environmental consequence

Answer 10

Due to a lack of sediment brought to the Nile Delta (Mouth) as it is now trapped behind the dam

Question 11

Explain Bilharzia as an environmental consequence

Answer 11

Increased prevalence of infections due to more standing water

Standing water in irrigation canals = breeding ground for snails carrying bilharzia parasite, increased as dam has inhibited natural fluctuations of water hight

Question 12

Explain Lower Turbidity Downstream as an environmental consequence

(Low Turbidity - less cloudy)

Answer 12

Means sunlight can penetrate deeper into river, causing more algae to grow, increasing cost of water treatment before it can be used

Question 13

Explain Reservoir sediment as an environmental consequence

Answer 13

Deposited sediment in Lake Nasser (behind the dam) reduces water storage capacity and requires dam to be dragged regularly

Question 14

Explain Fertilisers as an environmental consequence

Answer 14

Increased use of fertilisers required as fewer nutrients deposited from floods - exacerbating algae growth + water treatment costs

Question 15

Explain Soil Salinity as an environmental consequence

Answer 15

Increased - constantly high levels of ground water, meaning that concentrations of salt in groundwater can accumulate on the soil surface and are no longer be washed away by floods

Since soils no longer washed out by flooding, they become saltier and less fertile