EQ3 Flashcards
Physical causes = water insecurity
Climate - precipitation of which the water is moved/distributed by the drainage networks
Evaporation + evapotranspiration
Discharge into the sea
Saltwater enroachment at the coast
Human causes = water insecurity
Contamination of water (by agriculture, industry, domestic pollution)
Over-abstraction from rivers, lakes, aquifers
Water stress
Below 1,700m3 per person
Water scarcity
Below 1000m3 per person
Mismatch between supply + demand
Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Syria = Are experiencing absolute scarcity (less than 500m-3 per person/day)
Countries = Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Malawi = b/ 1000 + 500
Much of east Africa + India are experiencing water stress. Even UK + Spain = experiencing vulnerability
Growing mismatch relates 2
Distribution of freshwater resources (water availability) + distribution of the demand for water
Finite resources + rising demand
Increasing pops improving living standards are creating a rising demand
Leads to a risk of water scarcity
Rising demand is created by:
- Pop growth - more ppl more thirst
- Economic development: increased demand in almost all sectors - e.g. industry + agriculture
- Rising living standards - means more cooking, bathing, cleaning as well as appliances
3 main pressures increasing water insecurity
- Diminishing supply - due 2 climate change, deteriorating quality due 2 pollution, competing users
- Rising demands - due to the pop, development + living standards
- Competing demands - international issues, upstream + downstream users + HEP vs irrigation
Physical scarcity
Occurs when more = 75% of a country’s/regions blue water (liquid, accessible) flows are being used
Currently applies = 25% of the worlds pop
Qualifying countries = Middle East + North Africa
Qualifying regions = N China, western USA, southeast Australia
Economic scarcity
Occurs when use of blue eater is limited by lack of capital, tech, good governance
Estimated around 1 billion ppl are restricted from accessing blue water by high levels of poverty
Most ppl living in Africa + parts of continental south-east Asia
Causes of water scarcity = 2fold
- lack of precipitation either annually/seasonally
- lack of money (wherewithal) needed to harness the amount of blue water in demand
Human rights + water
Access 2 safe potable water is regarded by some = human right = 21st century
However = increasingly being seen as a commodity for which a realistic price should be paid
Developed world much of the water supply industry there is now in the hands of private companies
People expect to have to pay for water
Importance of water supply for economic development
AGRICULTURE:
accounts for 3,770km of water extracted each year
20% of the worlds land = irrigated
Usually directly pumped from aquifers. Leads to massive underground depletion of water (China, USA) = unsustainable
INDUSTRY + ENERGY
20% of all freshwater is for industry + energy production
Water pollution is a major product of this
Importance of water supplies for human well-being
Water polluted by lack of sanitation is a breeding ground for disease = typhod + cholera
Other dehabilitating diseases = malaria + dengue fever are detrimental to human health
Clean water is vital for cooking, cleaning etc.
Generic sustainable management options include:
- smart irrigation: automated, water saving sprinklers
- hydroponics: growing crops without soil in greenhouses that are controlled
Recycling grey water: used water recycling which is low cost
Rainwater harvesting: collect rainwater + use for irrigation
Sustainable management schemes: Singapore
Circumstances - few natural water resources + thriving economy + high standard of living + high per capita consumption of water - made water management a top priority in this tiny state = nearly 6 million inhabitants
Adopted a holistic approach to water management
1. Collect every drop of water: government has various ways of encouraging citizens to use water prudently. Since 2003 per capita domestic water consumption has fallen from 165 litres per day = 150 (despite pop growth)
2. Re-use water endlessly. Singapore is at the cutting edge of new tech to re-use grey water
3. Desalinate more seawater: 2 desalination plants now meet 25% = water demand
DESPITE = impressive actions Singapore still imports water from Malaysia
Integrated Drainage Basin Management (IWRM)
IWRM first advocated = 1990s
Emphasises the river basin as a logical geographical unit for the management of water resources. Based on achieving a close cooperation b/ basin users + players. River basin = treated holistically in order 2 ensure 3 things
1. Environmental quality of rivers + catchment
2. Water is used with maximum efficient
3. Equitable distribution of water among users
Does IWRM work at large or community levels?
Experience shown that IWRM works well @ community level but not so well in larger river basins especially if an international boundary is involved
In the case with the Colorado River + Nile
Water sharing treaties
Helsinki rule = ‘equitable use’ + ‘equitable shares’ concept
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Water Convention promotes the joint management + conservation of shared freshwater ecosystems
UN Water courses convention offers guidelines for the protection + use = trans boundary rivers
EU Water Framework Direcrife committing all members to ensure the ‘status’ of their water bodies including their marine waters up to one nautical mile from shore
