EQ3 5.9 MANAGING WATER

Question 1

what is water transfer

Answer 1

Water transfer is one example of a large-scale hard engineering scheme that tries to provide a techno-fix to water disparity.

Question 2

what is the aim of the South-North water transfer: China

Answer 2

China’s South-North Water Transfer Project aims to deliver 25 billion m3 of freshwater per year to the drier north by two routes (central and Eastern). A third western route is currently being planned.

Question 3

why is the South-North water transfer: China taking place

Answer 3

As 2/3rd of the farmland are in the North and 80% of the water is in the south, this provides a perfect opportunity to distribute the water to ensure agriculture and water security for the nation.

Question 4

what are the economic cons of the South-North water transfer: China

Answer 4

The Water Transfer is expensive - estimating to cost around US$80billion in 2015. This is before maintenance costs and water prices are considered.
It is likely to be too expensive for the farmers, resulting in them continuing to use groundwater despite the scheme.

Question 5

what are the social cons of the South-North water transfer: China

Answer 5

Over 300,000 people have been displaced for the construction of the Water Transfer’s central route.

Question 6

what are the environmental cons of the South-North water transfer: China

Answer 6

Transferring water via Water Transfer does not address the main causes of water shortages in the North. The North has a limited water supply because of the pollution of water sources, water inefficient agriculture and poorly managed use for industry.
By removing water from the Yangtze it may further reduce discharge levels. The impacts for the river ecosystems will be devastating, in addition to those already caused by the Three Gorges Dam.

Question 7

what is a mega dam

Answer 7

Mega dams (e.g. the Three Gorges Dam) are a hard engineering scheme that cost a significant amount of money and have controversial socio-economic and environmental effects.

Question 8

what are the economic cons of the three gorges dam

Answer 8

632km2of land was flooded, including 1,500 villages and towns to form the reservoir behind the dam.

Question 9

what are the social cons of the three gorges dam

Answer 9

1.3 million Chinese residents were relocated and the local history from those villages was lost.

Question 10

what are the environmental cons of the three gorges dam

Answer 10

Water quality is poor because of the surface runoff allowing industrial waste, sewage and agricultural chemical runoff to enter into the Yangtze further upstream.
Ecosystems were flooded and destroyed, leaving animals without a habitat. Vegetation decay led to the release of methane.

Question 11

pros of the three gorges dam

Answer 11

The Three Gorges Dam is designed to control flooding on the River Yangtze and improve the supply of water by regulating the flow.
The Dam would also benefit locals by providing HEP energy and making the river navigable. This was crucial for the economic development in China to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, in particular, coal.
The water held back by the Dam can also contribute to the water being transferred by the South-North Water Transfer.

Question 12

desalination plants

Answer 12

Desalination plants provide an effective way of removing the salt from seawater to produce clean safe drinking water. The process is both financially expensive and energy extensive.

Question 13

desalination plants in Israel

Answer 13

The source of salt water for Israel’s desalination plants is the Mediterranean Sea.
By 2013, Israel had five fully functioning desalination plants.
By 2020, Israel aims to supply 70% of its domestic water supplies from desalination plants.

Question 14

pros of desalination plants

Answer 14

Desalination plants provide a supply of water that is both reliable and predictable.
The desalination plants are able to produce up to 600 tonnes of clean drinking water an hour.

Question 15

cons of desalination plants

Answer 15

Desalination plants are so energy exhaustive that each plant needs its own power station.
The by-product of the salt water is brine (a very salty liquid), which can be extremely damaging to the environment.

Question 16

what is smart irrigation

Answer 16

Smart irrigation is a sustainable method that provides crops with below optimum water levels during the growth stage so they become less sensitive to the lack of water, consequently saving water

Question 17

smart irrigation

Answer 17

Smart irrigation is a sustainable technique that provides crops with below the optimum water levels during the growth stage so they become less sensitive to the lack of water. The crops produce the same quality and quantity produce whilst using less water.
An example of a way that water is regulated and restricted is through drip-feeding. Through this method, the water goes directly into the soil next to the roots of the crops, preventing waste and loss of water via evaporation.

Question 18

australia smart irrigation

Answer 18

In Australia, the use of smart irrigation for fruit trees has resulted in a 60% increase in water productivity.
An improvement has been seen in fruit quality and also in retaining the yield size by using the smart irrigation technique.

Question 19

water recycling Singapore

Answer 19

Singapore is a city-state with a population of 5.4 million on only 710km2 of land.
The city receives abundant rainfall with 2,400mm of precipitation a year but there is limited land availability for collection and storage of rainfall.
The high temperatures in Singapore mean high evaporation rates and also a lack of groundwater resources despite the high levels of precipitation.

Question 20

water recycling techniques in Singapore

Answer 20

Singapore’s water agency has invested in several ways to ensure its water security:
Local rainwater is collected via drains, canals and storm-water collection points before being treated to become drinking water.
The NEWater scheme treats and purifies used water producing high-grade recycled water. There are four NEWater plants meeting 30% of the countries needs- but there are plans to raise it to 55% by 2060.
Singapore has signed an agreement until 2061 to import water from Malaysia.
Desalinisation plants.

Question 21

what are sand dams

Answer 21

In the Machakos District of Kenya, the hot and dry climate stops the river flow in the dry season so rural communities struggle to store water. Sand dams improve the reliability of their water supply.

Question 22

sand dams during the rainy season

Answer 22

During the rainy season
When the river is flowing, sand is trapped behind the 1m high dam.
Water gets trapped in amongst the coarse sand particles.

Question 23

sand dams during the dry season

Answer 23

The sand stops the water from evaporating when it gets hot.
Locals can extract the trapped water by:
Digging wells.
Channelling the water through the dam and tapping it off on the other side.
Digging holes.

Question 24

advantages of sand dams

Answer 24

The sand dams are cheap to construct.
Local materials are used to build the sand dams.
The sand dams require very little maintenance.
Dam height can be increased each year so that more sand and more water are trapped by it.
The water recharges the whole area leading to an increase in vegetation surrounding the dam.
Locals are trained by water charities to make the dams so that they can be self-sufficient going forwards.

Question 25

what is integrated river basin management

Answer 25

Integrated river basin management focuses on the conservation and development of the river’s basin to maximise socio-economic potential and preserve the ecosystem. Colorado developed the following plan with this in mind:

Question 26

colorado river storage project

Answer 26

The Colorado River is 233 km long with 97% of it flowing through the USA and the rest through Mexico.
Levels of precipitation vary across the Colorado River basin, which starts in the Rocky Mountains and flows through semi-arid areas to the Gulf of California in Mexico.
The increase in population, urbanisation and agricultural demands put pressure on the river as a water source.
Climate change has resulted in lower precipitation and areas of drought across the Colorado River basin, which adds further pressure.

Question 27

Colorado river management

Answer 27

In 1956, the Colorado River Storage Project was established to develop regulation of the Colorado River between the states, for irrigation development and HEP production. There are now 29 dams along the course of the river.
In 1990, the states in the lower course of the Colorado River used their full allocation for the first time.

Question 28

resource pressure in Colorado

Answer 28

Despite the project providing hydroelectric power, flood control and water storage, so far there have been no methods that can sustainably remove all the water needed from the Colorado River.
Individual states are looking for alternative solutions and sources.
Nevada is negotiating for extra water allocation (particularly for the heavily water-consuming Las Vegas). Talks have started but solutions have not been met.

Question 29

what is the UNECE Water Convention, Helsinki

Answer 29

In 1992, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) held the Water Convention in Helsinki. The Water Convention was adopted in 1992 and entered into force in 1996.

Question 30

what is the aim of Helsinki water convention

Answer 30

The aim of the Helsinki Water Convention was to improve and protect water quality and quantity in a sustainable manner, whilst resolving and improving co-operation for trans-boundary water resource issues.

Question 31

what is the result of the Helsinki Water Convention

Answer 31

As a result of the Water Convention, the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) approach was established.
The IWRM determines what water resources are essential for the ecosystem and what resources are required for efficient social-economic development.
The IWRM is an alternative to top-down, sector-by-sector management that has a holistic approach.

Question 32

the Berlin rules on water resources

Answer 32

In August 2004 the International Law Association (ILA) approved the Berlin Rules on Water Resources.
The Berlin Rules state how freshwater resources should be shared, whether nationally or internationally and adopts nine water management principles.

Question 33

what are the 9 principles of the Berlin rules

Answer 33

Principles
The public has the right to be involved in decision-making.
Resources are managed to promote the availability of supplies.
The whole drainage basin needs to be considered.
Economic, social and environmental needs must be met.
Environmental damage to be limited.
Everyone must co-operate over shared resources.
Everyone is to receive a fair share of water.
Upstream developments are to be controlled.
All players have an equal position.