EQ3: How does water insecurity occur, and why is it becoming such a global issue for the 21st century? Flashcards
The growing mismatch between water supply and demand had led to what?
A global pattern of water stress (below 1,700m³ per person) and water scarcity (below 1,000m³ per person)
Below 1,000m³ per person gives way to what?
Water scarcity
Below 1,700m³ per person gives way to what?
Water stress
Examples of countries experiencing absolute scarcity
Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Syria
(less than 500m³ per person)
Examples of countries experiencing water stress
Much of east Africa, and India
What does the growing mismatch between water supply and demand lead to?
The distribution of freshwater resources (water availability) and the distribution of the demand for water.
What does the United Nations define water security as?
The capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable water for sustaining livelihoods, human wellbeing and socio-economic development, for ensuring protection against water-borne pollution and water-related disasters, and for preserving ecosystems in a climate of peace and political stability.
When does water insecurity occur? (according to UN definition)
When these economic, social, and environmental criteria are not met, or only partially met.
According to UN water, how much has water use been growing by?
Growing at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century
By 2025, how many people will be living in countries with absolute water scarcity?
1.8 billion
How much of the world could be living under water stress conditions by 2025?
Two thirds
Water stress
When the demand for water exceeds the available amount during a certain period. Countries experience water stress if renewable water resources are between 1,000 and 1,700m³ per capita.
Water scarcity
When renewable water resources are low, between 500 and 1,000m³ per capita. Imbalance between demand and supply.
Symptoms of water stress
Symptoms are widespread and include frequent and serious restrictions on water use, growing tension and conflict between users and competition for water, declining standards of reliability and service, and harvest failures and food insecurity
Symptoms of water scarcity
Unsatisfied demand, open tension and conflict between users, competition for water, over-extraction of groundwater and insufficient flows to the natural environment.
Physical water scarcity
Where water availability does not meet water demand in a particular area. Arid regions often face this, such as southern Spain.
Occurs when more than 75% of a country’s or region’s blue water flows are being used. Applies to about 25% of the world’s population, most countries in the Middle East and North Africa, and regions such as North China and Western USA.
Economic water scarcity
Occurs due to lack of investment in infrastructure so people cannot get access to water, or the price of it is at a point where the population cannot afford the amount they need.
Water insecurity
When a country has inadequate quantities of acceptable water quality for livelihoods, wellbeing and development.
Absolute water scarcity
Countries experience this if their renewable water resources very low, less than 500m³ per capita. Leads to widespread restrictions on water use and rationing.
Renewable water resources
The long-term annual average of internal and external renewable water resources.
What are internal renewable water sources?
The discharges of rivers and the recharge of aquifers, generated from precipitation.
What are external renewable water sources?
Those generated outside a country including inflows from upstream countries and parts of a water body (lake or river) divided by a border.
Summarise reasons for rising demand of water
Population growth
Rising standard of living
Economic growth
Irrigation - intensive agriculture
By 2025, what will the total annual water withdrawal be? (km³)
5235km³