EQ3 - Water Insecurity Flashcards
What is ‘water stress’?
When available water is less than 1,700m3 per person, per day
What is ‘water scarcity’?
When available water is less than 1,000m3 per person, per day
What rare level of water insecurity are countries such as Algeria and Syria experiencing?
Absolute Water Scarcity - less than 500m3 per person per day
Water is spatially distributed unevenly across the globe.
What % of the world’s population live in areas with 1/4 of the world’s annual rainfall?
66%
What is climate variability?
Changes in rainfall patterns - (e.g uneven rainfall distribution and seasonal variation)
How does annual precipitation affect water availability?
Low/uneven rainfall leads to scarcity in dry areas (e.g Sahel)
How does seasonal variation affect water security?
Some climates (e.g monsoon regions) receive too much rain in some seasons and too little in others
What are extreme weather events, and how do they affect water?
Extreme weather events (e.g droughts and floods) make freshwater supplies unreliable
How does the drainage network impact water availability?
Rainwater is distributed through rivers, but some areas lack systems to store/distribute water effectively
How is water availability affected when rivers are too small/dry up?
Less water available
What is saltwater encroachment?
When saltwater moves into freshwater sources, making it undrinkable
Why does saltwater encroachment happen?
Over-abstraction of groundwater in coastal areas lowers freshwater pressure
How does agriculture pollute water?
Fertilisers and pesticides run into water sources
How does industry pollute water?
Factories release chemicals and untreated waste into water bodies
How does domestic waste pollute water?
Untreated sewage and household waste contaminate rivers and lakes
What is over-abstraction?
Taking too much water from rivers, lakes, or aquifers
- faster than they can naturally refill
What happens when aquifers are overused?
Groundwater stores shrink
- especially dangerous for regions that rely on non-renewable water sources
What are the 3 factors driving the rising demand for water?
- Population growth
- Economic development
- Rising living standards (e.g washing machines)
What 3 pressures are increasing the risk of water insecurity?
- Diminishing supply
- Rising demand
- Competition between users (within a basin)
When does physical water scarcity occur?
When more than 75% of a country/region’s blue (accessible) water is being used
What % of the worlds population are experiencing physical water scarcity?
25%
What is economic water scarcity?
When a country/regions ability to use blue water sources is limited by a lack of capital, technology or good governance
Around how many people are restricted from accessing blue water due to high levels of poverty?
Around 1 billion people
What do some people regard access to safe, potable water as?
A human right
In the 21st century, how is water being increasingly viewed as, with rising scarcity?
As a commodity - a market price should be paid
In the developed world, who supplies much of the water?
Private companies
- people expect to have to pay for water
What groups are mostly responsible for supplying safe water in developing countries (with physical scarcity)?
NGOs and charities
(e.g WaterAid)
What industry takes up the largest majority of water use worldwide?
Agriculture
How much water is withdrawn for agricultural use each year?
3,770 cubic kilometres
(or 3.77 quadrillion litres)
- more than double than for industrial/domestic use
What % of the worlds land is under full irrigation?
20%
What store is the majority (around 70%) of irrigation withdrawn from, and why is this causing issues?
Pumped directly from aquifers
- leading to huge groundwater depletion
What are examples of countries affected by unsustainable aquifer withdrawal for irrigation?
China, India, USA
- some of the world’s strongest economies
What % of freshwater withdrawals are for industrial use?
Just over 20%
Name 2 industries that are major consumers of water?
Paper and steel
What is the main problem with water use in industry?
High levels of pollution - makes the water unusable
Why is water used for energy production generally less damaging?
As it’s often used in HEP or for cooling in nuclear power plants
- this water can be returned to its source virtually unchanged
What industry (producing bioethanol and biodiesel) are there increasing concerns over water use?
Biofuels
- the crops needed to create biofuels require lots of water
What naturally comes with rising standards of living?
Increased per capita consumption of water
What 2 threats does unsanitary water pose top public health?
- Breeding ground for lethal diseases (e.g cholera)
- Breeding ground for disease vectors (e.g mosquitoes - malaria)
What are ‘water wars’
Conflict arising between key stakeholders and users of water
- often occurs during periods of scarcity
When can ‘normal’ competition for water be raised to a new level, often provoking conflict?
When countries ‘share’ the same drainage basin
- often the case for trans-boundary water sources (e.g the Nile)
How many countries compete for the waters of the Nile?
11 countries
How many people live within the Nile basin, and how is that expected to change?
300m currently, expected to 2x in coming years
In some instances, who may be called in to resolve disputes surrounding water on an international level?
UN agencies
What type of water management schemes do economic players (e.g businesses) often opt for, and why?
Hard-engineering
- it is more durable, long-term and can sometimes turn a profit (e.g Mega-Dams)
What type of water management schemes do environmental players (e.g conservation organisations) opt for, and why?
Soft-engineering
- more natural interventions, likely to lessen impact on existing environment
What are 3 examples of hard engineering which require high levels of capital and technology?
- Water transfers
- Mega Dams
- Desalination
What do water transfer schemes involve?
The diversion of one drainage basin to another
- e.g diverting a river or constructing a large canal
What is a well-known example of a water transfer scheme?
China’s North-South Transfer scheme
How are source areas negatively affected by water transfer schemes?
River flows can drop by up to 60%, leading longer term water scarcity and potential for pollution
What 3 issues arise within receiving areas in water-transfer schemes?
- Excessive water use for development (e.g golf courses)
- Unsustainable farming irrigation levels
- Can cause eutrophication and pollution
What % of the world’s major rivers are impeded by large dams along their course?
60%
Aside from the high capital costs, what are 3 other drawbacks to Mega Dams?
- High evaporation losses from water surface (inefficient)
- Disruption of silt downstream
- Displacement of people
Define ‘Desalination’
The process by which dissolved solids in sea water are partially or completely removed to make it suitable for human use
What 2 recent technological developments have made desalination easier?
- Reverse osmosis
- Carbon nanotube membranes (CNT)
How has the development of reverse osmosis made desalination easier (more energy efficient)?
Increased permeability and salt rejection - allows more water to be desalinated with less pressure/energy
How have Carbon Nanotube Membranes (CNT) made desalination easier (more energy efficient) ?
Low friction and small pores allow for ultra-fast water transport with minimal energy input
Why is desalination considered a hard-engineering process, despite being renewable/sustainable?
As it requires inputs (energy) for it to work
Desalination has limited effects on marine life
True or False?
False - it does disrupt marine ecosystems
What are the 3 main aims of sustainable water management?
- Minimise wastage/pollution
- Ensure water accessibility/affordability
- Ensure equitable distribution of water globally
What technology is considered a top priority for water conservation in agriculture?
Smart Irrigation (e.g auto spray technology)
- reduces wastage
What is hydroponics, and how does it conserve water?
Growing crops in carbon dioxide + temperature controlled greenhouses in shallow trays without soil
- they are drip-fed nutrients/water to minimise water use
What is grey water recycling?
Treats and reuses domestic waste water to be used for industrial/agriculture use
What is rainwater harvesting?
Collecting rain from roofs and storing it in water butts for domestic purposes (e.g flushing toilets)
How does modern filtration technology contribute to water conservation?
It can purify and recycle nearly all dirty water - making it usable again
Why is the restoration of rivers, lakes and wetlands important?
By allowing them to function properly, water availability and quality is maxmised
What are the 2 main benefits of sustainable water management strategies?
They are environmentally sustainable and provide socioeconomic benefits to local communities
What is the main challenge for sustainable water management strategies?
Ensuring economic sustainability (e.g maintenance/repair of technology)
When was the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) first advocated, and what does it emphasise?
First advocated in the late 1990s and emphasises the river basin as the most logical geographical unit for managing water resources
What is the main goal of IWRM?
To achieve close cooperation between all basin users and stakeholders to achieve sustainable water use
What are the 3 key objectives of IWRM?
- Maintain environmental quality of rivers
- Maximise water use efficiency
- Ensure equitable distribution between users
Why is the river basin considered the most logical unit in IRWM?
Because it reflects the interconnected nature of water systems, allowing for holistic management of resources and their users
At what level has the IRWM been most successful?
Community level - where stakeholders can easily collaborate on local water management
What 2 challenges does IRWM face in larger basins?
- Managing transboundary rivers where political/national interests differ
- Achieving cooperation between countries with conflicting priorities (e.g Nile)
What 3 factors influence the success of IRWM in transboundary river basins?
- Strong governance structures
- Transparent communication
- Willingness of stakeholders to compromise
How common is international co-operation over shared waters?
International co-operation is the RULE
- military conflict has only occurred in a few disagreements in the last 60 years
What is an example of good international co-operation over shared waters between traditional enemies?
India and Pakistan (Indus River)
- co-operated despite longstanding conflicts
What are the Helsinki rules?
Rules defining the ‘equitable use’ and ‘equitable shares’ of water
What is the purpose of the UNECE Water Convention?
Promotes a global joint management/conservation of shared freshwater ecosystems
What does the UN Water Courses Convention provide?
Guidelines for the protection and use of transboundary rivers
What is the EU Water Framework Directive (2000) ?
Directive which commits EU members to ensure the ‘good status’ of their water bodies
What is the main concern regarding water-sharing and climate change?
The potential for ‘water wars’ is increasing with the pressures of climate change
Which global player (IGO) sets rules for reducing conflict over water?
The UN
What role do NGOs play in water conflict management?
Provide a neutral viewpoint for monitoring potential conflict situations
