General Water Facts & Definitions

Question 1

If deforestation in the Amazon continues at the current rate, how much could precipitation be reduced by?

Answer 1

Over 20% in the next 40 years.

Question 2

What is blue water flow?

Answer 2

The visible part of the hydrological system; surface flows.

Question 3

What is green water flow?

Answer 3

The water intercepted, stored and released by vegetation through evaporation and transpiration.

Question 4

What is grey water?

Answer 4

Polluted water

Question 5

What percentage of the world’s population lacks clean, safe water?

Answer 5

20%

Question 6

How many people live in highly water-stressed areas?

Answer 6

2.4bn

Question 7

By 2020 how much more water than is available will we need to feed the world?

Answer 7

17%

Question 8

What is 70% of our water used for?

Answer 8

Agriculture

Question 9

By 2030 what proportion of the global population will be living in areas of acute water shortage?

Answer 9

Nearly half

Question 10

What percentage of industrial wastewater is released into the environment untreated?

Answer 10

70%

Question 11

Define water shortage.

Answer 11

Low levels of water supply per person relative to basic needs.

Question 12

How is water shortage measured?

Answer 12

Annual renewable flows (m3) per head of population or the no. of people dependent on each unit of water.

Question 13

Define water stress.

Answer 13

Often taken as less than 1700m3 per head of population annually.

Question 14

What does water stress cause?

Answer 14

Conflict between users, competition for water, harvest failures and food insecurity.

Question 15

Define water scarcity.

Answer 15

Less than 1000m3 per person per year. Imbalance of supply and demand.

Question 16

Define physical water scarcity.

Answer 16

When at least 60% of river flows are diverted for agricultural, industrial or municipal purposes.

Question 17

What are signs of physical water scarcity?

Answer 17

Environmental degradation, declining groundwater supply and unequal distribution.

Question 18

Define economic water scarcity.

Answer 18

When less than 25% of river flows are used, and there is an abundant supply potential but the poorer people cannot afford to access the water.

Question 19

Define intermediate technology.

Answer 19

Technology suitable for use in developing countries, typically making use of locally available resources.

Question 20

Define aquifer.

Answer 20

A rock, such as chalk, which will hold water and let it through.

Question 21

Define arid and semi-arid.

Answer 21

Conditions where rainfall is less than 250mm and 500mm per year respectively.

Question 22

What is desalination?

Answer 22

The conversion of saltwater into freshwater.

Question 23

Define drought.

Answer 23

An an extended period of abnormally dry weather that causes water shortages and crop damage. Starts when total rainfall is well below average for several months.

Question 24

What is El Niño?

Answer 24

A southerly warm ocean current, which develops off the coast of Ecuador. It is associated with major variations in tropical climates.

Question 25

Define groundwater.

Answer 25

All water found under the surface of the ground which is not chemically combined with mineral present. Does not include underground streams.

Question 26

Define infiltration.

Answer 26

The process of water entering rocks or soil.

Question 27

What is irrigation?

Answer 27

The supply of water to the land through streams, channels and sprinklers in order to allow the growth of crops.

Question 28

What is La Niña?

Answer 28

An extensive cooling of the central and eastern Pacific. Globally La Niña means that parts of the world that normally experience dry weather will be drier where as wet places will get wetter.

Question 29

Define percolation.

Answer 29

The filtering of water downwards through soil and bedding planes, joints and pores of a permeable rock.

Question 30

What is privatisation?

Answer 30

The sale of a business/industry so that it is no longer owned by the government.

Question 31

What does riparian mean?

Answer 31

Relates to a river bank. Owners of land crossed or bounded by a river have ‘riparian’ rights to use the river.

Question 32

What is spatial imbalance?

Answer 32

The uneven distribution/location across a landscape or surface of eg population.

Question 33

What is stream flow?

Answer 33

The flow of water in streams, rivers and other channels.

Question 34

What is surface runoff?

Answer 34

The movement of rainwater overground. Occurs when rainfall is heavy and the rocks and soil cannot absorb any more.

Question 35

What is urbanisation?

Answer 35

The migration of rural populations into towns and cities.

Question 36

What is virtual water?

Answer 36

The amount of water used in the production of a good or service.

Question 37

Define water rights.

Answer 37

The legal right of a user to use water from a water source eg a river.

Question 38

What are water wars?

Answer 38

International conflict as a result of pressure on water supplies.

Question 39

What is the World Water Gap?

Answer 39

The difference between those people, who live in water poverty and those who have readily available water for drinking and sanitation.

Question 40

How much has water consumption increased by during the 20th century?

Answer 40

600%

Question 41

What is the daily domestic water use on average in Africa and USA?

Answer 41

47litres per person vs 578 litres in the USA

Question 42

What % or the global population consumes what % of the world’s water?

Answer 42

12% consumes 85% of the world’s water.

Question 43

How many people lack clean drinking water?

Answer 43

1.4billion

Question 44

What are the 5 parameters of the Water Poverty Index?

Answer 44

Resources, Access, Capacity, Use, Environment