global water Flashcards
describe water deficit and water surplus worldwide:
- only area in the world that is in water surplus is north-west South America (Amazon rainforest).
- areas of North America, majority of Europe, and Russia have a sufficient water supply.
- the largest global areas of water deficit are north and south of Africa, Australia and the middle-eastern countries. these areas typically have deserts, where there is little precipitation.
- 1/5 of the world’s population live in water deficit.
define ‘water security’ and ‘water insecurity’:
water security: having access to enough safe, clean water so that people good health and economic development can take place.
water insecurity: when regions do not have enough safe, clean water supplies. this can lead to disease, low life expectancy and low economic development.
suggest reasons for the global increase in water consumption:
- changes in lifestyle and eating habits, such as a more developed, higher income lifestyle and eating a greater range of food (e.g. meat) has resulted in a higher water consumption. (i.e. eating water intensive products, such as washing machines, or eating more processed foods).
- an urbanisation increases, more water must be supplied for drinking, sanitation and draining.
- all sources of energy require water in their production. a rise in energy production means that more water is used. global energy consumption is said to rise by 50% by 2030.
- global demand for food is expected to increase by 70% by 2050, therefore a higher water consumption as more water is required to irrigate the crops and process the food.
describe the impact of water insecurity:
in some countries, infrastructure and sanitation is limited and poor. this means open sewers and high pollution levels in water sources. this can cause outbreaks of cholera and dysentery. women and children spend hours collecting water, wasting time that could be used productively.
how do permeable rocks affect groundwater supplies? (GEOLOGY)
infiltration of water through permeable rock builds up important groundwater supplies. (e.g. London’s water comes from chalk beneath the city).
- physical
how does climate change affect water availability? (CLIMATE)
regions with high rainfall often have a water surplus, those with dryer climates often have a water deficit.
- physical
explain how pumping out groundwater can cause water shortages: (OVER-ABSTRACTION - taking too much water from stores)
some pump groundwater out faster than it can be replaced by rainfall. this can cause wells to dry up, and higher water costs. lower water tables mean that rivers aren’t fed by springs in the dry seasons.
- human
what types of pollution are found in water supplies, and why does it affect availability? (POLLUTION)
increased waste and chemical usage in farming leads to higher levels of pollution. in some LICs and NEEs, water sources are used as open sewers, leading to water-borne diseases.
- human
explain what types of infrastructure are needed for water availability: (LIMITED INFRASTRUCTURE)
poorer countries may lack infrastructure of transporting water to areas of need (e.g. pumping stations and pipes).
- human
why do many poorer communities not have access to water? (POVERTY)
many poorer communities lack mains water or only have access to shared water supplies.
- human
describe the River Ganges:
most polluted river in the world, with both human and industrial waste. the water is considered holy, yet is still desecrated.
- 260 million litres of untreated wastewater is from factories is discharged daily.
- over 1 billion litres of raw sewage eneter the river every day.
- run-off from pesticides and fertilisers is a problem.
- Hindus worship the river. they also bathe in and drink its waters.
- the most majorly polluting industry is the leather or tanning industry.
- water contained arsenic, mercury, dyes, heavy metals, acids.
- pollution levels 12,000x above the acceptable levels.
describe the Kampur Tannery and its water pollution:
- exports leather to the USA and Euope.
- use chromium to soften the leather. the water is therefore blue at the tannery because it contains chrome.
- the Government, in response, has raised pollution standards and closed over 100 tanneries.
define ‘desalination’:
removing the salt from seawater to make it safe to drink.
define ‘aquifer’:
an underground layer of permeable water-holding rock.
describe Kielder Water in Northumberland:
- largest reservoir in terms of storage capacity in the UK.
- 1.2km long, 50m high, built in the late 1970s.
- the valley is narrow, reducing its building costs.
- regulates water flow into the River Tyne, making up for water abstracted from further downstream. water is also used to generate electricity (HEP).
which areas may experience water conflict?
- turkey built a large number of dams on the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers, causing an angry response from Iraq and Syria.
- Egypt’s large population 160 million relies on water from the River Nile. the river flows through seven other countries. Egypt has stated that it will not allow any of the other countries to do anything that will disrupt its flow. this has caused great tension in the region.
how can we reduce water insecurity by ‘diverting supplies and increasing storage’?
- water supplies can be artificially diverted and sotred for use over longer periods. in some places, surface water rapidly evaporates and is lost. this water can be stored in reservoirs or aquifers.
- e.g. in Oklahoma, rainfall is infrequent but heavy. it’s collected and diverted into underlying alluvial (loose at the water surface with good water storage capacity) soils.
how can we reduce water insecurity through ‘aquifer storage and recovery’?
storm/waste-water enters the aquifer during the wet season, after having passed through a treatment plant. this water is recovered from aquifers in the dry season, and is used for the irrigation of crops.
describe the process of desalination:
involves the removal of salt from seawater to make freshwater. the process is very expensive, therefore it’s only used when there’s a serious shortage of freshwater.
- e.g. the UAE and Saudi Arabia have both developed desalination plants.
describe the use of dams and reservoirs, and their advantages and disadvantages:
- dams control water flow into rivers by storing it in reservoirs. rainfall can be collected when there’s plenty of it, and is released during drier periods.
- the control of water flow enables excess water to be transported and used for irrigation. it also helps to prevent flooding.
- dams are expensive to build and maintain, and this can lead to the displacement of many people.
- they could reduce the flow downstream and potentially lose water due to evaporation.
what are the problems of desalination?
- soft waste is often dumped back into the sea, and this has environmental impacts on areas suffering from toxic, over-saline products.
- the vast amount of energy required for the process adds a large amount of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
- the costs of transporting desalinised water is high in inland areas that need freshwater. this adds to the country’s carbon dioxide emissions.
define ‘sustainability’:
meeting the needs of the present without stopping the future from getting what they need.
define ‘water abstraction’:
the process of taking water from a source, either temporarily or permanently, for flood control, irrigation, or for drinking water (after suitable treatment).
name some ways to save water at home:
- to not run the tap for ages to get cold water - place a jug of warm water in the fridge for later.
- fix leaking taps.
- wait for a full load of washing before turning it on.
- use a dual-flush toilet.
- turn off the tap whilst brushing your teeth - saves 6L of water per minute.
- change showerhead to a more sustainable one. try to shower for a minute less.
name some methods of conserving water:
- reducing leakages means that water can be used productively and not wasted.
- preventing pollution means that less water needs expensive treatment before it’s reused.
- water meters in people’s homes may encourage people to monitor their water usage, so their tariff isn’t as high. businesses are willing to continue profiting, therefore they’ll reduce their water usage.
- improving public awareness through adverts and campaigns, companies and organisations could convince people to use less water.
- by monitoring illegal and unmetered connections, this may stop people using water illegally at the cost of the government, meaning more water for the paying public, and more money saved for the government.
describe groundwater management as a method of conserving water:
- groundwater stored in underground aquifers has to be managed to maintain the quality and quantity of water.
- to ensure supplies are sustainable, water abstraction must be balanced by recharge.
- if water levels fall, the remaining water can become contaminated, making expensive water treatment necessary.
describe recycling as a method of conserving water:
- water recyling involves reusing treated domestic or industrial wastewater for useful purposes, such as irrigation or industrial processes:
- large amounts of recycled water are used for cooling in electrictiy generating and steel making plants.
- in Kolkata, India, sewage water is re-used for fish farming and agriculture. sewage is pumped into a shallow lagoon where sunlight helps the algae to photosynthesise. this oxygenates the water so it can be reused.
define ‘rainwater harvesting’:
the capture and storage of rainwater for reuse on site, rather than allowing it to run off. the water usually ends up stored underground or in specially built chambers.
describe the climate of Rajasthan, in north-west India:
- poorest and driest part of the country.
- summer temperatures climb to above 50 degrees celsius.
- rainfall is less than 250mm per year, 96% of that rainfall occurs between june and september.
- rain that does fall quickly evaporates.
describe the Wakel River Basin project:
the United States Agency for International Development works with people in the Wakel River Basin to improve their water security and overcome their water shortage problems.
main aims:
- increase water supply and storage using appropiate local solutions.
- raise awareness in local communities of the need for effective water management.
what does NGO mean?
Non-Government Organisation
name three ways the Wakel River Basin project increases water supply?
- Taankas: underground storage systems which collect surface water from rooves.
- Johed: small Earth dams to capture water. rivers that used to dry up now flow throughout the year.
- Pats - irrigation channels that transfer water to the fields.
describe in more detail the Pat irrigation system:
- a small dam called a bund diverts water from the stream towards the fields.
- bunds are made of stone, and are lined with leaves to be waterproof.
- villagers take turns to irrigate their fields using water controlled in this way.
- the irrigation channels need regular maintenance to avoid them from breaking or silting up. this is done by the villager whose turn it is to receive the water.
describe the global inequalities in the supply and consumption of water:
- due to climatic variations, freshwater distribution worldwide is limited and unequal (e.g. lack of rainfall). some countries experience economic scarcity, where they don’t have enough money to access water.
- water scarcity and drought are common challenges, especially in Africa and in the Middle East.
- forces people to dedicate considerable time to water collection, impacting economic growth and social life quality.
what is a country’s water footprint?
- compares daily water consumption between countries (total amount of daily water used for drinking and washing).
- include water used to produce energy, food, goods, and recycling.
- the world’s average water footprint is 1,240 litres per person.
- the USA has a footprint of 2,500 litres, and Bangladesh has 900 per person.
describe the use of ‘grey’ water:
where household wastewater from sinks, washing machines and dishwashers, etc. is recycled and put to good use. it can be used to flush toilets or to water gardens, but not to drink.
