Hard Engineering Schemes - Water Transfer

Question 1

Water transfer

Answer 1

E.g. of a large scale hard engineering scheme that tries to provide a techno-fix to water disparity

Question 2

South-North water transfer: China

Answer 2

Chinas S-N WTP aims to deliver 25 billion m3 = freshwater per year to the drier N
As 2/3rd of the farmland are in N + 80% of the water = S
This provides a perfect opportunity to distribute water to ensure agriculture + water security for the nation

Question 3

Cons: economic

Answer 3

Water Transfer = expensive - estimating to cost around US$80 billion = 2015
Before maintenance costs + water prices are considered
Likely 2 be too expensive for the farmers resulting in them continuing 2 use groundwater despite the scheme

Question 4

Cons: social

Answer 4

Over 300,000 ppl have been displaced 4 the construction of the WT central route

Question 5

Cons: environmental

Answer 5

Transferring water via WT doesn’t address the main causes of water shortages = N
N has limited supply because of pollution of water sources, water inefficient agriculture + poorly managed use for industry
Removing water = Yangtze it may further reduce discharge levels
Impacts for the river ecosystems = devastating, in addition 2 those already caused by the 3 Gorges Dam