Resources management - Water Flashcards
Why is there an increasing demand for water in the UK?
The growing population
More houses being built
As wealth increases there are more water-intensive domestic appliances
Explain the distribution of rainfall in the UK
There is higher rainfall in the north and west of the UK due to the highland areas at these locations
The UKs prevailing SW wind blows across the Atlantic Ocean bringing air loaded with water vapour
The air is forced up over the mountains which cools and condenses causing relief rainfall
This means areas to the east are in a ‘rainshadow’ area and receive less rainfall
How can we encourage people to use less water?
- Water meters (people can see visually how much water they are using and will want to spend less)
- New houses have better water efficiency
- Low volume taps and flush
- Collect rainwater in water butts for the garden
- Shower limiters
What are the disadvantages of water transfer schemes?
Very expensive
Negative impact on habitats
Pumping water over large distances requires energy and results in high carbon emissions
Displace communities when reservoir is built
How has water quality deteriorated from pollution?
Leaching of chemical fertilisers and pesticides from farmland into waterways (this can cause a dense build up of algae which soaks up all the oxygen - known as eutrophication)
Discharge from industrial sites into rivers
Water used for cooling in power stations released back into rivers
How is water quality managed?
Legislation (strict laws)
Water treatment
Investment in water infrastructure
Education
Discuss the challenges of managing water quality and pollution in the UK
Pollutants from sewage and farming
Difficult for the Environment Agency to find out which exact farmers and factories are to be blamed
Demand for food is growing-more sewage and more chemicals and fertilisers to end up in the water
Examine the advantages and disadvantages of a large-scale transfer scheme that you have studied
Kielder water is a large-scale water transfer scheme from River Tyne to the River Tees
A significant advantage is that it reduces water deficit in areas like Sunderland and Durham
However large-scale water schemes are very costly in addition to having a negative impact on habitats.
This is because they get destroyed when the necessary infrastructure for the transfer scheme is built
Furthermore, pumping water over large distances requires lots of energy and results in high carbon emissions which contribute to climate change
Moreover, when the reservoir was first built, it displaced multiple communities
Explain why dams and reservoirs help to provide reliable water supply
Dams are artificial walls of concrete that are built across a river valley.
The walls acts as a barrier, preventing water from flowing through and the water is stored in a reservoir/lake behind the dam
The water is then distributed where and when it is needed
Building more damns will increase amount of water stored and therefore that available
This should mean that, even in times of little rainfall or drought, that there will be a supply of water that is clean.
