Section C - Water Managment Flashcards
how do water surplus and deficit vary around the world
regions with water surplus have a supply of water which exceeds demand. Other regions have a water deficit where demand exceeds supply. Areas of water defivit may have: low rainfall, high densities of population and/or industry, increasing demand
what is water security
water security means having acess to enough clean water to sustain well-being, good health and economic development
what is water insecurity
water insecurity describes the situation where regions do not have access to sufficient water supplies
when do countries experience water stress
countries begin to experience water stress when less than 1700metres cubed is availabed per person each year. Regions with high water stress include several Caribbean islands and the Middle Easr
why is water consumption increasing
the growth of the world’s population means more water is needed. Economic development redults in higher consumption. Changes in lifestyle and eating habits. Water is required for increasing energy production
what factors affect water availability
geology, climate, over-abstraction, pollution, limited infrastruture, poverty
what is over-abstraction
pumping water out of the ground faster than it is replaced
what are some impacts of water insecurity
waterbourne disease, water pollution, food production, industrial output and conflict
how does water pollution and waterboune disease cause water insecurity
contaminated drinking water can cause diseases such as chlorea. Queuing to clean water wastes time and levels of productivity, and reduces time spent at school
how is the River Ganges in India being polluted
over one billion litres of raw sewages enter the River Ganges each day. Factories discharge 260 million litres of untreated wastewater into the river daily. Toxic chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers leak into the river
how does food production cause water insecurity
Agriculture uses 70% of global water supply and suffers the most from water insecurity. The River Nile is Egypt’s primary source of water. Climate change and the demands of countries upstream are expected to reduce its flow by 90% by 2100. Egypt currently has to import 60%of its food
how does industrial output cause water insecurity
Growth of manufacturing industry, particularly in NEEs, is making increasing demands on water supplies. Water shortages cost China US$40 billion is lower industrial production
how does water conflict cause water insecurity
water sources cross national and political borders, Issues such as reservoir construction and pollution can impact on more than one country and create conflict. Turkey built dams, causing anger in Iraq and Syria
how does diverting water supply and increasing storage increase water supply
water supplies can be artificially diverted and stored for use over longer periods. In Oklahoma, rainfall is infrequent and heavy. Surface water wuickly evaporates so it is collected and diverted and stored in undelying alluvial soils
how do dams and reservoirs increase water supply
dams bring advantages: they control river flow by storing water in reservoirs, the control of water flow enables it to be transported and used for irrigation, they help to prevent flooding. Large dams: are expensive, can lead to the displacement of large numbers of people, may reduce the flow of water downstream. In hot and arid regions, reservoirs can lose a lot of water through evaporation