Summarising Water Conflicts Flashcards

Question

Since 1930...

Answer 1

The total amount of water demand has increased by 9x since 1930. All the individual sectors have gone up as well.

Answer 2

This is because there is a formal supply of water in rich countries (public utility). and an informal supply of water in poor countries. In rural areas in poorer parts of the world you are even less likely to have a piped water supply. Rural areas: cost of infrastructure, economic viability.

Answer 3

Farming- not enough water- can’t grow crops- poor income- poor diet. Health issues due to water borne diseases- income affected as you need to buy medication etc. No inward investment- unattractive for investment Limits industrial production. Education levels affected- children have to instead fetch water.

Answer 4

The cholera bacterium is usually found in water or food sources that have been contaminated by feaces from a person infected with cholera. Cholera is most likely to be found and spread in places with inadequate water treatment, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene. This can be remedied by using soap, saline solutions, chlorine and boiling the water to make it safe.

Answer 5

Yangtze River and is the world’s largest hydroelectric scheme Benefits - 18,000MW of electricity generated - Will supply water to the region responsible for 22% of China’s GDP - Flood protection will save lives and cut financial losses - Navigational improvements could open up China’s interior to development Costs - Dammed waters will down 100,000 hectares - 1.9 million people will be displaced - Pollution increases as abandoned mines and factories are flooded - Dam failure, earthquakes and heavy rain could cause serious issues - Ecological impacts on fishing and habitats

Answer 6

1974- India opened the huge Farakka Barrage- 11km from Bangladeshi border Series of Dams divert water into irrigation systems of many of India's largest cities Used to carry wastewater 1990- agreement signed about sharing the waters of the Ganges ``` Impact of India of the Brahmaputra on Bangladesh Fish stocks Reduction flow Trade harder- water level low Delta eroding ```

Answer 7

The Snowy Mountains scheme in the Kosciuszko National Park- Australia The scheme collects and diverts water so that it can be used by the power station to create electricity Negatives Destroyed wildlife habitats Some places have fallen to only 1% of its original discharge Conflict between farmers and city dwellers Record droughts in Australia in recent years triggered by El Nino events have used up the water allocations of Snowy Mountains Scheme

Answer 8

Geographical Controls on water supply: - Mountain chains run parallel to the coast and prevent moist air reaching inland - High pressure systems over the Pacific ocean block moist air currents reaching southern California Threats: Precipitation - Much of California is arid with annual average precipitation of between 200-500mm - 65% of precipitation is lost through Evapotranspiration, 13% flows out to sea = only 22% for human use - 50% of the rain falls between November and March = seasonal shortages Threats: Population - Has grown from 2 million people in 1900 to 37.7 million in 2007

Answer 9

- 4% of the world’s freshwater but 16% of the population - Demand will exceed supply by 2020 - Water tables are falling rapidly as 21 million wells are used

Answer 10

- 8% of the world’s freshwater but 22% of the population - 2/3rds of cities do not have enough water all year round - Stress levels expected to occur by 2030 - Annual population growth rate is about 2.5% in Beijing - Water table has been lowered in some areas by 40m

Answer 11

 Each household uses 800 litres per person per day  Water used for lawns, parks and swimming pools  Issues of rising water bills and leakages  Water poverty index = 78  Water use agricultural = 12%  Water use industrial = 69%  Water use domestic = 20%  GNI ($ per person) = 33,170  Population in 2000 (millions) = 30

Answer 12

```  Each person uses 1 litre per day  Water is fetched daily from a shared source  Issues of water shortages, pollution and risk of disease  Water poverty index = 45  Water use agricultural = 93%  Water use industrial = 6%  Water use domestic = 1%  GNI ($ per person) = 170  Population in 2000 (millions) = 62.9 ```

Answer 13

Project began in 2003 and involves building 3 canals to run across the eastern, middle and western parts of China and link the country’s 4 main rivers. Benefits: - Transfer 44.8 billion m3 per year - Central government to pay 60% of the cost - Water conservation, improved irrigation, pollution treatment and environmental project - Will supply big cities like Beijing ``` Costs: - Significant ecological and environmental impacts along the waterways - Resettlement of people will be needed - Declining water quality - Will cost $62 billion - Will take 50 years to complete ```

Answer 14

- Desalination – provides 70% of Saudi Arabia’s water but it is the most expensive option for water supply due to its energy use - Towing flexible polypropylene bags will with freshwater has been propose e.g. Kielder to Essex - USA uses reverse osmosis membrane technology to filter salt from brackish water

Answer 15

- Water collection e.g. catching rainwater or building small dams - Wells built by NGOs e.g. Water Aid - Using plastic or glass bottles filled with contaminated water exposed to the sun for 6 hours destroys micro-organisms

Summarising Water Conflicts Flashcards

(39 cards)