The Challenge of Resource Management - [Optional] - Water (Paper 2) Flashcards
This is one of the optional topics for 'The Challenge of Resource Management' topic. You have a choice between one of the following: food, water or energy. If you are unsure, ask your class teacher.
What is ‘water security’?
Having access to enough clean, safe drinking water that aids well being and economic development
What is meant by water deficit?
Supply of water is lower than the demand
What is meant by water surplus
Supply of water is higher than demand
Which areas of the world have a water deficit?
Drier areas such as Australia, Northern Africa (Sahara) and Southern Africa, The Middle East.
Which areas of the world have a water surplus?
- Typically, equatorial locations such as the Amazon, Brazil.
- Mid-latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere such as Europe and North America.
What is water security?
When a country has a water surplus. They have a higher supply of water than they demand.
What is meant by water insecurity?
When a country has a water deficit. Their demand is higher than their supply of water.
What is ‘water stress’?
When an area does not have
- Access water
- Access clean, safe water
- The natural flows of water to sustain rivers etc
How is water security linked to well-being?
- Water aids crop production which secures a source of food and income
- Not having to travel daily for water enables children to go to school
- Improves the quality of life
Why is water consumption increasing?
- People are becoming wealthier
- Diets are changing - more variety is demanded which increases water in food production
- Energy production is changing which now involves higher levels of water
- Increasing urbanisation increases population demand for water i.e. domestic uses.
Identify the 6 factors that affect water availability
- Climate - rainfall patterns
- Poverty - some places have to share water sources
- Poor infrastructure - limited pipes to bring water to communities
- Pollution - some water is highly contaminated with industrial pollution
- Geology - the rock type in an area dictates how much water is stored underground
- Over abstraction - water is removed from the ground quicker than it replenishes which reduces the water table.
List the impacts of water insecurity
- Waterborne diseases
- Water pollution
- Lowering food production
- Changing industrial output
- Conflict
What are waterborne diseases?
Diseases that affect people who drink contaminated water. e.g. cholera, dysentery.
How does water insecurity lead to waterborne diseases?
Drinking from unsafe water supplies in places that do not have infrastructure e.g. pipes. This increases the likelihood of disease
How does water insecurity lead to lower food productivity?
Food production requires water. Agricultural practices suffer if there is not an adequate amount of water to tend to crops. As a result, lower supply increases food prices.
How does water insecurity lead to lower industrial output?
Industry requires large amounts of water to be productive. Many factories around the world close in times of water shortage. This reduces productivity and a loss of profits.
How does water insecurity lead to conflict?
- Many people rely on rivers for a supply of water - building dams in a shared river e.g. the Nile, can restrict flow and cause conflict
- Some industries do not regulate their waste which means water pollution can occur, affecting some communities source of drinking water.
List 4 strategies that can be used to increase water supply?
- Diverting supplies and increasing storage
- Building dams and reservoirs
- Water transfers
- Desalination