The water cycle and water insecurity - How does water insecurity occur and why is it becoming such a global issue for the twenty-first century?

Question 1

What is water insecurity an outcome of?

Answer 1

Water insecurity is a major concern for many countries and is the outcome of both physical and human factors.

Question 2

What is water insecurity?

Answer 2

Water insecurity begins to exist when available water is less than 1,700 m3 per person per day. This marks the start of what is known as water stress. Below 1,000 m3 per person per day, water stress gives way to water scarcity.

Question 3

Suggest a definition for the term ‘water availability’.

Answer 3

Available water is the difference between field capacity which is the maximum amount of water the soil can hold and wilting point where the plant can no longer extract water from the soil. Water holding capacity is the total amount of water a soil can hold at field capacity.

Question 4

What factors reduce the amount of water that is eventually available for human use?

Answer 4

These include both human and physical factors:

• evaporation and evapotranspiration
• discharge into the sea
• saltwater encroachment at the coast
• contamination of water by agricultural, industrial and domestic pollution
• over-abstracting from rivers, lakes, aquifers and the acute need to replenish these dwindling stores

The situation is also being exacerbated by global warming and climate change.

Question 5

What three main factors is the rising demand for water driven by?

Answer 5

The rising demand for water is driven by three main factors:

• population growth: more people, more thirsts to quench
• economic development: increases the demand for water in almost all economic activities - agriculture, industry, energy and services. One of the biggest and fastest-growing consumers is irrigation
• rising living standards: increase in per capita consumption of water for drinking, cooking, bathing and cleaning. Added to this domestic consumption are water-extravagant things such as swimming pools, washing machines and dishwashers.

Question 6

How is population growth contributing to the rising demand for water?

Answer 6

More people, more thirsts to quench

Question 7

How is economic development contributing to the rising demand for water?

Answer 7

Increases the demand for water in almost all economic activities - agriculture, industry, energy and services. One of the biggest and fastest-growing consumers is irrigation.

Question 8

How are rising living standards contributing to the rising demand for water?

Answer 8

Increase in the per capita consumption of water for drinking, cooking, bathing and cleaning. Added to this domestic consumption are water-extravagant things such as swimming pools, washing machines and dishwashers.

Question 9

What are the three main pressures that are increasing the risk of water insecurity?

Answer 9

Diminishing supply

• Impact of climate change
• Deteriorating quality from pollution
• Impact of competing users, e.g. upstream vs downstream

Competing demands from users

• Internal conflicts in a basin
• International issues Upstream vs downstream HEP (hydroelectric power) vs irrigation

Rising demands

• Population growth
• Economic development

Question 10

How is diminishing supply increasing the risk of water insecurity?

Answer 10

• Impact of climate change
• Deteriorating quality from pollution
• Impact of competing users, e.g. upstream vs downstream

Question 11

How are competing demands from users increasing the risk of water insecurity?

Answer 11

• Internal conflicts in a basin

- International issues Upstream vs downstream HEP (hydroelectric power) vs irrigation

Question 12

How are rising demands increasing the risk of water insecurity?

Answer 12

• Population growth

- Economic growth

Question 13

What is meant by ‘upstream vs downstream’?

Answer 13

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Question 14

When does physical scarcity occur?

Answer 14

Physical scarcity occurs when more than 75% of a country’s or region’s blue water flows are being used. This currently applies to about 25% of the world’s population.

Question 15

What percentage of the world’s population does physical scarcity currently apply to?

Answer 15

This currently applies to about 25% of the world’s population.

Question 16

What is blue water?

Answer 16

Blue water is water stored in rivers, streams, lakes and groundwater in liquid form.

Question 17

Where are qualifying countries for physical scarcity located?

Answer 17

Qualifying countries are located in the Middle East and North Africa.

Question 18

Where do qualifying regions for physical scarcity occur?

Answer 18

Qualifying regions occur in north China, western USA and southeast Australia.

Question 19

When does economic scarcity occur?

Answer 19

Economic scarcity occurs where the use of blue water sources is limited by lack of capital, technology and good governance. It is estimated that around 1 billion people are restricted from accessing blue water by high levels of poverty. Most of these people live in Africa.

Question 20

How many people are restricted from accessing blue water by high levels of poverty?

Answer 20

It is estimated that around 1 billion people are restricted from accessing blue water supply by high levels of poverty.

Question 21

What are the two types of water scarcity

Answer 21

Physical scarcity

Economic scarcity

Question 22

What are the causes of water scarcity?

Answer 22

In short, the causes of water scarcity are twofold:
1 a lack of precipitation, either annually or seasonally
2 a lack of the wherewithal needed to harness the amount of blue water in demand

Question 23

What is safe water?

Answer 23

Safe water is water fit for human consumption.

Question 24

Why does the price of water vary from place to place?

Answer 24

The price of water varies from place to place depending on the availability of water and the level of demand. It is when demand exceeds supply that the price rises.

Question 25

What percentage of the world’s land is under full irrigation and around what percentage of this irrigation comes from dams and their networks of irrigation canals?

Answer 25

Around 20% of the world’s land is under full irrigation. Around 30% of this irrigation comes from dams and their networks of irrigation canals.

Question 26

Where is the majority of irrigation water being pumped from and what is this leading to?

Answer 26

The majority of irrigation water is pumped from aquifers and is leading to massive groundwater depletion, especially in China, India, Pakistan and the USA.

Question 27

Just over what percentage of all freshwater withdrawals worldwide are for industrial and energy production?

Answer 27

Just over 20% of all freshwater withdrawals worldwide are for industrial and energy production.

Question 28

What industries are major consumers of water?

Answer 28

Industries such as chemicals, electronics, paper, petroleum and steel are major consumers of water.

Question 29

How much water used by energy production is either for generating HEP or as cooling water in thermal and nuclear power stations?

Answer 29

Over half of the water used by energy production is either for generating HEP or as cooling water in thermal and nuclear power stations.

Question 30

What is HEP?

Answer 30

HEP is the abbreviation for hydroelectric power.

Question 31

Why is safe water vital to human health, particularly in the context of washing and food preparation?

Answer 31

Water, particularly that is polluted by a lack of sanitation, is an effective medium for the breeding and transmission of a range of lethal diseases, such as typhoid, cholera and dysentery. Water is also a productive breeding ground for some disease vectors, such as mosquitoes, snails and parasitic worms.

Question 32

Why do rising standards of living lead to an increase in per capita water consumption?

Answer 32

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Question 33

What are the impacts of an inadequate supply of water?

Answer 33

An inadequate supply of water can easily impede any water-dependent aspects of economic development. Costs may well rise. Inadequate water supply will also threaten human health. Environmentally, it will encourage people to over-exploit what water resources there are. This could easily prolong periods of drought and possibly be a first step on the downward path to desertification.